Field Notes Original Kraft: Pocket Size & Paper
The Field Notes Original Kraft is a 48-page, staple-bound memo book from Chicago's Field Notes brand. Each book measures 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 140 mm) and comes in graph, ruled or plain paper, sold in packs of three. Field Notes' spec sheet lists Finch Opaque Smooth 60#T paper and a kraft cover, printed in the USA.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Field Notes Original Kraft Memo Book, 3-Pack (graph, ruled, plain or mixed)
- Brand
- Field Notes
- Brand origin
- United States
- Made in
- United States*
- Material
- Kraft card cover, Finch 60#T Opaque Smooth paper
- Released
- 2007*
- Price range
- $under $5 per notebook
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' spec sheet, as reproduced in full by Pulp Addiction, says all Field Notes memo books are printed and manufactured in the U.S.A. and names the printer, Schneider Graphics, Inc., of Bensenville, Illinois. Jenni Bick also lists made in USA. Duluth Trading has said some components may be imported. Field Notes' own site blocked our requests, so we read the spec sheet through retailers. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Wikipedia dates the Field Notes launch to 2007; the spec-sheet copy says the first product was a 3-pack of kraft memo books with graph paper, with plain following shortly after, and Draplin's hand-made gift versions came earlier.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Each memo book is 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 140 mm) with 48 pages, held by a three-staple saddle stitch.
- Three paper styles: a 3/16 in (4.7 mm) graph grid, 1/4 in (6.4 mm) ruled lines, or plain; a mixed 3-pack has one of each.
- The spec sheet lists Finch Paper Opaque Smooth 60#T Bright White inside and French Dur-O-Tone 80#C Packing Brown Wrap for the cover.
- Field Notes started in 2007 as a joint venture of Draplin Design Co. and Chicago's Coudal Partners; quarterly Colors editions have run since 2009.
- Field Notes' spec sheet names the printer, Schneider Graphics of Bensenville, Illinois; a US$12.95 3-pack works out to about US$4.32 a book (our $ band).
What is the Field Notes Original Kraft?
The Field Notes Original Kraft is a pocket memo book: 48 pages in a brown kraft cover, bound with three staples and sold in packs of three.
Field Notes began in 2007 as a joint venture between Aaron Draplin’s Draplin Design Co. and Chicago design firm Coudal Partners. The brand’s own copy says Draplin made the very first ones by hand as a holiday gift, and that its first product was a 3-pack of kraft memo books with graph paper. Wikipedia dates its quarterly limited editions to 2009.
Field Notes Original Kraft specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 140 mm) |
| Pages | 48 (24 sheets) |
| Binding | Three-staple saddle stitch |
| Paper | Finch Paper Opaque Smooth 60#T, Bright White |
| Cover | French Dur-O-Tone 80#C Packing Brown Wrap, printed with black soy-based ink |
| Rulings | Graph 3/16 in (4.7 mm) · Ruled 1/4 in (6.4 mm) · Plain |
| Corners | Rounded, 9.5 mm (3/8 in) |
| Pack | 3 books (graph, ruled, plain or mixed) |
| Printer | Schneider Graphics, Inc., Bensenville, Illinois |
| Made in | United States |
All figures come from the Field Notes spec sheet as reproduced in full by Pulp Addiction; Jenni Bick lists the same size as 89 × 139 mm. The spec sheet also says covers are printed on a 6-color Mitsubishi press, the pages on a 2-color Miller press, and the books stitched on a Heidelberg saddle stitcher.
Which paper should you choose: graph, ruled or plain?
Choose ruled for lists and notes, graph for sketches and tallies, and plain for drawing. If you’re not sure, the mixed 3-pack holds one of each.
- Graph (3/16 in, 4.7 mm): a fine grid that works for small handwriting, quick floor plans and tables.
- Ruled (1/4 in, 6.4 mm): a little tighter than US college ruling, which is 9/32 in (7.1 mm).
- Plain: no printed lines, for sketching or for writing at any size.
What paper does Field Notes use, and is it pen friendly?
Field Notes lists Finch Opaque Smooth 60#T, an uncoated text paper, in Bright White. One retailer, Duluth Trading, calls it 50-lb paper; we use the maker’s 60#T figure.
Field Notes doesn’t publish a fountain-pen or bleed rating for the Original Kraft. We have not tested it ourselves, so we make no claim about bleed-through or ghosting.
To carry a pen alongside it, our best pocket pens roundup compares six pens of 86 to 149 mm (3.4 to 5.9 in) closed.
How does Field Notes compare to other pocket notebooks?
The Original Kraft has the same footprint as a Moleskine Pocket but is far thinner and cheaper, with a soft cover and staples instead of a hard cover.
| Field Notes Original Kraft | Moleskine Classic Pocket | Mini composition book | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 3.5 × 5.5 in | 3.5 × 5.5 in (9 × 14 cm) | 3.25 × 4.5 in |
| Pages | 48 | 192 (hard cover) | Usually 160 (80 sheets) |
| Cover | Kraft card, stapled | Hard cover, elastic | Marbled board, tape spine |
| Price band | $ | $$ | $ |
A Field Notes book is the thinnest and flattest of the three. For a long-term journal, the Moleskine Pocket holds four times as many pages; the mini comp book holds over three times as many. For notes in the rain, the Rite in the Rain No. 135 is a 3 × 5 in top-spiral book with all-weather paper.
For the same kraft-cover, three-pack idea at desk size, see the 13 × 21 cm Moleskine Cahier Journal.
How much does Field Notes cost?
The Original Kraft is in our lowest price band ($), under $5 per book once you divide a 3-pack by three. Dromgooles lists the mixed 3-pack at US$12.95, about US$4.32 a book; prices change, so check the current listing.
Where are Field Notes made?
Field Notes says its memo books are printed and manufactured in the USA. That line comes from the brand’s spec sheet as quoted by retailers such as Pulp Addiction, which also names the printer: Schneider Graphics, Inc., of Bensenville, Illinois. Duluth Trading has said some components may be imported. The brand itself is based in Chicago.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Field Notes notebook?
The Original Kraft memo book is 3.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall, or 89 × 140 mm. That is the same footprint as a Moleskine Pocket and fits a shirt or back pocket.
How many pages are in a Field Notes memo book?
Each Original Kraft book has 48 pages, which is 24 sheets. They are held by three staples through the spine rather than sewn or glued.
What paper does Field Notes use?
Smooth, bright white text-weight paper from Finch inside a brown kraft card cover, per the maker's spec sheet. Duluth Trading calls the inner paper 50-lb, but we go with the maker's own 60#T rating.
Is Field Notes paper good for fountain pens?
Field Notes doesn't rate the Original Kraft for fountain pens, and we have not tested it. If you use one, test a fine nib on the back page first.
What is the difference between graph, ruled and plain Field Notes?
Graph books have a 3/16 inch (4.7 mm) square grid, ruled books have lines 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) apart, and plain books have no printing on the pages. The covers are the same kraft brown.
Who makes Field Notes?
Field Notes is a Chicago brand started in 2007 by Aaron Draplin's Draplin Design Co. and the design firm Coudal Partners. Draplin made the first ones by hand as a holiday gift for friends.
Are Field Notes made in the USA?
Yes. The Field Notes spec sheet, as carried by retailers, says all its memo books are printed and manufactured in the USA, and names Schneider Graphics of Bensenville, Illinois, as the printer. One retailer notes that some components may be imported.
Sources
- Field Notes: Original Kraft memo books (official page; blocked automated reading in October 2026)
- Pulp Addiction: Field Notes Original Plain 3-pack (full Field Notes spec sheet: Schneider Graphics, Finch 60#T, Dur-O-Tone 80#C, 3/16 in grid, 89 × 140 mm, printed and manufactured in the U.S.A.; UPC 858493003028)
- Jenni Bick: Field Notes Original Kraft Memo Book Set of 3 (size, binding, made in USA)
- Dromgooles: Field Notes Original Kraft mixed 3-pack (US$12.95)
- Dromgooles: Field Notes Original Kraft plain 3-pack (US price)
- Duluth Trading: Field Notes Original Kraft Rule 3-pack (50-lb paper; some components imported)
- Wikipedia: Field Notes (founded 2007 by Draplin Design Co. and Coudal Partners; quarterly editions from 2009)