Abstract: A pneumatic shock absorber has a piston rod extending out of its cylinder whose pressure space adjacent to the piston is connected via an inlet check valve. An outlet valve to let off compressed air during damping motion of the piston has a valve piston running in a valve chamber which it divides into two chamber parts. The first chamber part connects a duct leading to the pressure space with an outlet valve. This connection may be interrupted by the end face of the valve piston acted on at least in part by the pressure in the pressure space of the absorber and cooperating with a valve seat. The second chamber part is connected with the pressure space or with the pressure source. There is a spring urging the valve piston towards the valve seat. As a result there are not losses in pressure in the two abutment positions and the damping effect is very even and continuous.