The Shark Ultimate Professional Iron is one of the most powerful steam irons we reviewed.
With 1,800 watts, this iron is capable of eliminating wrinkles from any fabric type, whether through ironing or vertical steaming. With its 176 steam holes and adjustable steam gauge, you have full control over how much steam it puts out. If you are steaming vertically, you only have to wait seven seconds between each series of steam bursts too.
While this iron is good value for money, we have got some cheaper alternatives in our full guide to the best steam irons.
Shark Ultimate Professional Iron: Features
The stainless steel soleplate on the Shark Ultimate Professional Iron measures 9.38 in length, and it's open and tapered at the end, which makes it ideal for ironing around buttons, collars, and other difficult areas. It heats up to its lowest setting in 32 seconds, so you aren't left waiting, and it heats up to 150 degrees on its highest setting.
Shark put anti-calcium and anti-scale systems into the iron to reduce and remove mineral deposits. This helps keep your iron in top working condition for a long time, and it also keeps gunk from ever escaping onto your fabric. The soleplate also has an anti-drip system, which prevents residual water and condensation from leaking out through the steam holes.
The Shark Ultimate Professional Iron might be the biggest iron we reviewed but it's not the heaviest, weighing 3.18 pounds. Despite its large size, it has an ergonomic design with easy-to-reach buttons and an intuitive interface.
A simple button click changes the iron's fabric and temperature setting. A handy temperature-ready light alerts you as soon as the iron is heated. It flashes while it's heating up and stays steady once the iron reaches the desired temperature.
You won't have refill the built-in reservoir often, as it can hold 12.1 ounces at a time. The reservoir door, instead of flipping up, flips to the side, which may be inconvenient for those who are left-handed. Aside from that, it is easy to fill, and the reservoir seals off leaks.
The cord is a bit short, measuring 8.08 feet in length, and we wished it would have been longer for more flexibility in our tests. If you know you will need a longer cord, consider the T-fal FV4495, which has a 12-foot cord. However, the Ultimate Professional has a swivel cord, so even if it is short it stays out of your way and does not snag on any fabric you've already ironed.
If you leave the iron on but unused for four minutes in an upright position, it automatically shuts off. Though this is the shortest time on our lineup and therefore the safest, it may also be annoying if you are working on a project where you are ironing constantly, as you will have to wait for it to regain heat. There is not a way to override this. As we tested it, the body and buttons stayed cool to the touch.
Should you buy the Shark Ultimate Professional Iron?
The Shark Ultimate Professional has the most wattage of any iron we've featured, and it irons all fabric types easily. Its tapered soleplate lets you iron hard-to-reach places, and its various self-cleaning options extend its life. Though its dimensions are big, its interface is easy to understand and use.
