Advancer may be the best Rowenta yet !

I've owned Rowenta home appliances for more than 25 years and am a big fan. Since virtually all my garments require pressing, I have felt the need to purchase the best iron available, whatever the cost. Rowenta has been leading the pack for so long I don't even consider other brands when making an iron purchase anymore.

The Advancer may be the best Rowenta yet (and I've tried almost every model over the past two decades...). Not only does it have major advances (400 steam holes, a larger and more ergonomic sole plate, two levels of steam production, more consistent heat, easier to read status lights...) but many small annoyances have been addressed, as well (no faulty or difficult to fill water inlet, no shot-of-steam in your face when you rest the iron on its heel, etc...).

If you didn't like the "Perfect" iron because of its weight and size, this may not be the iron for you. The Advancer seems even larger and heavier in use, but is actually balanced nicely so it transitions from heel to garment more easily than expected. The grip is larger, too (perhaps a bit uncomfortable for me, a guy with average hands, but that may have more to do with arthritis than the size; I'll adjust, I'm sure...). But hefty irons do more of the work for you with their weight. This one covers lots of fabric easily, quickly, and efficiently.

I've only had my Advancer a week, but let me share my "Rowenta informed" observations about it. The water fills through a door in a large funnel-shaped region at the tip. It is the quickest and easiest fill yet. The fill capacity is similar to prior professional models and is certainly ample. I need to fill perhaps every 30 minutes when in high-steam use.

The sole plate heats quickly while a large yellow light flashes. This changes to a small green light when at set temperature. (I thought it was going to explode, initially, but it truly is easier to see when you are ready to "rock 'n' roll.") This iron draws lots of current (see the lights dim...) but rarely needs to reheat. It's the best yet in this respect. The thermostatic control is hidden under the handle, out of the way, and is easy to read. Set it and forget it.

The "platinum" sole plate is the same finish as on the Perfect model and glides very easily. I never had a problem with scratching on my Perfect so I don't anticipate any with the Advancer. The 400 holes not only spread the steam more evenly and quickly (YES, 400 HOLES!), they also diffuse the final gust of steam that nearly scalded me so many times when putting my Perfect Iron down on its heel.

But here's the neatest new feature for me: TWO DISCRETE STEAM SETTINGS, both VARIABLE and PULSE! The variable steam control covers the lower half of the range and gives continuous steam at a moderate, variable level (think your basic Rowenta Professional of the '80's or '90's...). Click one level past that, however, and you are at maximum pulse, similar to the amazing, intermittent feature of the Perfect Iron. Those heavy cottons just don't have a chance! You can feel all this very easily. No need to look at the dial when changing from steam to dry. The same great shot-of-steam and spray pump buttons are still there, as well. This is simply AWESOME, in my opinion!

So, if you don't mind the price of admission, have loved Rowenta products in the past, and can deal with a hefty, industrial strength appliance, this may be your Nirvana. I need to look forward to my ironing each week and the Advancer really does it for me (at least until Rowenta comes up with their next model of super-appliance!). Modest discounts are available at certain retail outlets but do realize that small electrics have always had a notoriously small profit margin.