Blog · Planner Refills
Traveler's Notebook vs Sterling Ink N1 Refills for 2026
After three years of Traveler's Company monthly and weekly refills, I switched to Sterling Ink N1 booklets for 2026. Here is how the two compare.
2026 is my first year using Sterling Ink N1 booklets in my planner. I've used Traveler's Company refills for three years. When I looked at alternatives, Sterling Ink stood out because I had always enjoyed its layouts.
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Quick comparison
| Traveler's Company refills | Sterling Ink N1 booklets | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly overview | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly boxes | About the same size | About the same size, smaller numbers |
| Mini calendars on the monthly | Yes, on the dated version | No |
| Extra pages at the back of the monthly | Around 10, blank | 17 or 18, grid |
| Also includes | Quarterly overviews, week numbers |
The monthly booklets
The yearly overview is very similar in both monthly booklets. I've used it for trip planning, tracking PTO and a few other things. There isn't enough space for significant planning, but a quick overview of the year has been super helpful.
The Sterling Ink monthly adds four quarterly overview pages, which give you another set of lists you can use for tracking or for quick events.
The monthly calendar boxes are essentially the same size in both. The dated Traveler's Company monthly has mini calendars down the side, which some people like and some people don't. The Sterling Ink monthly drops those calendars, so you get that side space back, and its date numbers are a little smaller, which leaves a bit more room in each box. I also enjoy that the Sterling Ink monthly has week numbers and a minimal layout.
Another thing that attracted me to the Sterling Ink monthly is the 17 or 18 extra grid pages at the back. The Traveler's Company monthly comes with around 10, I believe, and they're blank, which I don't enjoy because I can't write very straight without guides.
Does it lie flat?
A common complaint about these booklets is that they don't lie flat. I've found that if you're a little rough with them, they eventually will.
The weekly booklets
For my weekly, I chose the Sterling Ink weekly vertical this year. It's my first time using a printed vertical layout, but I had already been testing it by drawing the spread by hand in my Traveler's Company weekly plus memo, and I really enjoyed it.
I'm not a huge fan of the yearly overview in the weekly booklet. The monthly booklet already has one, so a second isn't very useful to me. The weekly also has a few extra pages at the end. I've never found a use for them, but they're there if you want them.
My pick for 2026
I'm looking forward to using the Sterling Ink booklets. They're super clean and minimal, the faux leather cover feels nice in the hand, and they're very nicely designed and laid out.
Overall, I'm really impressed with the quality and layout of the Sterling Ink booklets.
Pick Sterling Ink N1 booklets if you want week numbers, quarterly pages and gridded extra pages. Stay with Traveler's Company refills if you like the mini calendars on the dated monthly.
Related reading
- Techo Kaigi 2026: What I Cut From My Planner Lineup
- Best Ring Planner Inserts: The Ones I Print for MeePlus
- Why Fountain Pen Ink Bleeds Through Planner Paper, and How to Stop It
Frequently Asked Questions
How many extra pages do the Sterling Ink monthly booklets have?
The Sterling Ink N1 monthly booklet has 17 or 18 extra grid pages at the back, compared with around 10 blank pages in the Traveler's Company monthly.
Do the booklets lie flat?
Not right away, which is a common complaint. I've found that if you're a little rough with the booklets, they eventually lie flat.
Which weekly layout did you choose?
For 2026, I chose the Sterling Ink N1 weekly vertical. I had already been drawing a vertical spread by hand in my Traveler's Company weekly plus memo and enjoyed it.