Blog · Pocket Journals
Paper Republic vs Traveler's Notebook: Pocket Journal Comparison
The Paper Republic Grand Voyageur Pocket and the Traveler's Company Passport, compared on size, closure, leather, capacity and paper.
The Paper Republic Grand Voyageur Pocket is slightly larger, softer, and holds more. The Traveler's Company Passport is a little more pocketable and more rugged. In my opinion, the Paper Republic feels a little nicer when you hold it.
I did a lot of research before buying these two covers, and the comparisons I found left out a lot of information. This article puts all the details side by side: size, closure, leather, capacity, and paper.
Watch the full video.
Paper Republic vs Traveler's Notebook at a glance
| Paper Republic Grand Voyageur Pocket | Traveler's Company Passport | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Slightly larger; notebook a little wider than a Field Notes | Fits a passport; more pocketable |
| Closure elastic | On the spine | On the back |
| Loops for a second notebook | Holes closer together, one knot you can move | Hardware on the outside, no knots |
| Leather | Softer, more malleable, a little smoother | Thicker, more rugged |
| Capacity I tested | Three notebooks, a zipper cover, cards and a pen | Three notebooks start showing on the side |
| Notebook it comes with | Blank, basic plain paper, stapled | Blank, Midori paper |
| Best for | A daily companion that holds more | Travel and a smaller carry |
Size and form factor
The first difference is size. The Paper Republic is slightly larger, and the difference is easiest to see when you compare the notebooks each cover comes with.
The Paper Republic notebook is the same 5.5 inch height as a Field Notes, just a little wider than the Field Notes' 3.5 inch width.
The Traveler's Company Passport size, as the name indicates, fits a passport perfectly. As the smaller of the two, it is also a little more pocketable.
Both covers have a similar, squarish aspect ratio. The Paper Republic is a little taller than the Passport, but both still fit in a pocket.
Best for pocket carry: the Traveler's Company Passport.
Closure and elastics
The closure systems are very similar. Both use an elastic band, and each design has pros and cons. The Paper Republic's closure elastic sits on the spine, while the Traveler's Notebook's elastic goes around the back.
The drawback of the Traveler's Notebook design is that the elastic on the back sometimes gets in the way while you write, and you can really feel it as you get toward the end of a notebook.
The Traveler's Notebook also uses metal hardware on the outside to hold its two notebook loops without any knots. It looks clean and is super convenient.
The downside is that you can feel that hardware on the back when you are writing, and it gets in the way if you want to use a page clip.
The Paper Republic uses a slightly different system. It also has two elastics, but their holes are closer together, which makes the second elastic a little easier to use for a second notebook.
Its downside is a knot in the elastic that can get in the way. You can easily rearrange the elastic so the knot sits at the back, out of the way. Because the elastics sit at the spine, you don't really feel them when you write, which is more convenient.
Without extra hardware on the back, a page clip also fits a little better on the Paper Republic.
Best for a clean writing surface: the Paper Republic.
Leather feel
The Paper Republic leather is softer and a little more malleable, and it feels easier in the hand. The texture is very similar to the Traveler's Notebook leather, just a little smoother.
Because it is softer, the Paper Republic leather molds a little better around the notebooks when it is in my pocket, so the cover keeps a better shape overall.
The Traveler's Notebook leather is definitely thicker, which makes it more rugged and more durable.
Capacity: how many notebooks fit
Once you add more notebooks to the Traveler's Notebook, they start sticking out the side. With just three notebooks inside, they already show past the edge of the cover.
The Paper Republic holds more. Mine carries three notebooks plus a zipper insert with some cards and papers, and there is still room for my pen, where it stays protected.
That pen space comes from extra width in the leather. The Paper Republic cover is a little wider than its notebooks, and I like that, because my pen fits along the edge and is a little more protected.
Best for carrying more: the Paper Republic.
Paper and included notebooks
Both covers come with a blank notebook. The Traveler's Company notebook uses Midori paper. The notebook included with the Paper Republic uses basic plain paper, and Paper Republic sells extra notebooks with high-opacity, slightly thicker paper, sometimes 120 GSM.
The included Paper Republic paper is nothing to write home about, but it is very usable. That notebook is bound with two staples, the same as the Traveler's Company notebook.
Which one should you buy?
In my opinion, the Paper Republic feels a little nicer in the hand. It is a European-style leather cover that is great to take to the coffee shop and keep as a daily companion.
It will wear and develop a lot of patina over time, especially if you carry it in your pocket or hold it often.
The Traveler's Company Passport is more for traveling. Its ruggedness is part of the experience, and you can feel it in the leather as soon as you hold it.
Verdict: the Paper Republic for a softer daily cover that carries more. The Traveler's Company Passport if you want the smaller, tougher option for travel.
The gear worth a look
- Paper Republic Grand Voyageur (Pocket): the softer cover that held three notebooks, a zipper cover, cards and a pen in my setup.
- Traveler's Company Notebook (Passport, Camel): the passport-size cover I compared it against, thicker leather and more pocketable.
- Field Notes: the size reference; the Paper Republic notebook is just a little wider.
Some links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Related reading
- Lochby Mini Field Journal vs. Paper Republic Grand Voyageur
- Pocket Notebook Covers: 7 I Have Carried and What Each Is For
- Best Field Notes Alternatives for Fountain Pen Users
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is smaller, the Paper Republic or the Traveler's Notebook Passport?
The Traveler's Company Passport is the smaller of the two. It is sized to fit a passport perfectly, while the Paper Republic Grand Voyageur Pocket is slightly larger.
Which holds more notebooks, the Paper Republic or the Traveler's Notebook Passport?
The Paper Republic holds more. I carry three notebooks, a zipper insert with cards and papers, and a pen in it, while just three notebooks already stick out the side of the Traveler's Company Passport.
Which is more comfortable to write in, the Paper Republic or the Traveler's Notebook?
The Paper Republic. Its elastics sit at the spine, so you don't really feel them while writing. The Traveler's Notebook's elastic and hardware sit on the back, where you can feel them as you write.
What paper comes with the Paper Republic and the Traveler's Notebook?
Both covers come with a blank notebook. The Traveler's Company notebook uses Midori paper. The notebook included with the Paper Republic uses basic plain paper, and Paper Republic sells extra notebooks with high-opacity, slightly thicker paper, sometimes 120 GSM.