The MiniMax Big Green Egg is identical to its larger cousin in nearly every way, but smaller. It weighs 75 pounds, making it by the far the heaviest grill I tested, but the double-handle carrying system makes it easy for two people to carry it. The problem is that the 13-inch grilling surface of the MiniMax can only grill for about four people. But the Q2200 is a tabletop grill and it is so wide, even with the two side tables folded, that I wouldn’t want to carry it too far. (There is a smaller version, the Q1200, which I did not test, but has a similar design) The Traveler’s design is much smarter for someone who needs to take their grill on the go. This would be a good grill for someone who had a smaller outdoor space and needed something stationary, but smaller than a typical home gas grill.
The UCO Flatpack Stainless Steel Grill may not fit the stereotype of your tried-and-true charcoal grill. (Although hats off to our best affordable pick, which fits that stereotype well.) But stereotypes are meant to be challenged, and this ultra-packable, ultra-portable grill does just that. Thanks to two 10,000 BTU burners, you can grill up to eight ¼ pound burger patties simultaneously in under 6 minutes. However, if you want to cook two separate items (say, a vegetable alongside your steak), then two independently controlled burners allow you to set different temperatures.
The Masterbuilt Portable Charcoal Grill and Smoker has an interesting design that makes it well-suited for both grilling and smoking meat. Instead of placing charcoal underneath the cooking grates, you place it in the side hopper, and the grill automatically regulates its own heat based on the temperature you select. It can be used for high-heat grilling or low-and-slow smoking, and as an added bonus, it’s mounted on a collapsible rolling cart for easy portability.
Remember that a larger cooking space also (usually) correlates to a larger grill body to store when it’s not in use. Propane grills are lightweight (although the containers add some weight), easy to transport, and (generally) easy to light. However, trouble with fuel lines can add a level of intricacy to cooking while camping, so be sure to read up on your owner’s manual. Gas grills are easy to regulate and adjust for direct heat and indirect heat, so most folks prefer it for their cooking options.
You can easily move these regularly shaped pieces with a coal shovel to put the heat where you need it. Charcoal is dramatic and fun to work with; outdoor chefs generally like smoke and flames. Portable grills are fueled by lump and briquette charcoal or propane, each with its own advantages. Lump charcoal is easier to ignite and burns hotter than charcoal briquettes. Because it’s charred wood, it consists of irregularly shaped pieces, and so requires a bit of experience to correctly build a fuel bed. As for performance, this model knocked it out of the park, with some of the highest scores we collected for heat regulation and we observed no flare-ups due to rendered fat.
While it is compact and portable, you must settle for a smaller grilling space. Petite and sure-footed, the Grillster is the perfect companion for a picnic for two, no matter the location. We’ve tested an older version of the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill, a hibachi-style Charcoal Grills Combo Grills grill that generates an intense amount of heat and excels at searing, making it ideal for steaks. But the lidless design limits its ability to tackle slow-cooking tasks. At 30 pounds and with a long cool-down time (again, cast iron), it’s also not going to be very portable.
From slow-smoked brisket to baked blueberry pie, Traeger grills can truly do it all. Since these grills are all easy to move, we’d recommend storing them somewhere covered between uses, if not in a shed or garage. (But make sure to let it cool down before moving it.) If you do leave it out in the open, consider using a weatherproof cover to protect it. One Popular Mechanics editor used it at her neighborhood block party to grill hot dogs and sausages. This roundup was originally written by Camryn Rabideau, product tester and grill expert for The Spruce Eats.
It’s also pleasantly easy to clean, thanks to foil inserts that can be used to line the removable drip tray. In testing, we were most impressed with the cast-iron grate, which didn’t stick at all to fish or steak, and features a unique wave shape to keep items from falling through the gaps. With the lid shut, it was able to reach well over 600 degrees (albeit with 10 minutes of preheating), and the control dials are actually effective Flat Top Grills Gas Grills Pellet and reasonably accurate at adjusting the flames. While the Weber Original Kettle may have taken the top spot in CNET’s list of best charcoal grills, this newcomer is my pick for the best portable charcoal grill. A smart and solid build allows you to take this small grill anywhere, including on a long hike. In the realm of larger portable propane grills, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is a cut above the rest when it comes to output power.
And, if you want to mix things up, the grill grates swap out for griddle or stove grates (available separately). The burgers came out with fantastic coloring and that “cooked over charcoal” taste. To cook chicken more slowly, we shuffled the coals to one side, put it in away from them, and closed the lid. The damper on top allows for fine management of the heat, and a large, easy-to-read thermometer made monitoring the temperature simple. These point you in the direction of a small, sheet-metal kettle or 16.4-ounce propane model.
The Weber Traveler heated up quickly, and I met no resistance when turning food on the porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates. Of all the grills I tested, the Traveler was the easiest to set up and use. Like most portable gas grills, it uses small propane canisters, but it can also use a full-size propane tank with an adapter, so it’s backyard ready if you want to use it as your primary grill.