If you’re packing a suitcase—especially if it’s for business or events like a wedding—something is bound to end up wrinkled. Fortunately, the Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer and other steamer options are on the market to help keep your clothes looking crisp and wrinkle-free without taking up valuable space. This steamer is light, has dual voltage for international travel, and packs plenty of steam intensity, so we were confident when we took it on a trip to test it out.
Design: Great Pop-Out Handle
The Conair Travel Smart Steamer is a green-and-white cylinder that twists apart to fill with water. Additionally, there is a handle that folds in and out to keep the clothes steamer compact during transit. Inside, this product features a max fill line with a large mouth, making it easy to fill with water and determine when it has reached capacity. Once you twist the lid back on and plug it in, it starts to heat up. Setup was quite easy aside from the first few twists being quite stiff. We read the directions thoroughly—especially since we are dealing with a very hot device and didn’t want to miss any precautions. The top of the steamer includes a clip-on attachment that removes hair and lint when brushed along fabric. The bristles from the brush also help to separate the fabric fibers and allow the steam to penetrate easily. As pet owners, having a lint brush is very important. We found the included attachment to be extremely effective. Though it’s small, it caught all the little black cat hairs. The brush helped speed up the steaming process.
Portability: Slipped Right Into Our Suitcase
Standing just under 10 inches tall and weighing only 1.2 pounds, its size is small enough for a large suitcase or even a weekend bag. Whether you roll your clothes or stack them, the steamer squeezes right in. Its cylindrical shape helps it slide into crevices. The eight-foot cord is perfect for steaming while standing or sitting, and it’s long enough to be convenient for hotel rooms where outlet options are limited. A great benefit of this steamer is that it’s a 120 to 240 volts dual-voltage appliance, meaning that it can be used within the U.S. as well as many countries abroad without needing an additional power converter. You will still need a plug adapter, but (depending on where you are traveling) you won’t need to worry about damaging the steamer due to a higher-powered electrical current. This is crucial since you are dealing with a device that has several potential hazards converging—electricity, boiling water, and heat—so be careful to learn the outlet voltage at your destination.
Performance: Strong While It Lasted
Travel-sized devices usually have basic functions with few adjustable features. Due to the Conair steamer’s size, there isn’t an option to adjust the steam intensity. Thankfully, we found that nothing was lacking in either the power or quality of the steamer. This product heated up within a minute or two and immediately started steaming. There is no on/off switch: The whole device is controlled by whether or not it’s plugged in. The major safety feature this device has is automatic shut-off if the water runs dry. The auto shut-off is important for saving energy and ensuring that the internal components don’t melt. While it will shut off, keep an eye on the water and unplug it before the tank runs dry when possible. The steamer’s runtime is about 10 minutes—the perfect amount of time needed for one shirt. For more set-in wrinkles or larger garments, you might need to refill the tank midway. We tried steaming at all angles, and the only time we had leaks was when we flipped the steamer upside down (something that you wouldn’t typically be doing) or if we shook it quite fast. The overall steaming process was easy. I was not afraid that the clothes would have water drops because the steamer is capable of working at most angles. The refilling process took some time. The entire device aside from the handle gets hot during steaming. When the water is about to run out, unplug the device, then wait for about three to four minutes for it to cool down enough to twist the top off and refill it with water. Some areas on the green water tank are easy to grip, but the white top gets scorching hot. The small tank size and time needed for each refill render this product less than ideal for at-home use. If you are getting ready for an event, a whole outfit might take a couple of refills to complete, but it’s not a big hassle as long as you budget your time appropriately.
Price: Absolutely Affordable
At just about $30, this steamer is reasonably priced for its size and its effectiveness. It allows you to have a quality product that you can throw in your bag for special events and business trips without breaking the bank. In addition to steaming wrinkled clothing, one of the advertised bonuses of this steamer is its ability to kill bed bugs or dust mites (this is actually true of any steamer). While we couldn’t test this steamer feature specifically, the instruction manual includes thorough directions on what is needed to be effective. While we wouldn’t recommend using a smaller option like this for a full-on infestation, it could be a helpful option to protect your clothes when traveling to many places.
Competition: The Conair Holds Up
Urpower Portable Handheld Steamer: We found that the Conair Travel Smart Steamer has many similar features at the same price point as the Urpower Portable Handheld Steamer. The Urpower does have a power button, making it more convenient when steaming multiple items or taking a break without the need to unplug. The Conair outperforms the Urpower when it comes to shape and leaking. While the Urpower’s tilted head seems like it would help in overall steaming angle and performance, it is far less convenient when packing, ultimately decreasing portability. It also means that hot water can spill out of the Urpower when it’s tilted—something you don’t have to worry about with the Conair. Bizond Mini Clothes Steamer: At nearly double the price, the Bizond Mini Clothes Steamer has a no-leak build and heats up in just 30 seconds, which is a bit faster than the Conair. The Bizond also includes a brush head similar to the Conair to help the steam go deeper. This feature, while not totally necessary in either appliance, is a nice bonus. The biggest downside to the Bizond outside of the price is that it’s not dual-voltage, offering no versatility in international travel. This device also can’t handle an electrical adaptor, which limits its travel usage greatly. For trips both domestic and abroad, this steamer deserves a spot in your suitcase. At a great price and with high-quality performance, you can kiss wrinkled shirts goodbye.
