Steam Irons: Reviews

In both expert and consumer reviews, the Rowenta Advancer beats other irons when it comes to superior steam output. The downside is that it weighs nearly 5 pounds when full of water. The trick behind its superior steam… distribution is its series of 400 tiny steam holes (most irons have about 20 large holes). The Rowenta Advancer has vertical steam, burst of steam, auto shutoff and anti-calcium features. While Rowenta irons are favorites of ironing enthusiasts, historical data shows that pricey Rowenta irons break down just as often as other brands.

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Like the Rowenta Advancer, the less expensive Rowenta Focus has 400 steam vents on the soleplate and a tapered tip for easier maneuvering around buttons. It lacks the steam advance system that releases steam with more… force, but owners say the Focus produces plenty of steam for most jobs. The Focus also weighs about a pound less, but has a smaller water reservoir. It includes vertical steam, burst of steam, auto shutoff and anti-calcium features. As with most irons, we did read some reports of leaks and early breakdowns.

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If you don't need vertical steaming and you only do light ironing, reviewers say the inexpensive Panasonic NI-S300TR is a good choice. While this model isn't included in professional tests, it does receive quite a few… glowing reviews from owners, some of whom claim it gets wrinkles out just as easily as much more expensive irons. Owners also like the retractable cord and see-through water reservoir, but it holds less water than others and may need to be refilled more frequently. Compared to other brands, we found very few durability complaints for Panasonic irons.

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Experts recommend avoiding cordless irons, but owners do like the models made by Panasonic. The newest cordless steam iron from Panasonic, the NI-L70SR, gets wrinkles out well enough but doesn't produce much steam,… according to Good Housekeeping magazine. Owners seem to like this model; it is highly rated on Amazon.com and other retailer websites and receives very few complaints about early breakdowns and leaking. This iron has jets of steam, an auto shutoff and is self-cleaning. Because some of the electronics are in the separate base unit, the iron itself is lighter than most.

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