Coleman is a brand you may well associate with camping trips, but we’re reviewing some of the best Coleman grills in this article. Coleman gas grills have campers in mind but they aren’t just for camping as these portable grills can be used in a variety of different scenarios, at home or for cookouts.
In our best Coleman grills reviews we’ve named the Coleman RoadTrip 285 the very best Coleman gas grill due to its wide variety of features including clever sliding side tables and an insta-start function to allow you to begin grilling straight away. There are many other great options explored on our list though including Coleman roadtrip grill reviews. The other designs could be equally suitable for your needs.
Top 5 Coleman Grills Review 2020
Our team explored features such as the material, the size of the surface for grilling on and the overall dimensions and portability of the grills in the reviews. Our research is presented as a simple overview table and then more detailed reviews, followed by a short buying guide where we discuss the top features of these grills and talk you through how to find the Coleman gas grill for you.
20,000 BTU’s provided by the 285 square inch cooking area, three different burners, plus smart features combined with safety features make this model our Editor’s Choice
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This model is on our list The Best Portable Grill because in terms of size and taking from one location to another it is the best portable option, besides, it comes in a small size and is relatively affordable
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This model is easy to clean and collects grease during use, add two different heats options and it will be the ideal BBQ grill
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Latch system for the legs affords to fold this model easily for any kind of transport and porcelain coating on the grill surface allows you to cook at high temperatures
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Super-portable model for the lowest price, and thanks to detachable legs it is easy to store and to set up, and with InstaStart option it is also very easy to get started cooking
Read Our ReviewColeman RoadTrip 285 Editor’s Choice
- BTUs: 20000
- Primary cooking area: 285 sq. in.
- Dimensions (assembled): 30.25 x 19.2 x 16.1 inches
More features: Adjustable horseshoe burner, InstaStart button, removable dishwasher-safe cooking surface and grease tray, 2 sliding side tables
Our editor’s choice is the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill. It suits a wide variety of users and the brand has created a grill that offers so much convenience for campers.
The 20,000 BTU’s provided by the 285 square inch cooking area is a decent size, and you can cook for a family if you are economical. It has three different burners so you can have hotter and cooler areas of the grill itself.
Smart features for people on-the-go include a locking lid to protect the grill, and side tables that slide in and out, you can use these for your utensils or plates for cooked food.
Temperature monitoring allows safe cooking of meat and tracking of temperatures, and the ignition starts the grill instantly. You don’t have to worry about carrying matches around either, you can be cooking your food in no time at all.
The 30.25 x 19.2 x 16.1 inches dimensions means it is small enough to go in the trunk of your car, but there’s still a decent cooking size.
- Locking lid and insta-start features.
- Sliding side tables.
- Monitor the temperature accurately.
- Dishwasher safe cooking surface.
- Grill needs a long cool-off before you pack it up.
- Bulkier than some of the more portable options.
Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill Best Portable Grill
- BTUs: 6000
- Primary cooking area: 105 sq. in.
- Dimensions (assembled): 16.6 x 14.5 x 6.8 inches
More features: Adjustable horseshoe burner, InstaStart button, removable dishwasher-safe cooking surface and grease tray
While all of the Coleman Grills are portable to some extent, the best of the portable options in terms of size and taking from one location to another is this, the Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill.
Small in size and relatively affordable, too. This grill folds up and has a handle already built in so you can take it out and about with ease.
6,000 BTUs of heat can be offered over a grilling surface of 105 square inches, so it isn’t the biggest or most powerful, but it’s fine for small cookouts.
The cooking surface is dishwasher friendly and the grease tray can be removed and cleaned simply and easily.
This grill allows you to control the temperature closely and monitor to ensure meat has been cooked thoroughly. It’s also easy to ignite with no matches required.
One small propane cylinder can give hours of grilling, so this is a good option if you’re going out in the wilderness for long periods.
- 3 hours of grilling from one propane cylinder.
- Easy to control temperatures.
- Extremely portable folding design with a handle.
- Not suitable for cooking huge amounts of food.
- The handle on the lid is not very hard-wearing.
Coleman RoadTrip 225 Best BBQ Grill
- BTUs: 11000
- Primary cooking area: 225 sq. in.
- Dimensions (assembled): 28.8 x 18.3 x 10.6 inches
More features: Removable water pan, 2 adjustable burners, InstaStart ignition for push button
The Coleman RoadTrip 225 is another option with a slightly different design. It’s portable enough, and can be taken out and about for a camping trip in the trunk of your car, but it also manages to give 11,000 BTUs of heat and a 225 square inch cooking area. This is plenty for a family meal.
It offers two burners so you can have a hotter area and then an area to just keep things warm.
A clever water pan design catches the grease and makes it easier to clean out after use. All you need to add to the unit is some water and a 1 lb propane cylinder to cook.
Like most of the product you’ll find on a list of Coleman barbecue grills reviews, it has instastart and matchless lighting for starting it anywhere and cooking without having to worry about lighting.
If you wish, you can buy separate grill plates and griddles for different styles of cooking within this portable Coleman grill.
- Easy to clean and collects grease during use.
- Two different heats possible.
- Instant lighting.
- Not possible to hook up to larger propane supplies easily.
Coleman NXT Lite Standup Propane Grill Best Sportster Grill
- BTUs: 8500
- Primary cooking area: 168 sq. in.
- Dimensions (assembled): 18.2 x 28 x 34.5 inches
More features: No-spill grease cup swivels to stay level, secure latch system, PerfectFlow System, InstaStart button
The Coleman NXT Lite Standup Propane Grill offers something a little bit different in that it manages to be totally portable but also free standing. It’s the best Sportster grill in the range and gives plenty of options when it comes to the way you can cook. It gives an option to buy multiple grills that you can attach for different cooking styles. This is an extra cost, but if you fancy yourself as a grillmaster it could be a fantastic addition.
There’s 168 inches of grill space in total, this is a decent size, and there’s a grease cup which can stay level even if the grill itself is at an angle. The latch system for the legs means you can fold it up and fasten everything in place ready for the long camping trips. You can take this grill wherever you need to with ease.
8,500 BTUs is plenty of cooking power, and the porcelain coating on the grill surface means you can cook at high temperatures.
- Free standing, no need for a table.
- Latch system for the legs. Folds for easy transport.
- Leg mean it is longer than the other options and therefore not as easily storable/portable.
Coleman Party Propane Grill Budget Pick
- BTUs: 8000
- Primary cooking area: 122 sq. in.
- Dimensions (assembled): 13.2 x 13.4 x 7 inches
More features: InstaStart push-button ignition, PerfectFlow technology, detachable legs
This Coleman grill is a Coleman portable grill which has been included as a budget pick, it certainly doesn’t cost as much as a lot of the other options on the list, and this is partially due to size, but this might not be a bad thing. A lot of people are looking for Coleman grills that are small and can be taken on trips with ease. It’s called the Coleman Party Propane Grill as it can easily cook for people on a beach or pool party, for instance.
This still has plenty of the features some of the bigger grills on the list offer such as the instant start.
To help with portability, it has detachable legs, you can simply add put them on when you need to start grilling and remove to store in your RV or other vehicle.
The propane cleverly sits underneath the grilling surface, and it is easy to set up and get started with grilling. For a super-portable option, this grill is hard to beat.
- Very small and portable.
- Easy to store and easy to set up.
- Affordable.
- Not as much grilling space as some other options.
- No lid for covering the food or cooking surface.
Buying Guide
As well as providing you with some of the best Coleman grill reviews, we also wanted to give you an overview of the features, terminology and things to consider when you are choosing which Coleman gas grill best suits your needs. Everyone will be looking for something slightly different when they are buying their grill, and an understanding of the features and functions will help you to get the right option for you.
What is essential when buying Coleman grills?
What features are important? What should you absolutely pay attention to before you make the purchase? These features and terms will crop up when you are reading the descriptions. We’ve explained why they’re important below.
BTUs and Fuel Type
BTUs stands for British Thermal Units, it is a way to measure heat in a grill or other products that provide heat such as space heaters within the home. The higher the level of BTUs, the more heat the unit can produce. Most of the products within the Coleman grill range have over 8000 BTUs which should be enough to cook most types of food with ease and such models as Coleman RoadTrip 285 and Coleman RoadTrip 225 are capable of giving even 20000 and 11000 BTUs. You won’t need to worry about the food being undercooked due to a lack of power with a high BTU rating.
All of the options on this list use propane as their fuel type. Most of them can only use this in small cylinders, as they are designed to be portable grills. However, with an adapter, some of the grills listed can be set up to connect to a bigger propane gas container.
Primary Cooking Area
Quite simply, this is the space you have to cook on, measured in square inches. Though there is usually some compromise if you are looking for a portable grill (you won’t have as much cooking space as you might with a home grill) most of these options have plenty of room for you to cook your food, enough for a family. The Coleman RoadTrip 285 has plenty of space for grilling.
Dimensions and Weight
Keep an eye on the dimensions and the weight of the unit when you are looking, too. You need something that is small enough if you plan to take your grill on a trip. The dimensions are different to the cooking area as they include all aspects of the grill such as legs! If you want a portable choice, the Coleman Party Propane Grill could be a good option.
Extras
It’s worth checking if each of the grills comes with any sort of added extras. For instance, some have thermometers, lids, or even detachable legs that can serve as extras to aid you in your grilling. Most of the designs are pretty simple, but there are some additional features and extra bonuses you might find in individual Coleman grills.
Prices
The price of these grills can vary quite a lot, from the budget pick Coleman Party Propane Grill which can be purchased for a relatively small price, up to the hundreds of dollars to buy one of the larger Coleman grills. The best portable grills can sometimes be under $100 if you don’t need something that is overly big.
FAQ
No, the grills do not come with propane. Fortunately, small propane cylinders are sold with the benefit of having standardized connectors so you don’t have to worry too much about whether you can find propane to work with your grill.
Covers are not included with a grill to protect from rain, though many do have lids. You can buy covers separately if you need to leave your grill outside and are worried about the conditions.
Many of the grills are made with porcelain to help them to cope with the large amount of heat. Some components are made of plastic and metal, too.
Our Verdict
Between the best Coleman grills on our list number one is the Coleman RoadTrip 285, it is very hard to fault, and though pretty big compared to many of the other portable options, it has a lot of features to like, very high BTUs at 20,000 and plenty of cooking space for larger gatherings. We’ve rated it 9.8/10.
For something smaller and more convenient, the Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill may be the best option for you. This grill has a compact design and a clever folding option, with the ability to carry it around with a handle. We’ve given it 9.6/10.
Third on the list of the best Coleman grills is the Coleman RoadTrip 225, it packs plenty of power into a small package and the water pan can help to guard against a build-up of grease. We’ve rated it 9.4/10.
