Durable steam iron?
 

Unfortunately it's time for replacement - my old iron (Sunbeam) has started making creepy noises and I believe it won't last any longer. So I'm in a market for a new steam iron (guess, it would be tricky since I've always loved to touch and try something in person before ordering online). It might seem strange, but I'd prefer a new steam iron to be on a heavier side. Trying not to overthink it, but most inexpensive brands like Rowenta and Shark seems to have a short lifespan, so I'd prefer to know - anyone make a decent iron any more?

Just in case - I see there's already a topic started by Jo Anne B., but as I'm not looking for a cordless one I decided to start another thread instead. Hope that's OK.

So thanks in advance, ladies.

I have a Euro Pro steam iron that I purchased at a home show probably about 10 yrs ago. I also have a Rowenta about the same vintage or older. Both require distilled water. Some Rowentas are designed to be used with tap water vs distilled. The only issue I've ever had with either is the cord where it attaches to the iron itself. DH is usually able to fix that problem for me. Both are heavy irons. I like a heavy iron as well. As my grandmother used to say - let the iron do the work for you!

after having a wonderful Rowenta that lasted for years.....I got two that did not …..then I tried several "cheaper irons" like Black and Decker and I can't remember which...of these, they did not get as hot nor produce as much steam as my Rowenta had....Also, some of them were just too light....then I read somewhere that Rowenta had gotten a lot of complaints about their newer irons and moved the production of them back ….so I chanced getting another Rowenta….I went with a more expensive one and had to order it online as the local shops only carried the cheaper ones....so far so good....I have had my current Rowenta about 2 years....but also, I just came to conclusion that any iron these days that lasted more than a year was good.....I do use it a lot now that I am retired.....

I'm hard on irons, I drop them a lot and I go through a lot. I want steam, I want hot, I'm ok with auto off but I want it to stay on for long enough to press a long seam. I've found no better results for more expensive ones, in fact they tend to take being dropped badly and last even a shorter period... so now every couple of years I buy the cheapest iron with the extra long cord. If the cheapest one is $15, this is $20. Used to be the cheap one was $12 and this was $15.

My current iron is a higher quality iron that I got from the thrift store. Don't know how many more drops it can take...

I bought a Singer iron at Joanns. It is heavier than most and does a great job. Cost around $50.

After several (expensive) Rowentas that did not last, I got a gravity feed iron which I love love love.

I also had a very bad experience with Rowenta, which turned me off on the brand forever. I then bought a Reliable Digital Velocity V100, which I like a lot. However that model doesn't appear to be available now. Mine is a heavy iron with the best steam I've found on any iron, and it's constructed so that leaks are impossible. You can also put it in a mode where it doesn't shut off automatically when not in constant use, or you can keep the auto shut-off feature active if you prefer. I hope the newer models of that brand are keeping all those features.

I have a good heavy iron that I purchased 7-8? years ago (Continental), purchased from the Vermont Country Store with no shut-off, but it's a dry iron only. So I just use a spray mister bottle if needed when ironing. I've never dropped it (yet:)), so don't know how it would stand up to that.

I have been through two Rowentas, both have died on me, both were for my household ironing, ie: work clothes. I keep my quilting iron separate from my household one. My quilting irons I always buy at thrift shops since I tend to go through a lot of them, as mentioned previously, dropping them, lots of use, fusables. I currently have a Hamilton Beach Durathon, that I bought at the thrift shop, it still had the plastic on the ceramic soleplate. I have read on other threads about irons and the troubles when adding water to the iron, rust, leaking, wearing out faster. I purchased a mister, and have stopped adding water to my iron. This Durathon has lasted me the longest of all irons I have purchased, and I am very pleased with it. Reviews of it do tout it as a high consistent steam iron too with an easy glide soleplate.

I have a Black & Decker Digital Advantage that I like - a model also popular with garment sewers. It does have an auto shut off, but heats back up very quickly. In the neighborhood of $50 on amazon.