advantages of refillable leather journal featured image

4 Practical Advantages of a Refillable Leather Journal

Journaling is an art that’s been in existence since 3200 BC. It can be traced back to the cuneiform script found in Mesopotamia where Sumerians wrote their daily activities, religious beliefs, and trade transactions on clay tokens.


This art has evolved over time to be many different things, done in numerous formats, and for varying purposes. Today, you don’t need a clay token; a pen and paper, a smartphone, a laptop, or a tablet will do.


However, the purpose remains the same: to preserve one’s thoughts and experiences so that you can reflect on your past, clarify your present, and envision your future.


And what better way to do this than with well-manufactured, high-quality leather journal covers and journal refills from Popov Leather that come with a lifetime guarantee?


Refillable journals have a lot to offer and a lot more to love, including:


  • Versatility
  • Durability
  • Numerous customization possibilities
  • Fit a variety of inserts

Discover some of the major reasons why when you go for refillable leather journals there’s no going back.

1 - The Perfect Everyday Carry Item

When rushing out in the morning, your brain is in a haze trying to remember everything you’ll need when you leave the house.


The one thing you probably won’t forget is your smartphone, but what about the notebook? The pen? The wallet? The keys? All these are pretty easy to forget unless you have them stashed together.


When coming up with refillable leather journal covers, I figured it would be best to create functional covers that house more than just your notebook.


Therefore, my different designs have a large pocket for your notebook or inserts, card pockets where you can slip your credit cards, and a secure pen holder for your favorite pen.

open Popov Leather journal cover with a refillable journal
Popov Leather Journal Cover​​

I also considered the elastic strap that comes with the popular Moleskine journals. So, I created a leather cover with a slit at the back to accommodate the elastic and allow you to close your journal tightly.


Now, you can start your mornings more calmly with your Popov Leather high-quality journal covers that house some of your essential everyday carry items.


Definition: Everyday carry (EDC) refers to items that are consistently carried on a daily basis.

Myrna R., one of our verified customers, appreciates these small extra accessories that make it a pleasure to carry her field notebook everywhere.

“...The pen loop ensures that I am always ready when the mood strikes … the notebook fits perfectly, and the two pockets work well for anything from receipts to business cards...”

Myrna R., Verified Customer, USA

2 - Customize Your Journal in a Way That Speaks to Your Soul

Journals are a magical portal to a creative’s and business professional’s inner worlds. It provides a safe space for you to pour out your soul and jot down your wildest ideas, thoughts, and stories without fear of judgment or invalidation.


You can make it a more special and habitable home for your dreams, plans, and desires by customizing it in a way that reflects your creative spirit, style, and personality.


Start by choosing your leather journal cover in a color (dark or light) that matches your style, then have it bonded using matching or contrasting Tiger thread.

engraved refillable leather journals
Engraved Refillable Leather J​​ournal and Wallet

A few of our unique combinations include a Black A5 Leather Journal bound with Navy Tiger Thread and the Heritage Brown A6 Leather Journal bound with Red Tiger Thread.


Let your journal introduce you by engraving your name or initials on the leather cover.


As I said earlier, customizing your journal is all about making it uniquely yours, so you can engrave more than your name. Try the latitude of your birthplace, a special date, a quote you live by, or an inside joke.


Fact Box: 


At Popov Leather, we do a brilliant job engraving anything on leather using either heavy brass stamping or laser engraving. For journal covers, we use laser engraving, which produces accurate and detailed designs with crisp edges and clean lines that never fade.

3 - Outlives Other Types of Journals

“Leather is not just a material, it's an investment that pays dividends for a lifetime.”

Unknown

I was tempted to go with the famous quote by Ralph Lauren, the king of American elegance that says, "Leather lasts longer than fashion, and it never goes out of style."


But, journals are like investment portfolios where every idea, thought, and plan is a stock that can yield great returns with time, dedication, and effort.


So, I found it better to go with the first quote that describes leather as an investment, which increases the value of your portfolio for a lifetime.


Full-grain leather is durable, long-lasting, and can withstand wear and tear for decades. Instead of being worn out, your refillable leather journal cover from Popov Leather looks better with time as it absorbs everything from the environment to develop a rich patina.


Here is a table that compares different types of journal materials by durability, longevity and price.


Material Durability (Out of 10) Longevity (Years) Price ($)
Leather 9 5 - 10
$30 - $100
Faux Leather 8 3 - 7 
$15  - $60
Hardcover 7 3 - 5 
$15  - $50
Fabric 6 2 - 5
$15  - $50
Paper 5 1 - 3
$5  - $30
Recycled 4 1 - 3
$10  - $30

To enhance the durability of our journal covers, we hand sew them using Tiger Thread—a superior quality flattened and waxed German thread. This ensures that your covers don’t come apart ever and you can even pass it down as an heirloom.


Speaking of heirlooms, refillable leather journal covers are the best kind to pass down to future generations. You can leave them empty, or with inserts filled with beautiful stories.


My customers can’t help but gush over the quality of their journal covers:

“This journal cover will outlast all the journals I could buy to fill it...”

Jeff Ferguson, Verified Customer

“This notebook cover is phenomenal. I’ve been using it for about 3 years now. The patina on the leather is beautiful, and the leather and construction quality is top notch!”

Anonymous, Verified Customer, USA

convenience of having leather journal cover photo snippet

4 - Use With Different Types or Sizes of Inserts

Limitation is definitely not what you’re looking for when getting a leather journal cover. Instead, what you want is a cover that can house any type of notebook, sketch pad, journal, planner, or paper stash that you find most useful at the moment.


At Popov Leather, we have refillable leather journals in different sizes, like A5 and A6 sizes, as well as field note sizes that fit perfectly into your back pocket.


Our A5 journal covers are quite popular because they perfectly fit a variety of different A5 notebooks and journals, including:


  • Rhodiarama HardCover
  • Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook
  • Clairefontaine A5 Notebook
  • Hobonichi Techo Cousin
  • Note Keeper A5 Journal

Below is a brief video of the A5 notebook cover:

If you are a fan of the elegant Moleskine journals, you can buy our sleek Moleskine Leather Journal and Moleskine Pocket Leather Journal for your regular and pocket-sized Classic Hardcover and Softcover journals.


The Moleskine covers don’t just spruce up the look and feel of your journals with soft and supple leather but also have a back pocket slit that accommodates the journal’s elastic.


We also sell journal refills that complement and fit into our journal covers like a glove. Check out our Field Notes Refills (available in graph, ruled, or plain paper) or our Note Keeper A5 Journal Refills and Pocket Journal Refills made with the best fountain pen paper.


Here is a table that showcases the different types of leather journal covers and their corresponding refill sizes:


Cover Size Cover Dimensions (W x H) Refill Size Refill Dimensions(W x H)
PocketaPocket 3.5” x 5.5”
Pocket
3.5” x 5.5”
A6
4.72” x 6.5”
A6
4.72” x 6.5”
Field Notes
3.9” x 6.3”
Field Notes
3.5” x 5.5”
A5
9” x 7.25”
A5
8.5” x 5.75”
variety of leather journal covers photo snippet

Get the Best Refillable Leather Journal From Popov Leather

Popov Leather journal covers are a dream for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life, cherishes the art of writing, and appreciates sustainable purchases.


They are a reliable companion for business professionals looking to boost productivity and creatives seeking inspiration to explore the depths of their creativity.


We have a variety of leather journal covers to suit every purpose, style, and personality. Below are a few that you can consider based on your needs and preferences.


A5 Leather Journal - English TanA5 Leather Journal - English Tan Moleskine Leather Journal - NaturalMoleskine Leather Journal - Heritage Brown A6 Leather Journal - BlackA6 Leather Journal - Black

You’ll definitely appreciate the convenience of having a durable leather journal cover that also houses other everyday carry items like your pen and cards.


The card pockets can fit a few cards each. While the pen slot fits standard-size pens, including grail fountain pens and specialty mechanical pencils.


Bonus Tip: You can also use the card pockets in your journal to store important contact information.

If your lucky pen is larger than the standard size, consider getting our pen sleeves that are also perfect for a pen without a lid or one that drips ink.


Finally, you don’t need to run around looking for journal refills, as you can buy these from us too.

Written by Ryan Popoff


Ryan Popoff is the creative mind behind Popov Leather wallets, iPhone cases, belts, watch bands and journals since 2013. With a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, my leatherworking journey began at home. I wanted to create a simple leather wallet that could fit into my front pocket and — to my delight — it was a hit with family and friends. Hopefully you love our honest, quality leather goods too! Reach out with questions.



1 comment


  • Hilarie McMurray

    Love the Leather Journal covers !
    Putting it on my wish list for Christmas :)

    Love your beautiful leather creations and Ryan’s story is inspiring !


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