Do you have specific requirements for your "ideal" ring binder organiser? (Not the pages or accessories, but the binder itself.) My ideal features depend on what I'll be using the binder for.
I've been using A5 size binders for several years. My Filofax that goes out and about with me is the Heritage, which has small rings and a streamlined design for maximum portability. The leather is durable and looks even better with a few scratches and wear marks. So my musts for my out and about binder: small rings and durable leather.
My binders that stay home can have more variation in their features, but probably most important to me is that the leather feels soft and nice. This is more important to me than ring size, or pocket configuration. Colour matters as well, for example my favourite binders are purple, brown, and coral. I'm not a fan of red, black, or yellow.
Does your "ideal" Filofax have a particular pocket configuration, specific ring size, or any other "must-have" features?
And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring binder organiser related!
I find that I prefer sober, business like colours so typically black.
ReplyDeleteI prefer plain outer. I have a Holborn personal but TBH I don't like the various stitched on panels. I like my A5 finsbury but TBH i don't like thee texturised leather.
I think my ideal filofaxes would be personal and A5 size. It would have the Holborn style leather with finsbury style plain design outer in black. I would also like a flat panel on the right hand side. It can be a zipped pocket but the section the back page is on I would like to be flat and smooth enough to write on the very last page without having to use a writing board due to say card pockets sticking out.
I would like to ask you all if you have any experience combining two different diary inserts. My current inserts consist of one day per page until October 1st, and one week on two pages for the rest of the year. I intend to replace the weeklies with the dailies then every month.
ReplyDeleteI use WOTP for 6 months iirc in my personal then I have month on two pages with tabs for the whole year in front of this.
DeleteMy A5 I just use 3 months of day to a page with a zfold annual and after the last of the day to a page diary I have a lined page I put future events. When I review, remove old months and add a new month I use that to fill in with the new months dates/appointments. It's a kind of future log at the end of the diary section where the new month goes.
Thank you, Paul. Sounds very well thought out!
DeleteKlaus, I'm like you - I only need maximum space when I'm actually staring down the barrel of the coming week or two at most, that's why two months hence I only have a month per page, and 5 months hence three months to a page (I draw up my own inserts so I can have what I please!
DeleteKlaus, you've given me a great idea. since I'm using a mini that sounds like a great solution.
ReplyDeleteYour‘re welcome, Nancy! Would be nice to hear if it works for you, too.
DeleteHi, Pamalison here. My must-haves are structure, the minimum possible number of slots/pockets, and absolutely not, under any circumstances, a full-width back pocket adding another layer of leather and lining to the outside of the binder. Did I just describe The Original? Why, I think I did.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note in the wake of the Crowdstrike outage, to say my Van der Spek is still working :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giggle.
DeleteLikewise, no issues with my Mac or my Linux machines!
DeleteDepends what I'm using it for...
ReplyDeleteFor field manuals, I need, ideally, a binder that will take at least 180 leaves. And, again, ideally, an Ax page format so I can easily print & cut content to fit. Since I also use a number of credit-card sized 'aide memoire' cards for field instruction, some credit card slots are nice. So A6? Although my 'PocketA' page size works well for my field manuals.
For a diary, something small & portable, with just enough room to add short 'appointment' entries, and take quick 'inbox' notes for ideas and things I need to do.
If I used a journal, it would need to be big enough to write easily, and accommodate however much I tended to write every day. I don't, but my Mum has kept a journal every day for thirty years or so. But in a simple, bound, A5 diary...
Kevin.
On a different FFAF topic, I picked up a red 3CL Compact in a charity shop on Saturday, for £3. The mechanism is starting to come away, as the leatherette fabric used on the inner spine has deteriorated and fractured. It has no 'F' on the spine, so I think predates 1982?
ReplyDeleteMy first approach to leather goods is to treat with Nikwax leather polish, but this ended up drying rather thickly, and leaving a significant residue on surface, and especially in the grain. So I dug through my old leathercare supplies, and found some 'Punch Matt Leather Dressing' spray. With some kitchen roll, this cleared most of the surface wax, and a surprising amount of colour. But the grain still had dark wax residue. So I used a very stiff nylon brush and more Punch spray. This seems to have done the trick, and the grain is now clean (yet more colour came off...).
The spine has a light crack that I might have to address, and I need to think about re-attaching the mechanism, and replacing the leatherette with something (loom state calico crossed my mind), and decide how much effort to put in to doing this; ideally, undoing the spine seams, and inserting whatever replaces the leatherette under the two sheets of leather forming the cover, and re-sewing the (rather wobbly) seams.
Not sure if it's the leathercare products I've used, or the gentle manipulation during cleaning, but the covers seem to be getting more supple. It smells very sweet due to the Punch spray, and is looking rather nice, with a subtle shine and some darkening patina on edges & spine...
At the moment, it's holding my collection of reproduced FreeForm Time Management notes, reminders & inserts, but I'll have to think what I want to do with it...
Kevin.
I think that my personal Kensington has all of the features that suit me the best - personal size, slim profile & zipped pocket. I went through a stage of thinking about upgrading to something with 30mm rings in personal, but now that I have less family commitments, the normal 23mm rings work fine again. And like Pam, I'm not a fan of a full width back pocket, unless the binder would specifically be used only as a wallet, as it adds extra bulk & can cause issues with it lying flat.
ReplyDelete