In December 2019 I reviewed Lochby’s Field Journal, an A5 Notebook holder, and Tool Roll, which holds pen-shaped stationery (or other). Both were unique, feature rich, and interesting approaches that had a recognisable design language to it. Somewhat rustic and hardy looking. They aren’t designed that bring boardrooms and courtrooms to mind, but for me they remind me of something you’d bring out back with you as a gardening journal or a hiking journal. Earlier in the year Lochby released a smaller Pocket Journal for the standard smaller 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebook size. Naturally, they also released a Tomoe River notebook to go along with the case.
Thanks to Chris at Lochby for sending this over for review!
The Pocket Journal is 10.7cm x 16.8cm x 1.9cm (4.2” x 6.6” x 0.75”) and weighs 138g (4.9oz and is made out of the same durable wax coated canvas as it’s larger brother, the Field Journal. While the Pocket Journal is nice and light it is, for me, on the larger side of pocketable. For me it is definitely pocketable but a bit chunky at the same time. The Pocket Journal also now comes in Black as well as Brown, pictured.
Unlike it’s bigger brother the Pocket Journal is secured on the open sides by a zipper. It also has two front pockets and a back pocket secured with velcro.
All the outside pockets are fairly tight. Fitting a large pen or tool or knife in them requires a bit more effort than you’d expect but it feels secure once they are in. The two front pockets are different sizes with the left allowing a chunkier pen and the right really only allowing a slimmer pen or pencil (etc.)
On the inside there are two larger pockets for holding one or two pocket notebooks (or similar sized booklets) as well as three other pockets, two of which are business card sized and one a narrow pocket.
On the back the velcro pocket is again fairly tight. Getting smaller things out from below the velcro wasn’t the easiest thing to do but I was still able to secure receipts or a small pocket knife without too much trouble.
I’ve put a Karas Kustoms Ink pen into the larger of the front pocket (personally, I think the pen very nicely suites the aesthetic of Lochby products!) and a smaller Pilot V-Pen in the smaller pocket.
I also quite like the simpler Kaweco Lilliput in the smaller pocket alone.
The most i’ve packed this little Pocket Journal is with a Karas Kustoms Ink in the big front pocket, a small Delfonics mechanical pencil in the smaller back pocket, and a smaller Swiss Army Knife in the back pocket. On the inside I have a pocket notebook in it’s right place and a spare on the left pocket. Below that I have a receipt, and in the pockets I have a coffee card, a cold brew bottle opener and the Kaweco Lilliput. This resulted in a very chunky Pocket Journal and it isn’t something I’d actually do in practice, but it still worked and held up fine.
Packing in a receipt in the back pocket I found useful but it was a little difficult to get past the velcro (which should give you confidence it won’t fall out at least.
In the back pocket I liked putting the small Swiss Army Knife. This isn’t something, in Australia, that I’m allowed to carry unless I have a valid reason, so it isn’t something I’d be carrying all the time. I can also carry this knife on the inside but I preferred it on the outside.
Ultimately, what I’ve generally chosen to carry in the Pocket Journal is:
Small pen or pencil in one of the front pockets.
Pocket knife in back pocket when possible.
One pocket notebook in it’s intended pocket
Kaweco Lilliput in inside pocket along with the cold brew bottle opener and the coffee card.
I think this creates a nice balance between chunky and function for me.
There are three inside pockets of unequal size. The left and right (or top and bottom) are business card sized and the middle is curiously sized and much smaller. As mentioned I like to put a Kaweco Lilliput in the middle smaller pocket (which perfectly fits) but I’ve also put paper clip like items in there as well.
Like the bigger brother, the Lochby Pocket Journal is has tight stitching and there is nothing loose or fragile. There is still the double and barracking and the zip is the high quality YYK brand zipper. The waxed canvas is water resistant and wears well. Because of the zipper and the waxed canvas the Pocket Journal will do a good job of protecting what is inside. The zip also has some rope attached to it with a rope to assist in unzipping quicker.
I started this review earlier in the year but I have waited until now to publish because there is now stock available of the Pocket Journal. In the almost six months I’ve had this notebook now the colour of the journal has faded slightly and the rope knot became loose once (this was very easily to tie back). I am not babying this at all and I throw it around a bit and there is otherwise no problems at all. While the pockets have loosened a little they are still tight and the Velcro is also still strong and well attached. This has lasted very well!
The Lochby Pocket Journal is also stated as being 100% Vegan. This must mean that the wax canvas doesn’t use bees wax, if my understanding of vegan is correct.
The Tomoe River Notebook includes a Dot Grid notebook. The notebook is obviously available as a refill is comes in Plain, Ruled and, what I have here, Dot Grid. Each has a stylish and simple logo showing the paper type adored on the front top left and the back top middle.
The front inside cover has 5 lines in a box where you can put information about the notebook in it. Useful for your name and number if lost, or if you have multiple notebooks to distinguish between them.
The binding is a large for the size, 24 hole string binding with the string going all the way through the cover to the outside. These stitches are tight (as you can see in the below photo) and don’t appear to be susceptible to falling apart. The card cover is a nice and respectable craft cover. It’s simple and does its job.
The paper itself is the Tomoe River 68gsm everyone knows and loves. You can see 68gsm Tomoe River at the bottom of most of my Ink Reviews. 68gsm is a high sheen producing paper (though not as nigh as original 52gsm Tomoe River) and a softer less crinkly experience. It still resists feathering and bleeding well and the slightly quicker dry time is nice as well. The Dot Grid has 5mm spaces and the Ruled has 6mm ruling.
I was a big fan of the Lochby Field Journal. Especially with how it so easily handles multiple notebooks. With how I use stationery, this pocket journal has been something that I have used daily since day one. It’s nearly always in my back or side trouser pockets. It works really well for how I have had my EDC for the past six months or so.
The quality of the construction of the pocket journal is high and it protects the contents well. I love the rustic aesthetic and the design is well thought out offering a lot of pockets and spaces. I do love the perfect (probably by coincidence) spot for a Kaweco Lilliput! If I was to pick in subjective gripe, I wish the outside pockets were a little less tight? But they are more secure the way they are so it’s a trade off! Regardless I’m very happy with this product and I think everyone else would be also.
The Lochby Pocket Journal is US$34 (AU$49, €29, £26 at the exchange rates based on when this review was published). The refills are US$5.99 (AU$8.3, €5, £4.6).
Thanks again to Chris at Lochby for sending these over for Review! Check them out on Instagram as well!
As of right now, domestic US shipping is all that is available with the current situation meaning international shipments are, unfortunately, unavailable. Hopefully for everyone this is able to change!
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