Baron Fig, Confidant — simply awesome.
These are very well made, thoughtfully designed, and optimally functional hardcover notebooks. They aren’t cheap, but they’re a great example of a product which is greater than the sum of its parts. If you’re the type of person who appreciates the little details when evaluating quality, then I think you might appreciate these notebooks.
Image credit: Baron Fig 2020.
The paper
The paper is of very high quality, with a nice texture for writing and sketching. It holds up well over time, and isn’t flimsy or prone to easy tears. I use a few different pens, and I’ve never had an issue with ink smudging at all. Another nice detail is the paper is thick enough to keep the content on the other side of the page from showing through — and that’s including some light marker use. They’re available in blank, lined, or dot-grid; the latter is my go-to, as it’s great for flipping between writing and sketching within the same notebook.
As I mentioned, these notebooks are all about the small details, like their lay-flat design. Writing on the first page is nearly as good of an experience as in the middle or end. It’s impossible for any notebook to be perfectly flat throughout the writing experience — the middle is always the sweet spot — but these ones come as close as I’ve ever seen.
Size and colour
I’ve used the Flagship size, as well as the Plus size — there is a Pocket size that I’ve yet to try. Further, I’ve had Charcoal and Light Gray colours. I went on a bit of a spending spree last time I ordered some, so I haven’t been able to try any of the fun new colours yet.
The Flagship size is perfect for a portable, daily notebook. It’s the Goldilocks of notebook sizes, I’ve found. It’s a little wider than your typical notebook, but otherwise, the size will feel very familiar to anyone who pays enough attention to stationary details to read a review like this one.
The Plus size is great for bigger ideas, and more of a free-flowing brainstorm and sketching format. At least, that’s what I’ve used mine for. It allows me the freedom to write a block of text, then maybe draw a diagram or arrows to related ideas or details. I use it to brainstorm, as well as to flesh-out big ideas that have a lot of moving parts. It’s also great for meeting notes which might be sporadic and in need of visual aides or just more room to scribble.
Image credit: Baron Fig 2020.
Something to note about the colours is that the lighter ones can get dirty over time. The covers are some kind of light canvas material and, therefore, will collect dirt and stains over time, just as any material like it would. Keep in mind that I’m a reasonably clean person, so take that for what it’s worth when choosing a colour. I’ve had a few of the lighter ones, but knowing what they look like now, I think my next batch will only be the darker options. That said, there are lots of new options for colours which are dark enough to keep their aesthetic over time, while also having more variety than dark grey and black.
The ribbon
The ribbon page marker is a simple ribbon, attached to the spine, used for marking a spot in your book. It’s the only thing I don’t love about these notebooks.
I don’t hate it — it does the trick — but I just find it’s not as well thought-out as the rest of it. It’s a touch thick, and the end frays quite a bit. It’s not a deal-breaker, obviously, but it’s definitely the weakest feature in these otherwise wonderful notebooks, and worth mentioning.
The rest of the stuff
Since Baron Fig started offering these notebooks, they’ve added a ton of new things to their product line. I haven’t tried any of them, so I can’t really speak to them. I would assume their other products are designed and built with a similar attention to detail as their notebooks, but I can’t be sure.
Again, I haven’t tried anything other than the notebooks, and I’m not affiliated with the company in any way, but I’m sure their other stuff is worth a look.
The wrap-up
These are great quality notebooks which are well worth their higher than average price. Since my first Baron Fig notebook, I’ve tried a good few other types, and I always come back to these. Even the famous-among-stationary-nerds Midori notebooks, which are even more expensive, can’t deliver the overall experience Baron Fig has managed to. If you, or someone you’re buying for, loves a good notebook, you can’t go wrong with a Baron Fig Confidant.
You can find their notebooks, as well as all kinds of other goodies, here: https://baronfig.com/
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