Whenever you want to look impeccably turned out, whether it’s for a business meeting, a formal event or a casual date, wearing clean and well-pressed clothes is a must. How do you keep this up if you’re constantly traveling? Although all hotels have laundry and ironing services, these can be costly. If you wish to save money, you should invest in a travel garment steamer. With this small and handy appliance, you can make a good impression on everyone you meet wherever you go.
We Choose
Rowenta Ultra Steam DR5020
Why we like this item:
- Perfect for travel – Dual Voltage 110-120V/220-240V
- Features powerful 800-Watt steamer brush for quick & easy steaming even on delicate garments
- Compact design with ergonomic design for quick touch up – steams in 50 secs.
Before you purchase your own steamer, take note of the features in this buying guide and consider the best travel steamers mentioned below.
Best Travel Steamer 2016-2017
| Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer | Lightweight with foldable handle; 400 watts; dual voltage feature | 10 minutes | Good | Affordable | 4.0 / 5 |
| Gideon Handheld Portable Fabric Steamer | Compact - 8” with less than 1 min heat up; easy-to-fill water reservoir; 6-ft long cord + auto shut off function | 8 minutes | Good | Affordable | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ingenious Designs My Little Steamer NE244 | Cool-touch housing with 900-watt power; different nozzle attachments; retractable 8 ft cord + detachable steamer head | 14 minutes | Very Good | Affordable | 4.2 / 5 |
| Jiffy Esteam Personal Handheld Steamer | 600 watts + sturdy plastic housing; 9-ft long power cord; auto shut off + lightweight | 15 minutes | Very Good | Affordable | 4.3 / 5 |
| PureSteam Portable Fabric Steamer | 2-min heat up; on/off switch, 8 ft cord; strong, good quality housing material; auto shut-off | 10 minutes | Very Good | Affordable | 4.1 / 5 |
| Rowenta Ultra Steam DR5020 | Compact - 2lbs weight; 800 watts, dual voltage; adjustable steam force, 1.86-oz detachable water reservoir | Continuous | Superb | Affordable | 4.6 / 5 |
| Steamfast SF-435W Compact Fabric Steamer | Lightweight - 1.5 lbs; 800 watts, heats up in 2 mins; durable construction with 9-ft power cord | 12 minutes | Good | Affordable | 4.0 / 5 |
1. Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer
The Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer yields 400 watts of power. It’s one of the most lightweight steamers and it’s certainly small but it does a great job of steaming fabrics. The steam lasts for more or less 10 minutes according to users and the handle is foldable for easy storage. This steamer is also preferred by many because of its dual voltage feature which means you can use it whichever country you go to. Accessories include a lint brush and removable bristle.
2. Gideon Handheld Portable Fabric Steamer
Another excellent steamer is the Gideon Handheld Portable Fabric Steamer. It’s compact, measuring only about 8 inches but it’s sturdily built and doesn’t drip. It has a pretty decent heat up time, about less than a minute to provide 8 minutes of steam time. The water reservoir is also easy to fill and the cord is conveniently six feet long. The auto shut off function kicks into place when almost all the water is gone or when the device is in danger of over-heating.
3. Ingenious Designs My Little Steamer NE244
What’s great about the Ingenious Designs My Little Steamer is that it’s equipped with cool-touch housing for maximum safety. With 900 watts of power, it’s powerful enough for various uses. It has different nozzle attachments for clothes and for linen. This steamer also provides 14 minutes steam time, one of the longest among travel steamers. The 8 foot cord retracts so it’s easy to use and to store, and the steamer head can be detached to make filling the water reservoir easier.
4. Jiffy Esteam Personal Handheld Steamer
The Jiffy Esteam Personal Handheld Steamer produces 600 watts of power to deliver 15 minutes of steaming. It has an incredibly long power cord at 9 feet, to make handling and moving around easier. Though its housing is made of plastic, it’s quite sturdy and it has an auto shut off safety feature. It doesn’t weigh much and it’s small enough to carry around. Many users have also commented on its above par performance and ability to remove wrinkles.
5. PureSteam Portable Fabric Steamer
One of the most compact yet powerful steamers is the PureSteam Portable Fabric Steamer. It takes only a couple of minutes to heat up but creates 10 minutes of steam. Unique to this portable steamer is an on/off switch, which is not found in many travel steamers. The steamer is also made of strong, good quality material, with a cord that’s 8 feet long and an auto shut-off feature for added safety.
6. Rowenta Ultra Steam DR5020
With its compact size and less than two pounds weight, the Rowenta Ultra Steam DR5020 is great for portability. This steamer provides a powerful burst of steam from 800 watts. It’s also dual voltage to be used in various countries. There are several settings that let you control the force of the steam. The water reservoir holds up to 1.86 ounces and it’s conveniently detachable for easy and safe refilling and cleaning. There are attachment accessories as well, a clothing brush and a lint removal brush.
7. Steamfast SF-435W Compact Fabric Steamer
The Steamfast SF-435W Compact Fabric Steamer is small and easy to carry, weighing just a little over a pound and a half. When it comes to performance, this steamer also does a good job. With 800 watts of power, it heats up in two minutes, ready for use, to create nonstop steam for 12 minutes. It’s durable as well with a power cord 9 feet long, plus it’s affordably priced.
Travel Clothes Steamer Buying Guide:
1. How portable is the steamer?
Look for a clothes steamer specifically built for travel. It should be of a compact size and lightweight, but not too small that it will compromise the power of the steamer. A smaller steamer will mean a smaller water compartment and less steam.
2. How powerful is it?
The steamer should have a voltage or wattage high enough to produce a considerable amount of steam in a moderate length of time. A higher voltage and wattage means it will take less time to generate steam and the steam flowing from the machine will be greater. A decent steamer needs to be at least 600 watts or 120 volts.
3. Is it durable?
Since you’ll be travelling with this appliance, it will need to be sturdy enough to last through several journeys and frequent use. Check if the steamer is made of strong and durable materials. A plastic housing is usually lighter but not necessarily less durable as long as it’s of high quality.
4. How easy and comfortable is it to use?
It’s best to find a steamer with a longer cord since you won’t be able to tell how accessible the electric sockets in your hotel rooms will be. A longer cord will make it easier and more convenient for you to move around when using the steamer. The size and comfort of the handle is another consideration. It would also be great if the handle can be folded for storage.
5. What is the type and capacity of the water reservoir?
Check if the water reservoir has a sufficiently large opening to make it fairly easy to pour water into. If you can, find a water reservoir that is also detachable. The water reservoir should be of an adequate size as well so that you won’t need to keep refilling it. A capacity of 8 ounces is a good standard.
6. What are its safety features?
It’s highly important that your steamer have safety features to avoid accidents like burns and fire. An auto shut off function will switch off the machine when it runs out of water. A cool-touch housing will keep the body of the steamer safe so you don’t inadvertently burn yourself.
7. Can it use any kind of water?
Some steamers may allow tap water while others would specify using only distilled water. This is because hard water deposits can build up and clog your steamer if it’s not specifically constructed to resist hard water.