My Transition to Personal Size - Choice of Organiser

As I previously posted, I will be using Personal Size next year for the first time in quite a few years. I've been using A5 size organisers since about 2006, so it is time to have a change.

One thing that has changed since I last used Personal Size (full-time) is that my collection of different organisers in that size has grown, different models, brands and ring sizes.

Personal size I think has the largest range of ring sizes available. They go from 11-13mm in slimline size. Through 15-16mm in compact. 23-26mm in regular size rings, and the biggest are 30mm in internal diameter.

Most if not all Slimline organisers don't have a clasp, some don't even have a pen loop, so they will slip into a jacket pocket easily. I do have a DeVille organiser that is like a Slimline in design, no clasp or pen loop, but it comes with 15mm rings which is unusual but a useful addition in my collection.

As the ring size increases the overall size of the organiser increases along with the weight. This especially applies to the two-part organisers such as my Gillio Mia Cara and Moterm Versa, both Personal Size, but quite a size compared to say a regular Malden.

Detailed research on ring capacity.

Doing some research, I found this table in one of the Filofax catalogues.

Ring Size	Organiser Size	Capacity (Sheets)
30 mm	A5, Personal Zip	330
25 mm	A5 Clasp	270
23 mm	Personal Clasp	250
19 mm	Pocket	200
15 mm	Compact	150
13 mm	Slimline, Mini	120
11 mm	Slimline, Mini	105

It does list the capacity in terms of the number of sheets of paper, but I assume that is 70gsm sheets of paper. My own inserts are printed on 80gsm paper so the capacity will obviously be less. 

A slightly more accurate method is to measure the thickness of your stack of pages. Krause give paper capacities for their different ring sizes:

The ring capacity is given in the specification sheet as a thickness of paper on the rings. Krause quote their rings by the external diameter, were as we normally quote the internal diameter. The letters and numbers in () are the Kruse model numbers which you will find on page 21 of the catalogue in the link above.

• Pocket (PER152/06/20) - 20 mm internal diameter - Paper capacity 14mm
• Personal (PER171/06/25) - 25mm internal diameter - Paper capacity 19mm
• Personal (PER171/06/30) - 30mm internal diameter - Paper capacity 24mm
• A5 (PER216/06/25) - 25mm internal diameter - Paper capacity 19mm 
• A5 (PER216/06/30) - 30mm internal diameter - Paper capacity 24mm

So as a rule-of-thumb, take the ring internal diameter in milli-meters and subtract 6 mm and you have the paper capacity in milli-meters.  You should be able to apply this rule-of-thumb to any brand of organiser with similar size rings. 

Putting this information to use. 

I've measured the total thickness of my diary inserts plus other pages that I intend to carry. I've also tried them in various organisers in my collection. 12 months of the diary inserts on their own will just about fit in a 15mm organiser such as the De Villiers or Holborn Compact the later having a pen loop and clasp 

Larger ring Filofax organisers with 23mm rings can take all of my diary inserts and a parred down selection of additional pages. 26 and 30 mm ring organisers can take the full set of pages. 

If I cut down how many months of diary pages I carry and may be use a year planner for the rest of the year then 13 or even 11mm Slimline organisers can be utilised. 

Therefore I have plenty of scope to try out most of the organisers I have in my cupboard!  

As you might be able to tell, I'm quite looking forward to trying out Personal Size again.