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Field Notes Winter Edition Review: The 1943 Two-Way Memo Books

A first look at the Field Notes 1943 two-way memo books, stapled the short way.

Luis Duque, PE · September 26, 2026 · 3 min read

Field Notes Limited Quarterly Edition number 69 arrived with my Field Notes subscription, and this is my first look at it.

Watch the full video for everything shown on camera.

What comes in the box

Edition 69 is a set of three 1943 two-way memo books. The package also included a 2026 calendar.

I love the colors of the three books. Together they remind me of the Colombian flag.

The short-side staple is the whole point

What makes these memo books special is the binding. Each one is stapled on the short side, so you can flip it open like a pad, which is pretty cool.

You can also turn it and use it as a sideways notebook. I don't know yet which way I'll end up using mine.

I'm leaning toward using one as a notepad. When I use a whole page that way, I can fit a ton of information on it.

Otherwise, these are the exact same size as regular Field Notes and have the same number of pages. The staples run along the short side instead, and I really like that.

Best for: anyone who wants a pocket notebook that works as a top-opening pad. Skip it if you only write in the regular portrait direction, since the size and page count match regular Field Notes.

Paper: natural, not bright white

The specs are printed on the back cover. The grid is 4.7mm by 4.7mm, the same as the previous edition I compared it with, and the corners match too. The paper is 60-pound natural, which reads as more of a cream.

The previous edition used 60-pound bright white paper.

The Maltese Falcon for subscribers

Subscribers also got a copy of The Maltese Falcon, printed in the pocket format of the Armed Services Editions that went to troops in the Second World War. The book is also sold on the Field Notes website. I had never heard of it, but it looks good, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Is it worth it?

Field Notes teased this edition for a while, promising the books would be different, and they are. I'm impressed with it, and I enjoy seeing all the different editions Field Notes comes up with.

I like keeping some editions sealed in their wrapper in case I want to give them out or run a giveaway in the future.

I already use regular Field Notes as a system: a trifecta of notebooks (one for the body, one for the mind, one for the soul) plus a catch-all, all running at the same time. That setup has worked tremendously well for me.

The gear worth a look

Field Notes: the regular pocket notebooks this edition matches in size and page count.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Field Notes 1943 edition different?

The Field Notes 1943 two-way memo books are the same size as regular Field Notes and have the same number of pages, but they are stapled on the short side, so you can open one like a pad.

What paper does the 1943 edition use?

The Field Notes 1943 edition uses 60-pound natural paper with a 4.7mm grid, which reads more cream than the bright white paper of the previous edition.