You don’t need to buy Weber’s specialty tins for the grease tray either—instead, just line the catch pan with aluminum foil and pull it off when you’re done. On the flip side, the Traveler is less portable than the brand would have you believe in its flashy promotional videos. It’s heavier than any other portable grill I’ve tested and I would categorize the Traveler as a semi-portable grill and not a truly weber charcoal grill portable grill. Next, I wanted to see how well I could control the temperature for lower-slower grilling candidates. There’s just one knob to control the fuel output and while the temp did drop when I lowered it, it was difficult to precisely control the temp one way or the other. That’s not uncommon with grills but if you’re looking for pinpoint low-and-slow cooking, this might not be the product for you.
If you’re home at the time of the drop-off, you can request the driver place your delivery in the garage; if you’re out of the house, the driver will leave it near the garage or doorstep. At home, I cooked all kinds of meats, from chicken thighs and wings, to brats and salmon filets. Everything cooked in a reasonable time with that delicious, grilled flavor that Weber has built an empire with. My first experience with the Weber was to test it out at a family picnic in the park. Loading up the grill in my wife’s SUV (with the seat down) was effortless as you could slide one end of the grill head first and use the handle on the other end above the wheels to pick it off the ground.
Portable grills aren’t just great for toting to a campground, park, or tailgate. If you don’t have the space or budget for a full-size grill, they might also be the best option for your backyard. After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we have recommendations for both gas and charcoal options. If you’re seeking a grill with more capacity than a traditional portable grill but more mobility than a typical full-sized grill, the Weber Traveler is a solid buy and represents good value at $399. It’s a sturdily built unit that comes together in a snap and is completely user-friendly. If you’ve never grilled a single day in your life, I still don’t think you have any problems assembling and operating the Traveler.
His written work appears in Food & Wine, Food Republic, and other publications. If you plan to keep the grill outside, it’s worth investing in a bonnet cover to protect it from the elements. You can also get a collapsible cart for it if you don’t have a table that will work. Charcoal is also smokier than gas, a possible issue for smaller, fenced-in spaces. The design and material make the burners strong and resistant, helping to prevent rust and burn-throughs.
I often start these lists with some variation of “when I was young,” and I don’t mean to — it makes me seem like a curmudgeon. It’s just that, as an elder of Gen X, it’s hard to believe the grilling technologies on the market have replaced the often life-threatening pieces of equipment that were commonplace in my youth. They also happen to be easy to move, light, cool, clean, and repack on top of that performance. Curious about which portable grills were worth buying, we tested seven popular models from trusted brands.
They did so on the heels of testing full-size gas and charcoal grills, as well as grill accessories. Lesley built on her decade of experience in professional kitchens (much of it spent on the grill station) to design and run all of these tests. If you’re interested in a tabletop grill—one with shorter legs that can be setup on a picnic table or bench—you can’t do better than the Weber Q1200 Gas Grill. It’s incredibly well-constructed and sturdy, thanks to its bowed legs. Its strong, intense flame combined with cast iron grates produced one the best sears in our test, although it’s heavier than other models we tested, and slightly awkward to carry. We also really liked the Cuisinart CGG-750 Venture Gas Grill.
Its biggest drawbacks are wobbly legs, even when ensuring that the attachment hardware is fully tightened, and visible air gaps in the lid that limit the ability to control the temperature. Setup took less than 20 minutes, but instructions are very detailed and require close attention to succeed on the first weber charcoal grill try. The shelves provided the biggest challenge, with little clearance for your hands to attach them easily. The components fit snugly and stay put when transporting, and the grill is a good size for cooking for three or four people. The fact that it pulls double duty as a smoker is an added bonus.
It’s a good choice if you like cooking with charcoal or don’t want to spend a lot, but it’s less convenient than gas, especially when you’re on the go. If you’re looking for a bigger portable grill, the Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill has the same features, performance, and build as our pick, but with almost 50% more grilling capacity. It can fit up to 10 large burger patties, two cut-up chickens, or 16 large bratwurst links at a time. Wirecutter staff who have used the Q 1200 at home have found it easy to clean both the grates and the grease tray under the grill.