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CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102 review

No. 2 of 10 in our steam irons ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102 ranks 2nd of the 10 steam irons we compare, with 8.7 out of 10.

CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102

8.7/10

The CHI 13102 is a 1700 W steam iron with a titanium-infused ceramic soleplate and an 8-foot cord that retracts into the body. It suits someone who wants a tidy iron with fabric presets.

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Why it's here

  • 1700 W with a titanium-infused ceramic soleplate
  • 8-foot cord retracts into the iron
  • Digital temperature control with a fabric guide
  • Adjustable steam slider, spray and vertical steam

Keep in mind

  • Some owners report slow heat-up
  • Water can spit from the jets at lower heat
  • The plate can discolor after months of use
  • Switching hands with the retractable cord is awkward

Why the CHI Steam Iron with scores 8.7

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 steam irons in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are1st of 10
  • How many rated it7th of 10
  • How new it is6th of 10

Level with the PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron

The PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron and the CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron goes first because it has been rated by more owners.

About the CHI Steam Iron with

The 13102 runs on 120 V at 1700 W. Its soleplate is titanium-infused ceramic with more than 400 steam holes. A sliding lever sets the amount of steam, and an electronic temperature control with a fabric guide picks the heat for each cloth type.

The cord is 8 feet long and winds back into the iron, so nothing trails in a drawer or on a shelf. The temperature dial swivels open to expose the water fill door. The handle is textured, and a self-clean function is meant to be run after steaming to clear mineral buildup from the vents.

The iron needs about 2 minutes to preheat before you steam. Per the manual, steaming at a low temperature setting, or starting before it has warmed up, can send hot water out of the soleplate. Auto shut-off is built in: 1 minute if the iron rests on its soleplate or on either side, and 30 minutes standing on its heel rest.

What owners report about the CHI Steam Iron with

We found little owner feedback specific to this model on pages we could open, so we are not drawing conclusions about how it holds up.

Who the CHI Steam Iron with suits

The 13102 fits someone who irons regularly and wants a harder-wearing plate than basic nonstick, plus a cord that stores itself. The 30-minute shut-off on the heel rest also helps if you press in stretches, such as for sewing or quilting seams. Plan on a 2-minute wait before steaming, and on unplugging the iron to fill it.

Look elsewhere if you want to move freely without a cord: the Panasonic NI-WL600 is cordless. If you want a cord reel at a lower price, the BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron ICR2020 and the Rowenta AccessSteam Cordreel DW2459 both wind the cord away. Quilters who want an iron that lifts itself off the fabric should consider the Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus SmartIron.

Questions about the CHI Steam Iron with

Does the CHI 13102 iron have auto shut-off?

Yes. The manual says it shuts off after 1 minute resting on its soleplate or either side, and after 30 minutes standing on its heel rest.

How long does the CHI 13102 take to preheat for steam?

Allow 2 minutes before steaming. The manual warns that starting sooner can let hot water drip from the soleplate.

Why does my CHI 13102 iron leak or drip water?

Usually the temperature is too low for steam or the iron has not preheated. The manual suggests lowering the steam setting, checking that the tank is not overfilled, and choosing a steam temperature setting.

Does the CHI 13102 have a self-clean function?

Yes. The manual says to use Self-Clean after each use of steam to keep the vents clear of mineral buildup.

How do I make a warranty claim on the CHI 13102?

Do not return it to the store. The manual says to call CHI Garment Care at 1.844.882.9038 in the U.S. or go to www.chisteam.com.

Other steam iron picks

The other badge winners in our steam irons ranking.

All 10 steam irons, compared

  1. 1 PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam IronBest Choice 8.7 Check Price
  2. 2 CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102This review 8.7 Check Price
  3. 3 BEAUTURAL 1500W Steam Iron with Ceramic-Coated SoleplateValue for Money 8.6 Check Price
  4. 4 Rowenta Focus Excel DW5280 8.5 Check Price
  5. 5 BLACK+DECKER Easy Steam Compact Iron IR40VBest Budget 8.5 Check Price
  6. 6 Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus SmartIron 8.5 Check Price
  7. 7 BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron ICR2020 8.4 Check Price
  8. 8 Rowenta AccessSteam Cordreel DW2459 8.4 Check Price
  9. 9 Panasonic NI-WL600 Cordless Steam/Dry Iron 8.2 Check Price
  10. 10 BLACK+DECKER Allure Professional Steam Iron D3030 8.1 Check Price
See the full steam irons ranking

The CHI Steam Iron with on Amazon

CHI Steam Iron with Retractable Cord 13102

The CHI 13102 is a 1700 W steam iron with a titanium-infused ceramic soleplate and an 8-foot cord that retracts into the body. 8.7 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover steam irons for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 22 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from