Tombow PiT Air Tape Runner: Light-Pull, Refillable, 8.4 mm

Tombow PiT Air clear tape runner with blue parts laying its 8.4 mm mesh adhesive tape, with the smaller PiT Air Mini — The PiT Air laying its tape, and the PiT Air Mini (drawn in proportion). Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Product facts

Product: Tombow PiT Air tape runner (PN-MAS, refill PR-MAS), PiT Air Mini (PN-EAS)
Brand: Tombow
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Not stated^*
Material: Plastic body with at least 70% recycled plastic by weight excluding the tape; mesh power-net adhesive tape (acid free)
Price range: $under $5 per item
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Notes on these facts

Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Tombow's product page lists capacities, part numbers and prices but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy. Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo company. Price: example listing.
How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
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

The standard PiT Air lays 8.4 mm × 16 m of tape for 506 yen with tax (about US$3.20); a refill is 385 yen (about US$2.44).
Tombow's Air Touch system lowers the resistance when the tape is cut, so the pull stays light to the end of the roll.
The adhesive is a mesh 'power net' tape that Tombow says combines strong adhesion with clean cutting, even on thick envelopes.
PiT Air Mini lays 6 mm × 10 m for 282 yen (about US$1.78), or 858 yen for a three-pack, and has a refillable type.
Tombow's page lists a 2019 Good Design Award and a 2020 iF Design Award; it gives no country of manufacture.

What is Tombow PiT Air?

It is a tape runner built to feel light to pull. Tombow’s headline is that the pull stays light right to the end of the roll. A mechanism Tombow calls the Air Touch system reduces the resistance when the tape is cut, so you do not tug harder at the end of a strip. The glue is a mesh-shaped adhesive Tombow calls power net tape, which it says gives strong adhesion and a clean cut at the same time, so it also works on thick envelopes.

Other features Tombow lists: reduced running noise, an Air Fit head that corrects its angle when the body tilts for even coverage, and a simple refill. For an envelope-focused runner see the PiT Power D, and for the version sold in the US, the MONO Adhesive Permanent.

What sizes and prices does it come in?

Standard 8.4 mm and Mini 6 mm. Tombow lists these, with tax.

Item	Tape	Part number	Price with tax
PiT Air standard	8.4 mm × 16 m	PN-MAS	506 yen (about US$3.20)
Refill for PiT Air	8.4 mm × 16 m	PR-MAS	385 yen (about US$2.44)
PiT Air Mini	6 mm × 10 m	PN-EAS and color codes	282 yen (about US$1.78)
PiT Air Mini 3-pack	6 mm × 10 m each	HCB-324X	858 yen (about US$5.43)

Prices are Japanese list prices at 158 yen to the dollar. Tombow’s Mini page notes that the green is only sold in the 3-pack. It also lists a refillable type of the Mini.

How do you use and refill it?

Press, pull slowly, lift up and away to cut. Tombow’s steps are to open the head cover, press the tip firmly where you want to start, pull slowly so the tape transfers, stop at the end and lift diagonally upward to cut it. To refill, open the head cover, press the triangle button on the bottom while opening the case, swap the cartridge, take up any slack by turning the reel and close the case until it clicks.

What should you avoid?

Curves, cold rooms and dirty surfaces. Tombow says not to apply tape along curves or wavy paths because it may shift. Wipe off dirt, water and oil first, apply at 15 to 35 °C, and cover the head after use to keep dust off. A fast pull may tear some papers into the roll, so test on anything important. Some printers and copiers leave prints that glue does not stick to.

Is it for envelopes?

Tombow says yes, even thick ones. Its power net tape is described as secure on heavy envelopes. Tombow’s Power D is the runner it pitches mainly at envelope sealing.

Where is it made, and what does it cost?

Tombow’s page doesn’t state a country of manufacture. Tombow says the body uses at least 70 percent recycled plastic by weight excluding the tape. At 506 yen with tax (about US$3.20) the standard runner is in our $ band (under $5), as are the refill and the Mini; the three-pack is in $$.

Tombow’s other tape runners are the PiT Retry C, PiT Power C, PiT Tack C and the small PiT Egg.

KOKUYO’s runner with a self-closing cover is the Gloo tape glue.

For the whole field, see our best glues and tape runners roundup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Air Touch system?

Tombow's name for a mechanism that reduces the resistance when the tape is cut, so the pull stays light to the end of the roll.

How wide and long is the tape?

The standard runner is 8.4 mm wide and 16 m long. The Mini is 6 mm wide and 10 m long.

Is it refillable?

Yes. The standard refill is PR-MAS at 385 yen with tax, and Tombow lists a refillable type of the Mini.

Is it quiet?

Tombow says the design reduces the running noise so it can be used where sound matters. It gives no decibel figure.

Is the tape acid free?

Tombow says it is, so the glue itself and the bonded area are unlikely to discolor.

What awards did it win?

Tombow's page lists the 2019 Good Design Award and the 2020 iF Design Award.

Should you worry about the temperature?

Tombow says to apply it at 15 to 35 °C, because adhesion can drop below that.

Sources (2)

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