Remembering all the important thoughts we have during the day is next to impossible, so organizers will advise using some sort of note-taking tool. That could be an app on a smart phone, but many people prefer paper. Fortunately, there are many designs that help users with paper note-taking when they're away from their desks.

Enter a caption (optional)

Notebooks that can fit into a pocket are one such design. The Calepino pocket notebooks, with 48 pages measuring 9 cm by 14 cm, have been called the French Field Notes. They come in four versions—ruled paper, graph paper, plain paper and dot grid paper—so there's something for any need or preference. The ecologically concerned will appreciate that the notebooks are made from recycled kraft paper that's been paste bleached without chlorine and carry the FSC label.

Enter a caption (optional)

Many users are big fans of Post-It Notes, and the Noteshel gives them an easy way to use them on the go. It's a refillable holder for 3-inch by 5-inch Post-it Notes, which are a decent size for note-taking. The case comes with a pen that has a magnetic casing to keep it in place. The shell is made from a polycarbonate alloy and has a colorful rubber covering.

Enter a caption (optional)

The Noteshel was designed to be easy to hold while taking notes. Notes that have been written could be stuck to the other side of the case, keeping them from getting crumbled up or lost.

Enter a caption (optional)

Another alternative to the notebook is a case that holds index cards, and Levenger's Pocket Briefcase line has a number of designs that do just this. The one above would often be used purely as a note-taking tool, although it could be a mini-wallet if you used one of the three pockets for ID, credit cards and cash; there would still be one pocket for spare cards and one for used cards. I've used this as my note-taking tool for years, quite happily.

Enter a caption (optional)

Other versions incorporate the card holder into a more conventional wallet or a phone case. This allows users to carry fewer things, but might mean they need to compromise on their ideal wallet design.

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

The PicoPad is a design for users who want the tiniest of note-taking tools; it's so small it will fit into a credit card slot of a wallet. Many users already have bulging wallets, so this wouldn't work for them. And the very tiny pen will be hard for some to hold—and easy to misplace. It holds 15 sticky notes which appear to be a custom size—another drawback.

Enter a caption (optional)

The advantage of sticky notes and index cards over notebooks is that each note can be dealt with individually; the notes can go into the user's inbox to be handled with along with the mail and any other incoming paper. Users can get that convenience with notebooks that have perforated pages, such as the pocket size Ecosystem notebooks. These come in three versions: lined, grid, and plain pages.

Enter a caption (optional)

Left-handed users who prefer notebooks over other alternatives will appreciate designs that open from the top rather than the side, such as the Moleskine Reporter Notebook.

Enter a caption (optional)

Users who need to take notes in the rain or snow will appreciate notebooks that are designed for that. We've written about Rite in the Rain, but another design is the Expedition notebook from Field Notes. The notebook is printed on Yupo synthetic paper, a water- and tear-proof paper extruded from polypropylene pellets. Users agree that the Expedition is practically indestructible; the main drawback they mention is that not all pens will work on the pages. The pages are dot-ruled; if you're going to have just one page design, that's probably the most flexible for meeting varied needs.

Enter a caption (optional)

For users who want to capture their thoughts while in the shower, there's AquaNotes. Each pad has 40 perforated sheets of waterproof paper.

Enter a caption (optional)

Sometimes it's the design of the pen, not the paper, that helps a user take notes. The Night Writer Pilot's Pen has an LED that allows users to take notes in the dark.

Enter a caption (optional)

Users with a pocket notebook who are forever scrambling for pens might find the mini journal bandolier to be a solution. The creator wrote: "Broken pencil points and lost pens drive me mad so I made myself the first journal bandolier. When people kept asking where I had gotten it, it occurred to me that I wasn't the only one looking for a better way."