The 10 Best Journals With Locks
Special Honors
FPlife Lockbook Instead of relying on an old-school metal lock and key for security, the FPlife Lockbook boasts a biometric fingerprint sensor, bringing a low-tech paper journal up-to-date with today's technology. It has plenty of pages on which you can capture your thoughts, along with pockets for stashing documents or credit cards. geecr.com
Day One You can ditch paper notebooks altogether, but still protect your ramblings and innermost thoughts, with Day One. This app offers biometric security, as well as the ability to back up your data, so all of your writing, photos, quotes, and lists are safe both now and in the future. dayoneapp.com
AV Workshop Leather The AV Workshop Leather is a handsome, handmade diary with your choice of lined, blank, or kraft paper. With 280 pages in total, it has ample room for your jottings, and it can be customized to include the text of your choice on the inside of the front cover. etsy.com
Editor's Notes
November 23, 2020:
At this time, we've opted to keep a balanced selection of choices that are appropriate for adults and kids. On the business-friendly side, we still like the Too Personal Executive, and we've added the Cagie Mini, as well. The Too Personal model is crafted from a faux leather that would pair well with a variety of leather portfolios, while the Cagie model has a fabric cover that's offered in several attractive colors. Neither has tons of embellishments and design flourishes; instead, they're relatively simple, with classic styling that won't draw unwanted attention at the office.
If you're looking for something that isn't overly juvenile, but don't want something as plain as the aforementioned, consider instead the Peter Pauper Press For My Eyes Only, the Jaald Unlined Notepad, or the HuiDai Diary. These have just enough adornment to be interesting, but not so much that they are garish or childish.
Finally, if you're trying to please a young user, try instead the Peaceable Kingdom Keep Out, the Just My Style Light Up, or the VIPbuy Magic Notebook. We still think the VIPbuy option is especially fun thanks to its sequins, which might encourage a reluctant writer to practice journaling.
We also selected the Mattel My Password Journal, which opens via a voice-activated lock. Unfortunately, this lock isn't perfect; anyone who can mimic the sound of the owner's voice can bypass it. But it has a nifty secret compartment, an invisible ink pen, and a black light, which you won't get with most other options. And don't worry, you can write on the pages with a regular ink pen, too.
July 18, 2019:
When you think about it, not securing your private thoughts with some kind of lock seems kind of risky. While locks won't prevent a truly determined snooper, they will discourage casual lookers from flipping through your diary on a whim.
Our selections come in a variety of sizes suitable for a range of budgets. Most are made of leather, faux leather, or tough fabric and are designed to stand the test of time. We also looked for a variety of page styles--some people want lined pages while others prefer blank so their journal can include sketches and a more free-spirited writing style.
In this update, we removed an item due to concerns about its availability. Added the VIPbuy Magic Notebook in one of our top slots because who doesn't like reversible sequins? We also think it's a great value for the price.