Napoleon is a relatively new manufacturer of portable gas grills, but it has quickly made a name for itself for its high-quality, high-end grills of all shapes and sizes. This TravelQ Pro 285-BK is no exception. It’s a great product, with good features and great build quality… although it’s priced higher than most of the products on this list!
This portable grill has 285 square inches of cooking space, which is quite large for a portable, but still easily in the right range. That’s enough space to cook for 4-6 people, depending on what you’re grilling.
When it comes to power output and controllability, this Napoleon performs very well. Two 6,000 BTU burners combine to provide 12,000 BTUs of power. The burners are independently controllable, allowing for infinite heat control, from low to high, across the entire grill surface. You can also set two separate heat zones, one above each burner, allowing you to cook foods to different temperatures simultaneously.
A thermometer is also built into the grill lid for rough control. As we’ve seen many times on this site, you can’t rely on the built-in thermometers for exact precision, but they’re good enough for a rough estimate. And that’s acceptable.
The grill grates are made of porcelain-coated cast iron, with an exclusive z-wave pattern. They absorb and emit energy from the grill surface. They absorb and emit heat evenly, allowing for more even cooking. The grill is divided into two sections, making it easy to remove for cleaning and to access the stainless steel burners if needed.
Napoleon also makes a cast iron griddle specifically for the Pro285 (purchase separately) that allows you to grill eggs, pancakes, burgers or anything else that requires a solid cooking surface.
This portable grill features a heavy-duty cast aluminum lid that protects against the elements. When open, if the grill is placed properly, it acts as a windbreak. And when closed, it offers the ability to roast with convection heat like your kitchen oven, not just direct high heat like you do on a griddle.
Overall, this grill measures 14.75 x 18.5 x 29 inches, weighs 28.5 pounds, and has two handles for carrying.
This model is a tabletop version, but there is a version of this same grill available on a folding scissor stand with two wheels. You have to buy one configuration or the other, you can buy the stand separately. It’s a shame because it would have scored more points.
