Life With Lochby
Ideas are like liquid. They don’t really have a shape of their own. Instead, they assume the shape of their container. So, a writer needs a place to put all those ideas. To give them shape. As a young and aspiring writer, I often carried a 3.5×5.5 notebook. Gotta have something on me to catch all those big ideas, right?
Top spiral and side spiral notebooks are a little thorny on clothing. Any time I’d reach for my notebook, the spiral would get hung up in my pocket. Stapled or softcover notebooks would bend or tear. And, the pages must’ve been longing for their freedom. That, or they just liked crumpling up in my pockets.
Thankfully, I finally found a solution—the Lochby Pocket Journal. I got a few gift cards for Christmas and used some of them to snag one. The journal came up repeatedly in my YouTube feed, so perhaps algorithms aren’t all bad. After digging into some reviews, I wanted to try it for myself.
I appreciate the waxed canvas that Lochby uses on the outside of its journal. While the material itself is smooth to the touch, the design is rough. And it’s that way on purpose. Lochby made this journal to be tossed in a toolbox, an EDC bag, a suitcase, or even in the bed of a pickup truck. It can take a beating.
I opted to try the Pocket Journal as a wallet. I’ve needed a new one for a while, and the Pocket Journal is small enough to fit comfortably inside the back or side of a pants pocket. Since it’s winter, the Pocket Journal slides easily into a jacket or cargo pants. [Side note: I bought my Pocket Journal the month before Lochby decided to launch an actual wallet]. Your experience may be different here. If you’re wearing jeans, Lochby’s FAQ does recommend taking the journal out of your pocket before you sit down.
On the front cover, you’ll notice two pockets. I keep two pens in the smaller pocket: a Fischer Space Pen and an OLIGHT Mini. While the journal will hold regular pens or pencils, I went with these compact options. I initially kept my OLIGHT Pocket Flashlight in one of the front pockets. Since then, as you can tell from the photo above, I slid the clip behind the center fabric.
On the backside, you’ll see a larger pocket. You can slide an extra 3.5×5.5 notebook here very easily, or perhaps an extra pen. In videos, I’ve seen folks slip pocket knives back here. But the real genius of this pocket journal is its versatility. You can adjust, readjust, and customize as you see fit.
The pocket journal opens with a zipper. On the left, you have a single large pocket. I use this pocket for spare cash. Some of the other customer reviews report using this pocket for a passport or checkbook. The two smaller pockets will fit any 2 ⅛” x 3 ⅜” card. Think driver’s license, credit or debit cards, library cards, business cards, etc. In the middle of these is a smaller pocket that I don’t currently use. Lochby’s website says this pocket will accommodate the Pokka Pen or the Kaweco Lilliput.
The right side is where I keep 2 3.5×5.5 softcover side-bound notebooks. Having the extra notebook gives me something sturdy to bear down on. My church started a fast at the beginning of January. I chose to fast from social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are my main culprits). In lieu of ceaseless scrolling, I reach for this Pocket Journal.
Even if my only purpose is to write, “I am bored and have nothing to do,” now I’ve recognized my boredom. I’ve given it a name. I’ve given that idea a form and a shape. I’ve been forced to reckon with it and do something about it. It could be the beginning of something great. Or something not-so-great. But at least it’s a beginning. And if I didn’t write it down, I wouldn’t get to see what it would become.
Want to talk about your favorite notebook tips or see how we could work together on your next writing project? Contact me today.
