This grill is bulky compared to many other portable grills we’ve tested, and relies heavily on its wheels for transport. At 47 pounds, it’s not very fun to lift much further than in and out of a truck bed. The weight and bulk definitely detract from its overall portability. But this grill makes up for deficiencies in portability with top-tier grilling performance and easily earns our recommendation for a large-sized portable grill. One thing to love about this model, however, is the damper adjustments that allow you to control airflow and, in turn, the heat for more precise grilling.
Propane will need to be procured separately at your favorite home improvement or outdoor store. Many of these grills will work off the very small 1-pound propane cylinders, with a different attachment needed for larger propane tanks. The difference between the two kinds is weight—larger tanks are heavier and need to be carried separately from the grill—and amount. The smaller tanks are easier to carry in a backpack, but will run out of fuel within a couple of hours. If you’re looking for a compact model to fit in the trunk of a smaller car or one that’ll take up minimal space while it’s not in use, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is not the grill for you.
For charcoal-style grills, control amounts to how much charcoal is burning. In terms of its cooking performance, the HitchFire runs on two small propane canisters, and it has two burners that can be controlled individually. Plus, our tester found the grill easily reached high temperatures with both burners running, delivering plenty of heat for cooking all types of food, such as steaks, fish, and grilled fruit. But, crucially, the GoBQ also performed quite well during the cooking tests.
For pellet grills, we studied the user interface and considered the details of the startup and shutdown process. We also considered if the grilling surface presents a consistent temperature throughout, whether it includes a thermometer or push-button ignition, and how well both perform. There are advantages and disadvantages to a grill surface that naturally presents different temperature zones. Portable grills are also great for smaller outdoor spaces that simply can’t fit normal grills. For instance, apartments that don’t allow gas grills may still accommodate portable electric grills. BBQGuys carries weber charcoal grill grills from some of the most popular grills brands such as Traeger, Solaire, and TEC, so you can rest easy knowing you’ve chosen a quality grill.
The middle dial controls a burner that spans the length of the whole grill, while the other two dials control an additional burner on each side. The Roadtrip 285 produced better results from our white bread heat mapping test than any other grill we’ve tested. The Solaire Everywhere infrared grill is a unique product on our roster and performs very well in a few categories. First, it is weber charcoal grill very small and compact, and its construction is tight and carries quietly. Most importantly, the high-powered ceramic “flameless” burner that sits below a carefully designed grate of v-shaped bars cooks steaks better than anything else in our review. For those excellent cuts of red meat that require nothing more than a touch of flame, this is the best portable grill on the market.
Our tester was truly impressed at how secure the HitchFire felt when mounted to her truck, and she said it never budged on a 350-mile drive. The Camp Chef Portable Pellet is about as transportable as this genre gets, and offers top-tier cooking performance if you’re able to power it. We’ve tested hundreds of products in our camping kitchen reviewsincluding the best camping tables and top camping coffee makers for your outdoor forays. We also have reviews highlighting the best camping stoves and much more. This model was engineered with boaters in mind so if you’re setting sail this summer, you might give the pricey Magma a closer look.