Lochby Field Journal Review: A Tough Everyday Carry Journal for Travel and Adventure

Introduction

Some notebooks are made to sit on a desk. The Lochby Field Journal is made to be thrown into the back of a Jeep, hauled through museums, and stuffed into a travel bag next to climbing gear. It is a waxed canvas journal cover built around swappable inserts, and it aims to be the kind of everyday carry companion that also survives real expeditions. After spending some real time with it, here is how it holds up.

First Impressions: Built Like Outdoor Gear

The first thing you notice is the toughness. The cover is made of waxed canvas that feels a bit like a barbour jacket, which gives the whole package a water-repellent, expedition-grade character. Scratches and scuffs are part of the appeal: you can buff many of them out, and the cover evolves into a nicely broken-in look over time.

The outside is genuinely well thought out. There is a double-stitched rear pocket that is more useful than it sounds; it comfortably swallows a phone, and it would also take a wallet, a map, or ticket stubs. A small webbing carrying handle sits along the top, which is handy for carrying the journal through a museum, and it doubles as a hand strap: hook your hand through it and the journal stays secured even if you are bouncing around in a vehicle or jotting notes on a raft.

There is also an external pen loop. It fits pens nicely, even slightly larger ones, but it is exposed to the elements, so it makes the most sense for a rugged pen rather than a prized one.

The Aluminium Latch

The closure is the signature detail: a climbing-harness-style latch made of lightweight aluminium with a matte finish and a pull tab. It hooks onto a nylon loop and cinches down, which is useful when the journal is packed full or when you want everything to stay shut.

It works, and it looks great, but it can be a little fiddly. The nylon loop is soft, and in the field it can take a bit of patience to slide the latch on and hook it. A stiffer loop would make latching easier. It is a small complaint about an otherwise over-engineered, charmingly tough clasp.

Inside: Inserts, Pockets, and Paper

Inside, the cover holds up to four inserts, with elastic loops to secure them. The included insert is Lochby dot grid paper in a size of just under 6 by 8 inches, a comfortable format that will feel familiar next to your other everyday items. A handy inner flap holds maps, photos, or paper keepsakes as you travel, and the elastic loops can double as bookmarks, though they can feel slightly in the way if you only run a single notebook.

The pockets are a highlight. There are deep slip pockets great for credit cards, a dedicated pen slot that holds several pens, and a mesh compartment. One thing missing: the mesh pocket is not fully sealed, so small items you truly want secured do not have a zippered home. Behind everything sits another large stashing space, giving the cover real flexibility as a wallet-and-journal combo for days out.

The paper deserves its own mention. Lochby is clearly designed with fountain pens in mind, and the included insert is Tomoe River paper at 68 GSM. That is a lovely thing to find as a stock insert. The dot grid keeps handwriting passable and gives you freedom to sketch, take field notes, or doodle architecture, and the Tomoe River surface brings out sheen and character in your inks beautifully.

There is an internal pen loop as well, positioned so right-handed users can keep a pen on the right side, with room to slip in a second.

Things to Consider Before Buying

No product is perfect, and a few quirks are worth knowing upfront. The nylon loop under the latch could be stiffer, since latching is occasionally fiddly. The elastic bookmarks divide opinion and may end up snipped off if you run one insert at a time. And there is no zippered pocket for items you want fully secured, like medications or small valuables you would hate to lose in transit.

On the plus side, the specs are hard to argue with. The journal weighs about 10.5 ounces or 300 grams, so it is easy to slip into a bag, and it measures 25 cm tall, 17 cm wide, and about 2.5 cm deep. It comes in brown, black, or navy, with brown best matching that outdoor expedition aesthetic. The balance between toughness and weight feels well judged: all-canvas construction would be heavier and less fun to carry.

Value and Refills

The Lochby Field Journal costs $59, with shipping bringing the total to around $66. That is real money for a journal cover, but this is a renewable system rather than a disposable notebook. Refill inserts are available as a four-pack for $34 from Lochby, and other Tomoe River notebooks on the market fit as well, including somewhat larger ones if you prefer. Since the cover is the durable part, you can keep using it for years and simply stack up filled inserts, organized by topic: one for museums, one for architecture, one for field notes.

Who Should Buy It

This is an easy recommendation for anyone whose journaling life involves movement: travelers, museum-goers, birders, hikers, and anyone who takes notes in less-than-gentle conditions. There is a bit of romance to it too. It feels like the journal you would take following in the footsteps of Herodotus across North Africa, or bouncing through the countryside in a Land Rover.

If your journals stay pristine on a desk shelf, a simpler and cheaper notebook will do the job. But if you want one durable, refillable home for your notes, cards, phone, and pens that can take a beating and look better for it, the $66 all-in asking price is fair for something this renewable and this tough.

Conclusion

The Lochby Field Journal gets the important things right: genuinely tough waxed canvas construction, a characterful aluminium latch, smart pockets, light overall weight, and excellent Tomoe River dot grid paper that fountain pen users will appreciate. The fiddly nylon loop, fussy bookmarks, and lack of a sealed pocket are minor blemishes rather than dealbreakers. As a long-term, refillable platform for travel, adventure, and everyday notes, it earns its place in the rotation.