Coleman Grills
Coleman is a brand that we associate with just about any outdoor activity – camping, grilling, tailgating, you name it. The motto “Have Coleman, Will Travel” is a perfect summation of what this brand delivers.
Coleman RoadTrip Sport Charcoal Grill Review
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
If you’re looking for a very portable, basic charcoal grill, you might want to check out this Sportster grill from Coleman. The grill has 225 square inches of cooking space which means 12 burgers at a time. It has porcelain-coated steel wire grates that are non-stick so they’re a breeze to clean. This grill also has vents – two on the lid and two on each side of the grill. To transport your grill, just fold it up, lock the grill in place with the latch, and roll it down to where you want it. When packed up, it’s small enough to fit in the trunk of your car.
While it’s a decent grill that can churn out good food, there are a couple of things that could be improved. Some customers have complained that the latch that locks the grill to the frame doesn’t work well and the plastic handle of the grill isn’t very sturdy. Another issue is the removal of ash. There’s no removable ash pan that you can just slide out at the bottom for easy disposal. You’ll need to lift the cooking grate and the charcoal grate in order to reach the ash. Basically, you just tip over the grill to throw out the ash. And since the lid is permanently attached to the bottom part of the lid, tipping it over could mean getting ash on other parts of your grill especially if it’s windy.
All in all, this is a very basic charcoal grill that has a lot of potential in portability, if the locking system and the handle are well made. There are pros and cons to owning this grill, just like in any other. If you like the Coleman brand and aren’t too picky about the cons listed here, you might be a good fit with this charcoal grill.
Coleman Standup Charcoal Grill Review
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -4
If you want to go really old school with your charcoal grill, how about cooking over an open flame with no lid? You get to control the heat by lowering or raising the adjustable grill surface. But airflow? There’s no way to control that. I’d say this one would require some hardcore grilling skills. Aside from no lid, what else should you expect from this charcoal grill?
Features:
- 304 square inches of cooking space which would be around 9 burgers at a time
- slide-out charcoal tray for easy loading and cleaning
- chrom-plated steel wire grate for easy cleaning and resistance to rust
- built-in handles for portability
- heavy-duty steel legs for stability
- carry case included
The Benefits:
It is charcoal after all so you get to enjoy lighting a fire, the delicious smoky flavor in your food, and you can even get really good searing done, I imagine. You also get the benefit of easy ash removal since you get a slide-out tray.
The Drawbacks:
It seems a bit too much of a challenge for a novice griller to take on. You’ll have to be prepared to know when to raise or lower your cooking grate. Since there’s no lid, there’s no convection heat to help you cook your food so you’ll have to rely on only one source of heat (radiant heat) which is below your grill. This means that if you’re cooking food that’s an inch or more thick, you’ll end up with a well-done exterior and an undercooked interior. Also, a lid helps trap in smoke and moisture which ensures that your food tastes delicious and stays tender. Without one, you may still get the smoky flavor but not as strong as you would like. And there is a possibility that your meat loses too much moisture and becomes rubbery instead of juicy. No convection heat also means that some cooking methods such as 2-zone cooking would be impossible in this kind of set-up. This is just straight-up direct cooking. And if it’s windy? Expect to consume more charcoal than necessary.
The verdict? You might be better off with just a grill pan over your stove. Better chance of getting things right the first time around. But if you love charcoal grilling and absolutely adore a challenge, then this might be the grill you’re looking for.
Coleman NXT 50 Review
If you’re not into charcoal grilling, you might be interested in one of Coleman’s portable gas grills – the NXT 50. This tabletop gas grill has 168 square inches of cooking space which is good for 4 big hamburgers, 4 medium-sized steaks or 2 large ones. The grill has one steel burner that has a total BTU of 8,500. It weighs 20 pounds so it’s light and easily carried in one hand. There’s an InstaStart push-button ignition for quick and matchless lighting. The cooking grate is porcelain-coated stamped steel. There is temperature control, going from low to high setting.
What we love:
- It can cook a large amount of food
- There’s no flare-up
- The cooking grate is fairly non-stick so clean up was easy
- You can set the grill standing (the handle facing up) in the trunk of your car to save space; just remember to take out the grease tray first.
- The lid has a secure latch
What we didn’t like:
- Heat is not evenly distributed so you’ll need to be aware of the hot spots
- The grease tray doesn’t catch all the grease so you’ll be leaking a bit on the surface of whatever table you’ve placed it on.
- The legs seem slightly unwieldy
For its price, the NXT 50 is well worth it. You get a large grilling space and, if you know where the hot spots are, you can cook various foods at the same time. Just place them in the right spots and you’ve got yourself some versatility. Overall, it’s a decent gas grill that’s extremely portable. Perfect for your next camping trip in your RV.
Coleman Roadtrip Grill LXE Review – Best Coleman Grill
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
This is probably one of the best portable gas grills that Coleman has to offer. The Coleman Roadtrip Grill LXE is a 2-burner propane gas grill that is attached to a collapsible stand with two wheels. At 41 pounds (with the stand), it isn’t difficult to haul it to and from an outdoor party. And there’s a lot more going for it than just that.
Features:
- 2 10,000 BTU steel burners that can be controlled independently
- Oval heat diffusers that cover the burners to ensure even heat distribution and to burn the drippings for added flavor
- Removable grease tray
- sliding tables on each side of the grill
- 3 built-in tool holders below the heat control knobs
- 285 square inches of grilling space
- 2 porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates
- InstaStart (electric) ignition for matchless lighting
What we love:
- Cooking surface is large enough to grill for a family of five (around 10 burgers or so)
- The weight of the grill plus the stand adds to its stability
- The grill is solidly constructed so you don’t have to worry about breaking it while you lug it around
- Little assembly is required
- It’s easy to roll this grill from here to there, whether it’s in the folded position or standing upright.
- The heat is distributed evenly throughout the grill so food comes out evenly cooked and delicious
- The two independently controlled burners allow you to cook at different temperatures at the same time.
- The grill grates are removable and you have the option to buy several types of cooking plates to increase your grill’s versatility such as a griddle or pan grate; just mix and match to get the combo you need.
- Since the grate is removable, it’s also fairly easy to clean in the sink with some soapy hot water
- Cooks various types of meat beautifully and because you get lots of heat, they cook fast.
What we didn’t like:
One thing that is a bit off-putting about this grill is that the weight is a bit heavy for lifting – like bringing it out of the trunk of your car. It’s also a bit awkward to carry. But once you get past that, it’s rollin’ rollin’ rollin’. Another drawback is that you’ll need to practice a bit to get the temperature right for cooking because the grill can get really hot. It’s best to start out with the lowest setting until you learn how fast your grill can cook. One last point against the grill is that it can’t handle large food items such as whole chickens because the lid clearance isn’t very high. Then again, it’s not really a grill that’s going to be used for roasting. Tailgate parties wait for no one.
Coleman did a great job in balancing quality and price with this particular grill. For under $200, you get a really versatile grill that beautifully cooks your food quick and easy. There might be a learning curve but so do a lot of other grills. The portability of this grill is high so you get to enjoy a good BBQ anytime, anywhere. Road tripping is at its finest with the LXE.
Coleman RoadTrip LXX Review
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -1.2
This portable grill has plenty of the same features as the LXE. It has push-button, matchless lighting, interchangeable porcelain-coated grates such as griddle and stove grates for added versatility (sold separately), collapsible stand with wheels for easy portability, sliding side tables for storage and workspace while you cook, 285 square inches of cooking space, 2 stainless steel burners that have independent controls, a drip tray that slides out, and built-in tool hooks.
The differences are minimal but they’re there. For one, the LXX has 2,000 extra BTU (11,000 BTU per burner). It also has a lid thermometer. Generally, the price difference between the LXE and the LXX is around $20-$30, the LXX being the one that costs more. The extra BTUs and the lid thermometer obviously are the ones responsible for the small hike in price. But are they worth it?
Like the LXE, the LXX cooks beautifully. And with the extra accessories, you can really get a lot out of your grill. As for portability, it pretty much works the same. You can roll it along with you folded down or standing up. The amount of grilling space (which is large) is great for a BBQ at the beach or a tailgate party. Pretty much everything we loved about the LXE is found in this grill. And pretty much everything we didn’t like about the LXE is also present with this one.
The only thing that quite possibly makes a bit of difference is the thermometer. Though it won’t really be much of use for you WHILE you’re cooking (i.e. roasting), it’s a great way for you to tell if you’re grill is hot enough to START cooking. So it shaves off a bit of the learning curve you get with the LXE. That being said, is it worth the extra cost? To some, maybe. Others, no. You’ll have to be the judge. It’s safe to say though that this is an excellent piece of outdoor equipment from Coleman. And if you’re lucky, you might get it at an even lower price than the LXE on Amazon.