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Weber Traveler Review

Excellent cooking performance, temperature control, and easy transport made this stand-up grill an instant favorite of our testing team
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Weber Traveler Review
Credit: Trish Matheny
Price:  $399 List
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Manufacturer:   Weber
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 19, 2023
81
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 18
  • Output Power - 25% 8.0
  • Control - 25% 8.0
  • Portability - 20% 7.0
  • Cooking Area - 20% 9.0
  • Wind Resistance - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Weber Traveler is an outstanding option for folks looking to invest in a top-of-the-line portable gas grill. A large cooking surface combined with a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate makes grilling a variety of meats and vegetables for a small group a breeze. The all-weather durable wheels and compact, folding design allow for easy transport, even though this is one of the heavier grills we tested. The Traveller maximizes 13,000 BTUs through conservative gas use while still offering enough consistent temperature control for searing meats and lightly grilling veggies. Whether you're cooking for family and friends in the backyard or at your favorite campsite, this grill is hands down the most luxurious option we've tested. See how it made its way to the top of our list in our review of the best portable grills.
REASONS TO BUY
Super easy transport
Excellent wind resistance
Easy to clean
Luxurious features
Solid temperature control
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Large stand-up grill requires more space to store
Heavy
Editor's Note: The Weber Traveler was added to our portable grill review lineup on December 17, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
weber traveler
This Product
Weber Traveler
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Portable Grill
Top Pick Award
Best Tabletop Grill
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Top Pick Award
Best Charcoal Grill
Top Pick Award
Best Infrared Grill
Price $399 List
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$259 List
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$71 List
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$399 List
$399.00 at Amazon
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Bottom Line Even though it's expensive, this grill exceeded expectations and received high scores in every testing metricA thoughtfully-designed grill that has everything you need, and then someAlmost too powerful for its size, this hearty grill specializes in searing steaksA neatly packaged, on-the-go charcoal grill with the capacity for finely tuned pit-cookingIf you dig infrared grilling, this might be your best portable option
Rating Categories Weber Traveler Weber Q 1200 Cuisinart Grillster Weber Go-Anywhere C... Solaire Everywhere
Output Power (25%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
8.0
Control (25%)
8.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
Portability (20%)
7.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
Cooking Area (20%)
9.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Wind Resistance (10%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
3.0
Specs Weber Traveler Weber Q 1200 Cuisinart Grillster Weber Go-Anywhere C... Solaire Everywhere
Total BTU 13,000 8,500 8,000 N/A 14,000
Weight (Per Manufacturer) 49 lbs 31 lbs 10 lbs 14 lbs 14 oz 15 lbs
Cooking Surface Area 390 sq in 189 sq in 148 sq in 140 sq in 135 sq in
Number of Burners 1 1 1 N/A 1
Grill material Porcelain-enameled cast iron Porcelain-enameled cast iron Enameled steel Plated steel Stainless steel
Packed Size 42.72" x 43.6" x 37.2" / 6.5 cu ft 15" x 26" x 14" / 3.2 cu ft 20.5" x 12" x 10.2" / 1.5 cu ft 14.5" X 21" X 12.2" / 2.2 cu ft 21" x 8" x 13" / 1.3 cu ft
Piezo Ignitor Yes Electric Yes No Electric

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Weber Traveler is the Cadillac of portable grills. Even though this stand-up grill weighs 49 pounds, it is easy to set up and break down with one hand. The compact, portable design is easy to transport thanks to durable, all-weather wheels. The grill features a large cooking area and 13,000 BTUs of output power that is consistently distributed over the porcelain-enameled cast iron grilling surface. This is a top-of-the-line grill perfect for the chef who wants to prepare delicious meals from the backyard to the campsite.

Performance Comparison


Whether you're camping, tailgating, or grilling for friends in the backyard, the Weber Traveler offers top-of-the-line performance that's worth your investment.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Output Power


The Weber Traveler puts out 13,000 BTUs per hour, offering consistent temperatures throughout the entire cooking surface. It heats up relatively quickly, achieving maximum temperatures in 10-15 minutes, on average. We love that the grill features an accurate thermometer on the lid, so it's easy to know the internal temperature of the grill without having to lift the lid and lose essential heat.


Rather than take the manufacturer's BTU rating at face value, our testing team carefully evaluated the Traveler's output power by firing up the grill to its highest setting and monitoring the grilling surface with an infrared thermometer. After 5-10 minutes, the grill measured 400 °F, achieving a maximum temperature of 575 °F after about 15 minutes. Testers continued to evaluate temperatures in 20-minute intervals, noting a variance of only 5-10 °F while cooking. Even though the Traveler doesn't offer the highest power output of the grills in our lineup, it features a wide temperature range with sufficient capability for searing large cuts of red meat.

The U-shaped burner design that puts out 13,000 BTUs provided enough output power to properly sear red meat.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Control


The Weber Traveler was deliberately designed to optimize gas use with excellent temperature control. We prefer a temperature reading on the control dial, but the low-to-high range is consistent with our expectations. You can accurately monitor the internal temperature via the thermostat on the top of the lid, though it will adjust to the surrounding air temperature if the lid is left open for more than a minute. For right-handed operators, the temperature dial is conveniently located on the right side of the grill, near the side table which is perfectly sized for our grilling tools and cutting board.


During testing, we loaded up the large cooking area with kimchi burgers and carefully monitored the temperature of each burger while they cooked, noting only a few degrees of difference in overall temperature between each patty. The combination of propane optimization and consistent cooking temperatures earns the Traveler high marks for temperature control.

weber traveler - our toast test relieved an evenly heated cooking surface with a few...
Our toast test relieved an evenly heated cooking surface with a few hot spots directly above the U-shaped burner.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Portability


The 49-pound Weber Traveler is a large, heavy-weight standing grill, which makes it difficult to compete against the more petite grills in our lineup. However, the designers at Weber truly put a lot of thought into the ease of transport by including a mechanism that allows for a slow lowering into a compact position. Combined this with durable, all-weather wheels, the Traveler is relatively easy to load into a pickup truck or even a compact vehicle.


The Traveler measures 42" x 43" when folded into the compact traveling position and can be lowered by one hand, making it even easier for solo users to set up and break down. It also has a lock that securely fastens the lid, locking any leftover ash inside while loading into a vehicle or rolling into position for your next cookout. Thoughtful details like the compact fold, the durable wheels, and the ease of lowering help this grill stand out from other wheeled, stand-up grills that we tested for this review.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy; the designers at Weber truly put a ton of thought into ease of use and transport of this grill.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Cooking Area


The Weber Traveler offers a high-quality cooking surface designed to be large enough to prepare a meal for a small group. Measuring 26" x 15", the cooking surface is the perfect size to prepare an entire meal. The sturdy, porcelain-enameled cast iron grate effectively and evenly distributes the heat from the propane flame, and is very easy to clean thanks to the smooth, porcelain-enamel finish.


The Traveler also features a catchment tray below the center of the cooking area for any excess grease that accumulates during cooking. Any other grease is distributed into the bottom of the oval-shaped grill body and is easily wiped clean thanks to a smooth, powder-coated finish. The large cooking area and luxurious, high-quality cast iron grate make this grill a joy to cook on.

weber traveler - the porcelain-enameled cast iron made a fantastic cooking surface...
The porcelain-enameled cast iron made a fantastic cooking surface that was easy to clean.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Wind Resistance


If you find yourself grilling in inhospitable locations, the enclosed lid of the Weber Traveler effectively shields the internal propane flame from high winds. Four hooded vents on the back of the lid allow the grill to release pressure from the interior while also minimizing interference from wind.


If you've spent much time in the Eastern Sierra, you know that it's the perfect testing ground for high winds. During our fall testing period – a season we like to think of as winter fighting with summer – the intermittent storms brought gusts up to 30+ mph on one of our evenings of testing. Luckily, the fully enclosed lid and thoughtful grill placement (deliberately opposed to the dominant wind direction) allowed us to maintain the desired temperature and cook a delicious meal for a group of four, all at once.

weber traveler - a fully enclosed cooking area along with the down-turned vents...
A fully enclosed cooking area along with the down-turned vents helped the Traveler perform well, even in high winds.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Should You Buy the Weber Traveler?


The Weber Traveler is the perfect grill for folks who want to invest in a high-quality grill. This grill will afford you a luxurious cooking experience whether you're cooking in the backyard, at a pre-game tailgate party, or at your favorite campsite. Sufficient and consistent output power over a large grilling surface provides more than enough heat to sear thick-cut meats. Yet, it is versatile enough to put beautiful grill marks on veggies or thinner cuts like a tri-tip without burning them. The fully enclosed lid offers protection from high winds, and the wheeled, stand-up design is so easy to transition that you can do it with just one hand. The Traveller is a top-of-the-line grill built to last and features performance that can't be beaten.

weber traveler - this grill is so easy to use, even our lead taste tester, sam, can...
This grill is so easy to use, even our lead taste tester, Sam, can dial in the appropriate temperature for properly searing red meat.
Credit: Trish Matheny

What Other Portable Grills Should You Consider?


If the large, stand-up design of the Weber Traveler is appealing, but the price is outside your budget, consider the Coleman Roadtrip 285. The Roadtrip 285 is an affordable wheeled model that offers slightly more control but is a bit less portable. If performance is paramount, but you prefer a lightweight grill that you can easily load into a small vehicle or use on top of a picnic table, check out the Cuisinart Grillster, available for a price that won't break the bank.

weber traveler - the traveler features luxury performance when it comes to grilling...
The Traveler features luxury performance when it comes to grilling at home, at the campsite, or pre-gaming outside the stadium.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Trish Matheny