BBQ Grills Propane, Charcoal, Portable Grill The best time to buy a portable grill is right now while the summer is heating up. For our favorite portable grills, we consider the grill's size and durability to be easily packable and withstand the weather. In our testing, we grilled burgers, hot dogs, and bone-in chicken on the GoBQ, all of which culminated with the expected, delicious results. While the standard fare was quite easy, the chicken cooked over indirect heat required a little more manipulation of the charcoal, which wanted to settle to the middle of the basket. Before moving, extinguish the coals, cover with the lid and let it cool before engaging the locking latches to move or clean. When using your grill for the first time, the paint on the outside of the grill may change color slightly as a result of the high temperatures. If you store your grill outside, close the top vent to keep rain out. Many HOA or other property regulations prohibit the use of open flame grills which can cause dangerous flare-ups and spread to other units on the property. Portable charcoal and gas grills are both open-flame cooking methods. A Traeger wood pellet grill is the best choice for tailgating because it will give you superior cooking results and is safer than gas or charcoal. Portable charcoal grills are, for the most part, just smaller versions of backyard charcoal grills. The smaller size means they weigh less and are easier to transport. We love that the lid, which has two vents that stay cool enough to adjust during cooking, stays put on the grill in the open position and has a large, oversized handle for easy check-ins. A Traeger wood pellet grill offers the best combination of portability, versatility, safety, and ease of use for car camping and RV-ing. If you're lucky enough to have an apartment, condo, or townhouse with outdoor space or balcony, a portable grill is one purchase that will really help you enjoy it. Charcoal grills can be a good choice for wide-open spaces, but in any confined space charcoal isn't ideal. For one thing, when charcoal is lit it gives off an unpleasant odor and smoke that can't be easily controlled. And charcoal briquettes are prone to flare-ups that could cause a dangerous situation whether you're in the woods or on a friend's small deck. The Solaire carries cleanly and easily like a small suitcase. Models like this are easy to carry into the park to find your ideal picnic spot. With any grill, cleaning them before transporting them will lead to less mess. Among the charcoal models, the Weber Go-Anywhere scores top marks for control. 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. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. What better occasion to "force" a spring picnic than grill testing. A family event, comparing grills and eating good food in March in Drictor, Wydaho.