Reddit mentions: The best laboratory notebooks

Liability reasons and personal project management type things is why I keep a written record. It's tougher to search for something you want, but it's key to have documentation of decisions made and when they were made. But as SrSkippy said, the admissability to court is pretty key depending on your situation. I did some poking around on the subject when I started my current job and was looking for good products to use and there was some discussion out there on needs. Having a bound book so it's non-insertable/removable and having the pages permanently numbered, with notes dated and sometimes signed/witnessed for certain milestones are important for patent law and intellectual property disputes if I remember correctly - I can't find the source right now. I use something similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/BookFactory%C2%AE-Blue-Engineering-Notebook-LIRPE-168-LGR-A-LBT4/dp/B003Y2XTE0

My main concern is contractual disputes, my current employer has a tendency to sue and get sued by contractors, so I wanted to make sure I had things well documented and from a just good business practices standpoint you'd probably be best off with something like microsoft onenote so it's searchable and easy to organize. The biggest challenge in documenting I've found is how easy it is to actually put it in writing/drawings. If you've chosen a difficult method (having a 3rd party take meeting minutes and require 2 approvals or something equally ridiculous that I've actually seen in practice before) then you're probably not going to be as willing to document compared to something that is very easy.

Some of the stuff I keep for my P.E. in my notebook are what training I attended, when, how many hours, and any identiable information for the CEU attached to it. Unfortunately I don't get to use my P.E. in any other capacity than maintaining it while at this current job.

If he doesn't have a fairly good stethoscope of his own, that would be a good gift. I have the Littmann Lightweight II that I use. Its a bit lighter than some of the other stethoscopes I've seen and used, but still great quality, and it isn't expensive compared to the market.

A pair of trauma sheers might be useful for him as well, ranging from the cheap to the more expensive with more gadgets, there's definitely a range to choose from. I personally don't have any shears, but everyone I've talked to that has the leatherman absolutely loves it.

A EMS pocket notebook like this or this would be useful for him to keep track of patient encounters for his paramedic clinicals.

I've run through three of these Rhodia Meeting Books in the last couple years for work. The paper is great for fountain pens even with wet ink and the organization really worked well for me. I usually get the smaller size but I've linked the larger one here.

I also really love my travelers notebook for work with fountain pens but it meets none of your other requests.

Hope you find something!

edited to add I totally agree about leuchtturm. I've never understood why people like these for fountain pens. Too much show through.

Thought of another one that might be better for you. This is a bound full size Midori notebook. Midori makes travelers notebooks and the paper is generally great for fountain pens. No table of contents or page numbers but I've found those difficult to get right.

There's also this I've never used this brand but it hits all your requests and is heavy duty paper so it may work for fountain pens. No telling how smooth it is. Good price though. Dot Grid Version

You've gotten excellent advice on inks, and some on notebooks. You mentioned being overwhelmed by the choices, but wanting a sturdy notebook that can handle fountain pen ink. There are a few choices mentioned in here, but perhaps I can help summarize this. Key thing you will want is a high gsm (Grams per Square Meter), since a high gsm means thicker paper.

• Red and Black: 96 sheets, standard ruling, 90gsm, casebound, hardcover. Personally, no experience with this, but I've heard there's no bleed through with fountain pens.
  
  
• Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal: 240 sheets, ruling is 7mm, 52 gsm Tomoe River paper, thread-bound for binding, cover is impregnated cloth (but you can buy a leather cover). Also no experience with this either.
  
  
• Leuchtturm1917 Medium Size Hardcover A5 Notebook: 125 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 70 gsm, thread-bound, hardcover with some sort of leather covering. I've been using these since 2013, and in my first notebook, my handwriting hasn't changed from the day I had written in it with Diamine Ancient Copper. You would still want sturdier ink than what I had used. The paper is cream colored, and smooth. Bleed through is rare.
  
  
• Rhodia Webnotebook A5: 80 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 90 gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. I've always enjoyed Rhodia paper, and while I haven't used this particular product, the paper is much smoother than the Leuchtturm1917, and there's less ghosting. The paper also appears whiter to me than the Leuchtturm1917.
  
  
• Rhodia Goalbook A5: 112 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 90gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. Throwing this in the options list, since you get a few more sheets. Also wanted to point out that the cover appears to be flexible.
  
  
• Scribbles That Matter, Pro: 100 sheets approx, ruling is dot grid, 100gsm, thread bound, vegan leather hard cover. The sheets are smooth, and a bit brighter than the Leuchtturm1917, but a bit more ivory than the Rhodia. Great paper, and the cover feels more durable and pleasant than the L1917. With fountain pens, I have yet to bleed through this paper, and the ghosting (seeing what is written on the other side of the sheet) is very minimal. If I push you towards any notebook, it'll be this one. It also comes with a penloop that is not useless, unlike the L1917.
  
  
• Lemome Thick Classic Notebook with Pen Loop A5: 90 sheets, ruling is either dot grid or lined, 90 sheets, 125 gsm, thread bound, leatherette cover. Just got this the other day, and the pages are thick and smooth so far. No bleed through or ghosting with fountain pen ink yet.
  
  
• Lemome Hardcover A5 with Pen Holder: 92 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 100g, thread bound, leather hardcover. Just an option to put in here, it has a pen loop, and the paper seems to be slightly less thick than the prior Lemome notebook.
  
  Wishing you and your daughter the best during these hard times.

Separate binders for chemicals, and equipment.
Keep a great inventory. If you can convince him to setup a server, keep the inventory on there, get a bar code label maker and label everything. Use an ipad/iphone/ipod touch to keep the inventory using a QR reader.

Also on your server, setup auto backups for every computer in your lab. Keep copies of presentations for group meetings. Buy great lab notebooks.

http://www.amazon.com/BookFactory%C2%AE-Economy-Blue-Notebook-E-LIRPE-096-LGR-A-LBT1/dp/B0062O8ZWS/ref=sr_1_9?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1382825309&sr=1-9

These are pretty great.

If you find useful pdf copies of books, keep those on your server as well. So when new students join, you can let them download the stuff asap. Do this for useful software, chemdraw, zotero (endnote, refworks, citation programs), igor, (origin, igor is better and works with macs and cheaper). Force assimilation on everyone in the lab, it makes keeping data open and understandable and sharable.

Setup schedules for maintaining equipment, ordering, inventory.

1.) I've always loved the cedar pencils. =D

2.) Inspiring jealousy throughout the sciences!

3.) Students, teachers, and EVERYONE will smile! =D

4.) My calculator refuses to be revived again. =(

5.) It's RECESS: LET'S DANCE!

6.) GOOOOOOOO $13000 DRAGONS! o_O

7.) mmmm, Coconut Caramel Corn! =D

8.) The Strange Story of the Frog Who Became a Prince.

9.) Waterproof, for biking home even on rainy days!

10.) After a smoothie for a snack, hitting the gym!

BONUS #1 –

BONUS #2 -

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

Pilot G2 pens. I prefer .5 but you can get them in .38 as well. Get used to doing things in pen and when a mistake is made you mark it out with a single line. Buy them in bulk so you always have one. Writing in pen makes you focus a lot more on what you are writing, which can help immensely with retaining it long term.

A notebook or binder for each class. If that class has a lab component get a separate lab notebook for it. One with numbered pages and a fillable table of contents. I like these.

A decent calculator. I carried a TI-89, but you don’t have to go that big if budget is a concern. Whichever one you get write your name in sharpie on the back and if possible inside the battery bay to make it easier to identify as yours if it winds up in lost and found.

Lastly and most importantly get the most comfortable mattress you can afford. If you are going to put money into any piece of furniture while you are in college it needs to be your mattress. A decent night’s sleep is your most important tool while learning. Even for those long nights a couple hours in a good mattress will go farther than 8 in a shitty one. This is a lesson I didn’t learn until graduate school and I wish I had learned it sooner.

1. Smells like pencils
   
   
2. I like these hardcover notebooks. I have one I use for special meetings
   
3. Desk clip on coffee cup holders for teachers to save desk space! Functional and Fun!
   
4. My favorite class was Improv! I studied acting.
   
5. I was always sitting alone reading during recess. This was one of my favorites.
   
6. Let's go Fighting Flesh Eating Streptococcus Pyogenes Microbes!!
   
7. It was always a good lunch when these were in the bag
   
8. I miss when books were this good!
   
9. I think this is amazing!
   
10. I was playing with my action figures. This was a favorite
    
    Bonus question 1 answer being PMed. I've searched and searched and I can't find your name :(
    
    Raffley goodness: In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

If you're going for a composition-notebook style, I'd recommend getting one with graph-ruled paper, rather than plain lined. You can still use the horizontals to write on, but you can also use it for drawing maps, etc, without having to use separate pages.

If that appeals, you can also get something like this,where the pages are pre-numbered, and there's an included index section at the front. Or if you don't want to keep all your notes in one place (different campaigns, etc), a three-pack of Moleskine grid-ruled notebooks is pretty cheap ($13 at the Barnes & Noble where I picked mine up)

As for what to put in it, I'm with everyone else:

• More encounter data than you plan to use, so you have extras
  
• NPC names, town names, small references you make to the party that could turn into quests later (see the post from a few weeks ago about 'adventure seeds')
  
• In the same vein, anything the PCs do or say that you want to come back to haunt them in the future
  
• Magic items you want to give the party at some point
  
• A list of person, place, and thing names, in case you have to pull one out of your ass mid-session (I got caught flat-footed and wound up having my PC's rob "Duke Who's-his-balls" one night - despite retconning a name in for him later, the Players insisted on him being "Duke Housibahls" forever)
  
  And, for fun, litter your notes with rulebook page number references that refer to abilities, monsters, NPCs, etc that your players either really want or really don't want to encounter, just in case someone goes snooping. Only you know which ones actually matter
  

I used to use lab notebooks like these: https://www.amazon.com/National-53110-Notebook-Quadrille-Sheets/dp/B0016060LG/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1542489863&sr=8-13&keywords=lab+notebook

old school, I know, yet they have great qualities. Sturdy covers, great paper, and a good price point because of how long I could use them. They come in plain or grid or college lined and regular lined. I had three at a time and used one per subject each term. Next term, I picked up with a new class where I left off in the notebook. Basically three terms took three lab books (9 classes total). It was inexpensive and they were good and sturdy.

Speaking of notebooks, make sure you get a good one. Basically, you want a solid lab notebook--not some spiral bound piece of junk for elementary school.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXFNR4Z is (for me) a nice size/weight/cost mix. It's nicely bound, not huge, uses grid paper, has numbered pages, and several lined pages for a table of contents.

In certain fields (not just military), these are super common (i.e. standard office supplies): https://www.amazon.com/DIY-Indispensables-Military-Notebook-7530-00-222-3521/dp/B01D225M3C

Dingbats-- they have a ruled version. On your list: yes, yes (unsure of the rule width), yes, yes, yes, not numbered, just one. Pages are perforated, though, and if you can get someone to send you a sheet to pen-test, that would be best (PM if you would like me to do so). I don't use pilot PBS or highlighters.

They have a bulletjournal version that's dot-grid and a yes on all the rest, but if you were willing to go for dot-grid, I would be here touting Scribbles That Matter, except, alas, no ruled.

I've liked Lamome's other products, so the ruled one should be fine too. No numbers, yes on everything else.

Also, I haven't tried the Amazon classic notebook, but I'm thinking with your pen choices, it couldn't hurt to try?

​

Let me know what you end up with. The ruled + page numbered challenge must be no fun to live with.

Depending on what type of science courses you take, I'd recommend our stuff. Our paper is water-resistant, so you can spill on it without consequence. It works great with ballpoint pens, as well.

Let me know if you want a little sample book to try out.

I've also heard good things about these types of notebooks (1, 2, 3). I've tried something very similar to the Scientific Notebook Factory one and liked the feel of the paper.

During my PhD, I got a set of these Vela Lab notebooks for my coursework and my comprehensive exams. They are fountain friendly and extremely easy to organize given the generous index. I still have several of them, and I plan on keeping them for the rest of my life.

Depending on your long-range goals, it can be very helpful to keep these around for a quick reference type of text. If I could go back in time, I would give myself a full set of these when I started grad school. If I had kept up with them early, studying for comprehensives would have been a breeze.

Very rarely (maybe even never) has the paper with my lab data gotten wet. If anything, it’s a drop here or there but nothing severe. If I was your boyfriend, I would want something large that has a nice design (what lines are already on the paper i.e. the checkerboard pattern on graph paper, etc.)

After some quick searching, I really like this. I might even pick it up for myself. I hope this helps!

As many have said, there's no one-size-fits-all method. Here's mine.

1. My main journal is a dotted Leuchtturn1917 because it comes with pages prenumbered. Before I found the Leuchtturn1917 I used to use chemistry notebooks. I also use Field Notes pocket journals which I can easily carry in my bag or pocket when I'm out and about.
   
2. I use the Content page to keep track of reading/quotes/notes from books, magazines, poems, podcasts, movies, etc. For example, a line will read: "Pg 2 ⎯ Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ⎯ Jessie Weston" and then page 2 of the journal will be quotes or notes from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
   
3. All left-side pages (even numbers) are devoted to these comments/quotes of books, magazines, poems, podcasts, movies, etc. I usually take these notes in blue ballpoint pen. I tried pencil, but it smears too much.
   
4. Right-side pages (odd numbers) are devoted to a running journal. I usually write in green fountain point. I've found that Leuchtturn paper doesn't prevent my S.T. Dupont inked in Mont Blanc Irish Green from bleeding through. It's not a terrible bleed, but it's enough that using the pen on both sides of the paper makes for legibility issues (hence the ballpoint for quotes & notes on the left-side).
   
5. Intermixed in my right-side journalling is my attempt at a Ben Franklin-esque tracking system for behaviors I'm trying to monitor/improve. It's just a wee grid of the 6 behaviors I'm concerned with (exercise, taking vitamins, not drinking to excess, etc).
   
6. I also dedicate the last page of the book to a tracking system just like the one u/revivizi described. In my case, I only have one tag at the moment and it ticks all the pages that have a Franklin grid so I can glance through and see that I'm losing weight or exercising more, or whatever.
   
7. I use the Field Notes when I'm out and about for shopping lists, doctor's notes, quick jottings. Every Saturday or Sunday, I'll flip through the pocket journal for anything that I feel needs to be transferred to the main journal. Usually there's nothing vital, but sometimes there's a quote or comment that I think needs to be saved. Or a health note I want to include as a comment to a Franklin grid.
   
   I've been keeping a journal since I was 10 (I'm 43 now). This system evolved over time and I expect it will continue to evolve. But my memory is pretty problematic because of PTSD, so journalling is really worth the effort for me.

It's a Lemome! There are plenty of fun doodles and I'm super excited to make more!

https://www.amazon.com/Vela-Sciences-Advanced-Hardcover-Notebook/dp/B01M1NWVUS

I havent bought this particular notebook ( i usually get softcover because theyre cheaper) but 144 pages, hardcover, good reviews at $16 seems alright to me. While its obviously not fair to compare a small company like OPs to what is probably some wholesaler on amazon, the difference adds up.

Book Factory is my supplier of choice, they make all the letter sizes, premarked as proprietary {see here}. Their journal-size ones are un-numbered, and for that Moleskine is a lot easier to find. Completely fountain pen compatible, because everybody loves a nice fountain pen.

Dude. The best engineering notebook ever. Get your company to buy it if you can. I found one in our supply closet and it is perfect for daily work, drawings, logging, and doodling.

https://www.amazon.com/Boorum-Pease-Laboratory-Notebook-L21-150-R/dp/B0006HXFJK

I love Lemome notebooks. The paper is thick and smooth, I haven't had any ghosting at all (though I don't do anything intense or use anything but Staedtlers), and the quality and feel of the notebook is amazing and feels fancy for a $15 notebook.

Roaring Spring Oversize Lab Book, 11 3/4" x 9 1/4", 76 sheets, Numbered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HIGF1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2aZYBbKDXBKGE

Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens Bold Pt (1.) Dozen Box Black; Retractable, Refillable & Premium Comfort Grip; Smooth Lines to the End of the Page, America’s #1 Selling Pen Brand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E6D3W6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_acZYBbXP1FYGK

Basic Care Naproxen Sodium Tablets, 300 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F2FSX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TcZYBbS0NV0S0

Oh ok, thanks. I’m using a Vela Advanced scientific notebook right now you may be interested in if the thin paper bothers you.

Vela Advanced

I've had good luck with Vela Notebooks, particularly their smaller computation notebook. I also have one of their larger project notebooks which I'm currently using for a study. Not being able to remove pages allows me to maintain a chronological order of my notes, and helps me when I need to find something (a formula, a specific problem with some machine, etc.) quickly.

Some notes about me: I'm still a student at a military academy, so I have to have a notebook of some sort on me pretty much all day. I use the Vela offerings because they are very durable, the paper stands up to fountain pens, and the ink on the page is a nice photocopier-blue.

Maybe this isn't exactly what you were looking for, but I think the notebook route is the way to go!

Lemome sells one on Amazon with an elastic band on the spine that you can attach a pen into, but storing 3 pens might be difficult depending on how big the pens are

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NAT49WS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511616412&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lemome+notebook

I think FPR also sells a pen pouch that you can use on a Rhodia Webbie. It's a 2-pen pouch but you can buy multiple

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/pen-pouches/products/fpr-two-pen-notebook-pouch-leather

That's pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head. If I find any other solution I'll update my post

My usual mechanical pencil is the Pentel GraphGear 1000 0.5, filled up with spare lead.

I use an Lemome A5 notebook (plain):

https://www.amazon.com/Unruled-Blank-Plain-Unlined-Notebook/dp/B071WZV2TM/

which has a pencil holder on the spine and a little pocket inside the back cover, which can fit a small ruler. I use a thin metal one.

This is pretty much all I need, since everything fits into a single item, I never leave anything at home.

I've been really enjoying the feel of these lab notebooks: Vela Sciences Advanced Wirebound Lab Notebook, 9.25 x 11.75 inches, 144 Pages (1-Pack, Grid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZDX5L6/

First you gotta figure out what kind of paper works for you, lined, unlined, grid, dots, etc. and how many sheets you want. I've found engineering books can be great notebooks too - and they also look really professional. https://www.amazon.com/BookFactory%C2%AE-Black-Engineering-Notebook-EPRIL-168-SGS-LKT4/dp/B0062O9BY4

A search for “grid lab notebook hard cover” or the like (key is to search for lab notebooks) usually turns up a few options. I like B5 or US Comp book grid notebooks very much and these turn up frequently in my searches for that size, but there are larger formats available as well. Would this suit?

Can’t vouch for paper quality, but reviews are promising.

Engineering log books could be another option, depending on how picky you are about the grid size/color, or if you’d be bothered by the spaces provided in the margins for recording information that may not be relevant for your purposes. Lab notebooks are sometimes printed with this layout as well, but it’s a little less common.

Both of these have advantages for bullet journalers (dk if that’s a thing you’re into) in that more often than not they have numbered pages and an index section. I have not found any with an elastic band, but that’s a dead simple diy with a length of your chosen elastic, a $3 pack of rivets and a hammer!

Size is the main reason. I have larger notebooks for other things. In fact, for projects and the like, I use lab notebooks with sewn in pages that are already numbered, etc. (Something like this.)

I keep a small field notes notebook in my back pocket to scribble down lists or make notes of things that I need to transfer to my larger notebook if I don't happen to have that one with me.

I bought a couple of larger size Field Notes notebooks and they tend not to get used because if I'm carrying something large enough to hold them, I just carry my project notebooks instead.

Pretty sure this is the National Brand Rediform Chemistry Lab Notebook, narrow rule. Only confusion is the page count, as DFW's notebook seemed to go to 70-80 pages rather than 60. Maybe the company downsized the page count recently?

https://www.staples.com/National-Brand-Chemistry-Notebook-9-1-4-x-7-1-2-60-Green-Tint-Sheets/product_507991

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/National-43571-Chemistry-Notebook-Narrow/dp/B0016OT7P8

I use this at work, but it is a little pricey.

Otherwise, you can just get a good binder for the engineering paper.

http://www.amazon.com/BookFactory%C2%AE-Blue-Engineering-Notebook-LIRPE-168-LGR-A-LBT4/dp/B003Y2XTE0

expensive, but supre nice

these are really useful for PCRS. Although the price is above 5$ it's 2.66 per notepad.

I'm so sorry. Typo. Vela notebooks. Available on Amazon here: Vela Sciences Advanced Hardcover Lab Notebook, 9.25 x 11.75 inches, 144 pages (1-Pack, Grid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1NWVUS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lFnsDbEH3XQQJ

found it on Amazon, here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAT49WS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_knZCCb2VFRXGF

> Lemome A5 Hardcove

Is this the one you are referring to?

• https://www.amazon.com/Thick-Classic-Notebook-Pen-Loop/dp/B01NAT49WS

I believe I may go with this...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WZV2TM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_R0EeAbFX51E0T

even smaller than college ruled.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016OT7P8/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00007LV4B

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R80QCW/

I use these all the time -- have dozens. They have a really sturdy cover, and the grid printing quality is much more consistent than the cheapo quad comp books.

http://www.amazon.com/Rediform-Quadrille-96-Page-Notebook-53110/dp/B0016060LG

VELA Series-E2, Engineer Research Notebook.

VELA Series-E2, Engineer Research Notebook, 8.5 x 11 inches, 128 Pages, Hardcover, Permanent Smyth Sewn Binding, Class-2 'Optimized' Notebook (5x5 Grid Variation)

NOTE: The Amazon page makes no mention of this notebook meeting any ISO standards for archival-quality paper, and only says "acid-free for archiving".

I've been using this. The paper quality could be better, but it takes every ink I've thrown at it without feathering and only the occasional bleed. And it's sexy as hell.

https://smile.amazon.com/Thick-Classic-Notebook-Pen-Loop/dp/B01NAT49WS?sa-no-redirect=1

Really thick pages, no bleeding or ghosting at all for me.