It also wasn’t as easy to move as the GoBQ because…nothing was as easy to move as the GoBQ. Besides the grilling plate measuring hotter than advertised, the grilling area of this compact model is limited, making it difficult to prepare an entire meal for a small group weber charcoal grill all at once. The 1200-watt electric power is also tricky, as you’ll need a generator or electric campsite if you want to grill on the road. For price-conscious, off-grid campers, learning to cook over charcoal on the Weber Go-Anywhere is likely a better option.
The Grillster is an excellent option for searing steaks and other high-temperature cooking, but controlling the overall range on this rip-roaring grill is challenging. Unless our goal was blackened chicken or blistered peppers, we rarely found ourselves using anything other than the lowest gas setting. 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. If you love the size and portability of this grill, but would rather cook over charcoal, it’s worth comparing the Grillster directly against the similarly-sized Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. In general, gas or propane grills make for the best portable grills since they’re clean, easy and fast to get fired up.
It’s a 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. For the purpose of this review, we’ll be discussing gas grills exclusively, although we did review portable charcoal grills here. Though compact, this sizeable grill from Weber gets top points from me as it can be used to cook for more than four people at a time. Ideal if you have guests over, I managed to cook eight small burgers at a time on this grill. It’s more fitting for keeping at home and using on a small patio or tiny balcony.
Once in the box, it would easily fit under patio furniture or could be stored in a small cupboard. Outback’s range of portable barbecues makes mealtimes in the wilderness super easy. Barbecues are easy to take with you and easy to start when you get there. Quickly create a breakfast that will set the whole family up for a day in the great outdoors or get ready for a fun beach barbecue. Your mileage may vary depending on what you cook, but you shouldn’t notice a huge difference between a portable and a full-size grill if you’re just cooking the basics for a few people. This folding GoBQ is a novel, innovative portable grill unlike any other.
If you’ve decided you want a portable charcoal grill, there is nothing like the Nomad—it’s expensive but worth it. Not only is it easy to pack and carry, it excelled at every cooking task I gave it. If you prefer a portable propane grill, Weber’s Traveler combines the quality Weber grills are generally known for with a smart design that is ready to take on the road.
There was plenty of space to arrange all the food — with room to spare — and everything had nice browning by the time we were done cooking. However, the legs of the grill are somewhat flimsy, so you’ll want to use caution when setting up and cleaning. While not necessarily the most travel-friendly, the Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Tabletop Charcoal Grill is an unbeatable option for your patio or even tailgating.
While we loved the impressive power of the grill, it was still pretty ferocious, even when cooking at lower temperatures. Fresh corn cooks in about 15 minutes with a couple turns, which is perfect on a portable grill with limited fuel. While the standard fare was quite easy, the chicken cooked over indirect heat required a little more manipulation of the charcoal, which wanted to settle to the middle of the basket.
It’s worth noting that the grill box doesn’t feature a grease trap. (Camp Chef claims the heat diffuser plates vaporize grease drippings.) I didn’t experience an overload of grease in my testing, but I could see it being an issue cooking a large number of fatty burgers. The standalone stove is quite large, but features collapsible legs and two fold-out prep tables, so it packs down to a modest 36- by 15- by 10-inch package that tucks easily into your car’s trunk. With the attachments and propane tank, we’re talking about a lot of gear, but you have a portable kitchen at your disposal, so it’s great to have for long camping excursions.