If you’ve ever looked at a notebook and thought, “I want this to be a planner, journal, wallet, scrapbook, brain dump, and occasional passport bodyguard,” the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black) is probably already on your radar. (And if it isn’t, welcome. Your stationery budget may never recover.)
Originally known widely as the Midori Traveler’s Notebook and now sold under TRAVELER’S COMPANY, this iconic leather notebook system has earned cult status for a reason: it’s simple, durable, modular, and weirdly personal. The black version, in particular, feels like the “little black jacket” of analog toolsminimal, versatile, and always appropriate.
In this guide, we’ll break down what the black regular-size Traveler’s Notebook is, what comes in the starter kit, why people love it, where it can be frustrating, and how to set it up so it actually works for your life (instead of becoming a very expensive place to store one grocery list).
What Is the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black)?
The Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black) is a refillable leather notebook system built around a slim, long-format cover and elastic cords that hold interchangeable inserts. It’s designed to be customized with different paper refills, planner inserts, zipper pouches, folders, stickers, and accessories.
The black regular-size model is part of the standard TRAVELER’S notebook lineup and is often described as an A5-adjacent format with a slimmer width. That shape is a big part of the appeal: it’s roomy enough for real writing, but easier to carry than a full A5 notebook.
In plain English: it’s not just a notebook. It’s a system. A very handsome, leather-based system.
What Comes in the Black Regular Starter Kit?
One of the smartest things about this notebook is that the starter kit gives you just enough to beginwithout pretending to know your life better than you do.
Starter Kit Basics
While exact packaging can vary slightly by retailer, the regular-size black starter kit typically includes:
- A black leather cover (cowhide)
- One blank notebook refill (MD paper)
- A cotton bag/case
- A spare elastic band (often a contrasting color)
TRAVELER’S COMPANY USA also lists official specs for the set, including a regular-size starter format with a leather cover, a blank 64-page MD paper notebook refill, cotton bag, and spare rubber band. That “starter” concept matters: you’re expected to build it out based on how you actually use paper.
Size and Feel
The regular size is the more versatile choice for most people because it gives you enough writing space for journaling, note-taking, lists, and planning. The black leather cover feels understated and professional, but it also gets character as it agesscratches, scuffs, and patina are part of the charm, not flaws.
In fact, the brand leans into this. Natural leather variation, small wrinkles, and marks are considered part of the product’s personality. If you want a pristine, never-changing cover, this may not be your soulmate. If you want something that looks better after a coffee shop, airport, and backpack phase? Oh yes.
Why the Black Version Is So Popular
The black Traveler’s Notebook has a different vibe from camel, brown, or olive. It feels more minimal and less rustic, which makes it a favorite for people using it as an EDC notebook, work planner, travel organizer, or creative project journal.
1) It Works in Almost Any Setting
At a desk meeting, in a classroom, on a plane, or next to a fountain pen setup, black just blends in beautifully. It looks intentional without screaming for attention.
2) It Ages Well (In a Different Way)
Camel leather often shows dramatic patina quickly. Black tends to age more subtly. You still get texture, softening, and wear, but the look stays sleek. Think “seasoned leather” rather than “wild west artifact.”
3) It Supports Tons of Use Cases
Because the system is modular, the black cover can become:
- A travel journal + document holder
- A planner + meeting notes setup
- A sketchbook + writing notebook combo
- A wallet-style everyday carry with cards, receipts, and lists
- A memory book with tickets, stamps, and stickers
That flexibility is exactly why stationery reviewers and long-time users keep returning to it year after year.
Customization Is the Entire Point
If you buy a Traveler’s Notebook and only use the included blank refill forever, that’s absolutely valid. But you’d also be skipping the most fun part: building your own paper ecosystem.
Popular Regular-Size Refills and Accessories
TRAVELER’S COMPANY partner shops in the U.S. commonly stock a wide range of regular-size options, including lined, grid, blank, daily diary, monthly diary, weekly vertical, sketch paper, lightweight paper, kraft paper, zipper cases, pocket stickers, card files, and repair kits.
That means you can create setups like:
- Work Mode: Weekly planner + lined notes + zipper pouch
- Travel Mode: Blank journal + pocket stickers + card file + zip case
- Creative Mode: Sketch paper + lightweight paper + ephemera folder
- Life Admin Mode: Monthly calendar + to-do insert + receipts pouch
How Many Refills Can It Hold?
Short answer: it depends on how chunky your inserts and accessories are, plus how much bulk you tolerate. Many users run 2–3 refills comfortably, and notebook-system reviewers frequently point out that the Traveler’s Notebook format can hold multiple refills plus folders and carry-all accessories. If you want to go beyond a simple setup, connecting bands and add-ons help a lot.
Translation: yes, you can build a pocket office. But at some point your notebook starts looking like it ate another notebook. Balance is your friend.
Paper Quality and Writing Experience
The included refill uses MD paper (Midori Diary paper), which is one reason this system remains so popular with fountain pen users and paper enthusiasts. U.S. retailers frequently describe it as fountain-pen friendly, with good resistance to feathering and bleed-through for everyday writing.
In practical use, the writing experience feels smooth and dependable for most pens. Ballpoints, gel pens, pencils, and many fountain pens work well. Of course, your nib size, ink choice, and writing pressure still matter (because paper physics never sleeps), but the baseline quality is strong.
What the Paper Is Great For
- Daily journaling
- Task lists and planning
- Trip notes and logs
- Idea capture
- Mixed writing styles (pen + pencil)
What It’s Not Always Great For
If you write long-form pages every day and want lots of room, the regular Traveler’s Notebook can still feel narrow compared with A5 notebooks. Some experienced users love the portability but mention that it’s not their favorite for heavy, extended writing sessions. That’s not a flaw so much as a format tradeoff.
It’s the classic “travel camera vs studio camera” problem. Both are great. One is easier to carry onto a train.
Pros and Cons of the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black)
Pros
- Timeless design: Minimal black leather looks good in almost any environment.
- Modular system: Easy to customize with refills, pouches, and accessories.
- High-quality materials: Leather cover plus Japanese MD paper starter refill.
- Ages beautifully: Leather gains character over time instead of just “wearing out.”
- Great for travel and EDC: Slim but functional format that carries well.
- Repairable mindset: Elastic parts can be replaced, and repair kits exist.
Cons
- Price: Premium compared with basic notebooks (the regular black starter kit is often listed around the $60 range in U.S. retail, depending on seller and availability).
- Narrow format: Not everyone loves writing in the tall, slim page layout.
- Add-on temptation: Refills and accessories are affordable individually, but the total can add up fast.
- Elastic wear over time: Functional, replaceable, but still a maintenance item.
- Can get bulky: Over-customization can make it less comfortable to write in or carry.
How to Set Up a Black Traveler’s Notebook (Without Overthinking It)
Let’s save you from the classic stationery trap: spending six hours researching inserts and then writing exactly three words in the notebook (“test page lol”).
Beginner Setup (Balanced and Useful)
- Insert 1: Monthly planner (appointments, deadlines, travel dates)
- Insert 2: Lined or grid notebook (daily notes, tasks, meetings)
- Insert 3: Blank or lightweight paper (ideas, sketches, random stuff)
- Accessory: Zipper case or card file (receipts, tickets, business cards)
This setup gives you planning, writing, and storage without turning your notebook into a leather brick.
Tips for a Better Experience
- Start with 2–3 inserts max.
- Use one insert for “messy capture” so your planner stays readable.
- Don’t panic about scratchesthey are part of the look.
- Replace elastics when needed instead of retiring the notebook.
- Adjust the setup seasonally (work-heavy months vs. travel-heavy months).
Who Should Buy the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black)?
It’s a Great Fit If You…
- Love analog planning and journaling
- Want one portable notebook system for multiple roles
- Enjoy customizing stationery setups
- Travel often and like keeping paper documents handy
- Appreciate leather goods that develop patina
- Use fountain pens or care about paper quality
It May Not Be the Best Fit If You…
- Prefer wide pages for long writing sessions
- Want a low-cost notebook you can replace casually
- Dislike visible wear on leather
- Need rigid covers and perfectly flat writing surfaces at all times
Buying Tips for the Black Traveler’s Notebook
Because the Traveler’s Notebook is popular, it’s worth buying from official channels or authorized retailers. TRAVELER’S COMPANY USA has also warned U.S. buyers about counterfeit products being distributed in the market, so authenticity is worth paying attention toespecially if a listing looks suspiciously cheap.
When comparing shops, look at:
- Starter kit contents (confirm what’s included)
- Availability of refills and accessories (so you can build your system easily)
- Shipping costs and return policies
- Stock status (popular colors and sizes can go in and out of availability)
Final Verdict: Is the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black) Worth It?
Yesif you want a notebook system, not just a notebook.
The Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black) stands out because it combines excellent materials, modular function, and long-term usability. It’s not the cheapest option, and it’s not the perfect format for everyone, but it’s one of the most satisfying analog tools you can build around.
It can be a planner, journal, travel organizer, creative workspace, and memory keepersometimes all in the same week. And the longer you use it, the more it starts to feel less like a product and more like a personal archive with a leather cover.
Also, let’s be honest: it looks cool on a desk. There, I said it.
Experience Section (500+ Words): Living With a Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black)
My favorite thing about the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Black) is that it gets better after the “new notebook honeymoon” ends. A lot of notebooks look amazing on day one and then quietly become a drawer item once real life shows up. The black Traveler’s Notebook is the opposite. It starts simplealmost too simpleand then becomes useful in layers.
At first, the regular size felt a little unusual because of the tall, narrow shape. I was used to wider notebooks, so my hand placement took a few days to adjust. Once I settled in, though, I started to appreciate the format. It felt easier to hold in one hand while standing, and it slipped into bags more easily than a chunky hardcover journal. On a crowded daycoffee shop in the morning, commute, quick errands, and a late work sessionit was the one notebook I didn’t mind carrying.
The black leather also grows on you in a quiet way. It doesn’t scream “luxury” and it doesn’t look fragile. It looks like something made to be used. Mine picked up a few marks early, and instead of being annoying, they made it feel less precious and more personal. That was a turning point. Once I stopped treating it like a display item, I used it a lot more.
The biggest practical win was splitting my life into inserts. I used one insert for planning, one for general notes, and one for random captureideas, receipts, measurements, coffee shop recommendations, things I needed to remember later. That separation sounds small, but it helped a ton. Instead of flipping through pages full of mixed chaos, I knew where everything belonged. The notebook became less “cute stationery object” and more “portable command center.”
I also understood the accessory hype after a real travel day. A zipper pouch and pockets turned the notebook into a mini organizer for cards, folded papers, and small documents. It wasn’t just a journal anymore; it was a travel companion. I could write down directions, stash a receipt, keep a ticket, and jot a packing reminder in one place. That’s when the product’s name finally made sense. It’s called a Traveler’s Notebook because it genuinely works well when you’re moving around.
That said, it’s not magic. If I needed to write several long pages in one sitting, I still preferred a wider notebook. The regular Traveler’s format is portable first, spacious second. And if I added too many inserts, writing became awkward because the notebook got puffy and uneven. I learned quickly that a lighter setup works better than trying to carry my entire life in one cover.
Another real-world lesson: elastics are consumable parts. They do wear over time. The good news is that replacement options and repair kits exist, so the notebook itself can stay in use for years. That repairable, maintainable feel is a huge part of the appeal. You’re not replacing the whole system just because one piece gets tired.
If someone asked me what the black Traveler’s Notebook feels like after months of use, I’d say this: it feels like a tool that adapts to you. Some weeks it’s a planner. Some weeks it’s a journal. Some weeks it’s mostly a place to store scraps of paper and half-finished ideas. And somehow, it handles all of that without losing its identity.
That’s why people get attached to it. Not because it’s trendy, and not because it has the most features on paper, but because it makes analog organization feel flexible, personal, and a little adventurous. Even when the “travel” is just going from your desk to the kitchen table.