bit-tech Shopping: Panasonic NI-L70SR Steam Iron

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: Features galore

Weaknesses: Heat or steam not as strong as corded models

Summary: My last iron became too frustrating to use. The retractable cord broke very quickly (it would always retract), and after one year it had so much mineral deposits in the vents from hard water that it gets into the clothes. It was time to find an iron that lasts longer and works better. Let me say that switching to a cordless iron is an enjoyable experience. The freedom of movement makes ironing at difficult angles a breeze, especially with pants. And to top it off, Panasonic loaded this gizmo with everything that one could desire: The nice heatproof case, the detachable water supply, the digital temperature controls, AND a retractable cord on the base unit that will (hopefully) not break so easily. The stainless steel plate is the by far the smoothest I have ever used. If there's anything that prevents this from getting 5 stars, it is its wrinkle removal performance. Even though the unit is rated as 1500W, I found that the Panasonic's maximum heat rating and steam output didn't match the full power of my previous irons. To be fair, the designers probably had to make compromises in order to keep the weight down. Nevertheless, I have learned to make the best of the cordless unit, that is to just spray and refill the tank more often.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: -Cordless (of course)-Good weight (not too heavy, not too light)-Easy to use-Detachable water tank-Auto shut off

Weaknesses: -Tip of iron a little too big (for ironing around buttons)

Summary: I'm very happy with the Panasonic cordless iron. It's not bulky, too heavy or too right, and is easy to move around. The best part of the iron is cordless, of course. I'll never go back to a regular iron with a cord. The only caveat I have is the size of the tip of the iron. It's a little too big to iron around buttons. Other than that, it's a great product!