Compiled from 3 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
Field Notes Expedition is the waterproof, tearproof Field Notes memo book. Each 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 139 mm) book has 48 pages of Yupo synthetic paper with a 3/16 in dot-graph grid and a hi-vis orange cover. Field Notes says pencils and ballpoints work best, and the books are made in the USA.
On this page10 sections
The 3-pack: orange front, black back, Yupo pages that shed water (1 mm = 1.2 px).
Product facts
Product
Field Notes Expedition Edition memo books, 3-pack (FNC-17)
Yupo Synthetic 74#C cover and 57#T pages (polypropylene)
Price range
$under $5 per notebook
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Notes on these facts
Made by Field Notes Brand (Chicago); a joint venture of Draplin Design Co. and Coudal Partners. Made in United States: Field Notes' Expedition page (read October 22, 2026) says all Field Notes memo books are printed and manufactured in the U.S.A., names the printer, eDOC Communications of Mount Prospect, Illinois, and says the Yupo paper is extruded in Chesapeake, Virginia. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
Each book is 3.5 × 5.5 in (8.9 × 13.9 cm) with 48 pages, sold as a 3-pack (FNC-17).
Cover and pages are Yupo synthetic paper, a waterproof, tearproof polypropylene sheet made in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The light-gray dot-graph grid is 3/16 × 3/16 in (4.7 × 4.7 mm); corners are rounded to 3/8 in (9.5 mm).
Field Notes says synthetic paper doesn't absorb ink, so pencils, ballpoints or fine Sharpies work best.
The 3-pack's Amazon US listing had 1,455 ratings on October 22, 2026; Field Notes lists it at US$14.95, our $ band per book.
What is Field Notes Expedition?
Field Notes Expedition is the waterproof, tearproof Field Notes memo book: same pocket size and page count as the Original Kraft, but printed on Yupo synthetic paper. It started life as Field Notes’ 17th Quarterly Edition, FNC-17, the first time the brand changed the kind of paper in its books.
Field Notes says it sent the Expedition to the South Pole with explorer Ben Saunders in October 2013, which explains the map of Antarctica varnished onto the cover.
Field Notes Expedition specs
Spec
Value
Size
3.5 × 5.5 in (8.9 × 13.9 cm)
Pages
48 per book
Pack
3 books (FNC-17), UPC 858493003127
Cover
Yupo Synthetic 74#C, “Hi-Visibility Orange” front, “Low-Visibility Black” back
All specs are from Field Notes’ Expedition page, read on October 22, 2026, which listed the 3-pack at US$14.95. That’s just under $5 a book, our $ band.
What pens work on Yupo paper?
Pencils, ballpoints and fine-tip Sharpies, per Field Notes. Synthetic paper is non-porous, so ink sits on top instead of soaking in; Field Notes pairs the book with its Space Pen, and a pressurized pen like the Fisher Space Pen Bullet also writes on wet pages.
One page at twice life size: the dot grid and rounded corners from Field Notes' spec list.
Gel and fountain pen ink will smear until it dries, and that can take a long time on a sheet that absorbs nothing. Field Notes’ own note on the page is blunt: use pencil or ballpoint for best results.
What did Field Notes test it for?
Field Notes put the Expedition through twelve “(reasonably) scientific” tests and published them on its product page. They are: waterproof, visibility, wind resistance, ballistics, vacuum, tensile strength, compression, acid resistance, flame resistance, extreme temperature, electromagnetic waves and electrical resistance.
We report those as the maker’s tests, not ours. What matters for most buyers is simpler: the pages shrug off rain and spills, and they don’t tear when a wet book gets crammed into a pocket.
How does it compare to Rite in the Rain and the Original Kraft?
Expedition is the thin, pocket-sized waterproof option; Rite in the Rain uses coated all-weather paper in spiral books.
Rite in the Rain’s coated paper takes ink more like ordinary paper; Yupo is fully synthetic and tearproof. If you never write in the rain, the Original Kraft is the cheaper everyday book.
Is Field Notes Expedition popular?
Yes: its Amazon US 3-pack listing had 1,455 ratings on October 22, 2026, more than any other Field Notes listing we checked. That made it our pick over seasonal Quarterly Editions, which come and go. A subscription version (FN-SUB17) exists for people who want the Quarterly Editions as they’re released.
Where is Field Notes Expedition made?
In the USA. Field Notes says all its memo books are printed and manufactured in the U.S.A.; the Expedition page names eDOC Communications of Mount Prospect, Illinois, as the printer, and says the Yupo paper is extruded in Chesapeake, Virginia. Field Notes itself is a Chicago brand.
Frequently asked questions
Is Field Notes Expedition really waterproof?
Yes: Field Notes prints it on Yupo synthetic paper, which it calls waterproof and tearproof, and ran twelve tests on it, from water and wind to flame. Use a pencil or ballpoint, since ink sits on the surface.
What pen works on Field Notes Expedition?
Field Notes recommends pencils, ballpoints or fine-tip Sharpies, and pairs it with its Space Pen. Gel and fountain pen ink take a long time to dry on non-absorbent synthetic paper.
How many pages are in a Field Notes Expedition?
48 pages per book, held by three staples, the same count as the Original Kraft. A pack has three books.
What is Yupo paper?
A synthetic paper extruded from polypropylene pellets, in Field Notes' words. Yupo makes it in Chesapeake, Virginia, and it resists water and tearing.
Is Field Notes Expedition a limited edition?
It began as Field Notes' 17th Quarterly Edition (FNC-17) and is still sold as a standard 3-pack on Field Notes' site.
Are Field Notes Expedition notebooks made in the USA?
Yes. Field Notes says all its memo books are printed and manufactured in the USA; the Expedition is printed by eDOC Communications in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
