A pen is one of those everyday carry (EDC) items that folks who are big into their gadgets always talk about. My favorite for well over two decades has been theFisher Space Pen . I loved the simplicity of the design, the reliability of the ink, and the whole idea that I was using a pen that was designed for the rigors of space.

But the Space Pen has its drawbacks.

First, the price. At around$30, they're not cheap. And while the lifetime warranty is certainly a plus point -- I've owned a dozen of these pens over the years and used the warranty a few times -- that safety net doesn't help you when you lose the pen.

Also: I spent$129 on a pen and it's spoiled every other writing utensil for me

And that brings me to the second issue: the design makes it easy to lose. The bullet shape is great if you have a pen pocket in your bag or clothes, but it's not so convenient if you keep it in a regular pocket. And the pen's clip isn't strong enough to stay put and falls off easily.

I still love you, Space Pen, but since I'm not going into space anytime soon, I need a pen that's better suited to my terrestrial activities. So meet theTombow AirPress .

RECOMMENDS

Tombow AirPress

A tough, no-nonsense pen with a pressurized ink cartridge that will work upside down, write on a variety of surfaces, and has a clip that won't break off.

A friend of mine recently introduced me to these pens that they were issued as part of their search and rescue duties. I expected them to be pricey, but they're just a shade over$8! 

The AirPress looks like any other pen, but it contains some really neat tricks.

First, it's tough. Really tough. I've tried to snap it in half, but as hard as I tried, I could only get a little bend into it. And as soon as I let off the pressure, it popped back into shape.

Also: This stylish electric screwdriver has some big functions for a small price

Speaking of pressure, the ink cartridge is pressurized. However, since it doesn't have to put up with the rigors of space like the Space Pen has to, it's the action of pressing down the clicky button on the top that pressurizes the ink, allowing the pen to write upside down and on a variety of surfaces that would otherwise defeat a pen.

I've tested the claims that the pen can work in temperatures down to -5