STEAM AND STASH:

While wrinkle-resistant clothing is clearly an asset in travel, I’ve yet to find any that can achieve the crisp, tidy look of a freshly ironed garment. For those times when “not rumpled” is not neat enough, the SteamFast SF-717 Home and Away Travel Steam Iron can be a friend indeed. At about 5 inches long by 3 inches wide by 3 inches high, and weighing less than a pound, this little impresser can glide in and around pockets, pleats and other tight places bigger irons couldn’t finesse. Its nonstick sole plate can heat up ready to iron in 15 seconds; for one-touch steam heat, fill the 1.4-ounce-capacity water tank using the included plastic cup, and give it a minute. The 420-watt iron is dual voltage for worldwide use (though you may need plug adaptors). The 7.5-foot electric cord wraps neatly around the indentation between the control-top grip handle and the iron. A bright red heat indicator light lets you know the iron is up and running, and three temperature settings let you fine-tune the heat, so more fragile materials can get just a kiss of a hiss for a touch-up. SteamFast has just introduced a new model (the SF-750) with a little more oomph, but I prefer the smaller size and better grip of this version.