A lightweight iron can make ironing much easier for everyone, especially elderly people with arthritis or some restrictive disability. Even younger people are switching to lighter irons too.
That being said, there are a lot of factors to consider that should impact your decision. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of lightweight irons as well as a very clever workaround to making an iron super-lightweight without compromising on power or water capacity.
1. Rowenta Focus Excel
Rowenta makes some amazing irons. The German production quality is fantastic and the overall ergonomics are very comfortable.
The Focus Excel is a 3.17 pounds iron with 1725 Watts of power and really great steam output. It’s not the lightest choice but by far the best quality and value for its weight.
I would consider this the absolute best iron if you can handle a little bit more weight.
- 3.17 pounds
- 10 oz Water Tank
- 1725 Watts
2. Rowenta Lightweight Ironing Station
If you want a powerful iron with massive steam production and a large water tank, the Rowenta Perfect Pro is the best option.
By removing the water tank from the iron itself, the weight is drastically reduced. You can pour up to 1 liter of water into the tank which sits securely on the table while you happily iron away with the lightweight hardware in your hand.
A 14 ounce water tank can add around 1 pound of weight! Here you get a massive 34-ounce tank and the weight never increases!
Older individuals could also place the empty station on a table and fill it in smaller increments with a lightweight jug to make handling the weight even easier.
- 34 oz Water Tank ( 1 Liter)
- 1800 Watts
3. The Absolute Lightest Iron – Oliso M2
Oliso developed a 2.71 ounce iron with a small 2-ounce water tank for crafts, travel, students, and people looking for a super lightweight iron.
It’s not for everyone. The power is a mere 100 Watts and the water tank is so small you’ll struggle to iron more than 5 items at a time. That being said, if you’re a quilter looking for an easy, portable solution or if you suffer from arthritis and don’t want to lift a heavy iron, this might just be a perfect choice. Elderly or disabled people will also find this a great, choice as long as they don’t have large ironing loads.
- 2.71 Pounds
- 2 oz Water Tank
- 1000 Watts
4. Reliable Maven Ironing Station
Yet another ironing station with the water tank separated from the iron itself. This one is significantly cheaper than other steam generators but has a reduced power output of 1500 Watts. It can still pack a punch though.
The water tank can hold 1 liter of water with a larger version holding 1.5 liters! Again, the iron itself is very lightweight since the water and a lot of the settings are located on the separate tank unit.
The budget is by far the main reason to choose this iron over the others. You get so much for your money and the quality is fantastic.
- 8.84 Pounds (Iron+Base)
- 34 oz Water Tank ( 1 Liter)
- 1500 Watts
Which is Better, a Heavy or Lightweight Steam Iron?
A heavy steam iron is usually believed to be better for removing stubborn wrinkles in clothing, however, this isn’t always true…
Steam production is actually far more effective at removing wrinkles than the weight of the iron. A lighter iron with great steam can be equally effective and you could also apply more pressure if needed.
On the other hand, a heavy iron can become tiring to move around and cause a lot of stress on your wrist, arms, and even your back.
Don’t forget to add the weight of a full water tank too!
You can reduce the weight of an average filled iron by a third, just by separating the water tank. That’s why steam generators offer a great solution…
You get all the power of a heavy iron with reduced weight. Furthermore, you can even increase the tank size without adding any weight to the iron itself. Genius!
Why Weight Matters Less Today
In older irons, a solid weight was important as this made it more effective at ironing creases out. Fortunately, we have discovered that steam production is far more effective.
The higher the steam output, the quicker and easier wrinkles are removed. Steam loosens the fibers in the fabric and allows for movement which releases tension and removes wrinkles.
Heavy irons (or having to push down hard while ironing) are mostly a thing of the past.
Of course, there are still electronics inside the iron which contribute to the weight. A powerful 1800 Watt iron can be pretty hefty so a slightly weaker iron, which still produces a lot of steam, it really helpful.