Field Notes creates a lot of specially-branded notebooks for outside companies, but they are usually very simple. Often it will just be a standard Kraft book with a company’s logo stamped on the front – sometimes you’ll see embossing or even a neat new color. But ocassionally something very cool and unique is released, such as this recent collaboration with Nixon, the upscale wristwatch company.

This isn’t the first time Field Notes teamed up with Nixon. Last year they made a pretty cool tri-color pack, but they knocked it out of the park this year by using photographs from Jeff Divine for the notebooks’ covers. Divine, who has been a professional surf photographer since the ’60s, took some great beach shots, each with a very distinct style.

The 3-pack has mixed ruling, meaning that one notebook has standard ruling, one has grid lines, and one has blank pages. So if you only use one style of ruling, you just have to live with (or give away) the other two. Inside is 60# white paper, and the covers are made with 100# glossy stock, each with a different color on the inner-cover. They are also the standard 3.5″ x 5.5″ pocket-notebook size.

These books are currently still available, but as a limited edition of 5,000, they are likely to run out eventually. However, be prepared to pay a bit more. The Nixon books are $15 per 3-pack instead of the usual $10. Luckily, these notebooks pull double duty: during the upcoming winter, they’ll be a good reminder of the warmer times.

Additional Notes

• Of the 30 “Practical Applications” listed in the notebooks’ inside-back cover, my favorites are the following: “03. Shit My Dad Used to Say”; “08. Taco Joints”; and “19. Best Playlist Ever.”
• These Nixon books seem very similar to the America the Beautiful edition (from the Spring of 2013). I haven’t gotten my hands on a pack of those yet, but you can see reviews from The Well Appointed Desk, Three Staples, and MbS-P-B.
• On a side note, Field Notes has released a ton of special/limited editions over the last year. I’m having trouble keeping up, and I think I’m starting to develop “Special Edition Fatigue.”

I’m a die-hard user of 3.5″ x 3.5″ pocket notebooks, especially those made by the ever-creative people at Field Notes. In fact, I subscribe to their Quarterly Edition notebooks just so I can get their latest designs as soon as possible. And though I’m usually excited when I get a new set of pocket notebooks in the mail, when Field Notes announced the new Byline edition earlier this summer, my enthusiasm wasn’t as immediate.

Instead of the standard pocket size, which I’m used to, Byline is a 4.75″ x 7.5″ reporter-style notebook. It flips open vertically and uses wire binding. After ripping open the shrink wrap and looking it over, it’s likely that most Field Notes subscribers like me were forced to ask themselves, “what the heck am I going to use this for?”

Putting that question aside for a moment, I think it’s obvious that the people at Field Notes put a lot of thought into this product. According to their website, they are frequently asked for a reporter-style notebook, but they didn’t commit to producing one until the request came from the host of CBS’ Face the Nation, John Dickerson, who also offered to lend a hand in the project.

Together they came up with this 70-page, wrought iron (gray) book. It has durable, 120# cover stock, and it contains 70#, college-ruled inner paper. The pages are double-sided, and they are wire-bound with precision for easy flipping. The inside of the front and back covers are loaded with information, much of it more interesting than useful, such as an explanation of why the news media is sometimes called “The Fourth Estate.” The back cover also has a little pocket that comes with a promotional chapter from John Dickerson’s latest book printed on a cutesy mini-newspaper.

Where the traditional Field Notes pocket notebook is great for keeping lists or taking down shorter bits of information, the Byline edition is much better when longer notes are required. The obvious application is for in-the-field interviews, as Byline slips nicely into a jacket’s vest pocket, but I found that it works great for things like writing out book references or keeping notes for movie reviews. I tested out that latter use case, taking notes for brief movie reviews (which I’ve published on Rotten Tomatoes).

Still, I don’t currently have much use for this format, though I can’t deny that it’s a good notebook. Many others will certainly love the classic aesthetic of the Byline edition, and Field Notes has produced a limited number of 2-packs, so they may sell out sooner rather than later. So if you think you’ll find it useful, it might be a good idea to order soon. But, sadly, the amazing Byline sticker that came with my subscription cannot be purchased separately.

Additional Notes

• Byline has no practical application list, but it does tell you the proofreading mark to indicate Futura typeface – wf.
• In the Three Staples review for the Field Notes Arts & Sciences edition, Jinnie briefly critiques Field Notes for issuing editions to their subscribers, like Byline, that totally change the format. It’s worth reading.
• Check out the review at Notegeist. It compares Byline against the Write reporter’s notebook.

-30-

In October of 2015, a digital marketing company named Huge hosted a design conference called Brooklyn 1.0 where special 3-packs of Field Notes were given out to attendees. The notebook set, dubbed the “Point Oh!” Edition, was created specifically for the conference and limited to 1,000 packs. When photos of these notebooks were posted online, Field Notes collectors seemed to fall in love with them. But apart from those who attended the conference, it seemed especially difficult for people to find this edition. Afterward, they sold for  ridiculous prices on eBay.

Fortunately, in April of 2016, somebody at Huge must have found a box full of conference leftovers, and the Point Oh Field Notes suddenly became available for purchase on the Brooklyn 1.0 website for $9.95. The orders were limited to one 3-pack per person and standard shipping cost an additional 8 dollars, but they still sold out quickly. And lucky for me, I managed to snag a pack: number 888 out of 1,000.

While it’s often hard to justify the hype that surrounds Field Notes, it’s also hard to deny the appeal of these pretty little Point Oh notebooks. With their pastel colors, embossed print, and polka-dotted inner-covers, they stand out from the rest of my Field Notes collection. Even though the yellow (“banana split”) cover color would later be used with the Spring 2016 Edition, the Point Oh books are especially reminiscent of Spring and the decorations you’ll find during Easter time

In terms of specs, these books are the typical 3.5″ x 5.5″ pocket-size with a hearty 100# cover stock and blank, 50# inner paper. Though I don’t typically use blank sheets of paper, it may be preferable to many designers and artists for whom these notebooks were intended. And for artists on-the-go, these notebook covers not only hold up well to wear and tear, but they also manage to look good in the process.

It’s a cool edition if you can get your hands it. Since it sold on the Point Oh website, packs have come down in price in the secondary market. So it’s possible to find one for a reasonable amount of money, though I never recommend spending too much on these special edition books. The next one is always right around the corner.

Additional Notes

• Of the 30 “Practical Applications” listed in the notebooks’ inside-back cover, my favorites are the following: “12. Polka Dots”; “15. Rap Quotes”; and “17. Why I Miss The Beastie Boys.”
• I really should also mention the cool embossed logo on back cover.
• Man, I’m a bit jealous of the other cool stuff those conference attendees got.