Tronic Folding Travel Steam Iron 800W

Our review

This is a compact Tronic iron built for travel, folding down so it takes less room in a bag. At 800 watts it is a low-power iron, so expect it to warm up and glide more slowly than a full-size model at home. Its two useful tricks are vertical steaming, which lets you work on hanging clothes or drapes, and a burst steam button that fires one strong shot of steam per press rather than steaming continuously. That suits someone who needs to freshen a shirt or dress in a hotel room, a dorm, or a small flat where a big board and iron stay packed away. Before buying, think about what you normally press. Light wrinkles in cotton or blends are realistic; heavy linen or a pile of laundry may frustrate you. Check whether your socket and travel adapter can handle it, and whether the folded size and weight fit how you pack. Compare it with a full-size steam iron if you mostly iron at home, or with a garment steamer if you rarely need a flat soleplate. The instruction to keep the iron a little distance from the fabric is worth following, since holding it too close can leave marks or damp patches. Available on Sokonia.