However, charcoal is available in smaller or larger bags, depending on your needs. Choose what works better for your taste buds and the space in your car. The UCO Flatpack won us over for its price ($50 compared to the $100-$400 range of other camping grills we reviewed). We’re fans of its low weight (3.3 lbs), its spaciousness relative to its size (you could fit 6 burgers easily!), and its ease of packability (down to 1.5 inches thick). We also love that it works well in various circumstances, terrains, and grill-skill levels. However, with the killer reviews and outstanding tester notes for the Snowpeak Takibi Grill, we couldn’t quite give it the top winning spot.
The Coleman Roadtrip 285 has large wheels that handle fairly rough terrain and a long handle, so you don’t have to hunch over while hauling it. We appreciate the stable tripod base, which keeps the grill steady on uneven ground. And we give the Jumbo Joe points for having an ash catcher, even though it’s just a flimsy aluminum pan.
The C4’s body includes dual intake dampers on both the front and back side of the grill. The airflow has been greatly improved by completely running underneath the charcoal grate and easy to control with its dual stainless damper covers. Portability is definately an important feature if you like taking your grill on a camping trip. We actually have a whole post covering the best camping grills, as well as some tips on how to pick the one that is right for you.
However, the value of such an easily carried, easily portable grill can’t be beaten, even with a few minutes of work at the top. All of the portable charcoal grills were then rated on their assembly, design, performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, and value. We ran the numbers, and the PK Grills PKGO earned the top spot Charcoal Grills Combo Grills with a score of 4.8 out of 5. The Everdure CUBE was right behind it with a 4.78, so we named it our runner-up as a less-pricey alternative. Any grilling enthusiast will tell you that charcoal grills deliver better flavor than gas models, which is why they’re a favorite among so many chefs — even Bobby Flay swears by them!
Take your culinary skills to the next level on the trail, at the campsite, or on your next weekend BBQ with a portable grill. In addition, pay attention to the cooking grate material composition; some are made from stainless steel or plain cast-iron. The PKTX offers more temperature control than any other grill we tested with four air vents.
The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is our pick because of its no-fuss convenience and stellar performance. For charcoal purists, we recommend the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18″, which is just as capable as a full-size kettle at searing and grilling food to perfection. For the charcoal options, I also smoked ribs, pork, and brisket, If you’re planning to smoke, I highly recommend investing in some kind of thermometer system.
Similar to charcoal grills, pellet grills take some time before they’re ready for cooking, and this model takes a while to warm up. Lastly, the Camp Chef Portable Pellet is very heavy compared to the majority of portable grills we tested. Although the wheels are helpful, it’s not super fun to drag this grill very far from your vehicle.
This folding GoBQ is a novel, innovative portable grill unlike any other. It packs up in a tube 8-inches in diameter and 14 inches in length, and carries easily by the handle on top or with the included shoulder strap. We set the burner on low for the 100-percent beef burgers we grilled, flipped them once, and then turned up the heat to imprint sear lines from the cast-iron grate. Generally, we found it relatively easy to grill thinner foods and, even better, convenient to turn on and off as needed over the course of an afternoon. A bottom vent and an aluminum top damper allowed us to dial in the airflow. Bagged charcoal is slightly more difficult to light but is easy to work with in that you ignite a pile of it in a charcoal chimney and pour the glowing coals onto the coal grate.