Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook

Hi! I’m a writer. I’ve spent 41 years on this planet so far, and I’ve spent 40 of those years with a pen, pencil, or other writing utensil in my hand. I write like I breathe: constantly and for the purpose of staying alive. Writing — hand, pen, ink, paper — is a part of every single day, for my personal enjoyment, for therapeutic purposes, and for academic and research pursuits, as well as for educating my daughter. As a result, I use a lot of paper. I’m not sure I can explain the volume of paper I’m talking about here, but let’s just agree that on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m somewhere north of all the numbers, deep in uncharted territory. Two nights ago when I couldn’t sleep, I wrote a four-page letter that I’m never going to send on the subject of (I kid you not) writing letters for the purpose of not sending them. I think that sums me up. For the purposes of this paragraph anyway.I’ve been curious about Rocketbook for a while now, and the ability to archive my handwritten work has been incredibly appealing. I picked up a full size notebook at a discounted price one day, figuring it would be worth a try, and I’m very glad I did!I have used stone paper and Frixion pens in the past, so I was familiar with how the basic concept worked, being able to use a damp cloth to wash away the writing. And as others have said, the pages do not feel like paper. The page is totally smooth. If someone handed me a sheet of it without any indication what it was for, I certainly wouldn’t think of writing on it. But it works out pretty well with the Frixion pens, and it wipes clean just like it’s supposed to, ready for another round of notes or ideas or lesson plans. It has enough pages that I can work on multiple tasks and still have clear pages for things that come up through the day. It is close enough to the pen-and-paper experience that I feel like I can connect with what I’m writing the way I need in order to do the work I want to do.I think I would really enjoy the executive size for my daily journaling, or the Fusion for my school preparations and planning. I will definitely be purchasing additional Rocketbook products in the future.When I was trying to decide whether to purchase the notebook, I saw a lot of reviews that listed drawbacks or said the Rocketbook wasn’t what it claimed to be. I decided to try it anyway, and I’m glad because what people were complaining about is pretty normal stuff when you’re dealing with a reusable, yet ultimately consumable, product.Everything we use can be used lightly and last longer, used heavily and not last long, be abused and break, or be set on a shelf safely in perfect condition. You really can’t expect a notebook to defy that reality. You get to choose how to use the notebook, and that determines what kind of experience you’re going to have.So let me tell you about several things that affect how I use my Rocketbook. They’re not drawbacks; they are simply things to know in order to set reasonable expectations and get the most out of a great product.To extend the life of my Rocketbook, I write with a light hand. I make sure my pen is not at an angle that causes it to scratch the page. I avoid using the eraser for more than a few letters. I archive pages as soon as possible. Every few days, I clear all the pages. I keep the notebook flat or stack it between my laptop and my clipboard if I slip it into my backpack. I make sure not to bend or crease the pages.If you write with a naturally heavy hand or often scratch the paper with your pen, you may find indentations lingering after each use or scratches quickly adding up, which can cause the pages to deteriorate more quickly.Erasing with a damp cloth cleans away the ink. Using the eraser in the pen is convenient, but it uses friction and heat to remove the visible ink. Moderate use of this eraser is perfectly reasonable and won’t cause problems. A lot of this type of erasing can alter the surface of the paper in such a way that it wears out faster.Archiving and clearing all the pages every few days ensures that I haven’t neglected to catalog my notes or work, and keeps the ink from sitting on the pages too long. If you leave ink anywhere for too long, it will eventually leave some ghosting behind, regardless of whether the surface is intended to be erasable or reusable. Avoiding that ensures the pages come clean easily.Being careful not to crease the pages or the notebook is just reasonable, since I want it to be flat.I can see that the pages will eventually show wear and I will probably retire this Rocketbook at some point in the distant future, in favor of a newer one. And I won’t mind doing that because I will have used it well! It will be able to boast of lasting far longer than any other notebook I’ve ever owned, and of saving many many trees.