T-Fal Aquaspeed Ultracord

Discontinued

Reviewed

October 2009

Pros

Lightweight
Vertical steam
Easy to refill
Stable when upright

Cons

Not everyone likes the smooth, fast glide
No off/on button

Our Analysis

The lightweight, fast-gliding T-Fal Aquaspeed Ultracord earns high marks from professional reviewers and might have been a candidate as one of ConsumerSearch.com's Best Reviewed picks, but the T-Fal iron is nearly impossible to find in stores. Good Housekeeping magazine calls this steam iron a "solid steamer and good performer." Older versions of this iron also receive some good reviews. In a 2006 review, Slate magazine's Tom Bartlett says it removes most wrinkles in one pass and "glides like a dream." User reviews at Amazon.com are similarly complimentary (for the older models). If you're on a tight budget, the Panasonic NI-S300TR (*Est. $30) is a no-frills option that receives high praise from owners for its performance and ease of use.

The T-Fal Aquaspeed is included in professional reviews in Good Housekeeping and Slate magazines, and in a steam iron roundup from The Wall Street Journal. We found user reviews for this steam iron at Amazon.com. All of these reviews except for the Good Housekeeping article are for an earlier version of this iron.

Our Sources

1. Good Housekeeping Details/Subscribe

Editors at Good Housekeeping test 11 steam irons for consistent temperatures, stability when upright, steam production, wrinkle removal, ease of use and customer service. While the T-Fal Aquaspeed Ultracord isn't among the top three featured irons, editors say the ceramic soleplate glides smoothly and the iron is easier to fill than others.

Review: Steam Irons: Best of the Test, Editors of Good Housekeeping, Not Dated

2. Slate Magazine Details/Subscribe

Bartlett (and his mother-in-law) test seven irons on a variety of fabrics and rank them based on ease of use, comfort, steaming and wrinkle removal. The T-Fal Aquaspeed (an older version) receives the highest rating for its smooth gliding, effective wrinkle removal and the speed at which the water reservoir can be refilled.

Review: The Pressing Question, Tom Bartlett, Oct. 24, 2006

3. The Wall Street Journal

The T-Fal Aquaspeed (an older version) is one of 5 steam irons discussed in this article. Testers like that the iron can be refilled directly from the tap but feel it glides too smoothly, likening it to "operating a race car."

Review: Catalog Critic: A New Way to Keep Shirts Crisp, Roberta Bernstein, July 28, 2006

4. Amazon.com

About 30 users contribute to the T-Fal Aquaspeed's 4-star rating at Amazon.com. Aside from a few complaints of early breakdowns, owners report that the iron is lightweight, easy to use and does a great job getting wrinkles out. These reviews are for an older version; the new model has not been rated.

Review: T-Fal Aquaspeed FV5155 Iron, Contributors to Amazon.com

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T-fal Aquaspeed Ultracord Review

T-Fal Aquaspeed Ultracord