The detachable cutting board (which doubles as a lid during transport) is especially helpful for campers looking to streamline their packing list. In our tests, the well-placed vents in both the lid and the firebox provided precise temperature control that no other portable charcoal grill we tried—including two other Webers—could match. Portable grills aren’t just great for toting to a campground, park, or tailgate. If you don’t have the space or budget for a full-size grill, they might also be the best option for your backyard. After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we have recommendations for both gas and charcoal options.
While an extra burner would make this grill a little more versatile, I think most people that buy this are looking to keep it simple. If you want to grill steaks, burgers, chicken and hot dogs having one single burner won’t be a problem. 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. We recommend this grill to cooks who are interested weber bbq in grilling for a crowd, as the XL surface area tends to lose heat quickly when accommodating just one or two pieces of steak or fish. Add to that the spacious cooktop area (320 square inches), and the Weber Traveler is a great grill, period. It’s definitely on the hefiter side—we wouldn’t recommend strapping it to your back for a mountainside hike—but that makes it ideal for new and sometimes-grillers who don’t want to invest upwards of $1,000.
It’s ultimately a reliable compact grill that does double-duty as an indoor or outdoor workhorse. The Weber Q 1200 remains at the top of our list of tabletop gas grills because it packs the performance of larger grills into a small form. Assembly is simple thanks to the manual providing pictogram-style instructions, and the whole task took just 12 minutes weber charcoal grill for us to be ready to cook. Attaching the gas bottle took a little manipulation that sparked safety concerns but ultimately resolved once connected. After the easy task of lighting the grill with the pushbutton ignition, the grill grates came to cooking temperature in just eight and a half minutes — a tough task for most portable grill competitors.
Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with four decades of experience in the food industry. His written work appears in Food & Wine, Food Republic, and other publications. Sign up to receive new product news, exclusive offers, grilling weber portable grill tips & recipes, and more from Weber and its affiliates / subsidiaries! Register your grill and gain quick and easy access to manuals, replacement parts and warranty. Use the table to keep small serving dishes, seasonings, and tools within arm’s reach.
I’ll run through some of the main features of this grill, before listing what I liked and what I didn’t like, and then get into the nitty-gritty of what it was like cooking on this grill. Although a bit too large to be considered seriously for camping, the Napoleon also scored high in packability and transport—it collapses “like a stroller,” and has large, hefty wheels. A clip on the lid keeps everything in place in this beach- and apartment-friendly grill. After testing models for their portability, ease of use, safety, and (of course) ability to grill great food, we have favorites from Cuisinart, Weber, and more. Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter.
While it’s 52 pounds, it’s easy to move for such a heavy grill, thanks to its stand and wheels. Our tests showed it to be relatively consistent in its temperature, and while it didn’t give the best caramelization, the foods we cooked did have a satisfying crunch to their texture and good grill marks. Senior staff writers Tim Heffernan and Lesley Stockton spent 16 hours testing portable grills for this guide. They did so on the heels of testing full-size gas and charcoal grills, as well as grill accessories.
Weber’s propane coupling fits 1-pound canisters (best for using this grill on the go) but also accepts an adapter for 20-pound propane tanks. 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. If you enjoy doing anything in the great outdoors and have always wanted to bring delicious food to the table (pun intended) then the Weber Traveler is a no-brainer. Whether it’s at the lake, the park, the game or even at home, this is an enjoyable and functional gas grill that anyone can use.
It’s a little too small for my needs, but if you want to spend a bit less and don’t want the higher cart you get with the Traveller it’s a good option. Or maybe you’re in the market for a new grill to take camping or tailgating. First, the setup was challenging as the legs were difficult to install properly. Next, the heat distribution was very uneven, where a uniform layer of coals still resulted in a hot spot in the center.
If you use the grill only occasionally, you may need to wipe down the burner tubes to make sure they light effectively. While the high heat setting perfectly seared burgers without burning, the Q 1200 also outperformed the competition at steady medium-low heat for items such as bone-in chicken and sausage links. Before testing, we pored over other professional reviews, such as those at Meathead’s AmazingRibs.com, and analyzed online customer reviews of dozens of models. Through Bread Pay™, we offer easy and affordable financing options so you can pay for your purchase over time.
These helped keep grease and drippings away from the flames while still allowing ambient heat to brown between grill marks. In our tests, burgers from the Q 1200 had the most seared surface area of all the burgers we grilled, and more browning means better flavor. It also has a very generously-sized usable cooking area, making it ideal for grilling for a crowd (we’re thinking it will be popular with tailgators). It earned points for usability, with testers commenting on the ease of setup, propane tank attachment, and lighting.