Portable Grills

Gas grills for tailgating, camping, picnics

In the past, outdoor chefs looking for a good tailgate or picnic grill were mostly limited to models like Char-Broil's foldable Thermos Grill2Go (*Est. $200). Instead of a grate, the Char-Broil Thermos Grill2Go uses a heated plate with raised ridges for cooking, which can be flipped over to serve as a griddle. However, since there's no direct flame, burgers and steaks taste more like they were made indoors. Editors at Men's Health magazine call this an "unforgivable" flaw, but if char-broiled taste isn't important to you, the Char-Broil Thermos Grill2Go performs very well.

As an alternative to the Char-Broil Thermos Grill2Go, testers recommend the Weber Q series, particularly the Q-200 portable grill (*Est. $200). Like larger Weber grills, the Q-200 uses porcelain-coated cast-iron grates to provide a real grilling experience with the portable form factor. The Weber Q-200 grill puts out 12,000 Btu of heat compared to 10,000 Btu for the Char-Broil Thermos Grill2Go, and the Weber grill has the advantage of variable temperature controls.

The Weber Q-200 has 280 cubic inches of cooking space and a single 12,000-Btu burner -- that's enough room to comfortably fit about nine burgers, according to Good Housekeeping magazine. Two flip-out side shelves fold back into the body for storage, and you can buy an optional stand for the Q-200 for an additional $50.

The Weber Q-200 portable gas grill uses a compact 14.1-ounce propane tank. Weber says you should be able to grill for about 90 minutes on one tank (though some users experience considerably less). Unfortunately, those small tanks aren't refillable. An adapter is available (*Est. $25) for attaching a full-size, refillable propane tank, which would only make sense for use in a fixed location. Even in the face of these drawbacks, the majority of user reviews at Amazon.com give the Weber Q-200 a five-star rating, although a few mention problems with ignition and gas flow.

The OutdoorChef City Grill 420 (*Est. $150) is a favorite of About.com's BBQ guide, Derrick Riches. He likes the 10,000-Btu heat output and 194 square inches of cooking space. This OutdoorChef portable grill is also listed as a Best Buy at ConsumerGuide.com and a favorite at TailGatersCentral.com. OutdoorChef, a Swiss manufacturer, is not well-known in the U.S.; we found limited distribution. One owner posting a review at Amazon.com notes problems with obtaining replacement parts, but the majority of users consider the OutdoorChef City Grill 420 to be a great portable grill for small outdoor spaces, tailgating and camping.