Field Notes: Instagram Polls (Part 2 - Spring Editions)

It may be very quiet here, but I have not stopped conducting Field Notes-related polls at my Instagram account @threestaples! With the release of Spring 2019 edition just around the corner (possibly later today!), I’d like to share the results of these polls, specifically those with Spring editions.

---

Shelterwood vs. Coastal

• Poll start date: February 15, 2019

• Total number of votes: 161

• Winner: Coastal (69%)

From 10 different Spring editions released so far, I chose these two for their distinct texture on the cover. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was surprised to see Coastal win by such a big margin. I thought Shelterwood was more popular than that! Oh well. As for me, it was a tough decision, but I went with Shelterwood only because I find the reticle grid in Coastal a bit too distracting.
 

National Crop vs. Two Rivers

• Poll start date: February 22, 2019

• Total number of votes: 155

• Winner: Two Rivers (51%)

I thought National Crop and Two Rivers both had the Americana theme going on, so I decided to give this pair a go. I thought my pick, National Crop, would win (6 different colors! Clamshell box!) but alas, I was wrong. Not very decisive but a victory nonetheless for Two Rivers. I wasn’t disappointed though. Both are pretty fantastic in my book, and it was another tough one.
 

Two Rivers vs. Coastal

• Poll start date: March 8, 2019

• Total number of votes: 129

• Winner: Coastal (58%)

For this poll, I took the last two winners and had them go head to head. My pick was Two Rivers (I heart hand-printed) but Coastal came out the winner. Coastal sure is popular! I should do a poll in the future with the two losers: National Crop vs. Shelterwood.

Sweet Tooth vs. Utility

• Poll start date: March 22, 2019

• Total number of votes: 179

• Winner: Sweet Tooth (51%)

Last week, I chose editions that seem the least popular among all the Spring editions, and I was quite surprised to see that it was a tight race. I thought Sweet Tooth would win by a bigger margin because I’ve heard so many complaints about Utility so far… but I guess you never know! I’m not a huge fan of either, but my pick was Sweet Tooth. Love that metallic foil printing.

---

Obviously, I didn’t do every combination of Spring vs. Spring.. Saving the rest for later. 😜

What are your reactions to these polls? As I’ve said in my last IG polls post, these results probably represent only a small percentage of Field Notes fans, people who follow me and happen to view my Instagram Stories at the right time, etc. I wonder if there are any randos among the voters, those who have never even heard of Field Notes.

If you’d like to participate in my polls, feel free to follow me on Instagram @threestaples and watch out for new Stories on Fridays. ✌️

Field Notes Spring Quarterly Editions So Far

Ready or not, the 2018 Spring Quarterly Edition of Field Notes will be upon us soon. Historically, Spring editions are announced some time in March, but last year Utility was revealed in late February. So, who knows? Maybe in a couple weeks?

Here are all the Spring editions so far, with edition size and links to my thoughts on them:

• 2009: Butcher Extra Blue (500 Packs)
• 2010: Packet of Sunshine (4,000 Packs)
• 2011: Dry Transfer (5,000 Packs)
• 2012: National Crop (7,500 Packs)
• 2013: America the Beautiful (15,000 Packs)
• 2014: Shelterwood (25,000 Packs)
• 2015: Two Rivers (40,000 Packs)
• 2016: Sweet Tooth (30,000 Packs)
• 2017: Utility (35,000 Packs)

In these pictures, you’re seeing all the ones I have. I have the Commemorative Reprint of Butcher Blue, but I decided not to include it. Also, Utility came out in both ruled and ledger, but just the ledger version is shown.

Field Notes sure have come a long way... Look at how much they were able to increase the edition size over the years! All are sold out at their website, except for the last one, Utility, but some of the older ones might be found at retailers. For example, by some miracle, Dry Transfer is still available at Walker Art as of this writing.

Which is your favorite Spring edition? I think each one is special in its own way, from clamshell box (National Crop), to hand-printed covers (Two Rivers), to perforated pages (Sweet Tooth)...  Quite a variety so far. But I think I’ll have to go with either National Crop or America the Beautiful. Shelterwood and Two Rivers are close seconds, though. I did not like the last two (Sweet Tooth and Utility), and after the recent controversy over the Abercrombie & Fitch collaboration, I really hope they bounce back with the upcoming Spring edition.

Do you have any predictions? Glow-in-the-dark was something Field Notes often said they wanted to incorporate but couldn’t. But recently, they made it possible with Haxley, so I’d love to see them do the same for their own Quarterly Edition soon. Field Notes is also  sponsoring the Morning News Tournament of Books again this year, so watch out for even more brand new Field Notes.