And heating the larger grill surface will burn through propane faster. This 20-pound propane grill folds up like a suitcase, and you can carry it with one hand. This larger weber portable grill version of our pick offers more cooking area and higher heat output. The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is our pick because of its no-fuss convenience and stellar performance.
Then we grilled bone-in chicken to test for flare-ups and how well the gas and charcoal grills could sustain a medium-low cooking temperature over 45 minutes. In our tests, the Grill2Go X200 produced intense heat that was ideal for searing steaks but had us battling some flare-ups when cooking chicken pieces. Although we wouldn’t want to use it as a primary patio grill, it’s a decent dedicated portable grill for camping and tailgating.
The Weber Q 1200 also features a built-in lid thermometer and a two-piece, porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grate that heats evenly across its surface. It also features a black lid, cast aluminum body with drip ducts, and a sturdy glass-reinforced nylon frame and handles. This Weber Q operates on a 1 pound disposable propane cylinder (not included). An optional 20-lb tank adapter hose is available as an accessory for those times you need to feed larger groups. You’ll want to consider things such as the grill’s cooking area, weight, and features like collapsible stands as you compare different models.
Ultimately, it’s the RoadTrip X-Cursion’s versatility (it can transform into a steamer with an additional attachment) and high-heat capabilities that earned it top marks. But if you’re looking for an ultra-portable grill you can pack on your back during a hike or long trek to the beach, we recommend one of the smaller tabletop options, instead. As you’d expect from such a powerhouse, this grill gets super hot and produced an “impeccably crispy” crust during our steak test. 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 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.
The components fit snugly and stay put when transporting, and the grill is a good size for cooking for three or four people. Char-Broil covers the Grill2Go X200’s lid, firebox, and burner for five years and everything else for one year. Weber covers more parts on its gas grills for five years and nothing for less than two years, but those grills also cost significantly more.
We are proud of the work we’ve done to hash out all the options and are honored to be a small part of your transient culinary journey. 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. We’ve tested hundreds of products in our camping kitchen reviews, including the best camping tables and the top camping coffee makers for your outdoor forays.
Thanks to a relatively deep basin, we were able to build and stoke a substantial volume of coals to achieve the exact heat we desired. Since the area of the basin exactly matches the surface area of the grill, we were then able to spread out those coals to create targeted heat zones. Once the grill is going, the Camp Chef Portable Pellet’s internal thermometer and the computer then take over to regulate the flow of pellets into the burner.
When the side tables are tucked inside the grill for transport, the Q 1200 is about the size of a small carry-on suitcase. It weighs about 30 pounds, and you need two hands to carry it, because it doesn’t have a latch to hold the lid securely to the firebox. weber kettle bbq But the position of the side handles helps to evenly distribute its 30-pound heft and lessens the burden of hoisting and moving the grill. The push-button ignition and clearly marked heat-control dial make the Q 1200 easy to start and regulate.
Cleanup was simple, and as the grill comes with no specific cleaning instructions, dumping the spent ash was a simple task. We followed this with a quick wipe-down with soapy water to remove remnants. Finally, we should note that, at 40 pounds, this grill is more suited to car camping or picnicking, where it’s only a short walk to where you’ll be cooking. It would also fare well as a supplemental grill when cooking for a crowd in your backyard.