Even the most seasoned travelers open their suitcase after landing and find themselves with a daunting task ahead: deciding if their wrinkled clothes can get by with a thorough shake out or if reinforcements are needed. Of course, most hotel rooms are equipped with irons, but the task of setting up the ironing board and fitting each article of clothing just right can feel overwhelming. Not to mention, some pieces are too delicate for harsh heat. But is it easy to travel with a clothing steamer instead?
When I set out to find the best travel steamer a few years ago, I admit, I was hesitant about such a practical item taking up precious carry-on space. But when traveling as a family of four, as I often do, an ironing board set-up can quickly become a catch-all for toys, shopping bags, or electronics and simply gets in the way. Since I began testing these steamers, it’s rare I leave home without one.
Of the 13 steamers I’ve tested, my favorite models have one thing in common: a metal soleplate, allowing you to touch the steamer to the clothing to smooth out tricky spots. While steamers are mostly celebrated for their ability to get the wrinkles out, they also kill 99 percent of bacteria. Important to note, most steamers come with the recommendation of distilled water to keep the sediment buildup at bay, which I did not use as most of us don’t have easy access to it when we travel.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
My top picks:
How I tested:
Each steamer has been tested on jeans, khakis, T-shirts, button-down shirts, linens, blouses, and jackets based on the following criteria:
- Size/packability: Does it fit into a weekender or carry-on?
- Power/efficiency: Is it faster and easier than setting up and using the hotel iron? Or at least just as good?
- Water capacity: How many times do you have to refill the reservoir to steam an entire outfit?
- Leakproof: Will you be late to dinner while waiting for the wet spots to dry?
- Durability/longevity: Is the quality going to withstand enough trips to make the steamer worth packing and purchasing?
FAQ:
Can I travel with a portable steamer?
Most travel steamers will fit into a carry-on and can go through TSA without any issues; just make sure any remaining liquid from the reservoir has been emptied before getting to the airport.
Is a portable steamer worth it?
If you are going to a formal event or know you’re packing clothes that are famous for wrinkling, then yes, it’s worth adding to your suitcase. A new perk I’ve recently come to love about steamers is I actually pack less clothing knowing I have a way to freshen up an item I want to rewear. This makes packing a simpler capsule wardrobe all the more possible. As someone who typically only uses a carry-on, I do value my space and find the steamer to be an easy item to remove should I be running short on room. Below, the six best travel steamers to pack on your next trip.
Best overall steamer
Proctor Silex compact 2-in-1 steamer
I have a new favorite steamer. While the Nesugar handheld steamer used to be my most-used, the Proctor Silex 2-in-1 compact garment steamer has moved into the top spot for me. It’s only seven ounces heavier than the Nesugar model and steams continuously for almost 10 minutes without needing to refill the reservoir. Plus, it works effectively on every type of garment—even jeans with stubborn wrinkles. Often we don’t know where or how many outlets our hotel or Airbnb will have, so the 10-foot cord on this steamer is much appreciated, as it allows you to move around comfortably. Surprisingly, this is also the most affordable steamer at $20. If you are someone who will only travel with a steamer for special occasions, this one is a safe choice.
Weight: 1.63 lbs.
Water tank capacity: 4 oz.
What I like most: Affordable, de-wrinkles all fabrics, heats up in 45 seconds, effective brush attachment
Where there’s room for improvement: Reservoir can be hard to completely empty
Best lightweight steamer
Nesugar portable handheld steamer
I’ve used this steamer regularly for over a year, and very much appreciate the smart design. The Nesugar portable steamer weighs less than a pound, but produces a solid stream of steam. With a small reservoir, I was surprised the water lasted for almost 10 minutes, allowing for five items to be de-wrinkled (though it was not powerful enough for jeans). There is a button to turn the steam on, but you don’t have to hold it down, which I like. The metal soleplate allows for an ironing option, which is what I ended up using to smooth out the jeans. An adjustable head not only makes the steamer compact, but gives you the option to steam at different angles. Originally, I wondered if frequent adjusting of the head would loosen the feature, but it is still going strong after countless trips. The unit also comes with a wall mount so you always have a place to hang it at home.
Weight: 12.8 oz.
What I like most: Lightweight and packable, adjustable head, comes with a wall mount
Where there’s room for improvement: Works best on lighter fabrics
Best long-lasting steamer
Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam
One of the more expensive steamers I tested, the Conair is definitely the winner in terms of power and functionality—a T-shirt can be good as new in less than a minute. While the steamer can blast wrinkles from jackets, you can also lower the setting for more delicate items. The Conair turbo is the only steamer I tested that had various settings to choose from. It even has a built-in creaser, if that’s your thing. Because the steamer is more powerful, it uses more water, so refills are necessary after a few items (depending on the fabric and intensity of the wrinkles, of course). The Conair Turbo would’ve taken the top spot if it were more compact for traveling (its dimensions are 13″ x 8″ x 6″, making it a bit bulky for carry-ons). If you find yourself using an iron a lot at home, this steamer may actually be your best bet.
Weight: 3.2 lbs.
Water tank capacity: 6.6 oz.
What I like most: Can de-wrinkle anything, various settings to choose from, quick heat-up
Where there’s room for improvement: Hard to fill with its small opening, on the larger size for travel
Best foldable steamer
Seekclass foldable steamer
This is by far the most aesthetically pleasing steamer I tested and ranks number two for packability. With a 30-second warm up and automatic steam (no trigger to hold), the Seekclass was off to a good start, but it did take four minutes to steam one pair of pants and I had to utilize the metal soleplate in order to get the job done. The reservoir is tiny, so I had to refill it before I could finish the pants, too. Because the hole to refill is so small, it’s also hard to get out any remaining water when you’re ready to pack up the unit. Knowing this, it’s smart to let the steamer dry out at your earliest convenience to keep any build-up from forming.
Weight: 1.4 pounds
Water tank capacity: 3.5 oz.
What I like most: Its foldable handle is great for travel, metal soleplate, quick heat-up
Where there’s room for improvement: Leaks when on its side; has small, hard-to-fill reservoir; heavier material requires at least one refill
Best steamer for international travel
Conair Travel Smart steamer
International travelers will be happy about the automatic dual voltage with this steamer. While the heat up is quick (about 20 seconds), the reservoir of the steamer is painfully hot—so be sure to only hold on to the handle. Unfortunately, the high temperature of the reservoir requires a pause between fill-ups, but you can get three items done with one tank. My favorite feature is the automatic steam from the get-go, which means your fingers get a rest from holding down the trigger button that comes with many other steamers. The main reason this steamer remains on the final list is for its appeal to those who frequently travel abroad.
Weight: 1.2 lbs.
Water tank capacity: 3.4 oz.
What I like most: Dual voltage, collapsible handle for travel, automatic heat-up (no power button), no trigger needed to release steam
Where there’s room for improvement: Cannot promptly refill reservoir because the tank gets so hot
Most leakproof
Steamery Cirrus 3 steamer
I tend to gravitate toward the hybrid steamers that can also be used as an iron. The large iron plate on the Steamery Cirrus 3 is almost as efficient as a full-size iron, but I could only steam three items with one tank of water. Something that stands out with this steamer is its ability to remain leak-free. This is one of the most important features for me as I tend to travel with a busy itinerary, which means I may be steaming in a hurry and the last thing I want to do is take out a hair dryer to dissolve the wet spots left behind by the steamer. I even gave it a bit of a shake test and nothing spilled. Where this steamer falls short, honestly, is the price.
Weight: 1.8 lbs.
Water tank capacity: 3 oz.
What I like most: Large iron plate, completely leakproof, quick heat-up
Where there’s room for improvement: Expensive price point, reservoir empties after three garments
Best two-in-one steamer
The Nori Press
Rounding out our list of the best travel steamers is this hybrid steamer/iron that comes highly recommended by senior editor Megan Spurrell. “I was drawn to the Nori steamer because of its sleek design—two-in-ones are always ideal for travel, and not needing an ironing board seemed like a plus,” Spurrell says. “I put it to the test the day of my destination wedding this past month, on both my dress and my husband’s linen suit. It did get the job done, and both functions (steaming and ironing) deliver.”
The unique, compact steamer features two aluminum plates that can simultaneously iron the front and back of a garment, getting the job done in half the time. Another perk: It offers six fabric settings (polyester, silk, wool, cotton, denim, and linen)—so no matter what you pack, you can rest assured it will be wrinkle-free and free of any damage when it’s time to wear.
Weight: 1.4 lbs.
Water tank capacity: 1 oz.
What I like most: Double plates, dual voltage, automatic shut-off after 10 minutes of no movement
Where there’s room for improvement: Its tiny reservoir means it’s best reserved for smaller jobs; it can be tiring to hold while smoothing out a very crinkled shirt.
