An electric push-button ignition and easy-to-read heat-control dial make the Q 1200 simple to start and adjust. Though the grill weighs a hefty 30 pounds, the comfortable side handles make it easy to carry. We learned that the coal bed can be adjusted for better temperature control — a useful feature that we find highly important in charcoal grill tests. The grill grate is narrow, especially compared to other portable grills we tested, but can still fit about four to five chicken thighs side-by-side, or two large steaks.
It also has a bit of a flimsy latch which isn’t a big problem if you spring for the $40 carrying case. The Coleman is super lightweight clocking in at just over 10 pounds which makes it an ideal grill to take camping, hiking or on a boat. It’s also exceptionally portable, flipping up into a package no bigger than a large purse or day bag. But all that compactness doesn’t keep it from burning a hot flame with 6,000 BTUs of propane-fueled power giving you proper searing capabilities in a seriously travel-friendly size. This grill is for serious tailgaters and is specifically designed to ride on the back of a car attached to a hitch.
Unlike traditional charcoal grills, the Gourmia Smokeless BBQ was designed to produce virtually no smoke. Combined with its electric fan for heat control, safe-touch design, and easy-clean surfaces, the Gourmia Smokeless BBQ is truly the ultimate portable grill for any occasion. With 11.8 inches of grilling room, included lifting Tongs, and convenient carrying case this portable grill is the complete package. If you want a more compact propane grill, the Char-Broil Portable Grill2Go X200 Gas Grill is designed for one-handed toting. This portable grill is slightly larger than a briefcase and keeps the lid, grate, and firebox tightly packed for transporting. In our tests, the Grill2Go produced intense heat that was ideal for searing steaks but had us battling some flare-ups when cooking chicken pieces.
Along with the larger size, this is the main difference compared to the Smokey Joe. If you find that the burner ports (the holes where the flames come out) are clogged, use a thin wire to push the debris out. We give the Jumbo Joe points for having an ash catcher, even though it’s just a flimsy aluminum pan. But at least there’s a barrier to keep hot embers from falling on your patio or deck.
After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we found the best ones for both small backyards and outdoor adventures. The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is our pick for the best portable gas grill because of its no-fuss convenience and stellar grilling performance. For charcoal purists, we recommend the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill weber q 18″. It’s just as capable as a full-size kettle at searing and grilling food to perfection. The grill runs a little hotter with the lid down than the temperature indicated on the built-in thermometer, and there were minimal flare-ups in cooking. Cleanup is easy; using a grill brush on the grates and wiping down the inside of the lid to prevent grease buildup did the job.
One other area where we prefer the PKTX over portable options from Weber is the grill grate system. You can lift up part of the grate to add more charcoal, while the two Weber‘s require you to remove the entire grill grate. In terms of size, you get 305 (305.3 to be exact) square inches of grill area, compared to just 160 on the Go-Anywhere. The Jumbo Joe got the pick for best charcoal grill in our guide to the best tailgate grills.
While most traditional grills have grates that the food is placed over, 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. I love cooking pancakes, french toast, eggs, weber charcoal grill and bacon on my flat top while sleeping out in the woods of New Hampshire. You don’t have to compromise much when grilling away from home, either. They’re smaller, so you can’t cook for too many people, but you can use charcoal or gas, and they get more than hot enough to fire up whatever food you’re hungry for.
If you’re at home, in an RV, or have a decent power bank, this isn’t much of an issue. But for folks that like to go completely off-grid, this model isn’t going to work for you. Much like charcoal grills, pellet grills take some time before they’re ready for cooking and the Camp Chef Portable Pellet takes a while to warm up. Lastly, this model is really heavy compared to most of the portable grills in our review. The wheels are helpful, but it’s not very fun to drag this grill very far from your vehicle.