folks I'm looking a cheapish portable BBQ to use as a BBQ and for a fire. Had a look at the Notebook/Sunncamp/Outwell fold up ones and am getting mixed reviews. Any suggestions or opinions on these and other smallish portable bbqs appreciated that would do the job
Having gone through various portable ones, the grime, rust and distortion has just put us off them for camping.
Have a lovely chimnea at home, but opt for the disposables away from home combined with a clever little stand - the Asado Camper - which is basically 4 interlocking metal strips with fold down legs that makes a solid little stand that compacts to the size of a ruler. When finished with, just cool the BBQ with water and dispose of - no grimy hands, no lugging of charcoal, lighters and lighter fuel and no having to clean the BBQ. There's enough residual heat to keep you warm for a while after.
I have had a few problems with the mini disposable bbq's over the years, I find that a good percentage of these do not get going and light. I have even had a blow torch on a couple of dud ones before and the charcoal still would not take! It must be something to do with them being stored in the warehouse in damp conditions maybe.
thanks for the comments. I think what I'm looking at foremost is something for a fire and not as importantly a bbq so not sure if the disposable bbqs are what I'm after. Moreso something off the ground but that doesnt take up too much room. Thats why I was thinking the fold up bbq but some reviews I've read say they warp easily. Anyone got any first hand experience?
Our Weber Go Anywhere is a quality piece of kit and comes with a 10 yr warranty. It's never warped. It's main purpose for us is as a barby but afterwards it takes a fire log fine. It's off the ground and we've never had a problem.
Quote: Originally posted by boycey72 on 02/6/2010
thanks for the comments. I think what I'm looking at foremost is something for a fire and not as importantly a bbq so not sure if the disposable bbqs are what I'm after. Moreso something off the ground but that doesnt take up too much room. Thats why I was thinking the fold up bbq but some reviews I've read say they warp easily. Anyone got any first hand experience?
Hi, we have just purchased an x large notebook, and tried it out a couple of times over the last couple of weeks at different campsites. Firstly, it is a great little bbq, and afterwards the coals stay warm enough for a while, but then you need to build a little fire up with sticks or kindling before you move on to small logs. The logs do need to be small too - anything too big and it just starts to smoulder and smokes the site out. Having said that, once you have a nice little glow going, it does pack the heat. Ideal for those sites who allow bbqs but not campfires i would say. Just try to keep the flames to a minimum and the smoke to even less.
Got a new portable BBQ from B&Q the other week reduced from £30 down to £20, lid acts as wind stop 3 position grill, will cook for 6 people no probs,(was recommend in the Sunday Mail) great BBQ.
When finished cooking, reloaded it with charcoal, so had a nice heater to sit round, late into the evening, great buy,
We have the outwell fold up BBQ and have used it for three years now.
The only part that distorts badly is the bottom grate/grill plate that the coals sit on but,after it's cooled down and emptied everything fits inside and it all folds up perfectly.We also have the son of hibatchi/grilleto which costs 3 times as much,but the outwell is the one that's always packed in the car when camping.
I got the Asda portable barbecue at £10, I thought it was great because the legs swung around to lock the lid on. However after many glasses of vino we decided to keep the fire going for most of the evening...maybe 4 or 5 hours. My poor wee barbecue hasn't made it. The plastic/melamine (or whatever material it was) handles crumpled to dust so now the metal legs won't swing around to lock the lid on anymore.
I still used it last night at home, just won't be travelling with it anywhere!
We have a fold up one - it does distort slightly when it is hot but it soon returns to normal. we use it for a bbq and then stoke it up for a fire afterwards. We never have been asked to put it out either as it is a bbq!!!
------------- Debbie
'Make the most of good weather and the best of bad!!'
We've just been using the Tesco £9.50 portable kettle BBQ this last week. Not brilliantly portable, but reasonably small. Once we finished cooking we added logs and got a decent fire going. It is far enough off the ground not to scorch the grass and shows no signs of warping or any damage to the handles. OK, so it won't last forever, but I'm confident it will last a few more trips yet! This one showing as £19 but was £9.50 in store.