Tired of soggy notes? Rite in the Rain notebooks claim to be weatherproof. But does it really stand up to rain, snow, and mud? We put this popular notebook to the test to see how it performs. Read our Rite in the Rain review to see if it matches the hype.
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- Why Get a Rite in the Rain Waterproof Notebook?
- Rite in Rain Notebook Features
- Who Uses Rite in the Rain Waterproof Notebooks?
- Are Rite in the Rain Products Worth It?
- Find the Right Rite in the Rain Notepad
- Rite in the Rain Offers Notebook Kits for Extra Protection
- Taking Care of Your Rite in the Rain Notebooks
- Where to Buy Rite in the Rain Notebooks
- Alternative to Rite in the Rain
Rite in the Rain all weather notebooks can be used everywhere and anywhere. Whether it's jotting down field notes, drawing, calculating or plotting your way home, you can rest asure that your notes will stay safe with the Rite in the Rain Notebook collection.
- Top Spiral
- Side Spiral
- Stapled
- Soft Cover Top Bound
- Soft Cover Side Bound
- Hard Cover Fabrikoid
Why Get a Rite in the Rain Waterproof Notebook?
Have you ever needed to write something down, but couldn’t? Regular paper pads fail in wet conditions. They become a soggy, illegible mess.
Using your phone seems wise however, raindrops interfere with typing. Cold or wet fingers make it worse and cold weather can kill your phone’s battery, which renders it useless.
Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks solve these problems. They handle all-weather writing, which is why it’s become our go-to for field notes.
Rite in Rain Notebook Features
Rite in the Rain different sizes of American-made options are available, no matter what the intent is. Find notebooks, notepads, loose paper, cardstock, and specialty paper. Whether you’re into mapping, sketching, or research, Rite in the Rain offers paper with light grids or dotted lines.
These notebooks protect ideas in any weather, even from accidental spills. They are great for outdoor work, nature hikes, and prepping. Rite in the Rain notebooks are designed to preserve your thoughts and ideas for years.
All-Weather Rain Paper
How does Rite in the Rain vs regular paper compare? Rite in the Rain uses special patented paper that repels water. It is made from wood and recycled paper, which makes it eco-friendly.
The Rite in the Rain paper has a water-based coating that keeps it from disintegrating, whereas regular paper soaks up water and falls apart. I spend a lot of time outside and have spilt the odd coffee or water on my notebook, I can tell you that cleanup is quick with no consequences.
I even laundered my notepad accidentally! The pad was fine. The ink did not smear, and my notes were still readable, which was a relief!
How Tough Is It?
We tested Rite in the Rain’s durability. Notebooks are meant to have their pages flipped many times, and as you may already have experienced, a regular notepad will produce flyaways almost instantly. One bad flip or a sticky finger can cause problems. You might lose notes or even whole pages.
The Rite in the Rain paper can be flipped a multitude of times and it will stay intact. Removing a page from a small spiral notepad takes a little force, which explains why your pages stay put. This applies to all notebooks and pads.
Cover
The notebook cover, comes in a strong 19 gauge Polydura Cover (made from polyethylene) or flexible Field-Flex, to shield your notes. Both options offer phenomenal protection from bad weather.
Rite in the Rain notebooks are designed to handle extreme temps well. From -30°C snowmobile rides to humid boat trips, they hold up remarkably well. The write in the rain cover and paper stay strong, letting you write easily no matter the environment.
For work or keynotes, you’ll love this feature. Rite in the Rain spiral notebooks have rust-resistant wire-o spiral and the notebooks feature rust-resistant staples. I hate rust stains, so this is a big win!
Writing Instruments
Need to write something down? Use the right tools! We’ve used the Rite in the Rain all-weather pen for years. It’s a small pen that works great on any type of paper, in any weather. In hindsight, we should have bought the orange one – easier to find when the kids misplace it in a pack, but other than that, we haven’t had any issues with the waterproof writing pen.
Other writing instruments that work amazingly well in these all-weather notepads are: waterproof pens, mechanical pencils, technical drawing pens, crayons, and markers also work well. Oil pastels are another good option, says Rite in the Rain. We don’t own any oil pastels, so we’ll have to take their word for it.
Permanent markers and regular ballpoint pens work in dry places. But water-based inks are a problem. Highlighters, gel pens, and watercolours will wash away.
Regular pens can work too on this recyclable paper, if they have good ink. The right, quality pen stops smudges and fading.
Another Rite in the Rain pen alternative that’s a favourite of ours and performs remarkably well is the Fisher Space Pen. Yes, the pen that writes in zero-gravity! We love this pen!
Black 0.8mm Ink, Fine Point
- Write or sketch in the rain
- Able to write on damp or wet paper
- Special, pressurized ink cartridge
- Pen can write upside down
- Won't leak, evaporate, or make a mess
- Writes in temps from -30°F to 250°F
Who Uses Rite in the Rain Waterproof Notebooks?
The answer may shock you! These Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks are prized for their durable build. They work well in any environment and challenging conditions. Preppers, explorers, farmers, field scientists, anglers, construction workers, and military personnel all trust them. Anyone who hates being stuck inside due to rain loves them.
Hikers use these weather proof notebook to track trails. They log plants, animals, and key info while hiking. Scientists in fields like ecology and geology use them too. They record data and sketch findings in their field journals.
Preppers use these Rite in the Rain all weather notebooks in survival kits. They jot down plans, emergency procedures, and record data for emergencies. Artists also love Rite in the Rain. They sketch or paint nature and capture its beauty.
Soldiers use these notebooks for fieldwork. They sketch ops, take notes, and map info. Rite in the Rain comes with an NSN number, which means it’s a standard military item. This proves its top quality! Some notebooks also come with reference information.
No matter the task, Rite in the Rain notebooks holds up. They protect key data in tough spots. For us, it was a must-have and a great addition to our survival kit. It’s easy to write, map, and sketch in one notepad!
Are Rite in the Rain Products Worth It?
We tested it while camping in the rain, hunting in the mud, and off-roading in wet environments. Where regular notebooks and activity books for our kids became a mess with smeared ink, mushy sheets and holey pages, the Rite in the Rain all-weather paper stayed intact. There were no ink smudges, no disintegrated sheets not even accidental rips from sticky hands.
These notepads block water well, even when it’s nasty out. We used an all-weather pen when writing in the rain, which made writing smooth without smudges. This was true even with wet, sweaty, or greasy hands! The kids used crayons and found that they too held up.
Read on for our experience with the sizes and formats of these notebooks.
Rite in the Rain Spiral Notebook Review
Rite in the Rain notebooks work great in various weather conditions. My husband wanted a way to take notes while doing land navigation. Survival skills matter when exploring the woods. We bought the spiral notebook because it was waterproof and have never used Rite in the Rain before.
This notebook is great for trips into the wild. It’s easy to write quick notes. The small size of the Rite in the Rain Top Spiral Notebook fits well in a pocket or backpack. The yellow colour helps it stand out and can be easily spotted amongst your gear. The pages of this notebook are perforated but stay in place no matter how many times you flip the sheets. Tearing a single sheet out takes a little muscle. After years in our pack, our yellow notebook is still in great shape.
Do you want to write in the rain? Or maybe you're tired of smudged notes. Writing down your thoughts just got easier with Rite in the Rain's tactical, waterproof notebooks. Bonus: it fits perfectly into a jacket pocket, backpack, or purse.
All-Weather Tactical (No 980T) Field Kit Review
The Rain notebook impressed us, so we sought a more rugged option. We needed something for crucial notes. Think ham radio frequencies, land nav data, and hunting info.
This field kit includes a 4.25″ x 7.25″ All-Weather Tactical Notebook (No 980T) notebook, a RITR All-Weather Pen, and a fabric cover.
Inside the Tactical Field Notebook
This notebook stands out from basic spirals. The inside cover has a ruler and conversion chart. The first page is for your info, and the next is a table of contents. The soft cover books contain 128 tan-lined pages for notes.
In the back, you’ll find Rite in the Rain tactical reference cards. These pages aid military staff, even trainees, in the field. They offer quick access to charts, sketches, and plans. The cards cover troop procedures, reports, and briefs. The inside back cover has an azimuth conversion chart, which is key for navigating new areas.
We use this book daily, as its size makes writing easy. If you want an “outdoor journal,” get this one! The zippered cover is convenient, as it protects the book and has three pockets for pens or pencils.
The cover and pages stay flat, even with lots of use. The pages are tear-resistant, and tear out easily with a little force. We’ve had no pages fall out, despite heavy use.
Note: the small books and spiral kit lack perforations.
Mini Stapled Notebook: A Review
We are fans of little notebooks, as they are so convenient to toss into a car, pocket or bag. We bought the green All-Weather Universal (No 971FX-M) in the 3.25″ x 4.625″ size. They are small and cheap, and you get three in a pack.
This Rite in the Rain Mini Notebook has 24 green-lined pages. You can write your info and project title on the inside front cover. After the cover, you’ll find a table of contents for quick note lookup. There’s also an inch ruler printed on the back.
These Rite in the Rain pocket notebooks are our least favorite. Writing in them can feel cramped – we only use them for quick notes on the go. It’s great in a hunting or camera bag as a small field tool. At about $5, this small waterproof pocket notebook is a solid choice.
The Weather Notebook Water Test
The Rite in the Rain Notebook faced the ultimate water test. We wanted to show off its strength and smudge-free writing.
All three notebooks endured rain, a lake, kids, and weather. During downpours, water beaded on the page. Even with water present, writing remained easy. The all-weather pen’s ink stayed bold.
A standard ballpoint pen worked, but the ink looked less bright. The ink didn’t smear or bleed in the rain. The paper also stayed strong! Our notes remained legible.
After letting water sit, we brushed it off. No smears appeared. Intrigued, the kids tossed the all-weather paper sheets into the lake. Water flowed off the pages. While wet, they handled lots of crayon marks. The paper didn’t tear, smudge, or curl during this test. The paper crinkled a bit once dry, but overall, the notebook held up well!
Find the Right Rite in the Rain Notepad
Rite in the Rain creates all-weather notebooks for different tasks. Options include universal, tactical, memo, field, and simple notebooks. To pick the best one, think about these things.
Size:
- How will you use the notebook? Choose a small notebook for easy carry – it fits in a pocket or pack.
- Need lots of space? Pick a larger size. Rite in the Rain sizes include 3″ x 5″, 4″ x 6″, 6″ x 9″, and 8.5″ x 11″.
Binding:
RITR notebooks have choices for binding. These include spiral, perfect, staple, or hardcover.
- Spiral-bound books work well for quick notes.
- Staple-bound books are light for long trips.
- Perfect-bound books are good for journals.
Features:
Some Rite in the Rain notepads have extra tools. Look for conversion charts, rulers, or field guides. Think about what helps you most.
Quantity:
- How long will you be outside?
- How often will you use it?
- Rite in the Rain notebooks come with different page counts. Choose the right amount for your needs.
Rite in the Rain Offers Notebook Kits for Extra Protection
Choose from small top spiral, small notebook, or large notebook kits. Each kit has a zippered Cordura Fabric Cover and an All-Weather Pen.
The lightweight RiteInTheRain cover has a notebook pocket. Depending on the size, it also has one or two general pockets. Plus, there are four pockets for pens or pencils. Cover colours depend on size, with tan, camo, or black available.
The Rite in the Rain All-Weather Pen uses black ink and works in tough conditions. It writes from -34°C to 121°C (-30°F to 250°F). It even works 35 feet underwater! Amazingly, the pen writes through water, mud, sweat, and grease.
This field kit is great for staying organized. It’s also good if you tend to lose things. The kit keeps everything together! Find more details about the Rite in the Rain kit on Amazon.
From writing underwater to extreme temperatures, the Fisher Space Pen has you covered. It even writes in zero-gravity!! Plus it comes with an unconditional lifetime warranty. With the Fisher pen, there's no excuse not to write.
Taking Care of Your Rite in the Rain Notebooks
Like most things, your Rite in the Rain books need some care to last. If you don’t care, skip ahead.
Where to Buy Rite in the Rain Notebooks
Finding Rite in the Rain notebooks in Canada can be difficult. Lee Valley stores often stock only the 4″ x 6″ top-spiral notebook. We’ve only spotted these waterproof notebooks in stores a couple of times. Your local outfitter might have a better selection if you’re lucky. In the US, these products are easier to find in local stores. For the widest choice, check online at Amazon. They have many Rain items to choose from.
Alternative to Rite in the Rain
Rite in the Rain notepads works amazingly well. Yet, some similar options exist. Consider these alternatives.
- Field Notes Expedition Edition features a waterproof and tear-resistant cover, making them suitable for outdoor use. It also contains waterproof and smudge-resistant pages, ensuring your notes stay intact in wet conditions. We have no experience with field notes, but they are well-known and reviewed online.
- The Moleskine Evernote Smart Notebook combines the classic Moleskine design with the ability to digitize handwritten notes using the Evernote app. While it’s not fully waterproof, there is some resistance to light water exposure. Although we can not speak to the Evernote notebook, we have utilized several Moleskine products. Frankly, a cheap Walmart notebook by Cambridge came with thicker paper than Moleskine. The covers on our Moleskines hold up well, but the paper is see-through and really disappointing. Hopefully, Moleskine has corrected this issue in the Evernote.
These options give different features. They might meet your needs better. Field Notes rivals Rite in the Rain more than Moleskine does.
In conclusion, whether hiking, conducting field research, or simply journaling your outdoor adventures, having a write in the rain notebook allows you to safeguard your thoughts and ideas. You no longer have to worry about smudges, disintegrating paper, or worse, damaging your phone from a few raindrops.
So, don’t let rainy days or extreme conditions dampen your writing abilities, get a Rite in the Rain notebook today! You’ll be glad you did.
What is your experience with weatherproof notebooks? What do you find easier to use – a notepad or notebook?
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