Panasonic NI-S300TR

The Panasonic NI-S300TR is an inexpensive iron, and while it lacks some extras like vertical steam and anti-calcium capabilities, it does have a retractable cord and a translucent water reservoir. Owners seem to like this iron and say that it produces plenty of steam, despite having only 1,200 watts. A few even go so far as to say it works as well as -- or better than -- premium brands like Rowenta. And while many steam irons are plagued by complaints of durability problems, we found very few reports of the NI-S300TR breaking down or leaking. If you need more than a 6-ounce water tank, the Rowenta Focus Iron DZ5080 (*Est. $90) holds 10 ounces. A comparable iron is the Black & Decker SteamAdvantage F1060, which trumps the Panasonic NI-S300TR in terms of wattage (1,500 watts vs. 1,200 watts); it also has a stainless-steel soleplate instead of a nonstick soleplate, which many users prefer because it glides more easily.

The Panasonic NI-S300TR isn't included in professional tests, but we did find over 100 owner reviews at Amazon.com. RateItAll.com and Epinions.com have only a few reviews of this model.