The unit has a cast aluminum body and ergonomic side handles to make it easy to move from one place to another. It’s a little bit heavy for a portable option, weighing in at over 43 pounds, but most of the weight is actually its cast-iron grates, which can be carried separately for easy transport. If you’re a fan of outdoor cooking, a portable grill is a must-have item.
As with all grills, you should scrub the grates thoroughly with a grill brush while the grates are still hot—this will minimize carbonized, crusted-on food that’s tough to clean later. But some portable gas grills come with handy removable drip trays, which collect grease and are easy to remove, wipe out, and wash clean. Some portable grills have dishwasher-safe components, although all we tested can be wiped down with a damp cloth, scrub brush, or even hosed down. Weber has a reputation for building grills that gracefully blend cooking performance and reliability, and that tradition is rolled into a portable package with the impressive Weber Q 1200. Although it is not the most powerful when measured in output power alone, the design of this grill allows it to efficiently and effectively reach ideal searing temperatures within just minutes of preheating.
(Pun intended—have you seen that handle?) We didn’t choose the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill based on handles alone, but what stands out on this camping grill fits so well with its chosen title. Portability (and room for multiple patties) reign supreme with this camping grill. The cover locks in place with moveable, steel-plated legs that tuck up and around, making the top handle as good as a suitcase handle. However, if that doesn’t suffice, two other handles on the long ends will do the job, especially if you’re moving this portable grill with warm charcoal inside. To find the best portable grills for camping, we grilled dozens of burgers, hot dogs, veggies, and chickens to judge the ease of use, speed of cooking, and heat levels of each grill.
Blackstone’s 17-inch flat top cooked a fine breakfast, but can also sear a steak if you’re looking for more conventional grilling fare. While the cooking surface is fairly small–267 square inches–I had enough space to cook burgers and dogs for a family of four. While most traditional grills have grates that the food is placed on, flat top grills offer a uniform griddle to cook your food. That’s perfect for situations like camping, where you may want to cook a wider array of foods than burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and steaks.
The charcoal bin is pretty deep, letting you stack a significant amount of the fuel to reach pretty high temperatures for a portable grill. Other than that aspect, it’s a solid choice for a portable, easy-to-use charcoal grill. While the Jumbo Joe has more cooking space, the Go-Anywhere gets runner-up honors thanks to its excellent searing capability and Expert Grill Combo Grills portable design. You get the same amount of cooking space as the 18″ Kettle classic, but this grill only weighs 22 pounds and can easily be carried by one person. The collapsible Weber Traveler is basically a full-size propane grill on wheels, making it a perfect choice for small patios and times when you need to bring a grill to a cookout or a party.
In our tests, the Q 1200’s heavy-duty cast-aluminum firebox was the best at evenly absorbing and reflecting heat. That, along with the U-shaped burner, provided the most consistent Charcoal Grills Combo Grills grilling of all the portables we tested, with the fewest hot spots. The Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill is lighter than our gas pick, weighing under 20 pounds, but it’s not smaller.
When the side tables are tucked inside the grill for transport, the Q 1200 is about the size of a small carry-on suitcase. It weighs about 30 pounds, and you need two hands to carry it, because it doesn’t have a latch to hold the lid securely to the firebox. But the position of the side handles helps to evenly distribute its 30-pound heft and lessens the burden of hoisting and moving the grill. Portable grills aren’t just for camping, picnicking, and tailgating; they’re also great for city and apartment dwellers with limited outdoor space.
These grills require open air for proper ventilation, as they can give off carbon monoxide. If you want to cook inside, you’ll want Charcoal Grills Combo Grills to look for an indoor grill, which are typically electric. The Cuisinart All Foods Roll-Away scored the lowest in wind resistance.