I’ve been carrying around my Shelterwood in my back pocket for 40 days. This is much longer than I normally carry a Field Notes. More than twice my typical carry time.  In my opinion, it has fared just as well as any other Field Notes. Any FN carried naked in a back pocket while walking on hot subway lines, through Cambridge, and while gardening would be battered and damaged.

The damage is mostly contained to where the creases initially occurred. Those creases at the spine have developed into moderately sized chips of the cherry veneer.  There area few splinters of wood at the spine and corners. The spine shows the most wear and the largest splinters. There is a lot of transfer of indigo from my jeans.

Over the last 9 days I’ve been working in my garden occasionally. I’ve been shoving various stuff in and out of my pocket. One of the things that has gone in and out of my pocket is a knife and a spool of cord.

With all of this going on you might think that this notebook isn’t durable, but the fact is that it’s been in my pocket for 40 days. I’d be surprised if other notebooks lasted this well. You can take a look at the pictures and decide for yourself.