Chestnut Kodiak Bandito Field Notes Cover Review
This is the cover that lives in my pocket. The pebbled leather is so soft that, more often than not, I forget I have a pocket notebook with a leather cover in my back pocket.
It sells for $35 on Etsy, which I think is a fantastic price for something handmade by someone who puts a lot of care into it. The corners are rounded, the edges are finished well, and everything feels high quality.
It earns an A tier from me. Brad at Woodsy Leather sent me this cover and a smooth one for free. The opinions are my own.
Check buying optionsPros
- The pebbled leather is very soft. You can mold it, and it keeps that shape.
- It lays completely flat on the table, flatter than my Paper Republic.
- After weeks in my back pocket it shows barely any wear, because the pebbled grain hides scratches.
- It is handmade, with rounded corners and well-finished edges.
- The elastic is easier to get on and off than the one on my Paper Republic.
Cons
- It has only one elastic, so out of the box it holds one notebook.
- A second notebook needs an elastic you add yourself.
Video
Is a Handmade Field Notes Cover Worth It? @woodsyleather Cover Review
Technical Details
| Fits | One 3.5 x 5.5 in Field Notes-size notebook |
|---|---|
| Leather | Pebbled Chestnut Kodiak Bandito |
| Closure | One elastic that holds the notebook and closes the cover |
| Includes | A Field Notes alternative notebook |
| Maker | Woodsy Leather, handmade in North Carolina |
| Where to buy | Woodsy Leather's Etsy shop, $35 |
Buying Options
| Seller | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Woodsy Leather | Check price | Buy |
Full Review
One elastic, one notebook
Most covers like this use two elastics. One runs through the holes at the top and bottom to hold the notebook, and a separate one goes around the outside to close it. Paper Republic does it that way.
This cover uses a single elastic for both jobs. It goes out the middle hole and back in, and that is what keeps the notebook shut.
In theory that means one notebook. In reality you can add a second elastic and tie two notebooks together, the same way you would with a Traveler's Notebook or a Paper Republic. I wouldn't worry too much about the one-notebook setup, but know that one elastic is all you get.
Why it lives in my pocket
The leather is so soft that you can mold it, and it keeps that shape. It is still thick enough that I never worry about the notebook getting damaged.
I had not tried pebbled leather before, because it wasn't really my style. This one caught my attention because of how soft it is.
Open it and it lays completely flat. My Paper Republic, which I have carried in my pocket many times, does not lay that flat, and you can still feel some stiffness in that leather.
If you want to carry your notebook in your pocket, this is the cover to get. It gives a pocket notebook a more elevated look, and it feels great in the hand.
Barely any wear
I have not seen much wear on this cover, and I think the pebbled grain is the reason: it gives the leather a little more scratch resistance. If you look hard, you can find a few scratches, but after weeks in my pocket it shows barely any signs of wear.
I'm okay with some wear on a cover. It's still nice that this one hides the marks I don't want.
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