CHI Portable Handheld Steamer

It ranks #5 (B tier) on our consolidated clothes steamers board, drawn from 7 independent outlets.

Value concerns due to pricing.

Frequent travellers who want a compact steamer with strong output for its size. It is a B tier pick on our clothes steamers board, praised for build quality and travel suitability. Its one recorded con is value: reviewers feel it costs more than it should. If you steam mostly at home, the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer (GS59X) gives more steam for the money in S tier. The Philips GC5030/30 Garment Steamer is the other travel option, also in B tier.

Reviewers think so, and that is the only con on its board record. The steam output is excellent for its size and the build-quality ratings are consistently high, so the complaint is about what you pay rather than what you get. It is still a B tier product. If value matters more than packing size, the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer (GS59X) is the better buy.

The board records consistently high build-quality ratings and no reliability complaints, so expect it to outlast the budget compacts. Small travel units have small tanks and boilers, so limescale builds up faster. Use distilled water where you can and descale after trips where you used tap water.

It is sized for luggage, but check the voltage rating on the label first. Most handheld steamers are single voltage, and plugging a 120 V unit into a 230 V outlet with a plain plug adapter will destroy it. You need either a dual-voltage model or a proper step-down converter rated for the steamer's wattage.