(checked 2026-10-11)Very small sample: 66 ratings. The listing (reached via Wirecutter's link) is titled 'Reliable Vivo Pro Garment Steamer w/PVC Head' and offers PVC-head and metal-head versions, so ratings may pool the 500GC and 550GC.
The pro-style upright both Wirecutter and Good Housekeeping pick: a 1-gallon tank with about two hours of steam, a featherweight head, and no spitting in Wirecutter's test. It is pricey, bulky, needs assembly, and doesn't steer well.
Top complaints
- Pricey and bulky
Wirecutter says it costs nearly four times as much as its Conair pick, stands nearly 6 feet tall, and is harder to store.
Source: Wirecutter - Assembly and awkward rolling
Wirecutter needed about 10 minutes and a screwdriver to assemble it. Good Housekeeping says it doesn't maneuver easily around corners and lacks a cord reel.
Source: Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping - Brush warped; no heated plate
Wirecutter's bristle attachment curled and warped after about a year, and the PVC head doesn't press like a metal plate.
Source: Wirecutter
What owners love
- Huge tank, hours of steam
The 1-gallon tank ran about two hours for Wirecutter and 2 hours 20 minutes for Good Housekeeping, and is easy to refill.
Source: Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping - Strong, splutter-free steam
It was the only floor-standing steamer Wirecutter tested that didn't spit water; Good Housekeeping measured 25 g of steam per minute and says it matches professional models.
Source: Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping - Light head for long sessions
The steam head weighs under half a pound, so it's far more comfortable than a handheld for long sessions; Wirecutter uses it at its headquarters.
Source: Wirecutter
- You're short on storage space
- You want an iron-like heated plate (see the 550GC)
- You only steam occasionally
- Marathon steaming sessions
- Households with lots of garments or linens
- People who find handheld steamers too heavy
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Best floor-standing steamer for high-volume steaming: strong, splutter-free steam, two hours per tank and a 3-year warranty; it's pricey, large and needs assembly.
- Good Housekeeping: Best value upright: 25 g/min of steam and 2 hr 20 min of runtime, but no cord reel and hard to turn corners.