How to Set Up Your Traveler's Notebook: A Beginner's Guide
Setting up a Traveler's Notebook takes about ten minutes: slide your first refill under the elastic band inside the cover, use a connecting band to add a second or third refill, then add pockets or a pen holder if you want them. That's the whole system. The rest of this guide walks through each step, the order that works best, and the small mistakes that make a new cover harder to use than it needs to be.
What Comes in the Box
A new Traveler's Notebook cover is a single piece of leather with one elastic band running down the inside spine and a second elastic that wraps around the outside to keep it closed. Most covers ship as a starter kit with one refill already tucked in, a couple of spare elastic bands, and a cotton storage bag. Keep the spares. You'll use them sooner than you think.
The leather is handmade in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and it arrives stiff and a little uneven in colour. That's intentional. Traveler's Company designed the cover to change with use, so scratches, sun, and the oil from your hands all become part of how it looks a year from now.
Step 1: Break In the Leather (Gently)
You don't need to do anything to the leather before you start. Most people simply use it, and the cover softens within a few weeks. If you want it to relax faster, fold it back on itself a few times along the spine and let it sit closed under a couple of heavy books overnight.
Skip the leather conditioner for now. It darkens the leather quickly and unevenly, and it takes away the natural patina that makes an older cover look so good. If you still want to condition it later, test a small spot on the inside flap first.
Step 2: Attach Your First Refill
Open the cover flat. Open your refill to its centre pages, where you can see the staples or stitching. Slide the refill under the elastic band so the band sits right in the middle of that centre spread, then close the cover. That's it.
Two things to check:
- The band should sit in the fold, not across the pages. If it's off-centre, the refill will pull to one side and the cover won't close evenly.
- The refill should sit slightly inside the cover's edges. Regular refills are cut to fit a Regular cover and Passport refills to fit a Passport cover. They are not interchangeable.
If you haven't picked a size yet, our guide to Regular vs. Passport size explains which one suits the way you write.
Step 3: Add More Refills With a Connecting Band
One elastic holds one refill. To carry two or three, you need a connecting band, a small loop of elastic that links two refills together before they go into the cover. Traveler's Company sells connecting bands for both Regular and Passport sizes, and the method is the same for each.
- Place two refills side by side, spines facing each other.
- Open both to their centre pages.
- Loop the connecting band around the centre fold of the first refill, then stretch it around the centre fold of the second, so the band forms a figure eight across the two spines.
- Close both refills. You now have one linked pair.
- Slide the pair under the cover's elastic, with the cover elastic running through the middle, between the two refills.
Traveler's Company USA has a photo walkthrough if you'd like to see each step.
Three refills is the comfortable limit for most people. Beyond that, the cover stops closing flat and the outer elastic has to stretch hard to hold it shut. If you want a fourth band sewn directly into the spine, a Traveler's Notebook repair kit comes with extra elastic cord and the charm, and lets you rethread the cover yourself. The spare colours kit is a good way to swap the standard black elastic for something brighter at the same time.
Step 4: Decide What Each Refill Is For
The system works best when every refill has one job. A common beginner setup is a planner or diary at the front, a plain notebook in the middle, and a folder or pocket at the back. Here's why that order helps: the front refill is the one you open most, and the back is where loose paper collects.
You don't have to fill every slot on day one. Start with one refill, use it for two weeks, and add a second once you know what's missing. If you're stuck on what that second refill should be, we've put together 10 ideas for what to put in your Traveler's Notebook that go well beyond daily journaling.
Step 5: Add Pockets, Folders, and a Pen Holder
Accessories are where a Traveler's Notebook starts to feel like yours. The ones worth considering first:
- Kraft paper folder: a refill-sized folder for receipts, tickets, and loose notes. It slots in exactly like a notebook refill.
- Zipper pocket or card file: holds cards, stamps, or a few small items that would otherwise fall out.
- Leather pen holder: clips onto the cover's back edge and holds a slim pen. Brass pens are the classic pairing, but any pen with a barrel under about 12 mm will fit. Our roundup of the best ballpoint pens for note-taking has a few slim options that sit well in the loop.
- Brass clip: marks your current page and adds a bit of weight to the edge.
You'll find refills, folders, bands, and brass accessories together in our Traveler's collection. If you like the MD paper feel, the Midori collection is a good place to look for compatible paper products too.
Common Setup Mistakes to Avoid
- Overfilling from day one. Four thick refills on a brand-new, stiff cover is a recipe for a notebook that won't close. Let the leather soften first.
- Mixing sizes. A Passport refill in a Regular cover slides around. A Regular refill won't fit in a Passport cover at all.
- Throwing away the spare elastics. Bands stretch out over time, especially the outer closure band. The spares that came in the box are your first replacement.
- Using the cover elastic as a connecting band. The spine elastic should only ever run through the centre of your refill stack, never around the outside of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you set up a Traveler's Notebook?
Open the cover and your refill to its centre pages, then slide the refill under the elastic band so the band sits in the centre fold. To add more refills, link them in pairs with a connecting band first, then slide the pair under the cover elastic.
How do I put inserts into my Traveler's Notebook?
Each insert (also called a refill) goes under an elastic band at its centre fold. For more than one insert, use a connecting band to join two refills together before adding them to the cover.
How many inserts can you fit in a Traveler's Notebook?
Most people fit two or three refills comfortably using connecting bands. You can add more by threading extra elastic with a repair kit, but the cover will not close as flat.
Do I need to condition a Traveler's Notebook leather cover?
No. The leather is meant to age naturally with use, and conditioning darkens it quickly. If you do condition it, test a small area on the inside flap first.
Can I use other brands' inserts in a Traveler's Notebook?
Yes, as long as the dimensions match the cover size. Refills made specifically for Traveler's Notebook covers fit best, but many notebooks cut to the same Regular or Passport size will work.
Start Your Setup at Take Note
We carry Traveler's Notebook covers, refills, connecting bands, and brass accessories at our shop in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood, and we ship across Canada. Covers and colours move quickly, so browse the Traveler's collection online, or stop by 2950 Dundas St W and we'll help you put your first setup together in person.