u/Hariena

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to invest in a standard-size Traveler’s Notebook (or a high-quality alternative) and would really appreciate your recommendations.

I plan to use it for work. Right now, I’m using Leuchtturm and Notebook Therapy notebooks, but I’d like to switch to Tomoe River or Midori paper for a better writing experience.

What’s holding me back from the standard Traveler’s Notebook is the metal clasp on the spine and the knot in the back — I find both a bit uncomfortable when writing.

Are there alternatives with similarly high-quality leather covers that avoid these design elements?

I also really like the idea of a closure where the elastic has a leather tab that helps pull the cover closed neatly. I’ve seen this on some custom notebooks, but not on the standard TN. Is there a way to modify a TN to achieve this, or are there brands that already offer it?

Additionally, I’m looking for inserts — ideally:

- one with slots for ~3 business cards

- one that can be securely closed (zipper or flap)

I’m open to spending a bit more upfront if it means getting something truly high-quality and long-lasting (Etsy makers very welcome). I’d rather invest once than end up upgrading multiple times.

Any recommendations for brands, makers, or specific setups?

And if you’ve customized your TN to get around the “spine bump” issue, I’d love to hear how you did it.

Thanks a lot!