The field notebook – this is one of the most important pieces of equipment. Yes you can use a marble notebook, a binder, or a writing pad to take notes, but for the field you will need something sturdy, durable, and that can withstand numerous environmental elements, especially water!

The one brand of notebook that can withstand some of the most extreme conditions is the Rite in the Rain notebook. With this product, the hassle of soggy and illegible paperwork that has plagued field students and outdoor professionals for decades is no longer an issue. With the motto “Outdoor writing products for outdoor writing people”, you know your valuable data won’t be lost or destroyed.

The Rite in the Rain is a wood-based and recyclable paper that is made with a special coating, acting as a moisture shield on the paper. Due to this, the Rite in the Rain notebooks are made to shed water in all-weather conditions and are also resilient against oil and grease, mud and grime, and heavy sweat from all that field work you will be doing.

The process involved in the manufacture of Rite in the Rain paper was designed to have zero impact on the environment. Thus, the process emits no air pollution and the mill off-cuts are recycled back into the paper-manufacturing stream. All printing plates and processing liquids are recycled and 100% of printing inks are soy based. The modern facility, location in the Pacific Northwest of the Unites States, and equipment are designed to be energy efficient as well. In all, not only is the entire manufacturing process environmentally friendly but so are the products themselves!

No matter what type of Rite in the Rain notebook you decide to purchase, the paper inside will inherently be the same. So, in regards to writing utensils, there are three categories to focus on: what can you use when the paper is wet or dry, what can you use when the paper is dry, and what can’t you use. Let break it down:

1. If you are out in the field, there is a high likelihood that at some point the paper will get wet. Due to this, you should consider what types of writing utensils work when the paper is both wet and dry.
   • All weather pen
     
     • Rite in the Rain sells a special pen that makes it possible to write while the paper is wet. In most instances, most types of pens won’t work if the paper is wet, unfortunately, but this pen is manufactured just for this purpose.
   • All pencils
     • As previously mentioned, most pens won’t work if the paper is wet; however, no matter the condition of the paper (wet or dry), all pencils will work.
   • Crayons
   • Wax markers
   • Oil pastels
2. The field conditions for the day look great – as in you do not have to worry about rain or snow. This means that you expect your notebook to stay dry. In addition to the writing utensils above, the following will work when the paper is dry:
   • Permanent markers
   • Standard ballpoint pens
3. They are a few writing utensils that will not work on the specially coated paper. This includes:
   • Most highlighters
   • Gel pens
   • Fountain pens
   • Water colors

One of the follow up concerns is – what will happen to the writing inside when the notebook does get wet, where you have pages and pages of notes in pencil, pen, or permanent marker? The answer is that the paper will preserve the writing and everything will still be legible! The paper is bound to get a little crinkly once the pages dry but other than that aspect you do not have to worry about lost notes due to smudging or smearing, since that will not happen. For actual waterproof writing (in essences, if it is raining or you are underwater for some reason) a pencil or an all-weather pen will be needed to take notes.

No matter your field of study or what you plan to being doing, if it is outside and you are exposing the notebook to environmental elements, the Rite in the Rain is a must!

Since Rite in the Rain specializes in making notebooks for various purposes, there are a variety of page patterns and sizes of notebooks to choose from. In addition to this, Rite in the Rain has three different types of cover, all made from post-consumer waste. These cover types are:

1. Fabrikoid – a fabric-wrapped, rigid cover stock used on the hardcover notebooks
   • Made to be durable, sustainable, and elegant
   • Water resistant fabric and waterproof cover structure material that does not saturate when submerged
   • Has a slight grain texture to the touch and flex only slightly when contorted
   • Cover is generally damage-resistant, but may show dents after impacts
2. Field Flex – a flexible, cellulose-based cover stock used on the softer cover notebooks
   • Tear resistant, pliable, and waterproof
   • Acts as a tough skin without adding unnecessary bulk
   • Has a leather-like texture to the touch and can be contorted to easily fit into a pocket or tightly packed bag
   • Cover may show scars and wrinkles, though it difficult to tear or penetrate outright
3. Polydura – a flexible plastic cover used on spiral notebooks
   • Pliable, light, slim, flexible, recyclable, and exceptionally durable
   • Smooth to the touch and has a matte appearance with only a slight sheen
   • Does not absorb water and defends against abrasion and impact

The Maxi Side Spiral Notebook – Universal Pattern

The maxi side spiral notebook universal pattern notebook is nearly identical to the maxi side spiral journal, the only difference being the page pattern. The universal pattern has a faint grid layout on each page, making it ideal for scaled drawing and sketches. 

The Side Spiral Notebook – Universal Pattern

The side spiral notebook universal pattern notebook is nearly identical to the side spiral journal, the only difference being the page pattern. The universal pattern has a faint grid layout on each page, making it ideal for scaled drawing and sketches.