One of the main draws of the portable BBQ Grill is its compact size. The Portable Grills can fit in your truck, making it fit for any of your trips. Most items shipped via standard parcel
service may be expedited for an additional
cost to decrease shipping time or guarantee
delivery by a certain date. This does not
include processing time, which may or may
not be altered subject to manufacturer
resources and discretion. Items shipped via
freight are shipped at the fastest available
speed (Priority Freight) and are, therefore,
unable to be expedited further. This could be a good starter grill for someone who wants to try grilling but doesn’t want to make a large commitment to the endeavor.
A clip on the lid keeps everything in place in this beach- and apartment-friendly grill. After testing models for their portability, ease of use, safety, and (of course) ability to grill great food, we have favorites from Cuisinart, Weber, and more. First, the setup was challenging as the legs were difficult to install properly. Next, the heat distribution was very uneven, where a uniform layer of coals still resulted in a hot spot in the center. Keeping coals lit in the Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill 14″ was a challenge.
The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best of the portable propane models we’ve tested. It outperformed the competition at both high-heat searing and low-and-slow grilling, with the fewest flare-ups. And it’s well-built, with a push-button ignition and temperature control dial that are easy to use. We’ve tested an older version of the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill, a hibachi-style grill that generates an intense amount of heat and excels at searing, making it ideal for steaks. But the lidless design limits its ability to tackle slow-cooking tasks. At 30 pounds and with a long cool-down time (again, cast iron), it’s also not going to be very portable.
The Weber Traveler grill takes up minimal space in your garage and is designed to fit easily in the trunk of a car. Register your grill and gain quick and easy access to manuals, replacement parts and warranty. Carriers that schedule delivery appointments require you to be home for delivery and provide your signature. The delivery is made with a semi-truck with lift gate services, and the weber charcoal grill shipment is dropped off at the curb. If you authorize the shipping company to leave the delivery without a signature, BBQGuys can’t be held responsible for damages that occur during delivery. As complicated as this process may seem, we’ve only scratched the surface here — please review our detailed guide to freight delivery so there are no surprises when a freight shipment heads your way.
In my testing, the grill heated quickly (hit 500 degrees F in minutes) and stayed hot. Controlling the temperature — while not perfectly precise — was no real issue for me and shouldn’t be a hindrance for the type of grilling most people do. While it’s billed as a portable model, the Traveler is large enough to be your permanent, weber charcoal grill everyday home grill. The Traveler is not much easier or more difficult to clean than your standard gas grill. There’s a drip tray to catch the worst of it and you can easily remove the grill grates to clean the inside of the firebox or hull of the grill. Once assembled, it was time to give the Weber a go at its most important duty.
It packs up tidily into a large lunchbox shape, and comes with a sturdy carrying strap. The detachable cutting board (which doubles as a lid during transport) is especially helpful for campers looking to streamline their packing list. But if you’re not likely to grill frequently, a portable grill is a fine option. For one, it can be broken down or tucked away in storage (and it should be when not in use, to minimize weather-induced corrosion). More space between the coal bed and the grilling grate also lessens your chances of ending up with charred food and allows you to create hot and cold spots for searing and indirect cooking.
We conducted two sets of tests for scoring, depending on whether the grill was gas-fueled or charcoal. The first step for each was to assemble the grill, rating it on the clarity of instructions and how easy it was to accomplish the task. Next, we judged the grills’ portability, such as how easy they were to move and if lids or grates fell off easily.
It would have allowed me to keep the food warm while the turkey burgers cooked at a higher temp. While an extra burner would make this grill a little more versatile, I think most people that buy this are looking to keep it simple. If you want to grill steaks, burgers, chicken and hot dogs having one single burner won’t be a problem. As I spent 6 weeks testing and cooking on the grill, I was impressed by the thoughtful design of the grill. Every feature has been added to enhance your entire experience, from transport to grilling.
Weber’s propane coupling fits 1-pound canisters (best for using this grill on the go) but also accepts an adapter for 20-pound propane tanks. Grilling with charcoal does have some downsides that make it less convenient, especially with a portable grill. Briquettes are bulky and messy, staining anything they touch with soot and ash.