Tombow AirPress ballpoint pen

[A Smug Dill]

 

I picked these Tombow AirPress ballpoint pens up, as a novelty, recently for roughly AUD 5.40 each‡.

 

The writing instrument's technical design is pretty clever. Instead of using refills that are pressurised during manufacture, like those used in the Fisher Space Pen, the Tombow AirPress ballpoint pen leverages the force applied by the user on the ‘knock’ mechanism that deploys the retractable pen tip, to pressurise the ink chamber on the fly. Filled with an oil-based ink, this product promises (on its retail packaging, marketing images, etc.) to allow rapid writing, write even on wet paper and/or when the page is unsupported from below or when the writing surface is vertical.

 

 

I just tried writing an entire English paragraph — in a cursive hand, as well as my other, normal handwriting style — on a notebook that I held up with the page facing down, and the pen's tip pointing up, and this pen proved up to the task.

 

The product comes in a variety of colours, and even has a demonstrator version as well as a ‘stealth-look’ version. The barrels on the opaque models are rubbery, and are possibly apt to deteriorate and become tacky to the touch in several years' time. (I'm not sure about the material of the clear barrel, since I haven't opened it yet.)

 

As for the pen's writing output, at first I was apprehensive that the stated, nominal 0.7mm line width would be too wide for my preferences in any sort of everyday application of putting pen to paper. However, the pen actually proved to write as finely as a Japanese EF nib, in fountain pen terms; and it can probably do so in a damn Moleskine notebooks, without being subject to the pitfalls of feathering, etc.

 

 

All in all, a satisfying purchase for the price, something that could just be tossed into a knapsack as a just-in-case writing instrument and not worry about the jostling or rough and tumble to which it'd be subjected.

 

 

‡ Including incremental delivery charges, but not any apportioned international shipping ‘flagfall’ charge for the order, from Amazon Japan.

 

[AmandaW]

Interesting! I see there are a number of Australian online stores offering them at prices from $14.80 or more. And there's a link for Officeworks in my search results - with the same description, but no price showing - then an error message at the store website. So they are already here, sort of, but at greater cost. I will certainly be acquiring one when I can.

 

Thankyou.  I would have missed it without your review and explanation of why it is so different.

[A Smug Dill]

6 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Interesting! …‹snip›… I would have missed it without your review and explanation of why it is so different.

 

Arrgh. I could've sent you one in the package yesterday, had I known you would be interested! Alas, it didn't occur to me to do a quasi-review or so much as post a writing sample, except that I was feeling rebellious (against the whole fountain pen ‘lobby’) last night.

[AmandaW]

4 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

feeling rebellious (against the whole fountain pen ‘lobby’)

I love my fountain pens, but truly if it makes marks in any fashion I'm interested. A sharpened stick dipped in liquid soot can be fun. Uber-tech invention in ballpoint that writes on a wet painting? Definitely trying that!

[Zookie]

I tried one, and was very impressed with it, but I did find it a little on the small side. I have very large hands.

My " go to" ballpoint is an Ohto Flash Dry. It's very similar to a Jotter, but longer and easier for me to use.

[psimpson130]

Have a couple. Being only 5 inches long, they are great just to stick in your pocket. Come in handy when you just need a pen to write with. Found mine on Amazon. Wife wanted one, so when I got my second, I ordered one for her. Price is far cheaper than the Fisher Space Pens. 

[trenchfoot]

The somewhat counter-intuitive thing seeing the various pressurized ballpoints is that fountain pens actually work fairly well upside down. I'm sure you can break the reservoir-feed connection after a while, but the capillary action from the feed works fine.

I spent way too long writing in a journal while lying on the ground with a pencil before I realized that.

[BrassRatt]

Is there anything special about the Tombow AirPress refill, to allow the pressurization effect?  Is the refill a standard size, or highly specific to this pen?  I'd be concerned about refill availability after some time, if specialized. 

[psimpson130]

Don't know how the process works, but at the cost, if the refills are no longer available, it is no great loss. (I think I paid less than $10 for the pen).

[A Smug Dill]

7 hours ago, psimpson130 said:

if the refills are no longer available,

 

I can't see Tombow discontinuing making the refills as retail products any time soon.