The pages are made from a synthetic material rather than standard paper, typically a polyethylene-based sheet material that repels water rather than absorbing it. Standard paper notebook pages absorb moisture and become illegible or disintegrate in rain and wet conditions. Waterproof notebook pages shed water and remain writable even during active rain exposure. The cover is also water-resistant for complete protection during field use.

Standard ballpoint pens write reliably on waterproof synthetic pages because ballpoint ink bonds to the surface rather than being absorbed into the page. Pencil also works well and has the advantage of being erasable on synthetic pages. Standard rollerball pens and felt-tip markers do not work reliably on waterproof pages because they require paper absorption to set the ink. For field use, a quality ballpoint pen is the recommended writing instrument with waterproof notebooks.

Law enforcement officers who need to record observations and incident details in outdoor conditions, military personnel recording field data during operations, search and rescue teams operating in wet environments, hunters and outdoor professionals who need reliable note-taking in variable weather, and anyone who has lost important notes to rain damage on a standard paper notebook. The Rothco waterproof notebook is a practical field tool rather than a specialty item.

Pencil marks on synthetic waterproof pages erase cleanly with a standard eraser. Ballpoint pen marks on waterproof pages can often be removed with a pencil eraser or by wiping with a damp cloth, depending on the specific ink. For permanent records, a ballpoint pen is the appropriate choice. For notes that may need revision, pencil provides the same waterproof writing capability with full erasability.