The Traveler’s Notebook (TN) is the most customizable planner system in the world — and that’s both its greatest strength and its biggest initial challenge. When you open the box, you get a leather cover, an elastic band, and a single blank notebook. No instructions, no pre-printed format, no structure. Just raw potential.
This freedom is what makes the TN special. But for newcomers, staring at an empty leather cover and wondering “now what?” is a real experience. This guide walks you through everything: choosing your size, selecting inserts, threading them in, adding accessories, and building a system that works for your life.
We’ve been using a Traveler’s Notebook daily for several years, trying dozens of insert combinations and configurations. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Step 1: Choose Your Size
The Traveler’s Notebook comes in two sizes:
Regular Size (110 × 220mm / 4.3 × 8.7 in)
The original and most popular size. Tall and slim — roughly the proportions of a long wallet. It fits comfortably in a back pocket, jacket pocket, or bag. The height allows for full-length writing, while the slim width keeps things compact.
Best for: Daily journaling, travel journals, planner use, creative journals.
Passport Size (89 × 124mm / 3.5 × 4.9 in)
A compact version roughly the size of an actual passport. Ideal for pocket carry and quick notes, but too small for extensive daily planning or journaling.
Best for: Pocket carry, short notes, travel wallet, minimalists.
Our recommendation: Start with the Regular Size unless you specifically want a pocket notebook. The regular size is versatile enough for any use case.
Step 2: Choose Your Inserts
Inserts are the heart of the TN system. They’re slim notebooks (typically 64 pages / 32 sheets) that thread onto the elastic bands inside the cover. The official Traveler’s Company inserts use MD Paper — the same excellent paper found in the Midori MD Notebook.
Official Insert Types
| Insert | Content | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 001 Lined | Ruled lines | Daily writing, journaling |
| 002 Grid | 5mm grid | Planning, bullet journaling, sketching |
| 003 Blank | Plain pages | Free-form journaling, sketching |
| 005 Diary (Free) | Undated daily | Daily planner without fixed dates |
| 006 Monthly Diary | Monthly calendar | Month-at-a-glance planning |
| 013 Lightweight | Thin paper (MD) | When you want more pages per insert |
| 014 Kraft | Brown kraft paper | Scrapbooking, collage, mixed media |
| 020 Kraft Folder | Folder insert | Storing loose papers, cards, receipts |
| 021 Connecting Band | Extra elastic | Adding a third or fourth insert |
| 022 Zipper Case | Zippered pouch | Cards, cash, small items |
Our Recommended Starter Setups
Minimalist Setup (1 insert):
- 001 Lined or 002 Grid — Use for everything
Daily Planner Setup (2 inserts):
- 006 Monthly Diary — For calendar and scheduling
- 001 Lined — For daily journaling and notes
Bullet Journal Setup (2 inserts):
- 002 Grid — For bujo rapid logging and collections
- 003 Blank — For creative spreads and sketches
Travel Setup (3 inserts):
- 005 Daily Free — For daily travel journal entries
- 003 Blank — For sketches and ticket stubs
- 020 Kraft Folder — For receipts, maps, and loose papers
Third-Party Inserts
The TN ecosystem extends far beyond official inserts. Third-party makers produce:
- Dot grid inserts — The most popular alternative for bullet journaling
- Dated weekly/daily inserts — Pre-printed planner formats
- Watercolor paper inserts — For wet media
- Tomoe River paper inserts — For fountain pen enthusiasts
- Full-year calendar inserts — Dated monthly and weekly spreads
Etsy and JetPens are the best sources for third-party inserts.
Step 3: Thread Your Inserts
Threading inserts onto the elastic band is simple:
- Open the cover flat — Locate the elastic band running vertically through the spine
- Open your insert to the center — Find the middle staple or fold
- Slide the elastic under the insert — The band should sit in the center fold
- Close the insert — The elastic now holds the insert in place
- Close the cover — The closure band wraps around the outside
Adding Multiple Inserts
The standard TN comes with one elastic band, which holds one or two inserts. For two inserts, simply thread both onto the same band — one opens from each side.
For three or more inserts, add a Connecting Band (insert 021). This adds a second elastic band to the spine, allowing up to four slim inserts.
Tip: Don’t overload. Two inserts is the sweet spot for most users — enough variety without making the TN too thick. Three inserts work if they’re all thin. Four is pushing it.
Step 4: Add Accessories
The TN accessory ecosystem is extensive. Here are the essentials:
Must-Have Accessories
- Pen holder — A brass clip or elastic loop that holds a pen on the cover. Essential unless your cover has a built-in pen loop. The official brass pen clip ($8) is the most popular.
- Bookmark — The included cotton bookmark helps you find today’s page quickly.
Nice-to-Have Accessories
- Zipper case insert (022) — Holds cards, cash, stamps, small items. Turns your TN into a wallet-planner hybrid.
- Kraft folder insert (020) — Stores loose papers, receipts, business cards. Surprisingly useful for daily carry.
- Brass charms — Decorative charms that clip to the elastic closure band. Purely aesthetic, but they add personality.
- Repair kit — Replacement elastic bands and instructions. Elastic stretches after 1-2 years of heavy use, and replacement is easy.
Step 5: Develop Your System
The TN’s flexibility means there’s no single “right” way to use it. Here are proven systems that work:
The Daily Journal
Inserts: 001 Lined Method: Write the date at the top of each page. Journal daily — thoughts, events, gratitudes, whatever comes to mind. When the insert fills up, pull it out and thread in a new one. Store completed inserts in a box or shelf.
The Planner-Journal Hybrid
Inserts: 006 Monthly + 001 Lined Method: Use the Monthly insert for appointments, deadlines, and scheduling. Use the Lined insert for daily journaling, task lists, and notes. Review the monthly calendar each morning, then journal in the lined insert.
The Bullet Journal
Inserts: 002 Grid (or dot grid third-party) Method: Standard bullet journal rapid logging. Create an index, future log, monthly log, and daily log within each insert. When an insert fills, start a new one. The modular format means you can separate bujo collections into dedicated inserts.
The Travel Journal
Inserts: 003 Blank + 014 Kraft + 020 Folder Method: Use blank pages for writing and sketching. Use kraft paper for pasting ticket stubs, wrappers, and ephemera. Use the folder for loose maps, receipts, and boarding passes.
Care and Maintenance
Leather Care
The TN cover is raw, undyed leather that ages beautifully with minimal care:
- Daily use is the best maintenance — natural oils from your hands condition the leather
- If the leather feels dry, apply a thin layer of leather conditioner or natural beeswax cream once or twice a year
- Scratches are part of the patina — embrace them
- Water won’t damage the leather permanently, but blot it dry if it gets wet
Elastic Band Replacement
After 1-2 years of heavy use, the elastic bands stretch and lose tension. Replacement is simple:
- Remove all inserts
- Pull the old elastic out through the spine holes
- Thread the new elastic through
- Tie a knot inside the cover to secure
- Re-thread your inserts
Replacement bands are available from Traveler’s Company and third-party sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inserts can I carry at once?
Comfortably, two to three. The standard single elastic holds two inserts. Adding a Connecting Band (021) allows three to four. Beyond three, the TN becomes thick and doesn’t close neatly. Most users find two inserts to be the ideal balance.
Is the Regular or Passport size better?
Regular for most people. It’s large enough for meaningful daily writing and planning. The Passport size is best as a secondary pocket notebook or travel wallet, not as a primary planner.
How long does one insert last?
With daily writing, a standard 64-page insert lasts approximately 1-2 months. Heavier writers go through them faster. At $5-7 per insert, annual refill costs are typically $30-70.
Can I use the Traveler’s Notebook as my only planner?
Absolutely. Many people use a Monthly insert + Lined/Grid insert as a complete planning system. The key is finding the right insert combination for your workflow.
How does the TN compare to the Hobonichi Techo?
Fundamentally different approaches. The Hobonichi provides structured daily pages on premium Tomoe River paper. The TN provides a flexible, modular system with customizable inserts. See our full Hobonichi vs Traveler’s Notebook comparison.
Final Thoughts
The Traveler’s Notebook rewards patience and experimentation. Your first setup probably won’t be your final setup — and that’s by design. The modular system lets you adjust, reconfigure, and evolve your TN as your needs change. Start simple (one insert, basic use), add complexity as you discover what you need, and enjoy the process of building a system that’s uniquely yours.
The leather will age. The elastic will stretch. The inserts will fill. And through it all, your Traveler’s Notebook will become more personal, more beautiful, and more indispensable with every day of use.
For product recommendations to use with your TN, check out our Best Japanese Gel Pens and Best Japanese Notebooks guides.