Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > RITR - Adventure Travel Journal > Clifford Haynes > Initial Report

Rite in the Rain
Adventure Travel Journal
Initial Report
8/10/2003

Personal Stats:

Backpacking Background:
I am from and live in Maine. I have been hiking, backpacking, and canoe camping for over 45 years. I am also an assistant scout master; I average 2 to 3 days a week in the woods year round.
Over the years I've used or tried a variety of different gear. When I joined scouts as a boy, most of the boys my age didn't have backpacking gear, and their families didn't have money enough to buy it. So we had great fun making our own gear.
I can't really say that I have a backpacking style. I take what I need or want, depending upon what I plan to do on the outing. Even before my knees became a problem, I could never see being in a big rush. It is my opinion that camping is part of backpacking, and should be enjoyed at least as much as the hiking. In areas where there is a lot of hiker traffic, I tend to pack heavier in order to minimize impact. I just like being out in the woods, and exploring.

Product Information:

Product Description:
The Rite in the Rain All-Weather Adventure Travel Journal is a small hard covered book, 4.125 in (10.48 cm) wide, 6.813 in (17.31 cm) tall, and 0.688 in (1.75 cm) thick. The hard cover is yellow and the front cover has a Rite in the Rain logo and "All Weather Adventure Travel Journal" printed in gold. The book contains 78 sheets of 4 in (10.16 cm) X 6.5 in (16.51 cm) all weather paper. Seven and one half of these sheets (15 pages) sheets contain personal information or helpfull preprinted information. The other 70.5 sheets (141 pages) are horizontally lined blank pages. At the top of each blank page is a line for the date and location. The paper feels a bit like a heavy coated paper in that is has a sort of  slick waxy finish, but it does not have a high gloss. The pages are antiqued off white with gray / brown mottling. The binding of the journal appears to be sewn not glued.

The preprinted information pages are the first three pages and the last twelve pages of the book. The first page is a Rite in the Rain Cover page. The last line of this page suggests, "For best Results use a pencil or all weather pen." The second page is for important phone numbers, medical information, and vehicle information. The third page is for personal information and emergency contact information. The information at the back of the All Weather Adventure Travel Journal begins with an information index page followed by an unlined blank page. The next three pages are lists of phone numbers for Tourist Commissions and U. S. Embassies. The next page contains lists of the Ten Essentials and Planning tips. The seventh information page is a Beaufort Wind Scale chart (judging wind speed from sea conditions). The next two pages are a World Climate Zone Map and World Time Zone Map. The last three pages are a wind chill chart, heat factor chart, and a Measurement Conversion Table with ruler at page's edge.

Initial Impression:

The Rite in the Rain Adventure Travel Journal arrived via USPS Priority mail on 8/4/2003. The mail lady would be a really good BGT tester, because she left the package on the porch railing perfectly centered under the roof drip line. Late that afternoon it rained; it rained cats and dogs. By the time I arrived home and saw the package, it had been raining cats and dogs for over an hour. My first thought was what ever is in this mailer is toast. The Adventure Journal, All weather pen, and copier paper passed the mail lady test with flying colors. The display packaging was soaked through, but the products were unharmed.

The Adventure Travel Journal appears to have been designed with the world traveler in mind. It appears to be very well made and should prove to be very durable. In my opinion this is the kind of journal that could be used to store thoughts and memories of an adventure for a life time, and passed on to future generations. To me this is the kind of book that might give my descendants a glimpse into part of my life and a window to my thoughts.

My first impression of the journal was, "Wow wrap a rubber band around it, tuck a penciled under the rubber band, call me Indy; it's time for the Last Crusade." To me the Adventure Travel Journal shouts "Take me on an exciting adventure." I actually dug out my old A2 motorcycle leather jacket just to see if it would fit in the breast pocked (it fits perfectly). After getting over my initial fantasy kick, I tried the journal in the back pockets of my various hiking sorts and pants. The journal fit perfectly in all but the cheap Wal-Mart nylon wind pants. I tried the journal in the external pockets of my packs and found that it could easily be stored in any of them. 

If the Rite in the Rain Adventure Travel Journal wasn't as nice as it appears to be, I might consider it too heavy to backpack with. But given my initial impression, if I were to leave today on a long distance thru hike, the Adventure Journal would be my companion and confidant.

Test Plan:

I plan to carry the Adventure Travel Journal on all of my outdoor adventures. Though I have had no interest in keeping a daily journal since I was required to as a grammar school assignment, the Adventure Travel Journal has inspired me to try journaling again. I will also be using the journal for trip notes and GPS data. Some of the things I'll be looking at are included in the list below.

• Do Rite In The Rain All-Weather Writing Products really work?
• Is Rite in the Rain paper more durable than plain old paper and pencil?
• How well does the product work with plain old pens and pencils (smear, fade, will it accept ink under difficult conditions)?
• Weather and fade resistance with various writing instruments?
• How well does the product work as emergency tinder?
• How well does the product work kayaking?
• Can pencil be erased?
• Does the cold affect the paper?
• How durable is the binding?

Likes and Dislikes:

Likes:
I like the size, apparent quality, and feel of permanence of the Adventure Travel Journal. 

Dislikes:
I hate those barcode stickers that everyone sticks on their products. The sticker that was on the Adventure Journal left a gummy mess that will gather dirt and detract from the appearance. I attempted to clean the gum off with alcohol, but was unable to get it all.

I'm looking forward to testing the Rite in the Rain Adventure Journal. I would like to thank BGT and J. L Darling Corporation for the opportunity to test the Adventure Journal.

Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > RITR - Adventure Travel Journal > Clifford Haynes > Initial Report