My friend bought the yellow Oliso, it lasted a little over a year. She had bought it at a quilt expo from Nancy's Notions. Needless to say, she isn't a happy camper. I use a cheapy Black & Decker from St. Vinnies $2.

if you put "iron" into the search feature you will get even more opinions. We have had many discussions on irons. I like my Black and Decker Digital Advantage.

I use this one. It's reasonable priced at $15 from Amazon and no holes in the sole plate. I use the Black and Decker Classic if I want steam. [h=1]Continental Electric CP43001 Classic Dry Iron[/h]

i love my $20 black & decker- it is not too heavy- but not too light- it does not shut itself off when i need it to be hot- i gave up on spending hundreds on irons- for me $20 or less is the way to go- they last me 3-5 years- i feel i get my money's worth over & over- my $159 iron lasted 6 months...
i never put water into an iron- i keep a spray bottle of water on the end of my ironing board- that lets me have a spritz of steam when i need one- and i never have a sputtering/leaking iron to contend with.

I don't like having a steam function on my iron. I love the one I purchased not long ago. It's a classic dry iron from Home Depot made by Continental Electric. It cost just under $30

I bought the yellow 1800 watt Oliso last month on eBay. Pricey at $150, but I thought well worth it. The heat is even and consistent, the sole plate designed in such a way as to save your fingers from burns, the steam function and water spout the best designed I have ever experienced, and the cord is REALLY long. Before the Oliso, I was an inveterate fan of Rowenta (the Costco models) but I got steam-a-seam all over the sole plate and after cleaning off the goo, I wanted to get a second iron for piecing, reserving the Rowenta for use with applique. I thought the heat and steam from a Rowenta were really great, but the Oliso is so much better. It delivers a different kind of heat and steam and I really like the difference.

But, there's always a 'but' right? Halfway through the construction of a large quilt, the feet periodically stopped retracting when I replaced my hand on the handle, resulting in some major gouges across my blocks. No permanent damage to the blocks, and it is possible to turn off the "foot function" (i.e., take your hand off the handle and the feet automatically jut out and lift the iron off the board about 2 inches, saving you from having to stand the iron up, remove it from your fabric, having the iron topple while standing up, as well as saving your fabric from scorching), but this malfunction is a little unsettling given the cost and the fact that the iron is so new. Best I can figure, the foot function doesn't stand up to a 12-hour day of piecing, as this has only happened after the iron has been on for hours. Next day the foot function seems fine again and I can iron away as the iron was designed and intended. Glad it's under warranty but was alarmed to read about the one-year experience of one member's friend. This thing is way too pricey to be so short-lived.

I swear by the Reliable Velocity. It puts out MOUNTAINS of steam - and doesn't stop. Once you hit the steam, it steams until the water runs out. It has an internal boiler, so you never have to stop and wait for the steam to start again. I've had mine for almost two years, and it has never, ever spit (like the Rowenta's are notorious for doing) and the heat is amazing.

I bought a Black and Decker through Walmart.com although I'm sure it is available elsewhere. It has 1500 watts of power and I love it more than my old Black and Decker which had about half of the wattage... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Deck...urple/16816451
I absolutely love the long power cord. I think it's about 3' longer than my old iron which I now take to quilting groups. I'm keeping my new iron at home for awhile ;)

Oliso all the way! The yellow one, I love it

I also have the Velocity by Reliable. It ROARS when you hit the steam button. The steam just ROARS out. It has an extra large tank to hold lots of water. It's awesome!!! I also have the Oliso, but I use my Velocity now.