In the stylish gentleman’s arsenal of wardrobe tools, few things are as vital as a garment steamer. An ironing board is one of those things you technically should own but rarely want to drag out. Your handheld steamer on the other hand solves most of the same everyday problems with considerably less ceremony. Hang up the shirt, fill the tank, wait half a minute and work your way down the fabric. Wrinkles relax, creases soften and the fabric has been refreshed. Suddenly the thing you were about to toss back into the closet looks presentable.
That makes a good steamer particularly useful if you care about clothes but don’t necessarily want every shirt and trouser leg looking aggressively pressed. Steam is gentle, which makes it especially handy for wool, knits and lightweight tailoring. It can also freshen up something that’s been hanging in the closet or crushed into a suitcase without sending it straight back to the cleaner.
So which should you choose? The main differences are power, water capacity and how close the machine gets to replacing an actual iron. A compact model is perfect for travel and touch-ups. Spend more and you get hotter, more sustained steam and a heated plate that can tackle stubborn creases. At the top end, design enters the equation, too, which might matter for something you could leave sitting out on a shelf. Here are the ones we’d buy.
