GQ's Favorite:Rowenta DR8120 X-Cel steamer>$63, Buy now at Amazon
There are myriad ways to attack wrinkles, scourge of the stylish man's wardrobe. There's ironing, which is a real pain, even if you use GQ legend Jim Moore's can't-fail 90-second technique. There's turning your shower into a Turkish sauna and hanging your clothes on the back of the bathroom door to score the sweet ambient steam (the favored technique of lifehack listicles across every corner of the internet). But the favored method of wrinkle eradication on nearly all professional photo shoots and in the GQ fashion closet—the solve that's quick enough for the harried pace of weekday mornings and effective enough to make a difference—is a clothes steamer.
But what's the best steam machine out there? To find out we donned our whistle necklaces and rapid-fire chest-passed a dozen handheld steamers to the hard-working members of the GQ Fashion Closet. For an entire month they toted them to cover shoots, generating over a half million gallons of raw steam (give or take some puffs). They took copious notes on the performance of these steamers with an eye toward the following: portability, ergonomics, speed (crucial for a fashion shoot, or a guy in danger of missing his train), strength and modulation of steam, ease of water re-filling, and more.
And from the mist emerged one winner: The Rowenta X-Cel.
With the body of a cashier's bar-code scanner, it's exceedingly easy to hold and operate the Rowenta device. The wide steam stream, which starts flowing steadily after just 45 seconds, made for easy application and distribution, and made quick work of long-sleeved shirts. They loved the triggered control system, as well as two setting options (lighter steam for delicate clothes and "turbo"—extra milky steam—for heavier fabrics). The removable water tank was a breeze to refill, and a longer-than-usual cord made it easy to use in a variety of spaces, like a hotel room without many outlets.
But by far the most celebrated feature of the Rowenta was the total lack of spillage. When you're blitzing through an entire rolling rack of shirts to prepare them for the shoulders of Ryan Gosling, or, y'know, just steaming your lucky button down before a meeting-packed day, the last thing you want to do dump a soda can worth of water on the thing you/Gosling is about to wear. It's also incredibly easy to forget to keep a steam gun upright as you snake a trail in between buttons and collars. The Rowenta has your back: turn it upside down and you won't spill a drop ("First steamer we try that does not leak," enthused one fashion assistant. "You can steam horizontally or vertically just like an iron!")
The only downside of the Rowenta is that it's a little on the hefty side, and at 11 inches tall it's a bit bigger than anything anyone other than a professional stylist would ever take on the road (if you're looking for something carry-on-friendly, see below). But if you want a compact model to park in a closet or an under-sink cabinet, this will work perfectly. Bonus: a few editors brought this guy home to see how it held up to bigger, non-apparel items. One fashion editor refreshed her curtains, and a social media editor opted to steam his couch cushions instead of dry-cleaning them. "Good as new," he boasted.
The GQ Fashion Squad's Pick for Best Clothes Steamer
Amazon
Here at GQ, we make a lot of wrinkles disappear, and that means a lot of steaming. When not using an industrial-size steamer, we like this handheld Rowenta one. It's the perfect gift to say, "You have enough clothes. Now start taking care of them."2 Other Handheld Clothes Steamers We LikeThe GQ Fashion Squad's Pick for Best Travel Steamer
Amazon
The fashion closet's favorite travel steamer comes from none other than the inventor of the "Miracle Mop" (yes, it's same "Joy" depicted by Jennifer Lawrence). This model is small enough to toss in your carry-on, and can even fit in your Dopp kit depending on how much of your grooming routine you typically take on the road. Yes, you'll sacrifice a few things for that portability—it sputters a bit, leaks if turned upside down, and won't hold much water for extended steam sessions—but the trade-offs are minor when you considering what a life-saving legend you'll be at your next destination wedding.The GQ Fashion Squad's Pick for Best All-the-Bells-and-Whistles Clothes Steamer
Amazon
If you're looking to invest in the tricked-out Cadillac of steam machines, but don't want to be the guy who owns an upright standing model, the Shark is the way to go. It doesn't leak when turned horizontally, and it comes with a host of useful extras, such as a steaming "pad" which hangs on the back of a bathroom door to provide a nice cushion when you want to apply ever-so-light pressure. The heated bar (called the "Wrinkle Eraser") at the top worked well for pressing collars or particularly stubborn areas.Related Stories for GQGQ RecommendsBest StuffTechnologyHome