Tired of soggy, illegible notes? Rite in the Rain notebooks claim to be weatherproof. But does it really weather rain, snow, and mud? After years of usage in all kinds of outdoor conditions, the verdict is clear: these notebooks really do withstand harsh environments and are a must if you’re looking for durable gear to use in the wild. In our Rite in the Rain review, we’re examining the Rite in the Rain Spiral Notebook, All-Weather Tactical (No 980T) Field Kit, and the Mini Stapled Notebook to see if it matches the hype for writing outdoors.
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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 and a total disappointment.
Using your phone seems wise; nonetheless, raindrops love to interfere with typing. Cold or wet fingers are worse, and cold weather can kill your phone’s battery, which renders it useless.
Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks solve all these problems. They handle all-weather writing, which is why it became our go-to for field notes and a very important piece of rain gear. I remember a hunting trip last fall, where we faced an unexpected downpour. As we scrambled to cover our gear, I quickly realized my notes were out in the open. But when the sky cleared, I found my Rite in the Rain notebook had preserved every word, despite being drenched. It’s moments like these that prove their true worth in the field.
Hopefully, it’s these 12 Survival Items!
Rite in Rain Notebook Features
Rite in the Rain offers small to large sizes of American-made options. No matter the intent, there is a notebook for every job, student, artist, and outdoorsy person. You’ll 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 and are designed to preserve your thoughts and ideas for years to come.
All-Weather Rain Paper
How does Rite in the Rain vs regular paper compare? Rite in the Rain uses special patented waterproof paper that repels water. It is made from wood and recycled paper, which makes these notepads very eco-friendly. Regular paper soaks up water and falls apart fast, while the water-based coating on the Rite in the Rain paper keeps it from disintegrating.
We spend a lot of time outdoors, and of course, we have spilt many beverages, especially coffee and water. Have liquids landed on the Rite in the Rain notebooks – absolutely! Curious as to what happened? Absolutely nothing! The liquid beads on the paper allow you to quickly clean up without consequence. Truthfully, I was expecting at least a stain from the coffee, but no, there was none.
I even accidentally laundered my husband’s notepad! Mind you, he should have emptied his pockets, but that’s a separate story. Surprisingly, the small pocket notepad was fine and is still used to this day. The all-weather pen ink did not smear, and his notes were readable and intact, which was a huge relief!
How Tough is a Wet Notebook?
We tested Rite in the Rain’s durability in various weather conditions, including our famous Canadian winter conditions. Notebooks are meant to have their pages flipped many times, and as you already have experienced, a regular notepad will produce flyaways almost instantly. One bad flip or a sticky finger can cause problems, like losing notes or even whole pages.
The Rite in the Rain paper can be flipped many times and still stay intact. Removing a page from a small spiral notepad takes a little force, which explains why your pages stay put. Not to worry, tearing out a note does not rip the sheet, which is absolutely remarkable. Be honest, how many times have you tried to tear out something only to lose 1/4 of the page? This applies to all Rite notebooks and pads.
Cover
The notebook cover comes in a strong 19-gauge Polydura Cover (made from polyethylene) or a flexible Field-Flex to shield your precious notes. Both options do a great job of protecting from bad weather, which makes writing outdoors so much easier.
Rite in the Rain notebooks are designed to handle extreme temps well. From -30°C snowmobile rides to humid boat trips, both the write in the rain cover and paper stay strong, letting you use your trail notebook no matter the environment.
For work or keynotes, you’ll love this feature! Rite in the Rain spiral notebooks feature a rust-resistant wire-o spiral, and the notebooks use rust-resistant staples. I hate rust stains, so this is a huge win!
Writing Instruments & Weather Pens
So you have a wet notebook, but what do you write with? Of course, Rite in the Rain offers writing tools, which we had to buy. You can’t buy one of the best waterproof notebooks and refuse to buy the mighty Rite in the Rain all-weather pen. Through the years, these pens have been on every adventure and jobsite. It’s a small pen that is comfortable to hold and writes smoothly on any type of paper, under all weather conditions. The ink is bold. In hindsight, we should have bought the orange Rite in the Rain pen – it’s easier to find when the kids throw it in the pack, but other than that, we haven’t had any issues with the weather pen.
Other writing instruments that work amazingly well in these all-weather notepads are: waterproof pens, mechanical pencils, technical drawing pens, crayons, and markers. Oil pastels are another good choice, says Rite in the Rain. We don’t own any oil pastels, so we’ll have to take their word for it.
In dry places, permanent markers and regular ballpoint pens will work well. Nonetheless, water-based inks found in highlighters, gel pens, and watercolours are a huge problem as they wash away. If you’re wondering about pen compatibility, a regular pen with quality ink will work on this recyclable, waterproof paper. The correct pen will stop smudges and fading, but the ink won’t be as bright.
There’s an even better alternative to the Rite in the Rain pen, and that’s the Fisher Space Pen. This pen is a favourite of ours and performs remarkably well. You are wondering what’s so special about the Fisher pen? Well, let’s start with the fact that it was used in the Apollo 7 space mission. The Space pen, made from brass and steel, can write in zero-gravity, meaning you can write in any direction, in extreme temperatures, under extreme conditions. That’s a lot of extremes! While we can’t test it in space, we can verify that it works perfectly well underwater, in mud, and in snow. We absolutely love the Fisher all-weather pen better than the Rite!
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 will shock you! Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks are prized for their durable build. They work extremely well in any challenging environment. Preppers, explorers, farmers, field scientists, anglers, construction workers, and military personnel all trust them. Anyone who hates being stuck inside due to rain loves these notepads for writing outdoors.
Hikers use these weatherproof trail notebooks to track trails. They log plants, animals, and key info while hiking. Scientists in fields like ecology and geology use them. They record data and sketch findings in their field journals.
Preppers use these Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks in survival kits as essential rain gear. They jot down plans, emergency procedures, and record data for emergencies. Artists also love Rite in the Rain. They sketch or paint nature in wet conditions.
Soldiers use these notebooks for fieldwork. They sketch ops, take notes, and map info. Did you know that 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 hold 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 without worries!
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 wet 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 trail 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.
Capture every detail, no matter the chaos outside! Writing down your thoughts just got easier with Rite in the Rain's tactical, waterproof notebooks. Nothing will ever ruin your notes again. 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 a 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.
Soldiers swear by Rite in the Rain – you should too! Write sharp in downpours and let the kit do the rest and protect your notes where it matters most. No more smudged writings, lost pens, or dirty, torn notes.
Mini Stapled Notebook 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.
Out of all the Rite in the Rain notebooks we own, these Rite in the Rain pocket notebooks are our least favourite. Writing in this pocket notebook feels cramped, which is why we only use it for reference. You’ll find one in hubby’s hunting bag and another in my camera bag as a small field tool. Rite In The Rain’s Mini-Stapled notebook costs about $5 and offers peace of mind for referencing important notes in the field when the weather is not friendly.
Don't lose ideas to bad weather again! This mini notebook beats mud, grease, and rain. Tucks easily into any jacket pocket or backpack.
The Weather Notebook Water Test
When you’re outdoors or you have kids, notebooks usually take a beating. All three notebooks endured rain, a lake, kids, and the 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 the 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 when writing outdoors.
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 often lose things. The kit keeps everything together! Find more details about the Rite in the Rain kit on Amazon.
Tired of ink skips in the cold? This pen laughs at -30°F. From writing underwater to extreme temperatures, the Fisher Space Pen works everywhere and anywhere. 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, even in winter conditions.
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.
- Store your notebooks in a dry place when not in use. This keeps them from too much wetness.
- If the cover gets dirty, wipe it with a damp cloth. Don’t use strong cleaners. They can hurt the waterproof cover.
- Rite in the Rain notebooks are tough, but be gentle. Too much bending can hurt the binding. Handle your notebook with care for best use.
Where to Buy Rite in the Rain Notebooks
Finding Rite in the Rain notebooks in Canada is challenging. I managed to find the RITR 4″ x 6″ top-spiral notebook at Burlington, Ontario’s Lee Valley and the letter-sized notebook at a local Kingdon in the Kawartha’s. We seem to have more luck spotting them at DIY stores versus outfitters. In the US, Rite in the Rain products are easily found in most local stores. For our global readers, a large selection of styles and colour options can be found on Amazon. Otherwise, visit the Rite in the Rain website to see if they can ship directly to you.
Alternative to Rite in the Rain
Rite in the Rain notepads work amazingly well, but there are similar alternatives that are worth looking at.
- Field Notes Expedition Edition features a waterproof and tear-resistant cover, making them suitable for outdoor use. It also includes 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. We can’t speak to the Evernote notebook, but 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 lets you 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. Try 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 a notebook?
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