Traveler's Notebook Regular Size camel

The Traveler's Notebook Regular in Camel is a vegetable-tanned cowhide leather cover in warm camel brown, hand-cut in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The leather is untreated and in its natural state – when first opened, it still bears its natural white leather bloom, which can be buffed in with a soft cloth. From the moment you first use it, the surface begins to develop character: scratches, water marks and signs of use are an intentional part of the design, not flaws. The result is a notebook system that becomes more personal with every journey, every evening at the desk and every hastily scribbled thought.

Features

• Vegetable-tanned, hand-cut cowhide: Without synthetic treatment – the leather responds to heat, moisture and touch, developing its own patina. Camel starts warm and honey-coloured, deepening over time towards tobacco and amber.
• Open, modular insert system: Inserts hang from a sealed cord inside and can be swapped or added individually. Up to four refills fit comfortably in one cover; with connecting elastic bands, even more. Blank, ruled, grid, travel planner, perforated sketch pad, transparent pouch, sticky notes pad – the format accommodates all standard Regular-series insert types.
• Closure via elastic band with tin clip: The elastic band runs through slots at the top and bottom of the spine and lies flat against the notebook – no clip, no strap, no closure mechanism with wearing parts. A replacement elastic band is included.
• Slim A5 format: At 22 × 12.5 cm (cover), the Regular is narrower than A5, fits into any coat inside pocket and lies flat in a bag – wider than a passport, slimmer than a standard notebook.
• Included blank insert in MD Paper: The MD Paper (80 g/m²) is fountain pen-friendly, doesn't feather and suits fountain pens, gel pens and pencils equally well. Saddle-stitched binding, 64 pages.
• Supplied in linen protective pouch: The cotton cover protects the untreated leather before first use and remains useful as a storage bag.

Use & Tips

• First use: The white powder on the leather surface is natural leather bloom – simply buff it in with a soft, dry cloth. Afterwards, the surface feels more even and slightly waxy.
• Writing with a fountain pen: The included MD Paper is fountain pen-compatible. Inks with medium flow rates (e.g. from standard cartridges or converters) dry quickly without bleeding through. Highly flexible flex nibs should be tested with reduced ink flow.
• Combining inserts: If you want to separate travel from everyday use, choose two inserts: one blank for sketches and free notes, one with travel planner function for routes, tickets and addresses. Both sit in the cover simultaneously.
• Travel documents & keepsakes: Triply folded A4 sheets, boarding passes, admission tickets and photos fit inside. Sticky note inserts or transparent pouches as additional refills keep everything organised without glue on the leather.
• Leather care: The leather requires little care – occasionally brush it dry. If the leather becomes very dry, work in a natural leather balm sparingly. Water marks typically dry evenly and leave a characteristic patina.
• Replacing elastic bands: The closure elastic band can be easily replaced via the slots on the spine. The replacement elastic band included has a slightly different shade – this is typical for the Camel finish.

For Leather and System Notebook Enthusiasts

Vegetable tanning means the leather is tanned without synthetic chromium salts – instead, natural tannins from tree bark and fruit are used. The result is a firmer, more structured leather that absorbs moisture, heat and pressure more strongly than chrome-tanned material – and thus develops patina faster and more visibly. Camel is one of the shades that demonstrates this process most clearly: the initially even warm tone develops contrasts between worn edges and barely touched surfaces through hand oils, UV light and friction. The result is not decorative ageing, but a functional record of your own usage habits – similar to the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, which regards imperfection and change as aesthetic values. The inserts hang from a sealed cord that should not be opened without tools – replacement happens by threading new refills into the elastic band, not by undoing the cord.

Technical Specifications