You know that feeling when you buy a piece of leather and it smells like a library in an old European city? That’s how it starts. Most people see the Midori Traveler’s Notebook—now technically rebranded under the Traveler’s Company name, though everyone still calls it Midori—and think it’s just a journal. It isn't. It’s a lifestyle commitment that borders on a cult. My days with Midori didn't start with a productivity hack; they started with a scratched-up piece of cowhide and a lot of questions about why I was spending $50 on what looked like a high-end rubber band system.
Honestly, the first week is awkward.
The leather is stiff. The inserts slide around if you don't know the "jump band" trick. You feel like a poser sitting in a coffee shop with this thick, chunky slab of leather that won't even lay flat on the table without a brass clip. But then something happens. You drop it. You spill a bit of Americano on the cover. You realize that unlike a Moleskine, which looks trashed after a month, the Midori looks better the more you beat it up. That's the hook.
Why My Days with Midori Changed How I Actually Work
We live in a world of "notion-core" and infinite digital canvases. It’s exhausting. When I transitioned my planning to the Midori system, the biggest shock was the physical limitation. You only have so much space.
The standard size is weirdly tall and narrow. It’s based on the dimensions of a tri-folded A4 sheet of paper—the international standard for travel documents. This isn't a coincidence. The design encourages you to carry it. It fits in one hand. Because it’s modular, you’re forced to curate your life. Do you really need a habit tracker, a long-form journal, a sketchbook, and a calendar? Probably not. You pick three.
During my days with Midori, I realized that the "friction" of analog was actually the point. Writing a task down by hand makes you confront whether or not you actually want to do it. Digital tasks can be kicked down the road forever with a swipe. In a Midori, if you keep migrating a task to a new monthly insert, the shame of rewriting it becomes a powerful motivator to either finish it or delete it from your life entirely.
The Myth of the "Perfect" Setup
Stop looking at Pinterest. Seriously.
The biggest mistake I made early on was trying to mimic those hyper-curated spreads with dried flowers and vintage postage stamps. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s not functional for most people. Real usage is messy. My inserts are filled with grocery lists, frantic meeting notes, and the occasional phone number of a mechanic.
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The beauty of the system is the "Standard" vs. "Passport" debate.
- The Passport size is for the minimalist. It fits in a back pocket. It’s for quick hits.
- The Standard size is for the thinkers.
If you're trying to manage a business and a personal life, the Standard size is the only way to go. I spent months trying to make the Passport work because it looked cooler, but my handwriting is too big and my life is too chaotic. I ended up with a cramped mess. Switching back to the Standard felt like breathing again.
The Engineering of the Midori Insert
Let’s talk about the paper. It matters.
Midori uses MD Paper. If you’re a fountain pen user, this is the holy grail. There is zero bleed-through. There is a slight "tooth" to the paper, which means your pen doesn't slide around like it's on ice, but it's smooth enough that you don't feel like you're writing on a paper towel.
I’ve tested the 001 (Lined), 002 (Grid), and 003 (Blank) inserts extensively. The grid is the sweet spot. It provides enough structure for a layout but isn't as restrictive as lines. In my experience, the lightweight paper insert (013) is also a sleeper hit. It has 128 pages instead of the usual 64 because the paper is thinner (similar to Tomoe River paper), which allows you to keep a much longer record without your notebook becoming a "chunk-o-potamus."
Keeping the Leather Alive
People ask about the maintenance. Do you need to oil it? Sorta.
I use Smith’s Leather Balm maybe once every six months. You don't want to overdo it, or the leather gets mushy. You want it to stay rugged. The oils from your hands do most of the work. If you look at a Midori that has been carried for five years versus a brand-new one, the difference is staggering. The old one has a "patina"—a deep, glossy shine that only comes from being shoved into bags and handled daily.
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Dealing with the "Bulk" Factor
One thing nobody tells you during your first few weeks of my days with Midori is that the knot in the back is annoying.
The elastic band that holds the notebook shut is held together by a metal clasp and a knot that sits right under the back cover. If you’re writing on the last few pages of your notebook, you’ll feel that bump. It’s the most common complaint in the community.
There are two ways to fix this:
- Move the knot to the spine. (Requires some surgery with a pair of pliers).
- Use a plastic "shitajiki" or writing board underneath the page.
I chose the writing board. It gives you a firm surface regardless of where you are—standing in a subway, sitting on a park bench, or leaning against a wall. It’s a $5 accessory that makes the $50 notebook actually usable.
The Community and the "Custom" Trap
You’ll see a lot of people selling "faux-doris" or travelers notebooks from other brands. Some are great. Chic Sparrow makes incredible leather. Galen Leather has amazing functionality. But there is something about the simplicity of the original Midori/Traveler’s Company aesthetic that usually brings people back.
It’s the lack of pockets.
Wait, why is a lack of pockets good? Because it stays thin. When you start adding leather pockets and zippers and card holders, the notebook becomes a brick. During the height of my obsession, I had five inserts and two folders in one cover. It was a disaster. I couldn't even close it.
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Now? Two inserts. One for "right now" (calendar/tasks) and one for "forever" (thoughts/journaling). That’s it.
The Mental Shift of Analog Tracking
There’s a psychological phenomenon called the "generation effect." You remember information better when you generate it yourself rather than just reading it. By manually writing out my schedule in the Midori, I stopped missing appointments.
It wasn't because of a notification on my phone. It was because the act of drawing the boxes for the week and writing "10:00 AM - Client Call" burned the image into my brain.
It also helps with "digital detox." When I’m in a meeting and I pull out a phone to take notes, it looks like I’m texting. When I pull out a worn-in leather notebook, it looks like I’m paying attention. Because I am. You can’t wander off to Instagram when you’re holding a pen.
Practical Steps for Starting Your Own Journey
If you’re looking to dive into this system, don’t buy everything at once. You’ll waste money on inserts you’ll never use.
- Start with the Starter Kit. It comes with the cover, one blank insert, and a spare elastic.
- Buy one Grid insert (002). Use this for your daily tasks.
- Get a Connecting Band. You need these to hold more than one insert. Don't try to hack it with regular rubber bands; they snap and leave residue on the leather.
- Commit to 30 days. The leather will feel stiff and the system will feel clunky for the first two weeks. Push through that. Once the leather softens and conforms to your inserts, it becomes an extension of your hand.
- Embrace the scratches. The first scratch on a new Midori is heartbreaking. The 100th scratch is character. You can rub most of them out with your thumb if they really bother you, but honestly, let them stay.
My days with Midori taught me that the things we use every day should be durable, repairable, and personal. In a world of disposable tech, there is something deeply grounding about a tool that gets better with age rather than becoming obsolete. It’s not about being a "paper person" or a "digital person." It’s about having a place where your thoughts can live without a battery percentage or a software update.
If you want to actually stay organized, stop looking for a better app. Buy a piece of leather and a good pen. Then, just start writing. The system will figure itself out as you go. You don't need a tutorial for your own life. You just need a place to put it.
Key Resources for the Midori Enthusiast:
- Traveler’s Company Official Site: For the history of the 2006 launch and the transition from Midori to TRC.
- The Goulet Pen Company: Excellent videos on how to string multiple inserts.
- Baum-kuchen: A Los Angeles-based shop that specializes in the "analog lifestyle" and high-end customization.
- JetPens: The best place to see detailed paper weight and fountain pen bleed tests for every specific insert number.