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Quick answer
The Tombow AirPress is a short, thick 0.7 mm oil-based ballpoint whose click pressurizes the refill, so it keeps writing upside down, at speed and on damp paper. Tombow launched it in Japan in 2008. It's 122 mm long and 13.7 mm thick, takes BR-SF refills, and retailers list it as made in Japan.
On this page10 sections
The AirPress in Full Black, drawn to scale from Tombow's 122 mm.
Elastomer-covered plastic body (clear version acrylic), steel wire clip
Released
2008*
Price range
$$$5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
BlackFull Black in Japan
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Notes on these facts
Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Tombow USA. Made in Japan: The Journal Shop lists Japan as the country of origin. Tombow's Japanese product page, press release and Tombow USA's listing don't state it. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Tombow's May 21, 2026 press release says the AirPress went on sale in 2008, and its product page lists a 2008 Good Design Award.
Colors: names per Tombow USA, checked October 24, 2026. Six colors per Tombow USA; Tombow Japan lists the same six, calling black Full Black. Tints were sampled from Tombow USA's product photos. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Each click pushes compressed air into the refill, about 1.5 atmospheres (normal air pressure plus about 0.5) per Tombow.
Tombow lists it at 122 mm (4.8 in) long, 13.7 mm thick and 15 g: about 20% shorter and 30% thicker than a typical office pen.
Its 37 mm wire clip opens to 23 mm, enough for belts, clipboards and thick notebooks, per Tombow.
It refills with Tombow's 58 mm BR-SF, a 0.7 mm black oil-based refill rated for about 500 m of writing.
Tombow USA sells six colors (Black, Clear, Beige, Blue Gray, Yellow and Khaki); Japan's list price is ¥770 (about US$4.90).
What is the Tombow AirPress?
It’s a pressurized ballpoint: each click compresses air behind the ink so the pen keeps writing where normal ballpoints skip. Tombow Pencil of Tokyo launched it in 2008 and won a Good Design Award for it that year. Tombow calls it the pioneer of pressurized ballpoints and says sales have been strong since 2020 with the boom in outdoor activities.
Tombow pitches it for standing-up notes, writing overhead, damp paper, sports scoring, field surveys, fishing logs, camping and hiking. In the US, Tombow USA lists it for warehouses, outdoor work, offices, retail and school.
How does the AirPress work?
A click drives a piston into an air chamber that pushes compressed air, about 1.5 atmospheres, into the back of the refill. Tombow says that’s normal air pressure plus about 0.5 atmospheres. The extra pressure keeps ink reaching the ball when gravity doesn’t help, as when the tip points up, or when you write faster than ink can flow.
Retract the tip and the pressure releases, so the refill goes back to normal. Tombow notes that very wet paper can still cause skips or feathering.
Tombow AirPress specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan)
Type
Click-pressurized oil-based ballpoint
Ball size
0.7 mm, black ink
Length
122 mm (4.8 in)
Body diameter
13.7 mm (20.1 mm including clip and strap hole)
Weight
15 g
Clip
Wire, 37 × 12 mm (1.5 × 0.5 in), opens to 23 mm (0.9 in)
Refill
BR-SF: 58 mm (2.3 in), stainless tip, about 500 m of writing
Colors (US)
Black, Clear, Beige, Blue Gray, Yellow, Khaki
Japanese price
¥770 (about US$4.90); refill ¥88 (about US$0.60)
US item (Black)
56065, UPC 085014560658
Launched
2008 (Japan)
Made in
Japan (The Journal Shop)
All figures are from Tombow’s May 21, 2026 press release and product page. The three earth-tone colors (Beige, Blue Gray, Khaki) went on sale in Japan on May 28, 2026.
Tombow's own comparison: about 20% shorter and 30% thicker than a standard office pen.
Why is it so short and thick?
Tombow made it short for quick clicks in tight spaces and thick for a firm grip with gloves. At 122 mm it’s about 20% shorter than a standard office pen, which Tombow puts at around 150 mm. The 13.7 mm body is about 30% thicker than the usual 10 mm, and its elastomer skin grips with wet hands; the Clear version is acrylic instead.
Tombow also says the extra contact area helps you press firmly, which makes carbonless forms easier to fill in.
How does it compare to a Fisher Space Pen?
Both write upside down; the AirPress pressurizes a standard refill each time you click, while the Fisher Space Pen uses a refill sealed under pressure at the factory.
The Journal Shop lists the AirPress as made in Japan. Tombow’s Japanese pages and Tombow USA’s listing don’t state a country of manufacture.
How much does an AirPress cost?
In the US it falls in our $$ band, $5–20 per pen. In Japan, Tombow lists it at ¥770 (about US$4.90), so the US price includes import costs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Tombow AirPress write upside down?
Yes, that's what it's for. Tombow says the pressurized refill keeps ink flowing when you write overhead, write fast or write on damp paper, where an ordinary ballpoint can skip.
How does the AirPress pressurize the ink?
When you click it, a piston squeezes an air chamber and sends compressed air, about 1.5 atmospheres, into the back of the refill. Retract the tip and the pressure releases.
What refill does the Tombow AirPress use?
Tombow's BR-SF refill: oil-based, 0.7 mm, 58 mm long, black. In the US Tombow sells it as item 55586; in Japan the black refill is BR-SF33.
Is the AirPress the same as a Fisher Space Pen?
No. Both push ink with pressure, but the Fisher refill is sealed and pressurized at the factory, while the AirPress pressurizes a standard refill each time you click.
Can I use the AirPress with gloves on?
Tombow designed it for that: the 13.7 mm body is covered in elastomer to stay grippy with wet hands or gloves, and the clip opens to 23 mm.
Is the Tombow AirPress made in the USA?
No. The Journal Shop lists Japan as the country of origin; Tombow Pencil is a Tokyo company and sells it in the US through Tombow USA.
How long does an AirPress refill last?
Tombow rates the BR-SF refill at about 500 m (1,640 ft) of writing. Tombow USA's copy says one click pressurizes the refill for 492 feet of overhead writing.
