Weber Original Kettle 18 vs Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
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Quick take: The Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill costs $39 less; the Weber Original Kettle 18 offers more cooking space (240 vs 160 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Original Kettle 18 | Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$129 | ~$90 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (945) | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 240 sq in | 160 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | Porcelain-Enameled Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| 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 | 36 x 18.5 x 23 in | 15 x 19.5 x 11.5 in |
| Weight | 21 lbs | 11.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid, 5 years One-Touch system, 2 years remaining parts | 10 years cookbox and lid, 5 years plastic, 2 years remaining parts |
Pros & cons
Weber Original Kettle 18
- ✓240 sq in still holds a two-zone fire, which no tabletop grill under it can do
- ✓Same 10-year no-rust-through warranty on bowl and lid as kettles four times the price
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system and enclosed ash catcher, which the tabletop Smokey Joe below it lacks
- ✓At 21 lbs it can be carried to a truck bed or a campsite, unlike the 22-inch cart models
- ✓Rated 4.7 from 945 reviews on Weber's own store
- ✗240 sq in fills up at roughly six burgers, so it is a two-to-four-person grill
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature needs an aftermarket probe
- ✗The 18-inch bowl is outside the accessory ecosystem — most kettle inserts, rotisseries and griddles are built for the 22
- ✗Legs are bare aluminum with no cart, side table or lid holder
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
- ✓Folding legs clamp over the lid, so it carries as one sealed unit with no separate strap or bag
- ✓Rectangular 160 sq in grate fits long food that a round 14-inch kettle cannot lay flat
- ✓11.5 lbs is light enough for a backpack frame or a bike rack
- ✓Same porcelain-enameled steel and 10-year cookbox warranty as Weber's full-size charcoal grills
- ✓Lid dampers give real temperature control, which most portable charcoal grills at this price omit
- ✗160 sq in feeds about three people, and the shallow box limits indirect cooking
- ✗No ash catcher — ash dumps out of the firebox and has to be handled directly
- ✗The shallow rectangular body cannot hold a tall roast or a beer-can chicken with the lid on
- ✗No built-in thermometer