What to look for when buying a reliable hobbyist soldering iron
Don't underpower, as this may force you to solder for more than two seconds, which is generally bad. 40…50W is okay for the pieces hobbyists want to solder.
Use iron coated "long-life" tips. They are totally worth it.
A silicone cable for the iron is totally worth it.
Temperature control is nice feature because it prevents the tip overheat while in the stand. For the actual soldering it's not so crucial as the heat transfer from the tip to the PCB and pin should only last two seconds. No time to regulate a temperature.


Good brands in my view are Ersa and Weller. Ersa has tube-shaped tips and matching irons. I find them easier to change once the iron is a bit rusty.