Product Review: Oliso Smart Iron
The Oliso Smart Iron takes a common household appliance and necessary quilting tool and makes it sexy and high tech. Even better, the Smart Iron’s features truly enhance the user experience!
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For YEARS I didn’t understand the value of investing in a really good iron. I’d buy something cheap online and when it died in less than a year I’d say, “see, that’s why I don’t buy nice irons. I’d just be putting that much more money in the trash each time.” Then Oliso sent me a mini project iron (read that review here). Over a year later, I’m still obsessed, and it still gets hot hot hot. I have repented of my cheap iron ways and now Oliso has generously gifted me a full sized smart iron
Even though I’ve learned the value of a quality iron, it still took a bit for me to think I really needed a full size iron again. The Oliso Mini is just so great! Since I received my new Smart Iron, though, I’m discovering that this product is just as worth the hype.
The Details
First up, what IS the Oliso Smart Iron Iron? The Smart Iron is a full sized iron especially engineered with good heat and weight but also with a robotic lift to reduce hand/ wrist fatigue and risk of burns by allowing the iron to stay plate down on the ironing board between uses.
Essentially, the iron has a touch sensor under the handle so it retracts the “feet” when you grasp the iron to use it. When you release the handle, the robot feet come back out, standing the plate of the iron above your pressing surface so it doesn’t scorch your fabric. This means you’re less likely to burn your project if you step away suddenly, you no longer have to use your wrist to stand the iron up on its end between passes, and you’re less likely to knock over or get burned by a precariously balanced iron. It’s pretty genius, really!
In addition, the Oliso Smart Iron has a nice long cord, a 30 minute auto-shutoff, a super smooth sole plate, and, if you like steam, a big water reservoir with both vertical and horizontal bursts of steam.
The Verdict
So. much. wow. Listen, I don’t like ironing— it’s tedious, I always manage to scorch my fingers, and the necessity of it interrupts my piecing flow. But the Oliso Smart Iron is making a less than glamorous task easier and faster than ever before.
My favorite things:
It is heavy. A hefty iron helps makes seams flat, and this iron has a nice weight to it
I don’t have to lift it. Because the iron is nice and hefty, it would be tiring to stand it up over and over between pressing seams. Because of the robot feet, however, I just have to remove my hand for the sole plate to lift off my pressing surface, saving me a lot of fatigue
It is hot! Not only is there a nice long time before auto shut off (three cheers for that!) but it has plenty of heat for getting good, crispy cottons
It has a nice long cord (with cool swivel technology so it doesn’t get all twisty).
And, totally for aesthetics, Oliso has great colors!
Bottom line: I continue to be impressed with Oliso’s products and their friendly team
Resources
Posture & Ergonomics for Quilting (aka other ways to reduce fatigue while quilting)