The Weber Traveler is a gas grill that is made for cooking on the move - whether you want to go to the beach, park or camping, this folding grill will make it simple. Its semi-portable nature (it's too heavy and large to be considered completely portable) means that it is just as useful to be wheeled out of the garage and into the yard when needed, as loaded into a trunk or an RV for cooking on the move.
Number of main burners: 1
Number of side burners: N/A
Main burner BTU: 13,000
Fuel type: Liquid propane
Primary cooking space: 320 sq. in.
Dimensions: H 37.2” x W 43.6” x D 23"
Weight: 47 lbs
Burner material: Stainless steel
Burner warranty: 3 years
Product warranty: Cookbox and lid are covered for rust and burn for 5 years, while a 3-year warranty covers the stainless-steel burner tube and cast iron grill plates. Other parts are covered for two years.
The Traveler aims to make things easy. You can use it pretty much straight out of the box, and its single burner covers the whole grilling area - so it’s ideal if you just want to get cooking! The grilling area is a decent size and allows you to cook for a family of four - and if you’re keeping things simple with just burgers, for instance, you could probably cater for up to 10 people.
Of course, what makes the Traveler so different is the fact that it can be folded up to lay flat or stand upright, and easily wheeled along to your chosen cooking spot. This makes it simple to store, and to put in an RV or trunk if you want to head out on the road for some al fresco cooking.
Our Weber Traveler review puts this semi-portable grill to the test, to find out if it’s worth the price tag. You can check out our guide to the best gas grills around to find out how it compares to the competition.
Weber Traveler: Design
Like most Weber products, the Weber Traveler is really sturdy. We expected a folding barbecue might feel a tad flimsy, but there is nothing on this grill that is not well constructed.
It comes in a smart black and chrome livery, and to pull it up, you simply press your foot on the pedal at the base and pull the handle up and out. This can take a little practice, especially if you haven’t got a lot of strength in your wrists, but it is relatively easy to set up. The lid handle was a little loose when we received it, but we were able to quickly tighten the bolts with a screwdriver so that it felt much more sturdy.
The Traveler folds up into what looks like a trolley and has a handle so you can pull it along. The rubberized wheels are solid, so it may not be up for a lot of offroading somewhere very rocky, but to take down your yard or to a campsite or park, it is fantastic. Of course, having solid wheels rather than rubber means they will not perish from being outside come rain or shine, or get punctured.
This grill is not super light, so you probably wouldn’t want to pull it too far - but it folds up small enough to fit into a decent-sized trunk or back seat for camping or a trip out. Another handy feature is that the lid locks automatically once folded, so that it doesn't fly open while you're pulling the barbecue to your chosen al fresco cooking spot.
Weber Traveler: Features
Compared to larger and more expensive grills, the Weber Traveler is quite basic. It has one burner, and a solid side return to hold a dish or a couple of plates - there are also hooks for your utensils. The side table is on the right, so anyone left-handed might find this a bit tricky.
The standout feature for us is the way it folds up, unhook the red clip, which keeps it safely locked in use, push the handle in, and it slowly folds to the floor - almost in slow motion. We expected it to bang shut, but it is far classier than that - so no risk of you catching a finger or squashing a wandering pet as it folds down.
The only shame is that the small gas battle has to be unhooked before you fold the grill up - which means it’s another thing to carry, if you are trekking some way into a national park or similar. But it’s no game changer.
Where the gas bottle screws on to the grill is on the underneath of the top, and it does take a bit of peering to make sure you are in the right place - we wondered if it would be easy to cross thread if you weren’t very careful.
On that subject, it is possible to buy another attachment that allows you to use a full-size gas bottle when cooking at home in the yard. This is definitely worth thinking about, as we used half a small bottle for the 20 minutes burning off time that you must do before you use the grill for the first time, and the 15 mins or so it took to cook our steak, burgers, etc.
If you’re planning to cook for quite a few people, for a length of time, you’d probably want to take a spare bottle with you - after all, you wouldn’t want to be stranded out in the wilds with a barbecue you can’t use!
Weber Traveler: Set up
The Weber Traveler lets you go from opening the box to being able to cook took just 15 minutes. The only real bit of construction was unpacking and fixing on the wheels. Attaching the wheels was pretty simple - slide through the axle, secure that with a couple of pins, then attach them and cover the centers with the ‘hubcaps’. All that was left to do was to pop in the cast iron grill plates, and slide in one of the disposable drip trays. And we were ready to cook!
There was quite a bit of packaging, but we noticed that much of the polystyrene you would expect has been replaced with solid cardboard tubing, which cuts down on the amount of packaging that can’t be recycled. An included foil tray catches the grease and can be slid in under the grill.
Because the grill is of such good quality, it is quite heavy, so if you are not the youngest or fittest, you may need two of you to maneuver it while putting it on wheels.
Weber Traveler: Performance
The Traveler really is a get-up-and-go kind of grill - and its cooking skills were similar. We cooked chicken, burgers, steak, and vegetables - even some asparagus. Nothing stuck to the grill, and everything was done to perfection in 15 minutes or so, no burning, or charring. It really does seem like a foolproof way of cooking al fresco!
It quickly got up to a temp of 500 degrees, which is ideal for steaks and burgers. There is only one temperature control, and we did manage to lower the temperature, but it’s probably not the grill for you if you want very specific cooking at low temperatures. But for your average barbecue cook, it’s perfectly adequate.
We reckon you could feed around 10 people without having to cook twice if you keep it simple with burgers, so it’s a decent size - and you can certainly feed 4-6 people with burgers, steak, and veggies all cooked on the one grill.
Weber Traveler: Care and maintenance
The grill can be kept folded up (the handle folds up and over, so that it can be stored in a shorter space), which is a nice touch, The lid does automatically lock. However, one thing to watch is that if the ‘trolley’ falls or is balanced over the wrong way, the lid does open under the weight of the very heavy grills. It’s not a huge problem, but something to watch out for if you are storing it in a shed or somewhere where it might get knocked over.
Weber recommends that you clean the cooking grates after every cook. They suggest preheating the grill on a high setting for 15 minutes with the lid closed and then using a stainless steel grill brush to clean. The grates were so clean after our first cook, that we just took them to the sink to clean. Weber also has cooking grate cleaner and scrubber pads in the Weber Maintenance Kits, if you need to do a more thorough clean.
Weber recommends that you give the Traveler a thorough clean if you are going to store it vertically, and otherwise at least twice a year - or four times if you use the grill a lot. They also recommend cleaning the inside of the lid to get rid of any carbonized grease deposit using a stainless steel bristle barbecue brush.
Two other areas that must be cleaned to avoid grease-catching fire are the burner - which should be cleaned with a clean stainless steel bristle brush - and the spider screen at the end of the burner - which should be tackled with a soft bristle brush.
The cookbox should also be kept clean, to avoid grease accumulation or leftover food particles. Weber recommends using a plastic scraper for this job. The drip tray can be scraped clean of grease once it has cooled and although it is disposable, we put ours in the dishwasher and used it again.
For the outside of the grill, just use warm soapy water - and a stainless steel cleaner for any of those components, such as the side return tray.
Weber Traveler: Price
- $399 / £375
The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is slightly cheaper than the Weber Traveler, currently selling for $255.99/£319.99 on Amazon. Unlike the Traveler, it has three different temperature controls and two side return tables for food prep, standing dishes, etc. However, it does have a slightly smaller cooking area.
For a similar price ($252.99 on Amazon) you could look at the Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods. Again, it has a built-in stand that folds up so you can wheel your grill anywhere. We did like the stainless steel shelves on either side (the Weber Traveler only has one side return) which fold in when not in use.
Weber Traveler: User reviews
Currently, the Weber Traveler is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon.
While reviews for the Weber Traveler online are generally positive, customers have highlighted some issues - they warn that it is heavy when it is delivered. It is quite large when folded, so you need a pretty big vehicle to transport it, and several found the latch on the lid gave way when the grills was folded, depositing the heavy cooking grills on the floor.
We became full-time RVers and use our grill all the time. We are traveling around the country so we have to set it up and break it down frequently and it’s so easy. It is also easy to start up and clean afterwards. It has room for a bunch of food. I was really amazed. The grill has an area where you can put veggies so they won’t fall through the grates. We have cooked burgers, wings, grilled potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash and shish kabobs with onions and mushrooms. Nothing falls through the grates.
Amazon customer
However, others loved its simplicity of operation; the fact that it is simple to put up and fold down. The portable nature also got positive mentions: “I bought this grill to wheel in and out of the garage for cookouts. The large wheels, convenient handle, and weight allows for easy pulling and placement any place in the drive or yard where there happens to be shade.’’
Though one reviewer added: “This isn't a small grill. The grill probably would barely fit in the trunk of a standard sedan. If you manage to get it in the trunk, chances are you won't have much room for other things.’’
The low lid that prevents you from cooking a whole chicken was a negative for one reviewer, who also wished that Weber had split the grill so you could control the heat better, as there is just one burner to control for all the cooking space.
Generally though, it gets a thumbs-up from most reviews, one going so far as to day: “One of the best grills I have ever owned.’’
Weber Traveler: What the experts say
We spoke to Ross Bearman, the Founder of BBQ Gifting company Ross & Ross Gifts. Ross is also a Great Taste Judge with over 25 years of experience working in fine food and restaurants, creating premium food products for some of the country’s finest retailers.
The Weber Traveler is ideal for a family of four to six who are looking for a taste of outdoor life. The fact it can simply fold into the boot of your car means it’s perfect for a vacation by the sea or perhaps a day trip to the park.
Ross Bearman, BBQ gift company founder
“If you’re looking for a barbecue that specializes in grilling (as opposed to long, low and slow cooks) then the Weber Traveller is excellent for this," Ross told Top Ten Reviews. "The Weber Traveler is great for breakfast grilling as there’s enough room to cook bacon, sausages, tomatoes, etc. all at the same time - plus there’s room for saucepans or beans or fried eggs too! Likewise, it’s also perfect for an evening BBQ of burgers, grilled meats such as steak and chicken as well as kebabs.”
Should you buy the Weber Traveler?
The Weber Traveler is great for anyone with a smaller space, and who needs to wheel their grill out of the way at the end of cooking. It’s also great to take away in an RV, or wheeling around a yard to keep the grill chef out of the sun! A little pricey for an ‘extra’ grill, but the Traveler is good and sturdy enough to act as your regular grill when you are at home, with the added benefit of being portable for trips out and about.
How does the Weber Traveler compare to competitors?
The Royal Gourmet GD401 4-Burner Folding Gas Grill and Griddle dubs itself as semi-portable and doesn’t have the clever trolley feature that the Weber Traveler. But it does fold down so that you can put it in the trunk of a decent-sized car. However, its combination of grill and griddles (with no option of changing out the griddle for another grill) will not suit everyone - and will seriously cut down on the cooking area if you are feeding a family. It also had no lid, so can’t keep up the temperature that a lidded grill can, and of course it afforded it no protection from the elements - with several users citing that it rusts easily. At $257 on Amazon it’s certainly cheaper than the Weber Traveler, but unless you really need to save that 100 bucks, you’d be better off with the higher-quality Weber grill.
About $40 more expensive than the Weber Traveler is the Cuisinart CGWM-056 30-Inch 360° XL Griddle. Rather than a grill, this is a griddle, so like the Traveler, is great for cooking basic food - burgers and eggs and bacon for an al fresco breakfast. It offers almost twice as much cooking space as the Traveler, so if you consistently cook for large groups, this is a great choice. You won't get the sear marks you do on the Traveler grill, but you can still cook a decent steak.
Coming in at a similar price to the Traveler, the Weber Q1200 Gas Grill is the one for you if you want a truly portable grill. Simple to use, it easily handles food for a family of four, so if you’re not worried about feeding large groups, and want a grill that can be popped in the trunk for a day trip, this is a great choice. But it’s quite a lot to pay for what will probably be an ‘extra’ grill, rather than your go-to choice for regular cooking outside.
How we tested the Weber Traveler
At Top Ten Reviews, we're passionate about providing consumers with the best possible purchasing advice. As such, we extensively test products, from the unboxing and assembling to performance, storage, and maintenance.
For each gas grill, we timed and assessed the ease of assembly. Then, our reviewers conducted precise cooking tests, from cooking chicken breasts, steaks, burgers, a whole chicken and vegetables. During these tests, reviewers assess the range of temperatures the grill can reach, the cooking times, how even and regular the temperature is, and any accessories that come with the grill. Once cooking tests are done, we speak to experts and seek advice about the best way to clean, store and maintain the grill.
