I tested travel irons that can squeeze inside your summer holiday suitcase – the best is a tenner & Wilko’s is a bargain
When you arrive on vacation and find that your summer clothes are wrinkled, it can be frustrating.
No matter how well you pack them in your suitcase, some clothes are guaranteed to be a crumpled mess when you arrive at your destination.
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A handy solution is a travel iron – but which one gives the best results and takes up the least space in your suitcase?
We asked Lynsey Hope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, to try on some bestsellers – and her favorite will only cost you a tenner.
Wilko travel steam iron
£12, wilko.com
Lynsey says, “Really impressed with this Wilko iron – although it’s small, it’s sturdy, heats up quickly and irons clothes just as well as any standard iron.”
“It’s lightweight and has a fold-down handle. I doubt you would find anything better for £12.”
RATING: 9/10
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Russell Hobbs Steam Glide Travel Iron
£15, bmstores.co.uk
Lynsey says, “It’s lightweight and easy to pack and features a stainless steel soleplate so the results were consistent and it was quick and easy to use.”
“The water tank has a capacity of 80ml, so you can make multiple outfits at once.
“It also has a water spray and variable steam function that does a great job on stubborn wrinkles. It was a few pounds more expensive than some others.”
RATING: 8/10
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Ansio mini steam iron
£34.47, amazon.co.uk
Lynsey says, “The best part is the size. If you’re short on space, it’s tiny.”
“Because it gets quite hot underneath, you have to be extra careful with it and may need an ironing mat to go with it.”
“I found the steam function to be a bit sporadic. Sometimes hardly anything came out.”
RATING: 4/10
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Tower Houseware’s Ceraglide cordless iron
£25.99, Towerhousewares.co.uk
Lynsey says: “An impressive iron, it worked really well and once again I was delighted with the cordless functionality.”
“It’s powerful and has a soft-grip handle that makes it easy to handle. Best of all, it heats up in just 25 seconds.”
“Weighing in at 1.32kg, it’s a bit large and heavy to pack, but it might be worth it if you have space to spare and are traveling for a long period of time.”
RATING: 8/10
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Swan 2-in-1 corded/cordless iron
£34.99 (currently on sale at £22.99), shop.swan-brand.co.uk
Lynsey says, “This is really easy and I loved being able to iron without the hassle of a cord.”
“It has a self-cleaning function to prevent limescale build-up and has variable steam and temperature controls.
“I loved it for ironing at home, but it’s over 15cm long and 33cm high, so it’s too big to pack in a suitcase.”
RATING: 6/10
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Steamworks travel iron
£10, argos.co.uk
Lynsey says, “Super affordable, it’s only 0.7kg so it won’t oversize your luggage.”
“It has many of the same features as your standard home iron, including a stainless steel soleplate, 70ml water tank, spray button and variable steam function.
“It only takes a minute to heat up, so you don’t have to waste time waiting for it even when you’re on vacation. A brilliant budget option.”
RATING: 10/10
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