I joined the Roterfaden gang

It’s hard to forget about a product called Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter, even if you can’t quite remember how to spell it.

I have been quietly watching this German brand get more attention in the planner community, and when Luke Hunter said he loved his, that was the final straw for me.

So what the hell is it? In short, it’s a cover for multiple notebooks, but that would be underselling it quite a bit. Taschenbegleiter means ‘pocket companion’ (Roterfaden is for the brand’s signature red thread).

The basic idea is a thick cover that you wrap around your notebook(s). The notebooks are held in tight against the spine not by inserting the covers into pockets (like most single-notebook covers), not by an elastic band (like Traveler’s Notebook), nor by punched holes (like Plotter or William Hannah) — but by articulating metal arms that fold into your notebook from top and bottom.

Already, this is an obviously superior system:

• It’s stronger and more durable than elastic
• No need for damage or alteration to your notebooks
• Instantly adjustable, both in terms of spacing and even through removing a pair of arms if you need to

From that basic design feature, the sky is the limit. RF offers Taschenbegleiters in:

• Several different paper sizes (mine fits A5 nicely)
• A variety of materials, including vegan options (I went for grey nubuck)
• Different thicknesses, with varying numbers of arms
• Different spine styles
• Different inner and outer features, like elastic closures, pockets and zip pouches

The naming scheme is totally opaque, but for what it’s worth, I went for the SO-20 and it cost me €170. I had a lot of tabs open when I was making my choice. If you opt for the largest, most expensive model with engraving, it’s 260 euros.

This is a super lux product. The leather is thick and soft. The stitching is great.

Zips flow smoothly, the clips have just the right feel. Through the back zip pocket, you can access and replace the elastic strap.

With a Hobonichi Cousin and another A5 slim notebook inside (which took just a few seconds to set up), it is chunky and weighs a ton.

Being honest, this product is not particularly designed for me.

Although I have lots of notebooks on the go, mostly I write in just one main diary – I don't have a notebook 'system'. So the versatility of easily swapping in up to three different notebooks isn't that important to the way I write. I also don't need a ton of little pockets and sleeves: I don't carry bookmarks and rulers and business cards and receipts and stuff.

Conversely, there are some features missing from this Taschenbegleiter that I really would use, and the way the Roterfaden portfolio is structured, I couldn't find a single model that had everything I wanted.

Most obviously, a proper pen sleeve that can accommodate and protect a full-size fountain pen. There are third-party products I could add, but one built into the cover would be very useful. Some RFTB models have a little pen loop, but not the one I chose.

Secondly, a thicker elastic loop. This shoelace-style one tends to pinch the cover, and over time I could see it leaving a mark. Some models again have a thick loop, but not in my preferred colours.

Lastly, bookmarks. Given how many different sets of notebooks you can add in, a set of colour-coded ribbon notebooks could really help with staying organised.

But these are all nitpicks. At its core, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter has a truly unique, thoughtful system of German engineering that holds multiple notebooks more elegantly, and more securely, than any other system I have seen. It wraps that system in absolutely gorgeous materials, crafted with care 100% in Germany. After using it for a couple of months, I’m really pleased I invested. A true Deliberate Object.

You can take a look at the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter portfolio here.