Downsizing to the NEW Filofax Lockwood Pocket Slim – Part 1 Guest post by Tim Edwards

Thank you Tim for the detailed two part post on his recent downsizing to a Pocket Slim organiser. 

I’ve been a keen paper organiser user for nearly 30 years and have been following a “slimming down” approach for most of that time – trying to find the optimum, portable, yet practical size!  My move into the recently launched Filofax Lockwood Pocket Slim is a radical step – even for me!

Today, I take a look at some of the various ways I’ve tried to slim down over the years.  Next week, in Part 2, I’ll give an overview of my recent purchase – the Lockwood Pocket Slim – and letting you know how I’ve got on!

Background - at heart I’ve always been an A5-man and I still use this size at my desk.  It’s not really a portable option though and as long ago as 1991 when Time Manager (TMI) introduced their Compact, I immediately purchased one for when “out and about”.  It’s still undoubtedly my favourite all-time organiser and was regularly used (I have two) until the Filofax Holborn Slimline came out in 2011. Here’s the TMI Compact (still available) and the Holborn Slimline (now discontinued)

        

I switched because the Holborn Slimline is much lighter (approx. 350g vs 550g with contents), slimmer (13mm oval rings vs 18mm) and smaller (191 x 120 x 25mm compared with 208 x 140 x 30mm).                                

I’ve used my Holborn (USA readers note – it should be pronounced “Ho-bun” after a district in Central London, not “Holl-borne”!) daily but, increasingly, I was leaving it behind – often literally – in shops and stores.  It was just too easy to leave it on the counter whilst I browsed.  This was because, like many men, I no longer regularly wear a jacket or carry a briefcase or bag.  Being tempted to not carry it or leave it at home was no good either!  The number one rule to success in planning is definitely to always have your organiser/ planner with you at all times.  Abandon this for the “I’m sure I’ll remember”/ “I’ll jot it down later” approach at your peril!

So, last year, I looked at other options for an organiser that I could take everywhere and Ideally, something that could double as a wallet – and suitable for work, shopping, hiking, cycling – wherever!  I considered going totally digital and purchased a new iPhone 6S Plus.  This has proved very successful for calendars, tasks and to-do’s, reminders and contacts using Pocket Informant and Evernote – but that’s really outside the scope of this post!

What is important is that, for long-term planning, creative thinking and general note taking, paper is still essential for me.  A smaller, slim but genuinely pocket size (must fit in trouser pocket without looking ridiculous) organiser was what I needed – in short something like a pocket sized version of my Holborn?  Of course, such a model is still made and I tracked down a rare, grey version in Germany.  However, much as I love all the pockets (including the zipped), it certainly isn’t slim!  With the full length back pocket and large clasp, it’s definitely something to carry in a bag or a large jacket pocket.  

Next, I tried a Midori Traveller’s Notebook Passport size.  I love the inserts, but am not a fan of the pocketless, unstitched single piece of leather that forms the cover.  Equally, whilst I know there is now a large market, the growing number of imitations do nothing for me.    

 

So, I purchased a Flex by Filofax Pocket in leather.  In my view, this is much better quality than the Midori, has several pockets and MTN inserts still fit perfectly.  I made a modification by gently gluing the MTN clear plastic insert onto the spine in the centre, to enable me to have a zip pocket for coins and extra pockets for credit/debit cards.  I also made an elasticated closure loop from a Moleskine which fits into the Jot Pad slot on the right.  This has been my main organiser for the past year.  

   

Filofax discontinued the Flex year planners and diaries last year.  However, the Travellers Notebook monthly and weekly products fit perfectly into Flex pocket covers. 

                               

Whilst bound inserts have big advantages – particularly for us left-handers who hate having to write around ring mechanisms – I’ve found I still missed the flexibility a ringed system offers.  I hate having to keep writing in an increasingly tatty notebook because there are still empty pages and having to carry a full year of calendar around, full of events that have long-since taken place.  A ringed organiser enables you to just keep the current pages you need, helping one to focus on what’s important NOW!

So, I was delighted when Steve discovered that Filofax was to reintroduce Extra Slim Pocket models.  These have existed before – both the Executive and Guildford were made and branded as “Pocket Extra Slim” but neither have been available for several years.  This time it’s the Lockwood that has been produced and sold as “Pocket Slim”.

In Part 2 (next week), I’ll give an overview of the new model, various ways of using it and let you know how I’ve got on with it!  In the meantime, full details of the Lockwood Pocket Slim are on the Filofax site in Germany and will appear soon on the Filofax UK site and elsewhere soon.  

Thank you Tim.