We grew frustrated at the number of times we had to re-light this model in high winds. The Weber Q 1200 comes with a disposable aluminum drip tray insert that you can place in the more permanent drip tray. This is nice for aiding with cleanup, but it’s not very wind-resistant, weber charcoal grill so it usually ended up on the ground after flying away in windy conditions. This can be remedied by doing away with this disposable part or just by putting a rock in it. The design of the Camp Chef Portable Pellet is practically unaffected by wind.
The Cuisinart gas grill is definitely lighter and a bit more portable than the Weber. It also feels slightly less sturdy while grilling, but is not flimsy by any means. At just over $100, it is the best portable grill on a budget — especially if you don’t plan to use it more than a handful of times per summer. The Cuisinart portable grill also runs on any small propane tank you can find at camping or hardware stores.
At 1,300 BTUs, the Weber has a good punch of power for a portable grill so I expected some serious heat. The internal temp quickly rose to just about 500 degrees F with the lid closed but didn’t exceed that temp. Worth noting that 500 is a good mark to hit for high-heat grilling — things like steaks, burgers and in my case, tuna. The tuna steaks and sausages I plunked down on the grill grates got a nice sear with pretty grill marks in about 10 minutes (five on each side). As small as it seems during transport, we were impressed with how spacious it was for grilling (you can fit up to 15 burgers, plus there’s a side table to work on).
I’ve picked this one several years in a row, and that’s because no other grill of the more than 12 I’ve tested touches the sturdy Q series in terms of quality, power and overall value. There’s a wooden cutting board/serving tray that sits on top of the grate when the grill’s not in use, but it’s completely open to the elements while cooking. Most grills have a domed lid that helps distribute the heat from the burner, and without weber charcoal grill that, we got uneven temperatures—enough that one end of the steak started to burn before the other was sufficiently seared. It might interfere with perfect-looking grill marks, but we’d recommend rotating and moving larger items around during cooking to achieve even doneness. Even though the Jumbo Joe isn’t the smallest or most compact charcoal grill we tested, it is lightweight (about 18 pounds) and easy to carry.
The grills are all rated on heat control and retention, size, features, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. For a great portable grill that won’t break your budget or your back, the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill should be at the top of your list. This affordable grill comes from one of the most well-known brands in grilling, and it has all the features you need to cook up delicious meals on the go. Even though it only produces 6,500 BTUs of power, it was able to heat up to 600 degrees fairly efficiently. We got good results with both delicate fish and medium-rare steak, though the stainless-steel grate doesn’t hold heat quite as well as the cast iron most similar models use.