The MD PRODUCT series was designed to have simple aesthetics, so all of the attention is focused on how well they’re made.

Most MD Notebooks come with book jackets made of glassine paper. Keep them on to protect the covers from dust, and you can enjoy watching the delicate paper burnish and collect creases over time. You can also remove the book jackets to reveal the notebooks’ cream-colored covers.

A blind-embossed logo on the back cover is the only marking on the outside (previous versions had the logo on the front cover). The covers and flyleaves (the first pages you see when you open the notebooks) are made of thicker versions of MD PAPER. You can doodle all over the notebooks without your tools behaving differently.

Most of the notebooks are thread bound, which allow them to lie completely flat. Each notebook has the super—the cloth-like material that protects the threads—on the outside (the 1 Day 1 Page omits the super). The tactile, mesh-like texture is a pleasant contrast against the smooth cardstock covers.

Many of the notebooks include bookmarks which come in different colors depending on the sheet style or format inside.

Each notebook includes a sticker sheet made from MD PAPER (the sticker sheet for the MD Notebook Cotton is made from MD PAPER Cotton). The exact stickers vary from notebook to notebook.

The MD Notebook is what started it all. This version comes in a variety of sizes, from compact A7 to spacious A4. It’s available in three sheet styles: blank, dot grid, graph, and lined. The lines are printed in subtle hues (gray for ruled and light blue for grid) that won’t distract you when writing.

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If the typical MD Notebook doesn’t have enough space for your notes and memories, the MD 1 Day 1 Page Notebook includes 368 pages—enough to use one page a day for a full year!

Unlike other MD Notebooks, it doesn’t include a bookmark ribbon. Instead, the bottom corners of the covers and pages are perforated so that they can be torn off as the notebook is filled up. This makes it easy to flip to the next blank page! It comes in blank and dot grid versions.

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The MD Notebook Light is a lightweight version of the standard MD Notebook. It has fewer pages and uses staple bindings. It comes in sets of three booklets in your choice of blank, graph, or lined paper. It’s an excellent option if you prefer a separate notebook for each project, or just want a lighter backpack while commuting.

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The MD Memo Block Pad includes a whopping five hundred sheets of MD PAPER. It’s a great desktop addition for writers who want plenty of high-quality paper for quick notes. You can also use them to cover up mistakes in your MD Notebook by sticking them down with glue or glue tape.

Choose from blank, grid, and lined sheet styles.

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For an elegant letter with vintage flair, use the MD Letter Pad. It includes fifty sheets of cream-colored paper printed with unobtrusive lines. Spaced 9.5 mm apart, they allow sentences to breathe without looking cramped.

When it’s time to mail your letter, fold the sheets in half and put them in an MD Envelope. It’s perfectly sized for the letter pad and is also made of MD PAPER. While this means the envelopes are fountain pen friendly, be sure to write addresses with waterproof ink so they’re still readable if it rains.

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The simple MD PAPER Pad can be used for memos, sketches, and more. The pads are glued on the top and right sides, so the pages stay in place whether you use the paper vertically or horizontally.

A small notch cut into the corner makes it easier to tell which side is unglued. The paper pads come in your choice of blank or graph paper.

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The MD Notebook Thick is a great option for artists looking for a minimalist sketchbook. The heavyweight paper has the same lightly textured surface as standard MD PAPER, so it works well with brush pens, colored pencils, and more.

The MD Notebook Thick is only available with blank paper; try printing out one of our guide sheets if you need lines to write straight. It has the same thread binding as the 1 Day 1 Page Notebook so it lies completely flat.

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The MD Notebook Cotton is filled with luxurious paper for drawing and journal entries. The paper is thick and durable because it’s made with cotton pulp, and it can handle watercolor washes and heavy applications of ink with ease.

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The MD PAPER Pad Cotton is glued on two sides so it can be used vertically or horizontally without the pages flapping around. The corner on the unglued side is cut out, so it’s easy to tell which side to pull from when it is time to remove a sheet.

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Use MD Letter Pad Cotton for snail mail that’s sure to impress your pen pal. You can pair the sheets with matching MD Envelopes Cotton.

If you plan to send your letter through the postal service, use a waterproof writing instrument to write the address so it doesn’t disappear in the rain.

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The MD Diary is very similar in appearance to the standard MD Notebook. It includes 176 lined pages as well as 32 blank pages for sketches. The lined pages are divided into four horizontal sections for a total of eight boxes on each spread.

These planners are sold out for 2026.

The MD Thin Diary is a good option for those who need space to schedule events but don’t require as much room for notes. It has 112 gridded pages, plus one blank page.

These planners are sold out for 2026.

The beautiful MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary is bound like a softcover book with a flexible PVC cover. The daily pages are undated so you can skip days or dedicate multiple pages to an event-packed day. The minimalist hourly tracker can be used to schedule events. You can also ignore the tracker and write on the lined sections as if it’s a freeform diary.

These planners are sold out for 2026.

MD Desk Calendars stand up on your desk thanks to their cardstock covers. The standard version has space on the right side for extra notes. The Twin has two calendars, displaying odd-numbered months on the left and even-numbered months on the right.

Finally, the Weekly Calendar provides space for your plans and additional tasks every week.

These calendars are sold out for 2026.

Use MD Diary Stickers to quickly and easily add calendars to notebooks and other surfaces. The stickers are similar to the labels included with MD Notebooks and Diaries.

The dated stickers are sold out for 2026.

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If you enjoy decorating the MD Notebook’s blank exterior, you’ll appreciate the Clear Notebook Cover. It keeps the notebook’s cover visible so you can show off any stickers, washi tapes, or doodles.

Be sure to pick up the right clear cover for your notebook. Check the size carefully; an A6 notebook needs an A6 cover. Please note that the 1 Day 1 Page Notebook requires a specific cover.

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Made of tear-resistant material, the Paper Notebook Cover has a pleasant, textured feel in the hand. The cover will collect creases as it’s used.

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MD PRODUCT created the Notebook Hardcover for customers who want to sketch outside with their MD Notebooks. It’s made of the same tear-resistant material as the Paper Notebook Cover, but it has thick, sturdy sheets on the inside that support the notebook. You can even use it while standing up!

These covers are only available in A5 and A5 Square sizes.

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The luxurious MD Leather Cover starts off a pale pink color and slowly darkens over time, eventually becoming a caramel brown color. Exposing it to sunlight will speed up the process. The leather absorbs your hand oils and picks up scuff marks and scratches, becoming uniquely yours.

Please note that because leather is a natural material, the cover may come with scars, wrinkles, and other imperfections. Learn how to take care of your leather cover in our guide.

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MD Notebook Bags are made from plastic or goat leather. The horizontal bag fits an A4 notebook and has a notch cut in the front flap so a pen or pencil can be attached by its clip.

The vertical bag fits most A5 notebooks and has two front pockets for pens and other accessories.

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With MD Drawing Pens, you don’t have to worry that your notes or drawings will disappear after an accidental water spill. They’re filled with pigment-based inks that are water resistant, so you can pair them with colorful markers or watercolors. The fineliner tips come in three tip sizes: 0.1 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.5 mm.

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The MD Fountain Pen has a simple appearance and cream barrel that matches the color of MD PAPER. Its medium nib is smooth and consistent for everyday writing and drawing. It’s compatible with international standard short cartridges and converters, including those from MD PRODUCT.

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Writers who want to swap between different inks quickly will appreciate the MD Dip Pen. Rather than using cartridges or converters, the pen is inked by dipping the nib into a bottle of ink. The pen’s barrel is made of MAPKA, a resin composed of 51% paper.

If you want to keep the pen like new, be careful when dipping the pen in ink; the barrel stains easily. The nib is the same as the one on the MD Fountain Pen, and we found that it has a more tactile sensation on the paper than other nibs of the same tip size.

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You don’t have to be stressed by mistakes in your journal anymore: MD Correction Tape perfectly matches the ivory tone of MD PAPER. Check out our tests to see what other papers it matches.

The tape is 6 mm wide, so it fits nicely between the 7 mm rule used in most lined MD products. The tape holder is made from MAPKA and it has a pleasant texture in the hand. MD Correction Tape is not completely opaque, so you will still see a light shadow of writing beneath the applied tape.

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MD Pencils have cream-colored barrels that perfectly match the MD Notebooks. Their B lead grade is moderately soft and dark with just enough “grip” on MD PAPER’s lightly textured surface, so they feel easy to control without being scratchy.

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MD Colored Pencils include six pencils in three colors featured in certain MD Notebooks. The orange looks just like the ribbon bookmark on MD Diaries, while the light blue and gray are inspired by the colors of the lines from the grid and lined MD Notebooks, respectively.

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Because the safari was so popular, LAMY made the AL-star and Lx. They share the same body design as the safari, and we’ll refer to these pens collectively as the safari throughout this guide.

We break down the differences between the safari AL-star, and Lx in the table below.

The LAMY safari and safari vista are made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. It’s regularly used for items like keyboards, helmets, and anything else that needs to have excellent durability and impact resistance. If you’ve ever stepped on a LEGO™ brick, you know just how strong ABS plastic can be!

The AL-star and Lx are made from aluminum, a sturdy yet relatively lightweight metal. It’s strengthened through a process called anodization, which thickens the natural and protective layer of aluminum oxide on the surface. Anodizing can also apply color, and unlike paint, it won’t chip or flake off.

The Lx is made even more special with its glossy black PVD-coated nib and precious metal plating on its clip and finial.

The LAMY safari has a triangular grip section that encourages an ergonomic hold. It gently guides your thumb, index finger, and middle finger into a tripod position.

There are slight grip variations depending on which pen or pencil you choose. The fountain pen has the most obvious triangular shape because a fountain pen nib needs to be at a specific angle to write properly. Correct positioning is less important for pencils and other pens, so the grip section isn’t as noticeable.

The sleek wire clip is the most recognizable feature of the LAMY safari. Its flared tip slides easily over thick pockets and notebook covers.

The fountain pens and rollerball pens have caps to help keep them from drying out, and the clip is located on the cap. The ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils use retraction mechanisms, and their clips are near the push buttons.

The LAMY safari is a great beginner fountain pen thanks to its sturdy construction and versatility. The pen feels comfortably balanced whether you use it with the cap posted on the back of the barrel or unposted. An ink window in the barrel lets you see how much ink is left in the cartridge or converter.

It comes with one blue T10 Ink Cartridge in the barrel, and replacement cartridges in a variety of colors are available. Intermediate fountain pen users can use a fountain pen converter to refill the pen from an ink bottle. Learn how to use a fountain pen converter by reading our guide.

Most of the safari-style fountain pen nibs come in five nib sizes: extra fine, fine, medium, broad, plus specialty nibs. The nibs can be easily switched out if you want to try a different nib size, change to a black nib color, or upgrade to a 14 karat gold nib.

Read our guide to learn how you can swap LAMY safari nibs. We list all the nibs available at JetPens.com in the table below.

When you get your first LAMY safari Fountain Pen, you’ll notice that it has a cardboard ring installed over the grip section’s threads. This ring prevents the cartridge from getting punctured while in transit, and you’ll need to remove it first.

Follow the steps below to learn how to install the cartridge correctly. You can also follow the same steps to replace a used cartridge.

2. Remove the cap and unscrew the barrel.

4. Insert the new cartridge into the pen’s grip section. Unlike with other fountain pens, you don’t need to push it in to puncture the cartridge.

6. Cap the pen, set it aside, and wait for ink to reach the feed. This can take up to an hour, but you can test the pen after about fifteen minutes.

If a fountain pen seems like a bit too much work, the LAMY safari Rollerball Pen could be a good alternative. It uses a quick-drying, water-based ink and has a tip similar to that of a ballpoint or gel pen, so you don’t have to adjust your writing (like a beginner might with a fountain pen nib). It also needs less maintenance, because you never have to clean the nib and feed. Refilling the pen is as easy as swapping out the refill, too.

The safari Rollerball Pen looks very similar to the fountain pen, but there are a few small differences to set it apart. The finial on top of the cap is a single line rather than a cross. The rollerball doesn’t have an ink-viewing window in the barrel, either.

The LAMY safari Ballpoint Pen has a tip that extends and retracts with a quick click of its button. The oil-based ballpoint ink flows smoothly and it dries almost instantly. It also writes on surfaces that a liquid ink may struggle with, such as slick receipts.

The ballpoint pen comes with a medium black refill; other colors and tip sizes are also available.

The LAMY safari Mechanical Pencil is a no-nonsense pencil that’s great for students and professionals alike. The included HB pencil lead is dark and smooth with a touch of feedback. You can refill the safari with any 0.5 mm lead, and you can see our top recommendations in our guide on the Best Mechanical Pencil Leads.

Underneath the clicker button is a small replaceable eraser with an attached cleaning rod that you can use to clear lead jams. While the eraser works well, it’s also small and will get used up quickly. We recommend keeping a separate eraser on hand.

Spruce up your living space with a washi tape tree. Make holiday trees, trees to keep track of kids’ heights, or simple decorative trees. For our tree, we chose a thicker tape with a brown tone. For the trunk, we layered two of the tapes side by side, while using only one layer for the branches. We made leaves out of construction paper that could be swapped out to mimic the changing seasons.

Products Used: mt Ex Encyclopedia Washi Tapes

Plain picture frames instantly brighten up when you add colorful washi tape. Choose patterns that match the mood of your photos. You can also display pictures on your refrigerator or other magnetic surfaces by fixing washi tape to strip magnets, which we achieved by cutting up magnetic roll tape. It gives a fun, scrapbook look to any space.

Products Used: mt Patterns Washi Tapes, Mark's Masté Standard Washi Tapes

If you love adding extra touches when entertaining guests, embellish basic coasters with washi tape. Your guests will be impressed by your creativity. Vary the designs on the coasters so guests will remember exactly which cups are theirs.

Products Used: mt Patterns Washi Tapes, Mark's Masté Standard Washi Tapes

Washi tape is a great way to keep your workspace visually interesting. Try adding washi tape along the edges of your laptop or computer monitor to give them character. Make sure to place the tape somewhere you won’t be repeatedly touching or pressing. Otherwise, the washi tape may start peeling off.

Products Used: Kamiiso Saien Washi Tapes

Instead of using boring labels, line the spines of your notebooks with washi tape to color code and organize them. They’ll add a pretty pop of color to your office shelves. Since washi tape is designed to be removable, you can place clear tape on top for extra security. Or you can use washi tape with strong adhesive.

Products Used: Mark's Masté Standard Washi Tapes

Corkboards are useful for pinning notes and memos as well as keepsakes and pictures. Using washi tape, you can personalize corkboards with crisscross patterns, diagonal layouts, or simple lines on the frame.

Products Used: mt Ex Encyclopedia Washi Tapes

Deck out your vases and jars with washi tape for a lively party look. Place them around the party area as fun pieces of decor. You can switch out different tapes for different parties depending on what kind of mood you’re going for.

Products Used: Kamiiso Kimono Beauty Washi Tapes

Transform boring paper or plastic cups by lining them with washi tape. Decorating cups is a great way to set a theme for your party. We cut our tape into little ribbon shapes and applied them on the paper cups to mimic the look of a garland.

Products Used: mt Solids Washi Tapes

Wooden clothespins are handy for hanging photos along a wall, but they can look bland on their own. Add some color by sticking washi tape onto your clothespins for a contrasting look.

Products Used: mt Patterns Washi Tapes

Make gifts even more special by decorating them with washi tape. You can use one or several similar tapes to adorn gift labels for a cohesive look. We paired tapes with intricate floral finishes to create this package and gift tag.

Products Used: mt William Morris Washi Tapes

Elevate basic favor boxes with washi tape to add a personal touch to your next event. There are various ways you can use washi tape on the boxes. You can line the entire box, just the lid or edges, or even the inside for a surprise.

Products Used: Papier Platz Original Washi Tapes, Papier Platz Artist Collaboration Washi Tapes

Clear plastic bags are ideal for storing and displaying food favors, so try elevating them by adding cute washi tape lining. You can also use small paper bags—just seal them with the same washi tape that you lined them with.

Products Used: Girl of All Work Washi Tapes

Those struggling to keep track of their washi tape collection will appreciate these Nakabayashi Clear Organizers. Because they’re clear, all the tapes you own stay in plain sight rather than buried beneath other tapes, only to be forgotten. The organizers come in both container and tray styles that are deep enough to prevent tapes from rolling off. Some of them even stack, like these two rectangular organizers.

If you prefer to organize tapes by design or color, we recommend the two- or three-compartment organizers. They include removable dividers for maximum flexibility. Plus, they stack on top of each other.

Kanmido Maco Washi Tape Holders are perfect for carrying around multiple washi tapes without the bulk of full rolls. The slim pen-shaped design holds up to four rolls of tape and slips easily into a pen case. A loop on the top also lets you hang it from a keychain or bag for extra easy access! The Maco Tape Holder also doubles as a cutter, with a serrated edge that cleanly tears the tape when you need it.

You’ll have to load each of your washi tapes onto the included cores, but we think the extra step is worth the convenience. Each core can hold about 80 cm of 15 mm wide tape. It’s also possible to place 18 or 20 mm tape inside, though the holder will only fit three rolls instead of four. If you want to carry more washi tapes with you, extra cores are available.

While most washi tape cutters need to be clipped onto washi tape rolls, these Sun-Star Kirito Ring Washi Tape Cutters only need to be placed against the tape for clean tears. This way, you can quickly switch between washi tapes!

Shaped like a little bird, the Kirito Ring slips onto your thumb, and its soft silicone wings wrap around for a secure fit. It fits washi tapes that are up to 15 mm wide and can be used with both right and left thumbs. Additionally, its petite size makes it easy to carry around without taking up too much space.

Up your washi tape game with Kutsuwa Ribbon Bon Washi Tape Cutters! Since they make decorative shaped cuts, you don’t need to use scissors to painstakingly create ribbon, cat, heart, and zigzag cutouts. If you want a plain cut, each cutter also has a straight cutting edge.

These Ribbon Bon Cutters work with 15 mm wide washi tape rolls. We found that the ribbon and zigzag cutters are the most effective at cutting cleanly.

YAMAMOTO PAPER Ro-Biki Notebooks are our top choice for pocket notebooks. Their waxed paper covers will burnish over time and are more durable than those made from regular paper. They’re filled with Soliste paper, which feels thicker than its 65 gsm weight would suggest. All pens work great on it, including fountain pens.

The notebooks are available in a variety of different cover designs, though our favorites feature artworks from around the world.

The Midori MD Notebook is an excellent pocket journal. It’s packed with Midori Diary (MD) paper, which works well with inky writing instruments like fountain pens and rollerball pens without any feathering or bleedthrough. The paper’s surface is slightly textured, so graphite pencils feel great on it, too.

If you’d like extra protection for the MD Notebook’s cover, Midori makes vinyl, paper, and leather covers. The supple goat leather cover is especially lovely and gives the notebook an inviting softness. However, keep in mind that a cover will make the notebook bulkier.

The Passport TRAVELER'S COMPANY TRAVELER'S notebook has a leather cover that’s both durable and beautiful. The cover will naturally pick up scuff marks and scratches and become a unique part of your everyday carry.

The TRAVELER’S notebook can hold multiple inserts so you can customize it to fit your needs. There are plenty of refills and accessories to choose from, too.

If you need very small notebooks that will fit in (almost) any pocket, A7 Apica C.D. Notebooks are the way to go. They feature the same great fountain pen friendly paper found in their larger siblings. We appreciate that they’re available individually or in budget-friendly packs of four. While these mini notebooks don’t lie flat naturally, their sewn spines can be bent back for easier writing.

If you use the bullet journal system and want to plan on the go, check out Leuchtturm1917 Pocket Bullet Journals. They were made to be travel friendly, so you can keep track of important tasks no matter where you are. The pack includes three notebooks which are meant to be used in landscape format. By turning each notebook 90 degrees, the top and bottom spread becomes one “page” and is equal in size to an A5 sheet.

If you work outdoors or live in a place with lots of rain, Field Notes Expedition Memo Books could save your notes from disappearing. They’re made with Yupo Synthetic paper, which is both waterproof and tear proof. Since it doesn’t absorb ink the way typical paper does, it can only be written on with ballpoint pens, pencils, or permanent markers. Water-based inks like those in gel pens will smudge no matter how long you wait.

Field Notes is known for their practical and unique memo books. Learn more about them in our guide.

Maruman Septcouleur Notebooks have twin-ring bindings that are durable and allow the entire notebook to be folded on itself. Pens won’t bleed or feather on its high-quality 70 gsm paper, though you’ll need to give inks a little time to dry completely before closing the notebook. All the sheets are perforated, so you can tear them out cleanly.

Fountain pen enthusiasts who don’t mind longer dry times will love LIFE Margin Notebooks. They’re filled with LIFE’s L Writing Paper, an 84.9 gsm paper that feels luxurious to write on. If you tend to take quick notes and close your notebook to put back in your pocket, you’ll want to tuck a sheet of blotting paper between the pages to prevent ink from transferring.

The Margin Notebook includes 80 sheets of paper and is almost 1 cm (0.4 inches) thick, so it may be too bulky for shirt pockets. The A7 Noble Notebook also uses 84.9 gsm paper, but at 0.3 cm (0.1 inches) thick, it’s much slimmer. For A6 options, check out the LIFE Vermilion and Pistachio.

If you want to be able to rearrange sheets in your pocket notebook, you definitely need the KOKUYO Campus 2x2 Binder Notebook. It’s bound with rings that can be opened with a quick pinch. Additionally, while you may think that all binders are bulky, the 2x2 Binder Notebook is surprisingly slim.

The A7 2x2 Binder Notebook has a landscape format; if you would prefer a notebook size that’s longer than it’s wide, you can get the A6 version.

Unlike other paper sizes, there aren’t standardized dimensions for pocket size notebooks. There are two reasons for this. First, pockets vary widely in size, and a notebook that can fit in a jacket pocket may not fit in a shirt pocket.

Second, some people feel the term “pocket” simply suggests that the notebook is easy to carry around. In this view, as long as the notebook fits in a purse or backpack, it’s considered a pocket notebook.

In this guide, we only considered notebooks that are likely to fit in a clothing pocket. This includes A7, B7, and A6 notebooks, as well as “typical” pocket size notebooks that measure about 3.5” x 5.5”. We’ve also included a few other non-standard options.

A notebook’s binding influences how well it can stand up to wear, whether it lays flat when opened, and how comfortable it is to carry in a pocket. We summarize the differences below:

• Most pocket notebooks are staple bound. Staple bindings aren’t very durable, but the notebooks are typically used up before that becomes a problem. They don’t lie flat naturally but can be bent backwards.
• Thread-bound notebooks are sturdier than staple-bound notebooks but are otherwise very similar.

Softcover notebooks are more comfortable for pocket carry since they can bend to the shape of your body, but they’re more likely to show wear and be damaged with intense use. Most pocket notebooks have soft covers made of cardstock. Hardcover notebooks are more durable, but they’re bulkier and less practical for slipping into a pants pocket. They’re better to carry in loose-fitting clothing like jackets.

A notebook’s cover also determines how well you can write in the notebook one-handed. The sturdier the cover, the easier it is to use while standing. Notebooks with flimsier covers need to be folded back on themselves or held strategically to stiffen the writing surface.

Most people use their pocket notebooks for quick notes instead of extended writing, so a fast dry time is essential. Ink doesn’t have long to dry before the notebook is shut and put back into a pocket. We recommend using ballpoint pens because their oil-based inks dry almost instantly on pretty much every paper.

However, if you prefer using fountain pens, gel pens, or rollerball pens, keep in mind that these inks can take longer to dry. Try using finer tips, which put down less ink and have shorter dry times. Consider what kind of paper you’re using, too. More absorbent paper helps wet inks dry faster, but it can also lead to feathering and bleedthrough.

Pocket notebooks come in sheet styles like lined, blank, graph, and dot grid. Most people prefer lined paper for writing. Graph and dot grid paper provide more versatility for sketching, while blank paper is ideal for people who doodle as often as they write.

Some notebooks include sheet perforations to make it easy to remove pages cleanly. This can be useful for discarding outdated information or sharing lists and directions with others.

We love the variety of stickers offered by Furukawashiko Watashi Biyori Daily Sticker sheets. You can use the different designs to mark important dates in calendars, track your mood, or decorate weekly pages. For example, the Hyokkori Animals sheet combines cute animals with colorful shapes that you can put over a pre-printed date.

Planner Used: NOLTY Ecri Weekly Vertical Planner

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mt Slim Washi Tapes are great for organizing your planner pages, and they help add splashes of color, too. Since they’re so thin (measuring 3 mm or 6 mm) they don’t take up much space. We like using them to divide daily pages into sections, so extra space can be used for notes without getting them mixed up with plans.

Planner Used: NOLTY Ecri Weekly Vertical Planner

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Charming Sun-Star wakumo Washi Tape Frame Stickers work great for highlighting special events. Each sticker is actually two stickers: a frame and a square decoration in the center. Try using the frame sticker in a monthly calendar, then put the decoration sticker on the corresponding daily or weekly planner page.

Planner Used: Hobonichi Techo Cousin

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Use Hightide See-Through Stickers to color-code dates in your planner. They’re repositionable in case your plans change, and you can still see the date underneath when they’re applied. We appreciate that they come in coordinating color sets and include two sticker sizes. We suggest using the same color for repeating events so they’re easy to spot at a glance.

Planner Used: NOLTY Ecri Weekly Vertical Planner

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We might be biased, but our JetPens Kanso Washi Tapes are great for tracking all kinds of things in your planner. You can use them to add star ratings for books and movies, weather records, or even monthly habit trackers. The tapes are writable, so you can pair them with your favorite water-based writing instruments like gel pens and markers.

Most of the washi tapes are sized to fit in 5 mm grids, but we also made some that fit in the smaller grids used in Hobonichi Techo planners.

Planner Used: Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal

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Suatelier Icon Planner Stickers include thirty-six cute, emoji-like icons that can be used for anything from tracking the weather to your mood. Because they’re transparent, they can be applied as simple black icons or layered over washi tape.

Planner Used: NOLTY Ecri Weekly Vertical Planner

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Bande Washi Tape Sticker Rolls are some of our favorites for decorating, so we have to recommend them in this guide. While they look like your average washi tapes, they’re actually washi stickers that are packaged in rolls. Just peel a sticker from the roll and apply it wherever you’d like.

There’s a wide variety of stickers to choose from. We especially love these designs that look like people or animals, which can be playfully tucked in monthly calendar squares.

Planner Used: NOLTY Ecri Weekly Vertical Planner

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King Jim Kitta Washi Tapes are the perfect choice for washi tape lovers who want to decorate their planners while on the go. They’re pre-cut into strips or perforated rectangles, so you can quickly apply the tapes where needed. To use them, tear the piece off of the glue binding and remove the paper backing to expose the adhesive.

The washi tapes are packaged in matchbook-style booklets that are about the same size as a credit card when folded up.

Planner Used: Hobonichi Techo Weeks

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With so many Midori Planner Sticker designs to choose from, you can use them for a variety of purposes in your planner. For example, many sticker sheets include stickers small enough to decorate calendar squares, while others are larger and fit best in weekly or daily planner pages. As an added bonus, some of the planner stickers can be used to organize your planner or track events.

We also want to recommend JetPens Planner Stickers, which feature our mascot JetDo and useful icons for things like birthdays.

Planner Used: Hobonichi Techo Weeks

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Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils are the best colored pencils for art. Their richly pigmented cores are oil based so they’ll never suffer from wax bloom, which creates white haze that can dull the artwork’s vibrancy. More impressively, they’re lightfast, meaning they’re resistant to fading from sunlight. Asterisks next to the color name on each pencil indicate how lightfast each color is, so you can easily determine which colors will last longer.

These artist grade pencils lay down smooth layers of color at the slightest touch, but their strong points can also handle pressure for greater intensity. Additionally, each Polychromos pencil is numbered to match the corresponding color in Faber-Castell’s PITT Artist Brush Pen and Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencil lines.

We highly recommend Prismacolor Col-Erase Colored Pencils for beginners. They come in sets of 12 and 24, providing a solid foundation of colors for beginners to start with. They also feature firm lead cores that are more resistant to breaking than soft colored pencils. Plus, the pencils retain their points for longer and are easier to control, so beginners can easily color within lines. However, this does mean you need more pressure to create intense colors.

Col-Erase Pencils are also fairly erasable in case you make mistakes. They leave very faint marks on the page after erasing. Each pencil has an eraser on the other end, although we suggest using a dedicated eraser to remove marks.

Uni Vermilion and Prussian Blue Pencils are double sided, so you can carry two colors without taking up any extra space. They have firm cores and produce lines that won’t smudge easily, but are soft enough to lay down smooth lines. The vermilion side is a slightly orange red suitable for initial sketching and underdrawing, while the darker Prussian blue is ideal for overdrawing and adding emphasis.

Although we enjoy using them for sketching, these pencils are not fully erasable. We recommend using them for base drawings to build upon. They’re available in hexagonal or round bodies, as well as 5:5 and 7:3 red to blue color ratios.

Highly opaque and pigmented, Uni Arterase Color Pencils show up exceptionally well on dark paper. Thanks to their firm yet smooth cores, you can produce clean, vivid lines that almost feel creamy. Their tips don’t wear down too quickly, so they don’t need constant sharpening. As a bonus, Arterase Colored Pencils are actually easy to erase. If you use erasers to add highlights, remove initial sketches, or just tidy up mistakes, you’re sure to enjoy these pencils. They’re available individually, or in sets of 12, 24, and 36.

Uni No.888 Colored Pencils are designed specifically with coloring books in mind. Since many coloring books feature natural themes like animals, plants, and flowers, they offer several rich hues of red, brown, green, and blue. They also layer well, allowing for smooth gradations.

However, some of the lighter colors require more pressure to produce saturated tones. They’re available as a set of 36 colors. For more coloring ideas, check out our guide to Adult Coloring Supplies.

Water-soluble pencils like Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils combine the best aspects of painting and drawing. Because their cores are mildly firm, they can be used to produce controlled lines and fine details. Applying water allows the pigments to blend smoothly like watercolor paint.

Once the paper has dried, the watercolor washes become permanent. You can then safely layer other colors and media without reactivating the previous pencil marks. If you want to produce extra bold, saturated lines, dip the pencil tip in water before drawing, or draw in wet areas on the paper. The water will activate the pigments for strong color payoff.

Faber-Castell’s watercolor pencils are lightfast and securely bonded to prevent lead breakage. They come individually and in multiple sets.

Colored pencils will work on almost any surface, but we recommend paper with mild tooth. The Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook is an excellent option. Its texture helps pencils deposit plenty of pigment, but it’s not so pronounced that the paper grain significantly breaks up the color. Alpha sketchbooks are also heavier than most colored pencil paper, which gives you the option to use light washes and mixed media.

For those interested in toned paper, Stillman & Birn Nova Sketchbooks offer brown, gray and black sheet options. The paper’s mild tooth holds color well, and the variety of tones lets you pick the best background for each drawing. If you can’t decide on a color, try one of the Mixed Trio sketchbooks. Each sketchbook includes an assortment of brown, gray, and black sheets.

The best eraser for your colored pencils depends on how you plan to use it. If you need to lighten specific areas or form small details, try Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Erasers. These pull color from the paper rather than rubbing it away. They can also be molded to form precise points.

The Tombow MONO Zero Retractable Eraser is also great for detail work. Its incredibly thin tip allows you to “draw” by erasing, providing more precise strokes. It’s available in circular and rectangular shapes.

For thoroughly removing color, we recommend the KOKUYO Campus Student Eraser For 2B Lead. It erases colored pencil marks more effectively than most erasers and requires only a light touch.

Since colored pencil cores consist mostly of wax and colorant, they’re softer and more prone to breakage than regular pencil lead. The Uni Color Pencil Sharpener is specifically designed for sharpening colored pencils, consistently ensuring that the delicate cores won’t break. However, it does produce a relatively short point.

Global Art Pencil Cases are made with sturdy canvas that can stand up to significant wear while keeping your pencils safe. The flat case has rigid paneling and a soft interior with secure elastic bands to prevent pencils from moving around. The three different book style sizes can hold up to 24, 48, and 120 pencils at once. If 48 is too big and 24 is too small, the roll up case holds up to 36 pencils in individual slots. For more recommendations, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide to pencil cases.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens come in more than 100 beautiful colors and even a colorless blender for seamless blending. Each pen is double-sided with a soft brush on one side and a hard felt tip on the other, so they’re great for experimenting with different calligraphy styles.

Also Consider: Zebra Mildliner Brush Double-Sided Highlighters

Marvy Le Pen Flex Brush Pens are ideal for when you’re limited on space, like addressing envelopes or adding compact headers to notes. They have rubberized felt tips that are short and precise, so you won’t make too large of a stroke. Despite their small sizes, the tips are flexible yet firm, so they’re easy to control. These slim pens are also available in a wide variety of vibrant colors.

Also Consider: Pentel Fude Touch Brush Sign Pens

For quick-drying ink, our top pick is the Pilot Shunpitsu Pocket Brush Pen. It boasts lightfast, waterproof pigment ink that’s specially formulated to dry within a second! The pen’s double-sided design features a firm fine tip that’s beginner-friendly on one end, and a softer medium tip for bold lettering on the other end.

The rest of the Shunpitsu Pocket Brush Pen line also features quick-drying inks, but these pens use dye-based inks and aren’t fully waterproof.

Also Consider: Sakura Pigma Sketch Brush Pens

If you’re looking for a simple pen for daily brush lettering practice, consider the Kuretake ZIG COCOIRO Letter Pen. It has a super firm, extra fine brush tip that’s easy to control and forgiving when you’re learning to draw consistent lines, but still offers a bit of flex for subtle line variation. Plus, its soft, rounded matte body makes it comfortable to hold for longer practice sessions. When you run out of ink, just pop in a refill.

The Kuretake No. 33 Brush Pen features a flexible, squishy tip for those who want to challenge themselves with softer brush tips. Designed to mimic traditional brushes for Asian calligraphy, it features a long body and tip. Depending on the angle you hold the pen at, you can create striking dark brush strokes or fine lines.

Because of its squishy tip, it does have a higher learning curve than our other recommendations. Pressing too hard may dispense too much ink and cause feathering or bleeding on lower quality paper.

The best pen for nurses is the Uni Power Tank Ballpoint Pen. Using pressurized ink, it can write in almost any situation, including at odd angles and over wet paper. Plus, the ink is archival quality, so it won’t fade or discolor over time. Both the 0.7 mm and the 1.0 mm tip sizes dried within 10 seconds on our office labels and almost instantly on ordinary copy paper, ensuring smudge-free writing.

The Uni Power Tank’s firm, lightly textured rubber grip won’t slip out of your grasp, and it’s easy to clean, too. The grip is slightly thicker than most single-color pens, but it’s still thin enough to switch between multiple colors held in the same hand.

We should note that the Uni Power Tank has a standard clip with no lanyard hole, and it only comes in black, blue, and red. However, refills are available in 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 1.0 mm tip sizes.

The Uni Jetstream is our favorite ballpoint pen, and we think it’s the best ballpoint pen for nurses, too. Its low-viscosity ink is wonderfully smooth and doesn’t require as much writing pressure as other ballpoint pens. Plus, it’s formulated to be fraud and fade resistant. It can be a decent labeling pen in a pinch; in our tests, its ink dried within twenty seconds on labels.

We recommend the Jetstream’s standard bodies, which have firm rubber grips for comfortable writing. For basic black, blue, and red ink, tip sizes are available from 0.38 mm to 1.0 mm. Colorful tinted versions come with matching inks in 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 1.0 mm tip sizes.

Try Uni’s Lite Touch ink for a writing experience that glides across the page with minimal writing pressure and all the same characteristics as standard Jetstream ink.

The Zebra Sarasa Dry Gel Pen boasts ink that’s formulated to dry faster than conventional gel ink, so it’s less likely to smear. This makes it a great option for left-handed writers or anyone who wants to avoid smudged notes.

All Sarasa Gel Pens have smooth inks, and most have push clips that easily attach to pockets and papers. While the standard Sarasa Dry comes with black, blue, or red refills, more color options are available in the form of the Sarasa Dry X20.

We should note that the Zebra Sarasa Dry is not as water resistant as other options in this guide. In our testing, the ink tended to bleed through copy paper when water was introduced but still remained fairly legible.

Nurses who need to switch between written notes and tablet screens will love the Uni Jetstream Stylus Ballpoint Pen. It uses the same ink as our favorite retractable pen above, so it’s waterproof, forgery resistant, and fade resistant. The replaceable stylus tip is made with silver-coated fibers and lets you use screens with a lighter touch than a typical rubber stylus.

Since the stylus is where a retractable pen’s push button would normally be, the pen tip is extended by pressing down on the clip. Retract the pen tip by pressing the button on the opposite side of the barrel from the clip.

The Pilot Dr. Grip Multi Pen was designed to prevent hand strain and keep long writing sessions comfortable. Its grip section has a soft inner layer and a firm outer later, resulting in a moderate softness. Combined with its optimal weight balance, it’s no wonder the Dr. Grip has earned an “Ease-of-Use” Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation!

This ergonomic multi pen contains low-viscosity Acro ballpoint ink in four colors, a mechanical pencil component, and an eraser under the pen’s top cap.

Learn more about Pilot Dr. Grip pens and pencils in our comprehensive guide.

Pair your writing with the Zebra JustFit Mojini Line Highlighter for smear-proof notes. Its specially formulated ink binds with water-based inks and can be used over ballpoint, gel, or rollerball inks without issue.

The Zebra JustFit Mojini also comes with a flexible chisel tip that maintains contact with the page without needing to hold the highlighter at a specific angle.

For a pen and highlighter combination that will eliminate the worry of smudged writing altogether, use the Zebra JustFit Mojini Line with the Zebra Mark On. This gel pen uses ink specially formulated with greater water resistance. The Mark On can even withstand the inky Zebra Mildliner Highlighter!

A multi-surface fineliner like the Sakura Microperm Pen can write on plastic, glass, and more. While it’s only available with black ink, it comes in tip sizes as small as 0.25 mm, and its ink formula is quick-drying, waterproof, and permanent on most surfaces. We recommend testing the ink in an inconspicuous spot first to ensure it fits all your needs, as some alcohol-based cleaners may remove the ink from nonporous surfaces.

While the Sakura Microperm is great for labels, it can bleed through paper if the pen tip lingers on the page.

A pigmented whiteboard marker like the Pilot Board Master Dry Erase Marker is an essential tool for relaying information to others. Its thick, spongy tip and twin pipe feeder design keep lines consistently sharp and legible.

This dry erase marker comes in a handful of vibrant ink colors and medium fine, medium, and broad tip sizes. The tips and ink cartridges are replaceable, making it economical and eco-friendly.

Whiteboard erasers are available separately, as needed.

Keep a Maruman M.Memo Mini Notepad on hand to jot down reminders, to-do lists, and notes throughout the day. A pocket-size notepad is considerably less cumbersome to carry around than a tablet or laptop and is useful in situations where you’re not allowed to have your phone on you.

This A7 size notepad has sturdy cardstock covers, twin ring binding, and lined paper that’s compatible with inky writing instruments.

The King Jim Magflap Clipboard is a must-have for writing on and referencing loose papers. The two magnetic flaps on the front of the clipboard keep papers secure and protect their corners. The magnetic flap on the back holds papers when they’re flipped over the top of the clipboard. This flap is also handy for attaching the clipboard vertically to whiteboards and other surfaces.

With its ingenious weave pattern, the KOKUYO Security View Clear Folder keeps private information hidden. We should note that the back of the folder is a translucent white, so text may be visible if papers are placed in the folder facing that side.

KOKUYO Clear Folders can hold up to 15 sheets of A4 size paper. Purchase Super Clear folders to store blank forms and other documents.

Bring all of your everyday carry items in the Lihit Lab ALTNA Tool Tote Bag. It has a minimalist look and several exterior pockets and pen loops to keep items at the ready. The main interior compartment is large enough to fit 15 inch laptops, A4 notebooks, and more. Plus, the tote is just structured enough so that it stays upright and its smooth, coated bottom is easy to clean. Use the buttonable flap to cover the contents of the bag or just use the center snap to keep things accessible.