Traveler's Notebook in Canada

What a Traveler's Notebook Actually Is

The Traveler's Notebook is a leather cover with two elastic bands inside. The bands hold replaceable paper inserts (called refills), so the notebook itself never gets retired - only the paper inside does. Build it once, replace pieces as you fill them, and the leather wears in over years of use.

The system was created by Midori (now Designphil) and is sold under the Traveler's Company brand. It comes in two sizes - Regular and Passport - and there is a separate format called the Card Size that fits in a wallet rather than a pocket.

Regular vs Passport - Which Size to Choose

Regular size - leather cover is roughly 220 mm tall by 110 mm wide. Holds the standard slim refills (110 × 210 mm). Fits a jacket pocket but not a back pocket. This is the original Traveler's Notebook size and the one most setups are built around. Choose Regular if your notebook lives at home, in a bag, or on a desk, and you want maximum writing space per page.

Passport size - leather cover is roughly 134 mm tall by 98 mm wide. Holds Passport-format refills (89 × 124 mm). Slips into a back pocket, jacket inside pocket, or small bag. Choose Passport if you want to carry the notebook everywhere, or if your use case is travel logging, daily journaling in short entries, or a portable planner.

There is no "right" answer - many users own both sizes for different purposes. If you're choosing between the two for a first purchase, the Regular gets the most use as a primary notebook; the Passport gets the most use as a constantly-carried second notebook.

Choosing a Cover Color

Traveler's Notebook leather covers come in a small palette: Camel (light tan, ages dark over time), Brown (medium brown, the most popular default), Black (formal, doesn't show wear as visibly), Blue (limited-run, increasingly available), and the Olive / Dark Brown limited editions when in stock.

The leather is vegetable-tanned, so all colors deepen and develop a patina with use. The Camel changes the most dramatically over time - if you want a notebook that visibly tells the story of how long you've used it, that's the cover.

The Refill Ecosystem

Traveler's Notebook refills are numbered (001, 002, 003, etc.) so you can re-order the exact paper you've been using.

Regular size refills include:

- 001 Lined - standard ruled writing
- 002 Grid - 5 mm grid for note-taking and planning
- 003 Blank - unlined writing or sketching
- 004 Sectioned - for travel logs and structured journaling
- 007 Free Diary - undated daily diary
- 008 Sketchbook - heavier paper for sketching
- 011 Lightweight Paper - extra-thin paper, more pages per refill
- 013 Light Paper Lined - for daily writing
- 014 Free Diary Weekly - weekly planner format
- 015 Free Diary Monthly - monthly planner format
- 017 Free Diary Weekly + Memo - weekly with note space
- 018 Kraft File - kraft folder for receipts and scraps
- 019 Free Diary Daily - daily planner format
- 020 Zipper Case - clear pouch for accessories

Passport size refills mirror the Regular range with the same numbering convention but in Passport dimensions.

You can hold up to four refills in one cover using extra connecting bands (sold separately).

Accessories That Complete the Setup

• Connecting bands - let you carry more than one refill in a single cover.
  
  
• Brass charms and zippers - small brass accessories that hang from the elastic.
  
  
• Pen holders - leather, brass, or fabric pen holders that clip onto the cover or band.
  
  
• Card holders - slim leather card pockets that sit inside the cover for ID or business cards.
  
  
• Snap buttons - replace the elastic closure with a button-style closure.
  
  

Breaking In a Traveler's Notebook

The leather is stiff out of the box. Within a few weeks of daily use, the cover relaxes and starts taking on the curve of how you carry it. There's no need to oil or treat the leather - Midori specifically recommends letting the leather develop its patina from use rather than from conditioner. If the leather gets wet, blot it dry with a soft cloth and let it air-dry away from direct heat.

Card Size - The Wallet-Sized Format

The Card Size is a separate Traveler's Company format (not just a smaller Passport): the cover and refills fit a credit-card slot, and the refills are numbered with their own series. It works as a portable note-taker for people who already carry a Regular or Passport for primary writing.

Why Buy Traveler's Notebook from Blesket Canada

We're a Canadian retailer of Traveler's Company product. Every cover, refill, and accessory is genuine, sourced from official Traveler's Company distribution, and ships from within Canada with tracked delivery - no customs surprises, prices in CAD, and full Regular and Passport refill coverage rather than just the most common items.