Char-Broil Performance Series FlavorMax 2-Burner Cabinet vs Weber Traveler Compact
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Quick take: The Char-Broil Performance Series FlavorMax 2-Burner Cabinet offers more cooking space (310 vs 240 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Broil Performance Series FlavorMax 2-Burner Cabinet | Weber Traveler Compact |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$299 | ~$299 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gas Grill | Gas Grill |
| Cooking Area | 310 sq in | 240 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | 409 Stainless Steel Burners / Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Grates / Stainless Steel Lid | Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron split grates |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 2 | 1 |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 44.5 x 22 x 44.9 in | 34 x 21.5 x 34.75 in folded |
| Weight | 71 lbs | 37 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year overall (5 years burners, 2 years lid/firebox) | 5 years cookbox and lid, 3 years burner and grates, 2 years other parts |
Pros & cons
Char-Broil Performance Series FlavorMax 2-Burner Cabinet
- ✓FlavorMax emitter plate meaningfully cuts flare-ups, which is the main complaint about cheap gas grills
- ✓Enclosed cabinet hides the tank and adds storage — unusual at $299
- ✓Foldable side shelves drop the stored width substantially on a tight balcony
- ✓Porcelain-coated cast iron grates, not the thin wire grates common at this price
- ✓Four casters with two locking, so it repositions easily on a deck
- ✗22,000 BTU over 310 sq in is adequate but not fast to recover with a full grate
- ✗Base warranty is only 1 year on most of the grill; only the burners get 5
- ✗No side burner, sear zone, rotisserie or thermometer beyond the lid gauge
- ✗Char-Broil publishes ratings only through a review widget that does not expose a citable count
- ✗Stainless lid over a painted steel cabinet — the finish is not uniform
Weber Traveler Compact
- ✓37 lbs and 34 inches folded genuinely fits a small car, which the 43.6-inch Traveler does not
- ✓Split grates accept a Weber griddle insert in one half, so it grills and griddles at once
- ✓Same five-year cookbox warranty as the full-size Traveler despite costing $100 less
- ✓Still 240 sq in — twelve burgers — which is more than most tabletop portables at this price
- ✗11,000 BTU over 240 sq in recovers slowly when a full load of cold food goes on
- ✗Single burner, so no real two-zone setup
- ✗Still 37 lbs, which is not a backpack or a bicycle grill
- ✗1 lb disposable cylinders are the default fuel and add up over a season