REPORTER 2-Color Ballpoint Pen / Tombow

• Pen Type: Oil-based ballpoint pen
• Ball Diameter: 0.7mm
• Body Diameter: 12mm
• Ink Colors (2-color): Black, red
• Grip Material: Rubber (one-piece molded)
• Body Material: Recycled plastic (40% or more of plastic components, excluding refill)

The Reporter was designed around a core constraint: keep the body at 12mm regardless of how many ink colors are loaded. Most multi-color pens grow thicker as you add more refills, but Tombow held the diameter fixed across the 2, 3, and 4-color versions, resulting in a grip that stays consistent no matter which model you choose.

One of the more considered details is the knock button system. Each color's button is shaped differently, so a user can identify the active color by feel rather than by looking at the pen. This reduces mid-sentence color-selection errors, which matters most when writing quickly in meetings, during interviews, or on the go.

The clip uses a spring design rather than a fixed cantilever, which reduces the mechanical stress that causes clip breakage over time. It also grips firmly across a wide range of thicknesses, from a single sheet of paper to a thick notebook cover.

A rubber cushion inside the barrel absorbs the knock mechanism's rebound sound, cutting down on the sharp click that multi-color knock pens are known for. The pen earned a Good Design Award in 2005 and uses 40% or more recycled plastic in its body components.