Buzz
When it comes to pocket-sized notebooks, Moleskine and Field Notes lead the pack. Both are highly regarded and excel in their respective areas, but picking the right one can be challenging. Let us help you decide which one is best suited for your needs.
The Competitors
With countless options available, Moleskine and Field Notes are two standout brands. Both make exceptional notebooks, yet they differ in design, paper choices, and overall construction. For the purpose of this comparison, we will focus on pocket-sized notebooks, as Field Notes offers only this size. Moleskine, on the other hand, has a much wider range of sizes to choose from, making it ideal if you’re seeking a larger notebook. Let’s now take a closer look at both contenders.
Moleskine: Whether you're a fan or not, Moleskine notebooks are a staple in the world of stationary. Their popularity stems from their iconic hard covers, extensive size options, and a limited variety of paper types. Moleskine notebooks are widely available, and their pocket-sized versions (3 1/2" x 5 1/2") offer 192 pages, starting at $12. Designed in Italy and made in China, Moleskines are well-regarded for their portability and practicality.
Field Notes: If Moleskine is the Evernote of notebook brands, then Field Notes is the plain text equivalent. Aside from one exception, they stick to a single size (3 1/2" x 5 1/2"), though they provide a variety of paper styles and colors. Choosing the right notebook comes down to selecting your preferred paper type. Field Notes are sold in three-packs, with 48 pages each, for around $10. Designed and manufactured in the U.S., Field Notes offers a practical and affordable option for notebook lovers.
You can easily find a notebook at any department store or bookstore, but Moleskine and Field Notes have built such a loyal following that they each stand out for good reason. Let’s dive deeper into a comparison of these two popular brands.
Moleskine Offers More Cover Options, But Both Are Built to Last
Comparing the covers of Moleskine and Field Notes might feel a bit unfair, considering Moleskine provides many more options than the single standard cover offered by Field Notes. However, it's still worth exploring.
Moleskine gives you three primary cover choices: soft, hard, and cardboard. Let’s take a closer look at each of these options:
Hard Cover: The hard cover notebook is Moleskine’s flagship product. It's the classic choice most people think of when they envision Moleskine. With a sturdy cardboard-bound cover, a cloth bookmark, an elastic closure, and a convenient inner pocket at the back, this version has become a staple.
Soft Cover: Moleskine’s soft cover notebooks are similar to the hardcovers but feature a more flexible cover. Like their hardcover counterparts, they come equipped with a bookmark, elastic closure, and expandable inner pocket.
Cardboard: Moleskine’s Cahier line is most comparable to Field Notes in terms of design. The stitching across the spine is reminiscent of handcrafting. These notebooks are made with lighter cardboard covers than the hard versions and do not have the signature elastic closure. Available in three sizes, the 64-page pocket version is the closest to Field Notes. These notebooks come in packs of three, priced at $10.
In my experience, all three Moleskine notebook styles are built to last and can handle some wear and tear. The hardcovers are the most resilient, but the material used for the soft covers is also surprisingly durable. While you could tear the soft covers if you really tried, they hold up fine when just tossed into a bag. The Cahier line, which is designed to resemble Field Notes, features a stiff cardboard cover with stitching that prevents it from bending or folding as easily as a Field Notes notebook.
The Field Notes notebooks have a completely different feel when compared to Moleskine. The standard Field Notes come with a light brown cardboard cover, similar in color to a paper grocery bag. These covers are quite flexible, more akin to the cover of a typical spiral notebook. But don't let the softness fool you—the notebooks are still quite durable. Their flexible design makes them easy to carry in your pocket and roll up without much effort, which is a plus for those who prefer portability. The binding, made with three staples, gives them a solid, bendable structure that suits your needs.
Field Notes may have standard covers, but they also offer some special edition notebooks that are worth mentioning. Their cherry wood cover is more durable than the standard cardboard, while the Pitch Black notebook features a hefty 100 lb “blacktop cover.” My personal favorite, the Expedition notebooks, are nearly indestructible and tear-proof. They’re also waterproof, which is perfect if you tend to work in a garage or take your notebook out in unpredictable weather conditions.
Both Brands Offer Similar Paper Quality and Options
When it comes to notebooks, besides the cover, the quality and variety of the paper is key. Both Moleskine and Field Notes provide plenty of options to choose from, so you’re bound to find something that suits your needs.
Moleskine offers its notebooks with ruled, squared, plain, or dot-grid paper, including in their popular pocket-sized models. Field Notes, on the other hand, sticks to ruled, squared, and plain paper, but they offer a mixed pack (remember, Field Notes are always sold in packs of three) with one of each: plain, ruled, and graph. Some of their special edition notebooks, such as the Pitch Black and Expedition editions, also come with dot-grid paper.
I'm no paper expert, but from what I can tell, the paper quality in both Field Notes and Moleskine notebooks is quite similar. Neither brand excels with thicker paper that handles markers or paints well. Ballpoint pens generally don’t bleed through, but markers will. Pencil works fine on either. Moleskine paper has a slight yellowish tint, while Field Notes' paper is a brighter white. Moleskine uses acid-free, 70 gsm, 47 lb text stock, whereas Field Notes typically uses 50 lb text stock, which is roughly the same quality as budget printer paper. If you're interested, you can explore here’s a deep dive into the paper used in Moleskines, and if you want to check out Field Notes' paper, Three Staples has a detailed guide.
Both brands offer some specialty paper options. Moleskine has a sketchbook with higher-quality sketch paper, while Field Notes' Expedition notebooks use tear-resistant, waterproof paper. The Pitch Black edition also has tougher 50 lb stock paper, making it more durable than their regular offerings.
Field Notes Sticks to the Basics, But Moleskine Offers More Special Editions
In addition to their standard notebooks, Moleskine offers a variety of themed notebooks designed for specific purposes, such as a film journal, travel notebooks for specific cities, and even music notation and storyboarding journals. They frequently release special edition notebooks with branded covers from popular franchises like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Batman, and more. Moleskine has even created “smart notebooks” that sync with Adobe Creative Cloud and Evernote for digital integration.
Field Notes keeps things straightforward. In addition to their regular notebooks and the Pitch Black and Expedition editions we've mentioned (which may be limited edition runs but have been around for a while), they also release various special colored editions throughout the year. For example, they currently have the Shenandoah pack, the Chicago 3-pack, and the Sweet Tooth Edition. They also offer niche notebooks like ones for logging flights or for documenting your trip to the county fair. At the moment, they even have a fun workshop companion pack for DIY projects. These special editions are so popular that Field Notes has a subscription service to make sure you never miss one.
The Final Word: ‘Best’ Depends On Whether It Actually Fits In Your Pocket
As we mentioned at the start of this comparison, it’s a bit of an unfair competition given Moleskine's wide range of notebook options. However, even with all those choices, the right notebook really depends on your intended use.
For me, none of the Moleskine notebooks fit comfortably in my pocket, so if I’m planning on carrying a notebook with me every day, Field Notes is my go-to. Additionally, if I’m out and about, whether in a garage or taking measurements for some impromptu DIY science project, Field Notes is ideal because it’s flexible and easy to manipulate.
But when my needs go beyond that—especially if I plan on sketching or writing more extensively—Moleskine takes the lead. The elastic band and bookmark are excellent features, though I personally never use them. The back pocket in Moleskine notebooks, while a clever idea, has always been more of a novelty for me, though I’m sure others find it useful.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal style. Which one speaks to you more? Are you drawn to vibrant colors or do you prefer a design that taps into pop culture? Do you need a hard cover, or is something simpler enough? Do you want a notebook with added features like bookmarks and closure straps, or are you looking for something more minimalist? Ultimately, choose the one you'll actually use. After all, a notebook is only valuable if it’s filled with words.
