“Rite in the Rain” Extreme Journal, Field Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:   Carol Crooker

Age:  44

Gender:  Female

Height:  5 ft 10 in  (178 cm)

Weight:  160 lb (73 kg)

Email:  cmcrooker AT att DOT net

City, State:  Phoenix, Arizona

Date:  September 24, 2003

Backpacking background:  For the past 6 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year.  Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York.  My three-season base pack weight varies from 13.5 lb (6 kg) to 9 lb (4 kg).  I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

The Extreme Journal is a small, spiral bound journal with 50 pages of “tearproof and waterproof” paper, according to the manufacturer.  It is intended to be used outdoors in all weather conditions.

Manufacturer:  J. L. Darling Corporation

URL:  http://www.riteintherain.com or http://www.durarite.com

Year of manufacture:  2003

Listed weight:  none listed

Weight as delivered:  3.3 oz (94 g) 

Listed dimensions:  4” x 6” (10 cm x 15 cm)

Dimensions as delivered:  4” x 6” (10 cm x 15 cm)

Listed number of pages:  50

Number of pages as delivered:  44 blank, lined pages and 6 pages with preprinted information

MSRP: $9.65 

OBSERVATIONS

The observations in this report incorporate those from my Initial Report along with additional observations.

The pages in the Journal are tough, yet can easily be torn out of the Journal along the precut perforations if desired.  The paper has a very smooth writing surface that makes it a pleasure to write on.  A pen that does not leave a lot of ink on the page, or a pencil, is best for writing on the Rite in the Rain paper since it does not absorb ink as quickly as regular paper.  Writing from all the writing implements I tried could be deliberately smudged if rubbed immediately after writing.   Writing from felt tip and gel pens could be smeared enough to obscure the words, writing from pencils and space pens could be slightly smudged without affecting readability, and writing from a ball point pen smudged the least, possibly because the ink it left on the paper dried the quickest. 

The Journal paper definitely performs better than “normal” paper in wet conditions when using the appropriate writing implements (ball point pen, space pen, or pencil).  Writing is faint, but readable when writing underwater, including in a drop of water that is sitting on the paper.  Drops of water can easily be shaken off from the paper since the paper absorbs little, if any water.  Writing is of normal darkness when writing on a wet page.

There was little to no effect on previously written notes when the Journal was submerged underwater or held out in the rain.  The wet writing could be smudged slightly if rubbed, but not enough to obliterate the words.  I was lucky to experience rain when I was in Idaho.  I took my mini Journal (ten pages torn from the Extreme Journal and stapled together) out in the slight sprinkle of rain to write on it.  After my “test” I just shook off the mini Journal and tossed it into a pack.  A few days later I noticed some very slight smearing and transfer of ink from one page to the next on two pages of notes I’d written in dry conditions.  My guess is that the pages rubbed together while they were still moist.  All the notes I’d written were still completely legible.  

The Journal paper appears to be completely unaffected by even two days of soaking underwater, unlike typical notebook paper. 

Ten pages from the Journal weigh 0.5 oz (14 g).  Ten pieces of regular paper that are the same size weigh 0.3 oz (8.5 g).    

What I like so far:

-         Nice size.

-         Pages flip easily.

-         Smooth writing surface.

-         Line spacing is just right.

-         Paper does not rip whether wet or dry (except along a cut, such as the precut perforations).

-         Notes can be written in wet conditions.

-         Previously written notes survive wet conditions.

What I don’t like so far:

-         The information on the preprinted pages is out of date and/or not useful to me.  I’d rather have the six extra blank pages.

FIELD INFORMATION      

Since my Initial Report, I've made one backpacking trip with the Journal along.  See below for more detail on this trip.  I also took it along on a couple of day hikes.

Central Idaho

Four-day backpack trip in August in the Sawtooth Mountains.  Elevations from 6500' (2000 m) to 10,000' (3000 m).  Warm days with highs to the low 70's F (low 20's C).  Overnight lows down to just above freezing.

TEST PLAN

I’ll continue to use the Journal on my backpacking trips.  In particular, I will be observing any effect cold weather has on writing in the Journal.  Since I remove pages from the Journal to take on my backpacking trips, I will also be taking the Journal intact, on vacation trips and day hikes to see how well the Journal holds together.  I’ll also be looking for more chances to “Rite in the Rain.”