BUYING
Nothing says summer like a barbecue, whether you are sitting on the campsite or at home in the back garden, plotting your next getaway.
For camping in the summertime, a portable barbecue is considered an essential piece of kit by some. But if it can't fit into the back of the 'van without taking up too much space, then we are not interested.
The models we have looked at are a good mix of gas and charcoal barbecues, and the type you go for will come down to personal preference.
There are pros and cons for each in terms of flavour, effectiveness for cooking and ease of keeping clean.
Gas is by far the easiest and most practical way of barbecuing, but if the authentic smoky flavour is important, then go for a charcoal option.
Our team of barbecue enthusiasts has looked at a selection of portable barbecues that are worth considering for campervan or motorhome trips. See what we think of each one, but remember a barbecue is not just for summer, it's for all-year use!
CAMPINGAZ ATTITUDE 2GO CV
£199.99
Of all the conventional barbecues we've looked at here, this is the least portable. It tips the scales at 13kg, so, if size and weight areone of the smaller Campingaz Party Grill models. But, if you have the space in your 'van, we'd highly recommend this. In fact, it was named as the cooking product of the year in the 2021 annual awards of our sister magazine, Camping. It has the biggest cooking area of all the barbecues in this round-up, the gas burners are easy to control and it runs off a compact Campingaz CV470 Plus cartridge, so there's no need to pack a bulky cylinder and none of the faff of a traditional barbecue. One of the neat features we really like is the integrated basket, which houses the gas cartridge. Although this looks like a serious piece of kit, it's really easy to use. You can literally take it out of its box, attach a gas cartridge and start cooking straight away at the press of a button. The set-up of the burners ensures the whole cooking area gets an even heat so you can maximise that grilling surface – it'll easily cook five or six pork chops or eight chicken thighs in one go. And the built-in thermometer lets you check the temperature without lifting the lid.
