Blog · Everyday Carry
LOCHBY Quattro, Voyager and Mini Field Journal Review
I bought the LOCHBY Mini Field Journal, Quattro V2 and Voyager in green for myself. Here is what each one holds for me after a few weeks of testing.
I've been testing the LOCHBY Quattro, Voyager, and Mini Field Journal for the past few weeks, and all three have been amazing. The Mini Field Journal holds my Field Notes, the Quattro holds the pens I plan with, and the Voyager replaces my regular-size Traveler's Notebook (TN).
I bought all three myself. LOCHBY did not send them to me and is not sponsoring this review.
I just really enjoy LOCHBY's products, and the green colorway caught my eye.
Watch the full video.
| Product | What it holds for me | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| LOCHBY Mini Field Journal | Four Field Notes-size notebooks, stickers, a multi-pen | Compact notebook carry |
| LOCHBY Quattro V2 | Pencil, fountain pens, gel pens, a ballpoint in the middle pocket | A full planning pen kit |
| LOCHBY Voyager | Monthly and weekly inserts, a Field Notes in the long pocket | Replacing a regular-size TN |
LOCHBY Mini Field Journal
The LOCHBY Mini Field Journal is the product that first made me curious about LOCHBY.
I use Field Notes for different parts of my life, and I carry four of them in it: one for my mind, one for my body, and one for my soul, plus a fourth catch-all notebook for notes on the go and anything else I need while I'm out and about.
The journal also carries a Zebra Sarasa multi-pen I got recently. It's a lovely pen that gives me three colors in one (black, red, and blue), and it's not much thicker than a regular pen.
The Mini Field Journal is simple and compact, and I've really been enjoying the waxed canvas. It fits 3½ by 5½ inch notebooks, the Field Notes size.
What really caught my eye is LOCHBY's elastic system, which is super strong. I used a passport-size Traveler's Notebook for a while, and it didn't feel as solid: with notebooks in it, I never felt confident they would stay secure.
In the Mini Field Journal, the strong, rigid front and back covers hold everything in place. It also fits perfectly in a few of my backpacks, which is a nice bonus.
Best for: carrying several Field Notes in one compact cover.
LOCHBY Quattro V2
The LOCHBY Quattro was the second product I really wanted. The idea is to carry the few tools that are essential for my planning. The Quattro alone holds everything I need for planning and organizing my thoughts.
It has about the same footprint as the Mini Field Journal, which I also carry everywhere.
The outside pockets are simple. First, a Faber-Castell pencil cut to size and kept in a Traveler's Company pencil holder. Using my own pencil lets me choose the graphite grade for the work I want to do.
Next come my two most used fountain pens: the Traveler's Company fountain pen and the Kaweco Sport in the new Olivine collection. Both are gorgeous, and the Traveler's Company pen has been my favorite for a long time.
The Traveler's Company pen was my first or second fountain pen, and swapping in a Kaweco nib improved it a lot.
Those two pens carry green and black ink, which are the colors I use for color coding.
Inside, a few more tools complement the outside ones. There's a TWSBI Eco, currently inked in purple.
I like to fill the TWSBI with fun colors that pop in my notebook.
I also have a Mildliner highlighter that I use occasionally. It tends to smudge some of my inks, so I'm looking for a waterproof ink.
I love that the Quattro V2 added a pocket in the middle. It's just big enough for the Traveler's Company brass ballpoint pen. I took out the refill that pen came with and put in a Uni Jetstream refill.
I cut the Jetstream refill to size and added some tape, and now it fits snugly. I haven't had any issues with it.
There's also a Montblanc special edition fountain pen with a nice gold nib decorated with a beautiful bird. I used to keep it inked in red, but now I change the ink with the season, which gives me a little more variety.
For gel pens, I carry a Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage, whose metal body makes it feel really premium. It still has its original green refill. Next to it is a Sarasa Clip 3C I got recently, with red, black, and blue ink.
Those two gel pens alone could probably cover 95% of my planning.
With the changes LOCHBY made for version two, each pocket comfortably holds about two pens. You can load the Quattro up pretty full, and it still stays compact and easy to carry.
Best for: keeping a full planning pen kit in the footprint of a pocket notebook.
LOCHBY Voyager
The LOCHBY Voyager replaces my regular-size Traveler's Notebook. I was curious how it would fit into my lineup, so I've been putting it through the wringer.
It's laid out much like the Mini Field Journal, with a big pocket, a shorter pocket, and a longer pocket that fits a Field Notes notebook. The loop and the clasp are the same as on the Mini Field Journal.
Right now it holds a blank monthly insert, a notebook for jotting things down and keeping track of projects, and an undated weekly insert.
It has a bigger footprint than the Traveler's Company regular-size notebook, but it's durable. I toss it around in my backpack, and it has served me really well.
Best for: a durable replacement for a regular-size TN, if you don't mind the bigger footprint.
Traveling with all three
I worried about whether I wanted to carry this much when traveling. But I was already carrying a regular-size Traveler's Notebook, a passport-size Traveler's Notebook, and a pen case.
These three LOCHBY products solved the main issue I had, which was keeping everything organized.
The Mini Field Journal and the Quattro are my go-tos whenever I travel. They pack easily and stay compact, which matters because I like to travel with only a backpack.
I've been debating whether to bring my LOCHBY Venture Pouch too, but that may make my kit too big and cumbersome.
Verdict
Together, these three make a perfect companion for my planning and journaling. The waxed canvas already shows some scratches and patina, and so far everything feels amazing.
Verdict: buy them for a compact, durable carry, as long as you don't mind waxed canvas that scratches and picks up patina.
The gear worth a look
- LOCHBY Mini Field Journal: four Field Notes-size notebooks and a multi-pen in a compact cover.
- LOCHBY Quattro: my planning pens in about the same footprint as the Mini Field Journal.
- Field Notes: the 3½ by 5½ notebooks for mind, body, soul and a catch-all.
- Traveler's Company Brass Ballpoint Pen: fits the Quattro V2 middle pocket with a cut-down Jetstream refill.
- Uni-ball Jetstream: the refill I cut to size for that ballpoint.
- Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Pen: the three-color version gives me black, red and blue in one pen.
- Kaweco Sport: one of my two most used fountain pens in the Quattro.
- Traveler's Company Notebook (Regular): the regular TN the Voyager replaced.
- LOCHBY Venture Pouch: carries more, but may be too big when I travel with one bag.
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Related reading
- Lochby Mini Field Journal vs. Paper Republic Grand Voyageur
- My Everyday Carry Setup: Aer Day Sling 4 Max Review
- The 10 Pens I Actually Reach for Every Day (Ranked by Use)
Frequently Asked Questions
What size notebooks fit the LOCHBY Mini Field Journal?
The LOCHBY Mini Field Journal fits 3½ by 5½ inch notebooks, the Field Notes size. I carry four in mine: one each for my mind, my body, and my soul, plus a catch-all.
What fits in the LOCHBY Quattro V2 middle pocket?
The middle pocket of the LOCHBY Quattro V2 is just big enough for the Traveler's Company brass ballpoint pen. I replaced that pen's refill with a Uni Jetstream refill cut to size.
Does the LOCHBY Voyager fit Field Notes?
Yes. The LOCHBY Voyager has a big pocket, a shorter pocket, and a longer pocket that fits a Field Notes notebook.
Did LOCHBY sponsor this review?
No. I bought the LOCHBY Mini Field Journal, Quattro, and Voyager myself, and LOCHBY did not send me any of them.