Regular or Passport: which size TRAVELER'S notebook should you choose?

The TRAVELER'S notebook comes in two sizes, Regular and Passport, and this is often the first question people ask before getting started. Both share the same spirit, a leather cover, and a refill system, but they are not used quite the same way. Here’s everything you need to know to choose, with exact dimensions, uses for each size, and our advice.

The Regular format, the reference notebook

The Regular is the original TRAVELER'S notebook size, the one that started it all in 2006. It measures about 22 cm tall by 12 cm wide, roughly the height of an A5 notebook but slimmer and narrower. This size gives your hand real freedom: you can write at length, keep a daily journal, take meeting notes, draw, or paste memories without feeling cramped.

It is also the preferred size for bullet journal and journaling enthusiasts because it easily holds several inserts at once, connected by bands. This way, you can combine a notebook, a planner, and a sketchbook in the same cover. If you write a lot and often stay in one place, at home or in the office, the Regular is the most comfortable choice.

The Passport format, the nomadic companion

The Passport gets its name from its size, modeled on that of a passport: about 13.5 cm tall by 9 cm wide, slightly smaller than an A6 notebook. It slips into a jacket pocket, a small bag, or a back pocket, and goes unnoticed until you need to jot something down.

This is the ideal format for travel and a nomadic lifestyle: logbook, lists, passing ideas, quick sketches. Many people also choose the Passport as their first TRAVELER'S notebook because it is more affordable and less intimidating than a large notebook to fill. Its capacity is more modest, but that is precisely what makes it light and always with you.

Weight and bulk

Beyond the centimeters, the difference is felt in the hand. The Regular weighs around 170 grams empty, the Passport a little over 90 grams. Once filled with several refills and accessories, the gap widens: a well-filled Regular becomes a true writing companion resting on the desk, while a Passport remains a pocket notebook you carry without thinking.

Warning: refills are not interchangeable

This is the most important point to remember before buying. Refills, planners, and most accessories are specific to each size. A Regular inner notebook does not fit into a Passport cover, and vice versa. Similarly, a connecting band or a pouch comes in two formats. When completing your notebook, always check the Regular or Passport label indicated on the product to avoid mistakes.

Can you have both?

Yes, and it's actually very common. Many users keep a Regular at home or in the office for writing and planning, and a Passport in their pocket for travel. Both notebooks share the same philosophy and the same leather that develops a patina, so they quickly form a small, coherent collection. There's no need to choose definitively: you can very well start with one, then adopt the other according to your needs.

How to choose based on your use

You write or draw a lot

Choose the Regular. Its generous surface is more comfortable for long writing sessions, drawing, and journaling, and it holds more pages.

You want a notebook always with you

The Passport is made for that. Light and discreet, it follows you on the go and can be pulled out in a second to jot down an idea.

You’re just starting out

The Passport is an excellent entry point: compact, affordable, perfect for getting into the habit without the pressure of a large notebook to fill.

And the card size?

For its twentieth anniversary, the brand also launched an even smaller size, the card size, which is under 11.5 cm tall. If you’re looking for absolute minimalism, check out our card size guide.

Frequently Asked Questions