Winner
The Russell Hobbs Steam Iron offers impressive features for tackling your ironing needs effectively. With a powerful 3100W wattage, it heats up quickly, which can save you time during your ironing sessions. The ceramic soleplate ensures smooth gliding over fabrics, which many users will appreciate for reducing ironing effort.
The steam capabilities are robust, boasting a 210 g/min steam boost and 70 g/min continuous steam output, making it suitable for handling stubborn creases in tough fabrics like denim or linen. This iron has a generous 350ml water tank, reducing the frequency of refills. The anti-drip and self-cleaning features are additional bonuses that help keep your clothes stain-free and the iron in good working condition. The Russell Hobbs Steam Iron also includes thoughtful safety features like auto shut-off, which is reassuring if you forget to turn it off.
Despite its effectiveness, this iron does have a couple of drawbacks. At 2.04 kg, it is on the heavier side, which might be tiring for extended ironing sessions. Furthermore, while the additional features, such as anti-scale and vertical steam, extend its versatility, some users may find the multitude of settings and functions slightly overwhelming if they prefer a simpler ironing experience. This iron is ideal for users looking for a high-performance appliance with advanced steam options and durable design, but it might not be the best fit for those seeking a lightweight or minimalist iron.
The Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra iron is a strong choice for home use, especially if you want an iron that handles stubborn wrinkles efficiently. Its powerful 230g steam shot helps remove tough creases quickly, making it suitable for thicker fabrics. The coconut-infused ceramic soleplate stands out by offering a smoother glide across clothes and increased durability, which means ironing feels easier and the soleplate lasts longer without damage.
The 350ml water tank is quite generous, so you won’t need to refill often during longer ironing sessions. Weighing 1.66 kg, it's a bit on the heavier side, so it might feel a little tiring if you iron for extended periods or prefer a lighter iron. The auto shut-off feature adds peace of mind by turning the iron off when left idle, enhancing safety in the home. Additionally, the anti-calc and self-cleaning functions help maintain performance by reducing limescale build-up, which can be common if you use hard water.
This iron is best suited for users who want powerful steam performance and durability, and who don’t mind a slightly heavier model in exchange for these benefits. If you value lightweight or travel-friendly irons, this might not be the ideal pick.
The Tefal Pro Express Protect steam generator iron is built to save you time and keep your clothes in great shape. Thanks to its powerful 7.5-bar boiler and strong steam output (135g/min normal and 540g/min boost), it tackles tough wrinkles much faster than a regular iron, making it ideal if you often have lots of ironing to do. It’s designed with a protective system that turns any water drips into steam, preventing stains, which is helpful for delicate garments. The iron uses a removable scale collector to reduce limescale buildup, so it stays efficient over time without much hassle. It also sanitizes fabrics by killing germs and bacteria during ironing, which is a nice bonus for hygiene.
The set temperature control is preset for all fabric types, so you don’t need to adjust settings or worry about damaging clothes. Weighing 4.25 kg, it’s heavier than a typical handheld iron, but this is common for steam generators and helps with stability. The product dimensions are fairly compact for a steam generator, but it does require some space. This iron suits anyone looking for fast, efficient ironing with minimal fabric care worries, especially useful for larger households. If you prefer full manual control over temperature or need a lightweight iron for quick touch-ups, this might be less convenient.