Best for Heavy-Duty Fabrics

Rowenta Professional DX8800, $125 (shown, left)
You could say the DX8800 is the Porsche of irons. After all, it is pricey and streamlined and delivers unparalleled performance. Able to hold 12.7 ounces of water (the most of all the irons tested), the DX8800 produced extra-long bursts of steam (think billowing clouds that last several seconds), which, according to garment-care experts, are the key to knocking out wrinkles. Even heavy linen and denim emerged so smooth they looked professionally pressed. Self-cleaning and automatic-shutoff features add to the appeal.
To Buy: Bed Bath & Beyond, 800-462-3966 for store locations.

Best Upgrade

Oliso Auto-Lift Iron, $99 (shown, right)
Auto-shutoff, self-clean, antidrip — this iron has all the special features, plus one that’s really special: auto-lift. Heat-resistant legs pop up whenever you release the handle while ironing, raising the hot soleplate immediately from the fabric. When you grip the touch-sensitive handle, the legs retract so you can continue. This unique feature allows you to stop and start without tipping the iron up — a real time (and wrist) saver. And, yes, this gizmo gets out the wrinkles, too.
To Buy: www.oliso.com.