Best 5 Types of Engineering Notebooks
Having a notebook that suits your needs in school or in your career is vital to the way you take down and refer to information. In a STEM field, particularly engineering, there are a few qualities that make certain forms of physical note taking stand out from others.
Are you going to be working in a lab environment? Or are you just a desk dweller?
Do you occasionally take beautifully, crafted notes in front of customers? Or are you more doctor-like in your scribblings?
All of these questions can influence the type of notebook, size, and other characteristics. However, in the end, the best notebook is the one that you enjoy using the most. Writing down bits of information versus chalking it up for your brain to remember it is a key first step.
If you think that using your computer might offer a cheaper and more suitable substitute for your brain dumping, think again. Professors from Washington University showed that while a computer offers better memory retention, that advantage seems to fade after 24 hours.
Another study also conclude that the development and frequent use of important neural pathways are seen in children that used pen and paper were far better than those that used a computer.
So, slowing down and taking some time to write down a note might be worth it in the long run.
Here are 5 of the best types of notebooks, or note taking papers, that will allow you to recall or present information more effectively.
Best STEM/Engineering Notebooks:
1) TOPS Engineering Computation Pad
The best engineering pad you can buy
When we are talking about notebooks and pads, the first and last one that comes to mind is the TOPS Engineering Computation Pad. I have purchased a ton of these during my time in school and in industry where they have been my go-to scratch paper for late night problem solving and hand written work paper of choice.
A muted grid (where the grid is printed on the other side of the page) allows you to have better alignment of equations and text along the entire page without it being taxing to look at. It also features a sectioned off header area where you can put a page number, your name, and a title if you so choose.
2) TOPS Computation Book, Quadrille Ruled
The best spiral bound engineering notebook
Imagine taking the TOPS Computation Pad and adding a spiral bound turning it into a notebook. That is exactly the TOPS Computation Book. I have used these notebooks for years as a daily driver for everything engineering work related, only recently shifting to a smaller note book (no spoilers, but it’s the next one on the list) and using the TOPS Computation Pad for any long-form, handwritten problem solving.
This notebook has a grid, each page is numbered, but sadly doesn’t feature perforations. This is mainly by design, as engineering notebooks are generally considered legal documents and missing pages is not preferred. Overall, I highly recommend this notebook as a do-it-all engineering notebook.
3) Rhodia A5 Lined Leatherette Notebook
The best lined and bound notebook
The Rhodia A5 Lined Leatherette Notebook is my notebook of choice. In fact, it has been my daily driver since the start of this year and has remained in my bag to this day. I would argue that it is the best notebook for more than just engineering, but all-around use, including using it as a daily bullet journal. As such, I take my notebook everywhere I go and I am taking more notes with it. I’m even on my third one this year.
A college ruled, lined notebook might deter some other STEM students or industry professionals that are more comfortable with the structure and density of a gridded page, but I find myself being more deliberate with the notes I take in this ruled format. This notebook also features a built-in, ribbon styled book mark so you can flip to the current page, an elastic to keep it closed, a built-in folder in the rear cover, and, most importantly, Rhodia’s luscious 90-gram ivory vellum paper. Paper suitable for even the most diehard of pen enthusiasts.
Purchase one of these notebooks and it’s going to be tough to go back to what you were using previously.
4) Five Star Spiral Notebook, 1 Subject, Graph Ruled Paper
The best budget spiral bound notebook
These notebooks are tried and true workhorses. I have used these notebooks through high school and college for each class. I prefer the 100-page variant of the notebook, as it has enough pages for an entire semester of highly detailed note-taking.
These notebooks feature a pretty dense grid, which is great for keeping notes aligned and clean. The pages have a perforation so that you can leave the scraggly mess of the binding holes behind. And best of all, they are pretty cheap. I’d recommend stocking up with a multi-pack especially at the start of any semester.
5) Midori MD Notebook
The best board room-ready notebook
If we are talking about board rooms, fancy leather portfolio cases, and fountain pens, then the Midori MD should be on the short list. While I have not personally used this notebook myself, it is highly praised by many for its paper quality and writing experience by fountain pen enthusiasts.
The notebook features a simple horizontal rule and threaded binding. It’s ivory color gives off a premium aesthetic and would fit nicely inside of a leather folio case. Pair this with a Mont Blanc pen and a nice suit and you will be closing on some big deals.
Summary
Finding the right notebook for you will not only make writing down your thoughts more enjoyable, but also help in making cognitive connections that will actually help you in school, work, or life in general. I would encourage having both a daily notebook on-hand, like the Rhodia, and a gridded, engineer pad, like the TOPS Computation Pad, tucked away in your desk. This will allow you the best of both worlds: a high quality notebook that is easy to carry and fun to write in as well as a pad to scribble on for problems that a page out of the Rhodia simply couldn’t contain.
And those are my thoughts on notebooks. Is there a notebook that I didn’t cover that I missed? Feel free to share this article on your social media platform of choice and tag me in it to discuss. Or drop me a line at hi@natecordova.com.
