10 Best Journals For Men – Fitness and Personal Picks in 2023

Creative visions. Racing thoughts. Meditative self-improvement. Immortalizing 2:30 a.m. dreams that were just too damn weird not to jot down. We all have our own catalysts for keeping paper and pen within striking distance.

But if you’re honing in on the best journals for men (and reading this is a good start), you’re curating and elevating the experience with the same enthusiasm you would with anything else that’s regularly on or adjacent to your body. Some journals for men have daily affirmations or cues to help get you motivated. Others are brass-tack workhorses designed to be tossed around with as much abandon as your innermost thoughts.

Nuances, bells, and whistles aside, the practice of writing down ruminations and ideas is just a healthy thing to do. So if you’ve been looking for a sign to adopt the practice, here come 10 now…

Key Takeaways 

Journals come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. If you can dream up your ideal folio, chances are it exists. But the best journals for men are sturdy, simple workhorses with thick, bleed-resistant paper and thoughtful details. The Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook is a prime example of this, as is the budget-friendly Paperage Lined Journal Notebook.

The best journals for men are anything but one-size-fits-all propositions. If you can think of a writing-adjacent feature, you can probably find a notebook that has it. And you can bet I’m going to get niche here and there throughout this list.

As for the here and now, consider the thoughtful, sturdy, well-rounded Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook an outstanding first stop. Addressing one of the most important yet somehow overlooked features, it includes a sewn binding to help the pages lay flat. Otherwise, you’re working with two page markers, 251 numbered pages and a blank table of contents, labeling stickers, and a choice between 25 colors. Well-rounded, thy name is Leuchtturm.

Material: Durable hardcover with 80gsm acid-free paper | Best Suited For: Organized journalers looking for bells and whistles

Thick paper, water-resistant cover, over a dozen colors to choose from, thread-bound pages, storage pocket, sticker labels, thousands of glowing Amazon reviews, inexpensive.

That was a list of words.

More importantly, that was a list of words that describes the Paperage Lined Journal Notebook, the thought-jotter that I’m affectionately dubbing the “Best Budget Journal For Men.” Super-sexy monikers aside, this thing is loaded with features that probably have no business being on a journal with a price point this approachable.

Material: Vegan leather cover with 110gsm acid-free ivory pages | Best Suited For: The budget-conscious man who isn’t willing to sacrifice quality

Speaking of budget journals for men, this one… isn’t. But that’s okay because it’s Montblanc’s Fine Stationery Notebook instead. Come again? That doesn’t mean anything to you?

[Author leans back in tufted leather chair, cocks head confusedly, gazes directly into reader’s soul. Wry snickering gives way to fits of hysterical laughter. Composes himself. Plucks snifter of brandy off side table. Swirls. Clears throat.]

Yeah, no, totally. I get it. But it’s got a Saffiano leather cover and thick, bleed-free paper with silver-gilded edges and Montblanc watermarks. And even if it’s not your thing, it would make a great gift for the guy who has everything.

Tl;dr, good fancy notebook.

Material: Saffiano leather cover with Montblanc-watermarked with 85gsm paper | Best Suited For: The Montblanc pen enthusiast who wants to complete the journaling circle

Of the hundreds of journals on Amazon, this is certainly one of them. Look, when it comes to sifting through Amazon’s multitudes, it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what “best” means to you. So I’m going to do my best to avoid deploying further superlatives on your behalf.

But if you’re looking for a rustic, 100% leather journal with a hand-stitched coptic leather binding and over 10,000 5-star Amazon reviews, it’s right here. And it’s a looker.

Material: Genuine water buffalo leather with a hand-stitched coptic leather binding and 125gsm premium cotton paper | Best Suited For: Men who want their journal to be a part of their overall aesthetic

The everyday journal. If we’re doing this thing right, almost any notebook you reach for should qualify as an everyday carry. But that leather on your “nice” journal. Those daily affirmations in your self-improvement journal. The one you gave to your brother as a Christmas gift.

Let those stand as reminders that there’s always room for something like Limome’s Classic Notebook in your collection. It’s inexpensive, features 180 thick, lay-flat pages, and is the perfect vessel for your daily musings.

Material: Faux leather cover with thick, durable paper | Best Suited For: The heavy-handed scribbler who’s tired of tearing up pages

Of course, not all of the best journals for men are blank slates. Some, like the Gratitude Journal for Men, are filled with monthly writing prompts that encourage you to practice mindfulness and prioritize self-care. Because, yes, life gets busy, shit happens, and sometimes you just need a nudge in the right direction.

On the practical side, this is a sleek journal with a linen-wrapped cover, satin-ribbon page marker, and motivational quotes peppered throughout. Though you may still want to have an everyday carry with blank pages at your disposal, the Gratitude Journal could easily wear both hats.

Material: Linen-wrapped hardcover with heavyweight paper and gold foil details | Best Suited For: Men who want to improve their mental health

If we’ve learned anything about the best journals for men so far, it’s that there’s one suited for almost every purpose and occasion. This 3-pack of little fellas from Field Notes falls firmly and confidently under the travel category.

Most importantly, they’re pocket-sized for easy access on the plane, train, cab, or sightseeing tour. Or literally thousands of other scenarios. The 320gsm kraft cardstock covers are made to take a beating during your travels, and each journal has 48 ruled pages upon which to pour your wanderlusting heart out.

Material: 320gsm kraft cardstock cover with 90gsm Finch Opaque paper | Best Suited For: On-the-go men who are limited on space, not ideas

Tech-obsessed journalers, rejoice. This one’s for you. Rocketbook’s smart notebook is an eco-friendly journal that combines the unplugged satisfaction of crafting handwritten notes with the technological advantages of uploading them to cloud services like Google Drive and Evernote.

Write whatever you’re going to write, scan and upload it, then wipe the page clean with a wet cloth. Rinse. Repeat. This is another solid travel option, but it would also make a great birthday gift (or whatever gift) for the environmentally conscious guy in your life who’s never met a gadget he couldn’t obsessively tinker with for hours on end.

Material: Recycled-plastic cover with reusable lined or dot-grid pages | Best Suited For: The environmentally conscious, pro-tech man

Since the late ‘90s, Milan-based notebook- and accessory-maker Moleskine has all but cornered the elevated notebook and journal market. And for good reason—they make an outstanding product. But with so many other existing and rising talents in the space, Moleskine’s reputation may or may not have been put on notice.

Hence: The Standalone Moleskine Category. Of all the brand’s ubiquitous offerings, their Classic Notebook stands the test of time as an outstanding all-around journal.

Material: Synthetic hardcover with 70gsm ivory pages | Best Suited For: The practical journaler who prioritizes quality

Few things are more empowering, liberating, and exhilarating than picking up a pen and staring into the abyss of a blank page. That said, sometimes you just need to rip a few deadlifts and track what those sonsabitches are doing to your body fat percentage.

The Cossac Fitness Log Book is full of bumper-to-bumper inspiration, from goal and progress monitoring and exercise logs to motivational quotes and benchmark tracking. If you’re looking to add a bit of structure to your workout routine and find your interest waning with apps and virtual classes, this is as good a place as any to put pen to paper and re-pique your interest.

Material: Thick, protective cover with 120gsm paper | Best Suited For: The athletic man with a soft spot for unplugged everything

What To Look For In The Best Journals For Men

Purpose

Some of the best journals for men exist for the sole purpose of giving you a place to jot down daily affirmations. Others are for tracking your reps in the gym. Grocery lists or general braindumps? There’s a journal for those, too. Consider your motivation for journaling and hone in on the right product from there.

Style

A journal can be a private, brooding folio that lives in the depths of your laptop bag, a hand-stitched leather showpiece, or any style in between. Since the best men’s journals are often everyday carries, think of them as part of your overall aesthetic and choose a style to match.

Material

The covers of journals could be made of anything from genuine leather to synthetic materials. Paper materials also run the gamut. Pick sturdy, long-lasting products if you plan on using your journal frequently or traveling with it. If you’re giving a journal as a gift (always a good idea), a premium leather with some hand-stitched detail sounds about right.

Final Verdict 

The best journals for men can get as detailed and niche as you want them to. But if you’re looking for a tough-as-nails journal that can go everywhere and do everything with you, the Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook should be one of your first stops. Bonus: a nice journal also makes for an ideal last-minute gift.