Product Review: Lochby Pocket Journal
I write a lot. I can be a little scatterbrained. I’m a little sentimental.
For years, I’ve been in search for a way to keep my thoughts - the little ping pong balls floating around my head like a bingo cage - in order. And for years, I used the Notes app on my phone.
While the notes app has always been convenient, I’ve never loved the idea of having to pull my phone out any time I had, say, an idea for a new motorcycle ride, or a blog post, or a bit of wisdom I pick up on my day to day. It always goes the same: I have an idea, I pull my phone out, write it down, and then get sucked into some level of doom-scrolling. All bits and pieces of my life existing in - gasp - “the CLOUD.”
About two years ago, I started carrying a dedicated pocket notebook, and that changed. The endless social media scrolling stopped. My general sense of mindfulness improved. I became less forgetful. And while I often carry a large notebook for more intense journalling, project planning, or class notes, I generally want something a little smaller for the spur-of-the-moment ideas, shopping lists, etc.
When I recently partnered with Lochby as part of their ambassador program, I was excited - I’ve passed by their products time and time again in a hundred stationery stores across the country. I’ve always found myself thinking, “One day…”
Well, that day was a few weeks ago, and I’ve got some things to say.
THE GOOD.
Like I said: Having a physical medium on which to jot my thoughts has such a deeper meaning than sending them off into a jumble of old notes on my cell phone. It turns all of the confusing bits and pieces into a physical thing; something I can take to a mentor and say, “Help me please.” I’m more inclined to write when I have pen and paper in my hands, especially when the notebook itself is comfortable to use. Lochby uses their own branded pocket journals, all made of the legendary Tomoe River Paper. It’s perfect for daily EDC use, especially when you’re like me and currently on a fountain pen kick. I’ve found these journals work great with my Kaweco Sport Brass! At a pricetage of $49.99, you’re getting a lot of utility for the value.
The journals themselves are on the pricey side; a four-pack will run you about $22.99, meaning about $5.75 a piece. For comparison, a 3-pack of Field Notes Brand notebooks generally run $14.95, or about $5 per book. Heck, you can get an 8-pack of generic pocket notebooks on Amazon for $7.99. That’s less than a dollar a book!
For general use - people perfectly fine with the typical office clicky pen or a carpenters pencil - you may want to go a more affordable refill. If you’re like me (read: a little picky on your choice of stationery), then the extra 75 cents is worth every penny.
WHY REFILLABLE?
My coworker said to me recently, “I don’t get the notebook fascination. It’s just paper. Why not use a regular notebook?”
“I don’t need that negativity in my life, thank you very much.” I said.
KIDDING.
But it’s a fair question - why spent a extra money on a refillable, durable, waxed-canvas notebook cover that you’re always going to have to pay to refill?
To me, it comes down to utility; the ability to use a single notebook cover for multiple topics. The Lochby Cover has two opposing pockets, both of which can fit at least one, if not two journals. Disclaimer: four journals is a bit snug, and not recommended. I’ve used a maximum of two.
I also find a full-sized notebook - 100 pages or more - a bit intimidating. I’ve got a stack of half-filled Moleskines sitting in my closet for a reason and the Lochby freed me. I can use small refills at my leisure, changing them on whenever a new project or group of ideas strikes!
VERSA-DURA-BILITY
When I’m traveling, I have two requirements for my gear: it has to last, and it has to serve multiple roles. I can’t worry about having to repair on the road, or finding last-minute replacements. I need gear that saves space. With this journal cover, I’ve solved a few inherent problems of travel EDC: I found a wallet, a place to jot my experiences, and, in the case of international travel, a passport holder. I can toss an emergency $20 in the pocket, or a random sticker from a restuarant I loved that I don’t want to lose - it’s a piece of my story on the road. The rugged waxed canvas is thick and durable; I don’t have to worry about spilling a cupof coffee on it, or throwing it in my motorcycle jacket packet on a rainy ride. I like knowing my ideas are protected!
THE BAD
Can’t have the good without the bad.
1.) The size.
As much as I like the journal cover itself, I can’t fall in love with the size. It’s just a hair too big to fit comfortably in my back pocket, and is best carried around like a clutch wallet or tossed in a bag or backpack.
2.) No dedicated pen slot.
While there’s technically a slot on the outside of the notebook (three, actually), they’re not great for any pens larger than a pencil, nor are they good for pens with a rubber grip as it leads to an obnoxious catching. Also worth mentioning is that a pen in the outside slot will result in some ugly markings on the front from the distressed wax on the canvas. On the inside, theres a small slot that will fit something like a Fisher Space Pen, but I find myself tucking my pens loose inside the zipped-up package.
3.) No vertical pockets.
Maybe this is personal preference, but I find that only having horizontal pockets can be slightly limiting for use as a wallet. By having the three horizontal pockets on the left side flap towards the back of the cover, anything protruding from the large horizontal pocket causes your cards to get lost, in a way. It makes me wonder if this journal is meant to be just that: a journal that CAN be used as a wallet, rather than a journal that SHOULD be used as a wallet.
OVERALL
This journal cover is the perfect choice for someone looking to get into the world of pocket journals. It’s easy to use, works really well as a wallet, and (my favorite) it’s a great talking piece. I’d recommend this to anyone wanting for a rugged, multipurpose piece to their EDC that doesn’t kill the bank. It’s a great entry to the Lochby system, and worth every penny!
