The published figures, side by side
| Spec | Weber Traveler | Coleman RoadTrip 285 | Weber Go-Anywhere | Char-Broil portable gas |
|---|
| Fuel | Propane, disposable cylinder sold separately | Propane | Charcoal | Propane, 1 lb camping canisters |
| Burners | 1, 13,000 BTU | 3, independently controlled | — | 1 |
| Grate area | 320 sq in | 285 sq in, per the model name | Rectangular charcoal grate | Tabletop size |
| Grate material | Porcelain-enameled cast iron | Coleman’s swappable cast-iron grate system | Plated steel | Plated steel |
| Two-zone cooking | No — one burner | Yes — three burners | Yes, by banking coals | No |
| Transport | Folds flat one-handed, 49 lb, 40 in wide, wheels | Folds onto wheels, pulls like a suitcase | Legs fold over the lid; carries like a case | Tabletop, lightest here |
| Stands at working height | Yes | Yes | No — needs a table | No — needs a table |
The one cell to read carefully is the Traveler’s fuel: it runs on a disposable cylinder that is not in the box. Tailgaters often buy an adapter hose for a 20 lb tank instead; either way, budget for fuel on day one.
Why the Traveler is the default
Cast iron is the whole argument. Porcelain-enameled cast iron stores heat, so the grate stays hot when cold food lands on it. That is the difference between grill marks and gray burgers, and it is why a one-burner Weber can outcook a three-burner grill with a thin plated grate.
It folds like a piece of luggage. One-handed fold, locks shut, rolls on wheels, 40 inches wide at 49 pounds. That is a grill that fits in most SUVs without a second person.
Weber parts. Grates, burners and ignition parts for Weber grills stay on shelves for years, which is the quiet reason Webers get handed down. It is also why this is the portable we put in gifts for tailgaters.
Why the RoadTrip 285 wins for some people
Three burners, three zones. A single-burner grill is one temperature. With three you can sear on one side and hold cooked food warm on the other, which is what cooking for a group actually requires.
It behaves like a real grill at a campsite. Stand height, side tables, wheels and swappable cooking surfaces — Coleman sells griddle and stove inserts for the same frame, so breakfast and burgers can happen on one machine.
The trade. It costs about what a decent full-size gas grill costs, and it is heavy and bulky folded. At home, a fixed grill does the same job for less — see best gas grills. Buy the RoadTrip because the cooking happens away from home, not because it is portable in theory.
Who should buy which
- Weber Traveler — campsites, small patios, and anyone who wants one portable that cooks like a proper grill. The default.
- Coleman RoadTrip 285 — regular tailgating, big groups, or anyone who needs two heat zones away from home.
- Weber Go-Anywhere — the charcoal answer. The rectangular grate suits sausages and corn, and banked coals give two zones with no burners at all.
- Char-Broil portable gas — the cheapest entry, running on green camping canisters. One zone, no fire to build, lightest of the four.
Three things to settle before you buy either
Where it will be cooked on. A grill that stands at working height is a different object from one that needs a picnic table. The Traveler and the RoadTrip both stand; the Go-Anywhere and the Char-Broil do not.
Whether charcoal is allowed. Plenty of apartment blocks and campsites ban it outright, which rules out the Go-Anywhere before any other spec matters. Our apartment-griller page covers that minefield.
What it is replacing. If this is the only grill, lean toward grate material and parts supply. If it is a second grill for trips, lean toward how it folds. Our Weber portable review covers the ownership side, and kettle vs portable gas handles the fuel question for the same money.
