As I write this, we’re nearing the end of March. This has been an incredibly brutal winter and many parts of the country are still digging out from the latest storm. Didn’t Mother Nature get the memo that we’re tired of all this horrid white stuff?
If you read this sometime down the road, say, in June when the sun is shining, remember how miserable we all were a few months back, and imagine how happy I am, here and now, to imagine the sunny rays that are soon to warm my chilled bones.
And with spring and summer soon upon us, my thoughts turn to the many backyard gatherings that are bound to take place. Friends and family will slowly begin to come out of the hibernation they’ve all been in since the Holiday season, and begin making plans for trips to the lake, Independence Day cookouts in the park, and, of course, camping, fishing and hiking. And I begin to feel alive.
Of course, all of these things revolve around portable grills – at least in my world. And with the seasons (hopefully!) changing, it’s also time to start spreading the word about the new grills that have come onto the market since last year.
Weber Updates its Q Grills
If you’ve looked around this site at all, you probably noticed that I have reviewed a few Weber grills – most notably the Weber Q 100 and it’s big brother, the Q220. I recommended them highly, and while I haven’t had a chance to fully review their newer counterparts, I expect that they’ll do just as well.
The Weber Q Series has updated looks and a couple of new features.
Borrowing from Coleman’s RoadTrip grills, they now include a split grill with two grill plates. What does this mean to you? It means that it now allows you the flexibility of using half of the grill as a griddle, with the purchase of not-included griddle plates.
While the new Weber Q looks pretty much the same as the last version, its body lines have slightly changed, the handle and control knob are a little bigger, and overall looks just a bit updated. Otherwise, at first glance, the specs and ratings all appear to be the same or similar to the older models.
I think it’s safe to say that the new Weber Q models will be just as good as their predecessors, if not better.
Want to learn more? Click here to see it at Amazon!
Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Grill
Don’t let the Cuisinart GrateLifter Grill’s compact size fool you! This is a very lightweight and portable grill that has a secret: under it’s lid is a large grilling space that will satisfy tailgaters and picnickers alike!
A truly portable grill, pack it up and head to the beach, the park – even your neighbor’s back yard. Like the Cuisinart All Foods Grill, it has functional side tables that easily fold in when you’re ready to pack up and go. Unlike the All Foods Grill, the fabulous stainless steel look is not an option – but a tough enamel coating in your choice of black or green is. Another difference: This grill is a little hotter with 15,000 BTU’s – a full 3,000 more.
It’s been getting some decent reviews as well. Though some claim that it’s not as good as a Weber Q, it is a lot lighter and more convenient.
Did I mention that it’s a dream to clean?
See the Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Grill at Amazon!
O-Grill 600 Replaces the Popular O-Grill 3000
And really, at first glance, I can’t see any big differences. It’s still the most portable grill I’ve ever seen. It still has an impressive design, including a 224 square inch cooking surface and fabulous clam shell look. It still puts out an enormous amount of heat relative to its size. It’s still available in a couple of funky colors. And it’s still priced at less than $200.
I’m not sure what else to say about the O Grill, except that I love it, and so do many other people who were looking for a grill that’s super easy to carry around.
If you click on my Amazon link below, you may notice that the name on the page is the O-Grill 500 – I’ve verified that the model number is 600 and I’m sure Amazon will change it shortly.
Update: As of March 12, 2020, I’m unable to find any online stores that carry the O-Grill 600.
If you want to know about the old model, you can read my full review here.
The Coleman RoadTrip LXE Goes Colorful!
Okay, the RoadTrip grills aren’t new to this site, and neither is the LXE, but what IS new is that it’s available in colors other than red!
I know that for some of my readers, color really isn’t important and they’re happy with their pretty red grill. But for those of you who were thinking about an LXE, you can now choose from a whole host of colors! Whether you’d prefer something that looks sleek in a black or silver, or capture attention with a bold purple, green or orange, you have options!
If you don’t know anything about the LXE, please take a moment to read my full review. It’s been a great portable grill for many people over the last few years. It pairs high-heat grilling with portability like nothing else out there. Combine that with loads of accessories like grilling plates, and you can take on just about any task from pancakes to burgers like a machine!
Read my full review on the Coleman LXE, or click here to check it out at Amazon!