Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Weber has a great reputation for reliability, and when we surveyed Wirecutter readers about their grills, Weber owners were overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice. As long as you clean your grill properly and shield it from the Flat Top Grills Gas Grills Pellet elements, it should last many years. Weber doesn’t make a grill cover for the Jumbo Joe, but a contractor garbage bag or a woven poly tarp should do the trick if you want an extra barrier from the elements. And since the spacious firebox fits a full chimney starter’s worth of coals, you can get two or three rounds of grilling per load.
Look for grills that have these features, as they’re better suited for portable, spur-of-the-moment grilling adventures. Some portable grills have removable or foldable legs that make them easy to pack up and transport. It’s a sturdy portable grill that rests on stable legs, perfect for placing on a table or bench. The biggest flaw is the thinness of its grates, which don’t allow for a ton of weight to be stacked upon them, and which sometimes results in the grate flipping if too much meat is placed on one side.
The design of the Camp Chef Portable Pellet is practically unaffected by wind. The burner is deep within the tub of the grill body so it’s protected by the walls of the grill, the heat distributor, and the lid. We smoked a rack of ribs on a pretty nasty fall day at an elevation of 7,000 feet in central Utah and had absolutely no issues with wind. On the charcoal side, insulation plays a much more important role in output power and efficiency. The Cuisinart Portable Charcoal and Weber Go-Anywhere are very similar in terms of coal bed volume, but the Go-Anywhere scores much higher thanks to its cast iron construction. Keeping coals lit in the Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill 14″ was a challenge.
All in all, the GoBQ really shined for something in such a small package. We tested the most comfortable sleeping pads to find the best mattresses for camping. From the best self-inflating to the best for couples, see our top picks. Feed pellets or twigs into the top of the stove (the metal lid with the upside down Biolite logo opens up). Looking for a camping grill that can be used inside on a chilly day, out in your camper, or at the next work function? We think an electric grill is the way to go for versatility and the Hamilton Beach Electric Searing Grill is our winner for best electric grill.
The dimensions and weight of a grill are key here — it’s best to opt for a model that you can comfortably pick up and store in your vehicle. However, there are certainly some downsides to using charcoal grills as opposed to other options. Now let’s look at why cooking with charcoal is an excellent choice for portable grilling. 300 Square inches of cooking space is enough to feed around four people at once, with smaller surface areas obviously being better suited for feeding smaller groups.