I don’t have to tell you guys I love travel journals. But I think they appeal to everyone about to go on a big trip. You look at them and think about all of the adventures you’re going to write about in them… Ok chances are you’re not going to have time to note your every move. But they’re great for taking down names of places you’ve been, restaurants you’ve eaten at or sticking in tickets from temples you explored or flyers from festivals you went to.

But which do you pick?

If you’ve had a look around Heels In My Backpack, you’ll see I haven’t quite made up my mind on that one myself! I’m always buying new ones and reviewing interesting versions and taking pictures of cool journals on Instagram. I can’t make up my mind either.

But today I have too very different Travel Journals I wanted to show you guys. And pit them against each other in the battle of the travel journals… (Did that sound as dramatic in your head as it did in mine?)

First Contender: En Route by Kate Pocrass

First up is the fun one. Kate Pocrass is an awesome illustrator and she does a lot of this kind of thing. I’ve previously reviewed her travel organiser The World Awaits as well as an interactive travel workbook I Was Here, and both were really cool. But they were more about following what was set out in the books and thinking outside the box. ‘En Route‘ is more of a standard travel journal.

But don’t let that deter you, it means there’s space for you to write whatever you chose to remember on your travels. But there’s still those quirky Kate Pocrass illustrations, in pretty, bright colours, to keep it fun! From small illustrations in the corner of the page to double page spreads to brighten up the journal, it’s a lot of fun to write in.

But it means it keeps it different with something new and exciting on each page. The only thing I would say is that I like to stick ticket stubs and flyers in my journal, more like a scrapbook, but the illustrations in En Route are too cute to cover up!

Second Contender: Slim Aarons Great Escapes Journal

On the flip side, the Slim Aarons Great Escape Journal is totally chic and retro. The is the kind of travel journal I imagine Marilyn Monroe would have had, you know?

Really classic with beautiful retro travel images, think 50’s and 60’s gorgeousness, sporadically placed throughout. These photographs are the work of iconic photographer Slim Aarons, known for taking pictures of “attractive people, doing attractive things, in attractive places”. So, you know, they’re all gorge.

Add the fact that the book is bound in hot pink cloth with chic gold details, a ribbon marker and golden gilt edges and it is work of beauty. But the only issue, is it’s so pretty I’m scared to write in it! I mean what if I write something wrong and have to cross it out, this pretty beaut doesn’t deserve that.

The Battle.

Ok so which one is the winner. Well the Slim Aarons Great Escape Journal clearly wins on looks. It’s so damn pretty. But En Route by Kate Pocrass wins on practicality, really. It’s lighter, more durable and generally more backpacker-friendly.

But I can’t help it. I don’t care about practicality, the Slim Aarons Great Escape journal has stolen my heart. I just love it. I’m still scared to actually use it but I just want to carry it everywhere and post it on my Instagram every day. Is it weird to have an emotional connection to what is essentially a notebook? The jury’s out.

What do you think of both of these beauties? Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @HeelsInBackpack!