Jinnie’s Top 5 Favorite Field Notes

Subject to change whenever. Updated January 10, 2018.

Looking for my ranking of Field Notes? Sorry, I removed it in favor of my top 5 favorite quarterly editions of Field Notes, which are:

  1. Night Sky (Summer 2013)

  2. Balsam Fir (Winter 2010)

  3. National Crop (Spring 2012)

  4. Raven’s Wing (Fall 2010)

  5. Day Game (Summer 2012)

Jinnie’s Posts on Quarterly Editions

Here are all the quarterly editions released so far, in chronological order. Links go to their respective posts I’ve written. This is not a ranking.

  1. Butcher Orange (Winter 2008)

  2. Butcher Extra Blue (Spring 2009)

  3. Grass Stain Green (Summer 2009)

  4. Mackinaw Autumn (Fall 2009)

  5. Just Below Zero (Winter 2009)

  6. Packet of Sunshine (Spring 2010)

  7. County Fair (Summer 2010)

  8. Raven’s Wing (Fall 2010)

  9. Balsam Fir (Winter 2010)

  10. Dry Transfer (Spring 2011)

  11. American Tradesman (Summer 2011)

  12. Fire Spotter (Fall 2011)

  13. Northerly (Winter 2011)

  14. National Crop (Spring 2012)

  15. Day Game (Summer 2012)

  16. Traveling Salesman (Fall 2012)

  17. Expedition (Winter 2012)

  18. America The Beautiful (Spring 2013)

  19. Night Sky (Summer 2013)

  20. Drink Local (Fall 2013)

  21. Cold Horizon (Winter 2013)

  22. Shelterwood (Spring 2014)

  23. Arts & Sciences (Summer 2014)

  24. Unexposed (Fall 2014)

  25. Ambition (Winter 2014)

  26. Two Rivers (Spring 2015)

  27. Workshop Companion (Summer 2015)

  28. Shenandoah (Fall 2015)

  29. Snowblind (Winter 2015)

  30. Sweet Tooth (Spring 2016)

  31. Byline (Summer 2016)

  32. Lunacy (Fall 2016)

  33. Black Ice (Winter 2016)

  34. Utility (Spring 2017)

  35. Campfire (Summer 2017)

  36. Dime Novel (Fall 2017)

  37. Resolution (Winter 2017)

  38. Coastal (Spring 2018)

  39. Three Missions (Summer 2018)

  40. End Papers (Fall 2018)

  41. Clandestine (Winter 2018)

  42. Mile Marker (Spring 2019)

  43. National Parks (Summer 2019)

  44. Autumn Trilogy (Fall 2019)

  45. Group Eleven (Winter 2019)

These are the editions I don’t have:

  • Butcher Orange (Winter 2008)

  • Butcher Extra Blue (Spring 2009)

Jinnie’s Field Notes Collection

Updated February 7, 2020


Yes! I use these every day.

I use Field Notes mostly for daily journals, travel journals, and special projects. Here's my post on how I use them.

Things I was never asked but will mention anyway:

  • I use only the right side of the pages most of the time. I sometimes use the left side (in pencil) for additional notes related to whatever I wrote on the right side.

  • My pen of choice with Field Notes is Pentel EnerGel Euro 0.35mm, but lately, I’ve been using fountain pens (Japanese F nibs) more and more.

  • I only fill the “Start Date” and “Completion Date” on the front inside cover. So in the event of misplacement, I am screwed.

  • Unless they’re used as travel journals, my Field Notes don’t get outside much. So they end up looking barely used even when they are used. I don’t necessarily baby them.

  • I have used the ruler on the back inside cover just once. I like to carry around a measuring tape instead.


More coming soon...