It’s similarly cleverly designed, being packed in the shape of a suitcase – as you might have already guessed. The heavy-duty handle and latch are sturdy. Although the Nomad is 28 pounds, which is a little heavy to carry in one hand, the size and large handle actually make it easier to carry than smaller and cheaper models.
The Nomad uses a dual-venting system to achieve good airflow even when the lid is closed. The vents, combined with the raised fans on the bottom of the grill (which lift up your coals, allowing air to flow underneath), allow very precise control of both high and low temperatures. If you live and die by being on the ground, this grill could be your new constant companion.
Photograph: Weber
A great budget portable grill: Wired reviewer Scott Gilbertson also likes the simple Weber Jumbo Joe ($90), a smaller version of the classic Original kettle. This is a handy option, especially for tailgates. And if you want to use it at home, you can make a stand for home cookouts yourself. It is low cost, lightweight and absolutely simple. Have all the qualities.
Other Grills I Recommend
Rectec X-Fire Pro 825 for $1,400: Pellet smokers rarely exceed temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which doesn’t provide the temperatures you get on a charcoal or gas grill. But Rectec’s 825-square-inch, dual-pot X-Fire Pro wants to be your everything, says WIRED reviewer Kat Merk. In smoke mode, the left fire pot ignites for classic low and slow smoking. Switch the big knob to grill mode, and with an adjustable damper on the right side, both pots will light up. The damper, which can be controlled with another knob, allows you to open a little access to the perfect fire pot, or to the gates of hell – up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes about 20 minutes for the fire pot to get this high, and if you don’t clean the fire pot first, there will be a lot of sparks thrown up in the process. Who knows why you need to reach 1,200 degrees? But as Merck says, this is a company best known for its cartoon bull logo and bull-horn handle. “Rectek likes to be extreme, so it tracks,” she says. If you keep your sear at a more humane temperature of 600 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a solid grill and sear experience. But keep in mind that drawing high power from the Dual Igniter will require a 10- or 12-gauge extension cord, which is probably better than the cord you have at home. According to Merck’s testing, the Also note that the advertised 20-pound pellet capacity is divided between the fire pots. This may mean refilling a 10-pound hopper multiple times during long cooking periods.
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Brad-Bourque.jpg "The 6 Best Grills and Smokers of 2026: Smart, Portable, Pellet 4")
Photograph: Brad Bourke
Trezor Woodridge Pro for $1,000: The Traeger Woodridge Pro is WIRED’s previous top-pick pellet grill and smoker for most people. It still exists beautifully at the intersection of value and utility, and it will make you popular in the neighborhood. It’s a straightforward thing that’s easy to clean, easy to dial in for a perfect rack of ribs, and big enough to cook two pork bellies at the same time. My new top-pick Rectec has some smart features that make us love it, like temperature history on its meat probe, and an easy learning curve on the smart features. But this Woodridge will still make you quite popular in the neighborhood.
Photograph: Traeger
Traeger Timberline Wi-Fi Wood Pellet Grill for $3,300: If you’re serious about grilling and smoking, Traeger’s Timberline is almost a step up from smokers. This is the perfect all-in-one outdoor kitchen. It uses the same wireless smoking smarts as the Woodridge, but adds a few extra features, like an induction burner (perfect for adding a last-minute sear to a cast-iron pan or steaming some veggies). The insulated smoke box has room for six pork shoulders, or an equivalent rack of ribs or chickens. Former WIRED editor Parker Hall has managed to feed hundreds of people using it. (As a longtime food and barbecue critic, I can heartily vouch for Hall’s resulting brisket and ribs.) If that’s not enough, there’s also an XL version that’s even larger. “All my meats got heated evenly and cooked right when the smoker said they would,” says Hall. If you want to smoke from the comfort of your couch and price is not a factor, Timberline has you covered.
Courtesy of Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 for $899: This massive masterbuilt offers a nice combination: charcoal flavor with the temperature precision of gas or electric, says Wired reviewer Chris Smith. The large, top-loading charcoal hopper uses gravity (hence the name) to deliver heat to the internal housing, and an integrated fan enables precise digital temperature control on the device or via the app. You’ll reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit within 15 minutes. Once settled the temperature is remarkably consistent, and if you want to add smoke flavor, simply throw pieces of wood into the ash bin and let the falling embers do the rest. But versatility comes with caveats. You may lose the ability to fry directly over a flame, and you’ll have to replace the internal housing before switching to a flat-top grill.
Courtesy of Yoder
Yoder YS640S Pellet Smoker for $2,700: Most grills do one thing well and many others poorly or not at all. Yoder’s YS640S is a more versatile tool, thanks to its design that allows easy access to the auto-feed firebox. Like the Traegers, which cost half the price, this Kansas-made grill uses an electric fan and an auger to feed wood pellets for a slow smoking session. It’s all operated by a control board that sends temperature alerts and allows you to adjust the temperature via Wi-Fi. As a smoker, it handles ribs and chuck roasts with ease, maintaining temperatures better than others. This is thanks to its bomb-proof 10-gauge steel construction, meaning this grill weighs as much as a refrigerator. However, where the Yoder really stands out is in the form of a grill and possible pizza oven. By removing the steel plate placed over the fire pit, you can sear burgers directly over the flame or remove the grills and attach the heavy pizza oven attachment ($489), which uses a pellet feed system to maintain a consistent 900-plus degrees Fahrenheit.
a grill to escape
courtesy of ace
Kamado Joe Connected Joe for $1,900: There’s a lot to like about this kamado-style grill. In fact, WIRED previously recommended it for its electric ignition and Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to measure interior and meat temperatures via two probes. But during long-term use, WIRED commercial director Martin Szymer was having persistent problems with his electric grill tripping into 2-year-old GFCI outlets on his patio. Once even the breaker slipped. A Reddit thread shows that this is a common problem. Like Redditors, Cizmar found temporary relief by running an extension cord into an outlet in his kitchen, but that too failed several times during the test. Unfortunately, this grill is going to have a tough road until the problem is resolved.
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