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Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 Review

While it is on the large and bulky side, this easy to use powerhouse wowed us with strong performances across the board
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Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 Review (A strong model all around, and even more exceptional if you need steam.)
A strong model all around, and even more exceptional if you need steam.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $35 List
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Manufacturer:   Hamilton Beach
By Genaveve Bradshaw and Benjamin Hickok  ⋅  May 10, 2024
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 14
  • Ironing Performance - 40% 7.4
  • Steam Output - 25% 9.5
  • Heating - 15% 7.5
  • Detailing - 10% 5.8
  • Ease of Use - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is the only product in our test lineup to earn a perfect score in our steam output metric. This model also earned high marks in most of our testing, proving to be an easy to use iron with good ironing and heating performance and only missed the mark a bit when it came down to detailing work. In short, it is a solid iron that our team enjoyed testing. It also stands out for its specific ability to produce quality steam, and it is competitively priced, making it stand apart from many others in our best clothes iron review.
REASONS TO BUY
Built-in cord storage and retractable
Excellent steam output
Good ironing performance
Great spray and burst buttons
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Not the most agile
Mediocre heat output

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Bottom Line A little clunky, but an impressive iron overall, with strong steam performanceGood ironing performance and detailing work, but uneven heating keeps this iron from being even betterThis budget-friendly iron suffers from awkward handling and leaks a bit, but it compensates with its impressive heat and steam capabilities and convenient retracting cordPortable for traveling, but lacks the punch needed for regular useLacking a lid over the water reservoir and with a mediocre ironing performance, this isn't a great iron
Rating Categories Hamilton Beach Dura... Black+Decker Profes... Black+Decker Vitess... Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot Black+Decker Easy S...
Ironing Performance (40%)
7.4
7.8
7.8
6.8
5.8
Steam Output (25%)
9.5
5.5
6.5
3.0
4.0
Heating (15%)
7.5
6.7
6.9
9.5
7.1
Detailing (10%)
5.8
7.9
3.7
5.6
7.4
Ease of Use (10%)
7.0
6.5
5.2
4.7
4.7
Specs Hamilton Beach Dura... Black+Decker Profes... Black+Decker Vitess... Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot Black+Decker Easy S...
Measured Steam Output 196 g 82 g 111 g 12 g 39 g
Measured Average Temperature 309 °F 293 °F 298 °F 347 °F 302 °F
Number of Steam Holes 192 18 26 7 21
Wattage 1500W 1500W 1200W 800W 1200W
Weight 3.4 Ibs 2.1 Ibs 2.6 lbs 1.3 lbs 1.6 lbs
Cord Length 8.1' 9' 7.6' 8' 7.8'
Soleplate Material Non-stick Stainless Steel Non-stick Non-Stick Stainless Steel

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is a well rounded iron at a reasonable price. It particularly impressed us with its steam output, although it could have stronger heating and detailing.

Performance Comparison


The Durathon comes with a nice long cord length combined with convenient storage.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ironing Performance


We thoroughly tested each of our top-rated irons' abilities to remove stubborn wrinkles from various fabrics, including cotton, linen, silk, and polyester. This ironing performance test metric accounts for 40 percent of each model's overall score due to its massive importance. The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 performed well in these tests and earned a score that was well above the average for the test group.


The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 did a nearly perfect job of removing wrinkles from cotton, requiring one to two passes to remove all wrinkles and only occasionally required steam bursts for assistance. It also did a great job on linen, and our team was able to remove most wrinkles in two passes but required a third pass or a burst of steam to remove the most stubborn ones.

Silk proved to be a little more challenging for the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 than cotton and linen. It required a few passes with steam bursts for the most deeply set wrinkles. Although it required more effort to remove wrinkles, the iron did a nice job of gliding over the material and, with just a little elbow grease, was up to the task.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - the durathon has both steam (left) and spray (right) functions that...
The Durathon has both steam (left) and spray (right) functions that are easily accessible.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

When we tested the iron's abilities to handle polyester, we were a little let down. This model does not have a polyester setting and leaves it up to the user to determine the best settings for the material. In our testing, we had to crank heat settings and use a lot of steam bursts to remove stubborn wrinkles, although this isn't always the best approach for polyester. Despite our test team's best efforts, a few persistent wrinkles remained; while they were quite faint, we could not remove them.

So, if you don't typically iron polyester, you'll be able to expect strong wrinkle-removing performance from this model on just about every other fabric with relative efficiency and ease, and for the most stubborn wrinkles where a steam burst is a particularly useful tool, the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 has you covered.

Getting stubborn wrinkles out with ease.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Steam Output


Our test team measured the steam output of each iron over five minutes in our second test metric and weighted the results to 25 percent of the overall score of each model. The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 outperformed all other models with a strong and consistent steam burst and a high level of steam output overall.


Steam does a specific and effective job of loosening fibers of fabrics so that the fabric becomes more pliable and wrinkles can be more easily removed. While with some fabrics, like polyester, too much steam can actually cause damage. Earning a perfect score for steam output and quality, the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is more than up to the task of ridding the most stubborn wrinkles and creases on fabrics that benefit from ample amounts of steam.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - a large reservoir keeps things steamy longer.
A large reservoir keeps things steamy longer.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Heating


The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 offers a somewhat average heating performance when compared to the rest of the test group.


Firstly, this model doesn't get as hot as the hottest models in our testing, but just as importantly, the heat distribution proved to be a little uneven across the sole plate. Of the five thermocouple locations used to record temperature data, we saw nearly 60-degree differences between the top of the sole plate and the much hotter bottom of the sole plate and similar 45-degree extremes from the middle right of the sole plate to the bottom.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - hamilton beach duration 19803 heating test
Hamilton Beach Duration 19803 Heating Test
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

While the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is still a very capable iron, we would have liked to see higher peak temperatures with a more evenly distributed heat.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - a top contender in irons.
A top contender in irons.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Detailing


Detailing was another area where the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 didn't perform quite as strongly as the top models we tested.


This model lacks an accentuated nose that is seen on other better detailing irons for getting in the hard-to-reach places of your clothing. At 3.4 pounds it is also a little bit heftier than other irons. With its large size and weight, it can feel a bit clunky moving around garments. A rubberized handle with a grippy texture aids in maneuvering the iron, but a lack of agility combined with size makes it difficult to reach tight nooks and crannies.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - this model is not the most agile, and can make it difficult when...
This model is not the most agile, and can make it difficult when tight spots and detailing work are the task at hand.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


Testing for this metric focuses on the following elements: cord length and design, general handling, and simplicity of filling. The Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 performed above average in this metric overall.


This iron offers an 8.1-foot cord, giving you plenty of room to work, and the sole plate design and materials freely guide over most materials. The fill hole is a little smaller at half an inch, and the fill line could be a bit easier to see. An indicator light on the handle turns on when the iron is on, and the dial for settings is located underneath the handle and is clearly labeled. Another notable feature of the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is that its cord is retractable and can be fully stored within a compartment in the iron, adding convenience and easier storage.

hamilton beach durathon 19803 - a great model all around with strong steam output.
A great model all around with strong steam output.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803?


If you have stubborn wrinkles in fabrics and garments that only lots of steam and serious ironing can work out, then the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803 is a top choice. It also offers strong ironing performance across different types of fabrics, is easy to use, and is capable of decent detailing work, with average heating abilities. This model is also quite affordable. However, for the same price, you could sacrifice a tiny bit of steam performance for a more well-rounded pick from our lineup.

What Other Irons Should You Consider?


The PurSteam Scratch Resistant 1700W offers the best balance of performance across all of our test metrics, including ease of use, at nearly the same price as the Hamilton Beach Durathon 19803. Although it isn't quite as strong at producing steam, it is still very capable, and the difference would probably be negligible if not for our thorough and scientific testing. Other models also stood out for their strong performances in specific metrics. If you value maneuverability above all else, then the Black+Decker D3030 Allure might be worth considering. Or if you need an iron that is easy to use and operate, you won't be disappointed with the CHI Steam Titanium.

Genaveve Bradshaw and Benjamin Hickok