Photo of Vitaliy Nefedov
Which iron to chooseWe did not limit ourselvesof the same price category, to feel how much of a difference there is between cheap and expensive models. The irons were evaluated directly "in action". The selected models were tested on different types of fabric, which allowed us to understand how convenient their design is. We also wanted to get an answer to the question of what characteristics of an iron should be paid attention to when choosing it. Natalia Davydova, costume designer of the Moscow Music Hall, acted as an expert.
ST 1106 Dameon (Saturn, Czech Republic)
. Description. Iron with steam humidifier.Power - 1400 W. Anti-drip system - no. Heating indicator light. Sole material - stainless steel. Body color - white, blue. From the editors. A compact iron, which at an extremely attractive price has a steam humidification function. Expert commentary. When trying to iron fabric, the iron leaks. Therefore, good silk materials cannot be trusted with it. Steam humidification occurs unevenly over the sole area. The small weight of the iron makes it very convenient to use, but at the same time it is unstable. The cord itself is not as flexible as in more expensive models. Ratings
- ergonomics - 3
- functionality – 4
- ironing efficiency – 3
- price 250 rub.
SC-136S Flint (Scarlett, UK)
Description.Iron for dry ironing with a removable spray. Power - 1400 W. Light heating indicator. Sole material - stainless steel. Weight - 1 kg. From the editors. The most compact of the tested models. Does not have a built-in fabric steam humidification system. The built-in spray is ineffective and also not very capacious (its volume is about 50 ml). The iron is equipped with a convenient thermostat with easy-to-read inscriptions that indicate heating modes for different types of fabric. Expert commentary. The stainless steel sole requires careful handling, since when it is very hot, the fabric may become shiny. If you accidentally touch the cord, there is a high probability that the device will tip over or fall off the ironing board. Ratings
- ergonomics - 4
- functionality – 3–
- ironing efficiency – 3
- price 490 rub.
NI-U755XR (Panasonic, Japan)
Description: Iron with steam humidification function.Power - 2400 W. Soleplate material - stainless steel, nickel-plated. Adjustable steam supply - up to 40 g/min, steam boost - 100 g/min. Vertical steaming. Systems: automatic shut-off, self-cleaning, Calc Cut anti-scale protection, automatic Cord Reel cord winding, Valve anti-drip system. Rubberized pad on the handle and back end. Water tank capacity - 300 ml. Color - white, light green. Cord length - 1.5 m. Weight - 1.8 kg. From the editors. The iron has a convenient design: it has adjustable steam intensity, an automatic cord winding system, and a rubberized handle. Expert commentary. The iron is comfortable, irons both synthetic and purely synthetic fabrics well, and glides perfectly. Moistening occurs evenly over the entire surface of the sole. However, this is a fairly heavy device, and it will not be easy to use it for vertical steaming. The Round Ride soleplate ensures unhindered movement of the iron in any direction without creasing or stretching the fabric. The increased surface area reduces ironing time, and the convex shape helps protect the items being ironed from creasing and "bubbles". Ratings
- ergonomics - 4
- Functionality – 5
- ironing efficiency – 5
- price 1800 rub.
Sensixx steam generator TDS 1035 (Bosch, Germany)
Description.Built-in steam generator with pump for constant steam. Lightweight soleplate with Cera glissee enamel coating. Power - 2400 W. Steam output - up to 40 g/min, steam boost - 100 g/min. "Vertical steam" function. Anti-calc-system anti-scale protection. Water tank capacity - 350 ml. Color - gold. Cord length - 2.5 m. Weight - 1.35 kg. From the editors. The TDS 1035 model is a compact steam station with a built-in steam generator. The iron is equipped with a scale protection system, a sensor leakage protection system, an automatic shut-off system, a stepless steam output regulator, a soft two-component Soft-touch handle, and a cord with a hinged mount. Expert commentary. The iron is light and easy to hold. The long cord is very convenient. I didn't like the small hole for filling with water - a few drops remained outside. The rotary temperature regulator is not equipped with fabric type markings. Humidification occurs evenly over the sole area. In my opinion, this iron is suitable for experienced housewives who iron often and a lot. Ratings
- Ergonomics – 4
- Functionality – 5
- ironing efficiency – 5
- price 2500 rub.
SI 17780 ProStyle (Braun, Germany)
Description: Iron with steam humidification function.Power – 2400 W. Extra-hard Eloxal soleplate. Textile Protector Plus nozzle. Steam output – up to 50 g/min, steam emission from the spout – 45 g/min, steam boost – 120 g/min. Vertical steaming. Anti-scale protection system. Water tank capacity – 400 ml. Color – white, dark blue. Cord length – 2 m. Weight – 1.2 kg. From the editors. The iron from the new ProStyle series is lightweight, which makes it comfortable to use. The advantages of the design include a comfortable rubberized handle, a ball-type cord mount, and a groove for buttons. The Textile Protector attachment prevents shiny spots when ironing delicate fabrics and dark-colored fabrics. The device is able to effectively eject steam from the spout. Through 27 holes located on the spout near the edge of the sole, 50% more steam is supplied than in irons without this function. Expert commentary. Convenient, fairly lightweight iron. Powerful steam emission from the spout will be good when processing thick fabrics. The rotary temperature control is not equipped with designations of fabric types - for an untrained person this is inconvenient. Humidification occurs evenly over the entire area of the sole. Ratings
- ergonomics - 4+
- functionality - 5
- ironing efficiency – 5
- price 2900 rub.
Program 8 Power Jeans FV9350 (Tefal, France)
Description: Iron with steam humidifier.Power - 2400 W. Steam output - 1040 g/min, steam boost - 120 g/min. Functions: self-cleaning, "Vertical steam", "Drip stop". Anti-calc Plus anti-scale system. Ultragliss Turbo soleplate with Power Jeans function. Water tank capacity - 350 ml. Colour - dark blue. Cord length - 1.9 m. Weight - 1.55 kg. From the editors. A powerful, technically advanced iron with a smooth Ultragliss Turbo soleplate and a comprehensive protection system. The "Drip-stop" function protects the sole from leaking when working at low temperatures. Automatically turns off the power if the iron is motionless for 30 seconds in a horizontal position and for 8 minutes in a vertical position. The Thermo-Alert function allows you to iron without fear of burning the fabric. The light indicator will be on until the sole of the iron cools down to a temperature suitable for the set type of fabric. Convenient wide opening for filling with water is a signature feature of the Program 8 series models. Expert commentary. Very convenient system for switching ironing modes. Convenient to pour water, and the stand for vertical installation is good. Steam is distributed evenly over the sole area. The iron glides perfectly on all types of fabric. The only downside is that it is a bit heavy. Ratings
- Ergonomics – 5–
- Functionality – 5
- ironing efficiency – 5
- price 3400 rub.
conclusions
The test results were not unexpected. Budget models were inferior to premium models in all respects, except for compact size and light weight.
- All irons have a hinged connectioncord. But when choosing a model, you should probably pay attention to the cord itself - how soft and flexible it is. In cheap irons, it bends poorly and can interfere with work. We would like to especially note the automatic cord winding system in the Panasonic model and the longest and most convenient Bosch cord.
- The quality of the sole in Bosch, Braun,Panasonic and Tefal did not cause any complaints, as well as the "Drip-stop" system, which prevents water from leaking onto the fabric. Additional attachments from Braun and Tefal give a certain advantage when processing delicate materials.
- Rotary switch for heating mode in a rowPremium irons do not have markings for fabric types, which is inconvenient for an inexperienced user. The control keys in most models are large and convenient.
- And here is the hole for filling the tank with wateris often narrow, so that you can fill the iron without spilling liquid only with a measuring cup or other special container. In this respect, the Tefal model with a wide water tank neck is unrivaled. Equipped with a convenient "parking system", this iron was the most liked by our expert and can be considered the winner of the "ergonomics" competition. Its only drawback is its relatively large weight, so the Tefal iron can be considered the winner in the "heavyweight" class. As for the lighter participants, the Bosch, Braun and Panasonic models showed approximately the same results.
The editors would like to thank the companies "BSH Home Appliances", and the representative offices of Braun, Panasonic, and Groupe Seb for their assistance in conducting the testing.
