It’s also cleverly designed, packing in—as you may have already guessed—the shape of a suitcase. Heavy duty handles and connections are strong. Although the Nomad is 28 pounds, on the heavy side for one-handed carrying, the shape and large handle actually make it easier to carry than smaller, cheaper models.
The Nomad uses a dual ventilation system for optimal airflow, even when the lid is closed. The vents, combined with raised fins on the bottom of the grill (which raise your coals, allowing air to flow underneath), allow for very precise control of both high and low temperatures. If you live and die by falling over, this grill could be your new constant friend.
Photo: Weber
Great Budget Portable Grill: Wired reviewer Scott Gilbertson also likes the simple Weber Jumbo Joe ($90), a smaller version of the original kettle. It’s an easy choice for tailgates, especially. And if you want to use it at home, you can build a cooking area at home. It’s cheap, simple, and easy. All are qualities.
Some of the Grills I recommend
Recteq X-Fire Pro 825 for $1,400: Pellet smokers rarely get above 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not as hot as you would get on a charcoal or gas grill. But Recteq’s 825-square-inch, two-pot X-Fire Pro wants to be your all-in-one device, notes WIRED reviewer Kat Merck. In Smoke mode, the fire pot on the left ignites a classic low and slow smoke. Switch the big knob to Grill Mode, and both pots are burning, with an adjustable damper on the right side. A damper, controlled by another knob, allows you to open access to the right fire pot just a little, or all the way to the gates of hell—1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes about 20 minutes for the fire pot to heat up this way, and if you don’t clean the fire pot first, it will kick up a lot of sparks in the process. Who knows why you need to get to 1,200 degrees? But as Merck notes, this is a company known for its cartoon bull logo and bull horn handles. “Recteq likes extremes, so he follows through,” he said. If you keep your search up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a tough grill and search experience. But keep in mind that high power draws from two burners will require a 10- or 12-gauge extension cord, which may be better than the cord you have at home. The IX-Fire also didn’t produce as much smoke as WIRED’s top-pick Recteq Flagship 1600, according to Merck’s testing, which means you’ll end up using smoke tubes at lower temperatures if you want to get more smoke out of the meat. Note, too, that the advertised 20-pound pellet capacity is split between fire pots. This can mean refilling the 10-pound hopper multiple times during a long cook.
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Photo: Brad Bourque
Traeger Woodridge Pro for $1,000: The Traeger Woodridge Pro is WIRED’s top choice front grill and smoker for most people. It’s still right at the intersection of value and service, and it’s likely to make you famous in the area. It’s a straight animal that’s easy to clean, easy to dial in for perfect ribs, and big enough to cook two pork bellies at once. My new top pick Recteq has a few smart features that make us love it, like the temperature history on its meat probes, and the easy learning curve for the smart features. But this Woodridge will still make you very popular in the area.
Photo: Traeger
Traeger Timberline Wi-Fi Wood Pellet Grill for $3,300: If you’re serious about grilling and smoking, Traeger’s Timberline is about to step up to the smoker. It is the most complete outdoor kitchen-in-one. It uses the same smarts for a wireless smoker as the Woodridge but adds some extras, like an induction burner (perfect for adding a last-minute stir-fry with a cast-iron pan or heating up some vegetables). The enclosed smoker has room for six pork shoulders, or equal racks of ribs or chicken. Former WIRED editor Parker Hall was able to feed hundreds of users. (As a longtime food and barbecue critic, I can wholeheartedly attest to the results of Hall’s brisket and ribs.) If that’s not enough, there’s also an even bigger XL version. “All of my meat was evenly heated and well done when the smoker said it was going to cook,” Hall said. If you want flawless smoking from the comfort of your couch and price is no object, Timberline delivers.
Courtesy of Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 for $899: This spacious Masterbuilt offers a great combination, notes WIRED reviewer Chris Smith: the taste of charcoal and the precision of gas or electric temperatures. A large, top-loading coal pit uses gravity (hence the name) to heat the interior, and an integrated fan enables precise digital temperature control—on the device or through an app. You will reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit within 15 minutes. Temperatures fluctuate dramatically once they settle, and if you want to add smoke flavor, simply toss some wood chips into the ashtray and let the coals fall to the floor to do the rest. But flexibility comes with caveats. You may miss out on the ability to cook directly over the flame, and you’ll need to replace the inner housing before switching to a flat-top grill.
Hosted by Yoder
Yoder YS640S Pellet Smoker for $2,700: Most grills do one thing well and few do it poorly or not at all. Yoder’s YS640S is a versatile tool, thanks to a design that allows easy access to the self-feeding firebox. Like Traegers at a fraction of the price, this Kansas-made grill uses an electric fan and an auger to feed wood pellets to produce slow smoke. Everything is controlled by a control board that sends temporary alerts and allows you to adjust the temperature via Wi-Fi. As a smoker, it easily handled ribs and chuck roast, holding its temperature better than most. This is due to its 10-gauge steel construction, which means this grill weighs as much as a refrigerator. Where Yoder really shines is in the grill and pizza oven possibilities. By removing the metal plate placed over the fire pit, you can grill burgers directly over the flame or pull out the grills and insert the attachment into the heavy-duty pizza oven ($489), which uses a pellet feed system to maintain a constant temperature of 900-plus degrees Fahrenheit.
The Grill You Should Avoid
Hosted by Ace
Kamado Joe Linked Joe for $1,900: There’s a lot to like about this kamado-style grill. Indeed, WIRED previously recommended it for its electric ignition and Wi-Fi connection that allows you to measure the internal temperature of the meat with two probes. But with long-term use, WIRED commercial director Martin Cizmar has had constant problems with an electric grill tripping 2-year-old GFCI outlets on his porch. It tripped with the breaker. A Reddit thread revealed that this is a common problem. Like the Redditors, Cizmar found temporary relief by installing an extension cord in his kitchen outlet, but even that failed several times during testing. Unfortunately, this grill goes through a rough patch until the problem is solved.
