Recently, I embarked on a journey of travel journaling as an authentic alternative to the often performative nature of social media. My carefully curated kit includes the finest pen, notebook, and photo printer I could find, all aimed at documenting my vanlife adventures for my children and a future version of myself yet to be discovered. This venture is inspired by my father's typewritten memoir, which I have revisited countless times since his passing years ago. How I long for a hand-written account instead of an impersonal Microsoft Word document—his all-caps lettering, a testament to his engineering career, accompanied by the distinctive scribbles and smudges from his seasoned hands. I often think how much richer those pages would be if they featured photos of the people, places, and experiences he wanted me to cherish.
My journaling kit consists of three essential components: a Pilot V7 pen, a notebook from the Traveler's Company, and a Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 photo printer. Choosing the pen was straightforward—I took the advice of my friend Liz, whose opinion I value more than that of industry leaders like Sam Altman. I quickly purchased a pack of four Pilot V7 pens for under $10, setting the stage for my journaling success.
The choice of a paper journal proved to be more challenging, leading to several false starts. I learned the hard way that opting for cheaper options from Amazon often results in disappointment. After trying out a few different "leather" covers and mismatched paper inserts, I decided to visit a physical office-supply store, seeking to connect with the product in person. It was there that I stumbled upon the exquisite journals from Japan's Traveler's Company. These journals are exactly what one might envision when considering travel journaling—a beautifully handcrafted leather-bound cover made in Thailand, paired with premium paper notebook inserts crafted in Japan. The sensory experience of writing in this journal—its sounds, textures, and scents—can induce a state of meditative bliss.
I opted for the regular-sized Traveler’s notebook, priced at $55, which includes a leather cover, a blank no-line notebook, a cotton bag, and a spare rubber band. While I chose to forgo using the bag—preferring the cover to develop a patina reminiscent of my own weathered face—I enhanced my setup with a $16 pen clip, an additional $5.50 blank notebook, a $6.40 pack of connecting bands, and a $9.20 transparent zipper case. This case is perfect for storing tape, extra retention bands, and miscellaneous mementos like receipts and ticket stubs. The notebook itself measures 4.8(H) x 3.5(W) x 0.15(D) inches, fitting snugly within the 5.2 x 3.8-inch cover. Its compact size ensures that it won’t get lost in my cluttered van, yet it’s spacious enough to accommodate a full day’s journaling, including space for a miniature photograph or two.
Perhaps my favorite accessory in this journaling kit is the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3, priced at $99. The inspiration to pair printed photos with my journal entries came from Charles Liu’s engaging YouTube channel. The photo printer powers on in about two minutes, allowing me to effortlessly find the perfect image from my iPhone’s library and print it wirelessly. A twin pack of replacement film, good for 20 prints, costs $15. Each photo measures 62 × 46mm, and it’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. This feature significantly reduces my nightly journaling time to just 5 to 10 minutes, as I can express so much with a single image.
All told, my travel journaling kit came to approximately $216, and every penny spent has been worth it. This setup not only simplifies the process of documenting my adventures but also transforms journaling into an enjoyable ritual that I look forward to at the end of nearly every travel day. In fact, I find myself missing this practice upon returning home—a clear indication that I’ve successfully created a journaling solution that I can stick with, ultimately resulting in a cherished library of notebooks that chronicles my earthly journey.
