Weber has become famous for trying to solve a different problem with every range of grills they make, and the Go-Anywhere is Webers attempt to make a grill that is so simple to use, assemble and carry around, that you can literally pick it up and go anywhere with it. Quite impressive is the fact that they took 20 years to make the 121020, from the first designs, to release, so Weber must have wanted an absolutely perfect product before they’d even consider putting one out on the market. Needless to say, I was intrigued to find out whether that 20 years was put to good use, so I wrote this Weber 121020 Review to inform buyers about what exactly they’re getting.

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Pros:

Great value
Durable
Large cooking area, given the size of the unit
Easy assembly
Great results

Cons:

Charcoal cooking
Slightly heavier than I expected

Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill Review (Official Site):

Size/Design:

The measurements are 12.2 inches in length, by 21 inches of width, and the height is 14.5 inches. I’m happy with these, as it’s small enough to do what Weber says it can do, which is to be easily transported anywhere. Maybe because Weber is such a great brand, and one expects something special from them at all times, when I saw the weight of 14.5 pounds fully assembled and 15.2 in the packaging, I was slightly disappointed. 14.5 pounds is incredibly light for any grill, especially one with such a large cooking area, and weight will not be an issue, but I was expecting under 10 pounds. Still, Weber should be applauded for not sacrificing quality design, for even less weight, and it truly can go anywhere with you.

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Performance:

20 years in manufacture certainly allowed Weber the time they needed to figure out the simplest assembly process on the market today. All you do is pull the legs out, and you’re ready to start putting the charcoal in. That’s right, it comes almost completely assembled, so even outdoor cooking novices won’t run into problems here.

They also achieved success in the form of the large cooking area compared to other portable grills. At 160 square inches, this is the maximum size they could give buyers without compromising the overall reason for creating a grill like this, which is to provide a completely portable cooking experience. It will easily feed 4 or 5 people without any problems, although any more than that and some will have to wait until the next batch of food goes on the grill.

Coming at a very low price, I have expected some cooking limitations but the 121020 seems to grill just about anything. From burgers to ribs, to steaks, vegetables, and sausages, what buyers are getting here, is great results. One piece of advice is to place the charcoal in a heap before lighting, rather than evenly dispersing it throughout the grill. This will provide better ventilation and allow the charcoal to light more easily.

The grates on the 121020, are excellent at retaining heat and cooking evenly, and the unit has surprisingly good air-flow for the price. The one problem I have with the 121020 Go-Anywhere, is that it doesn’t use gas. This decision doesn’t affect the quality of grilled food the 121020 produces, but if you’re making a grill aimed at absolute portability and you’ve succeeded in size, weight, assembly, and design, in creating the perfect portable grill; why use charcoal, which is a lot less convenient than gas, because it takes longer to heat up?

I’m guessing Weber felt charcoal grills taste better than gas, and they wouldn’t be alone in thinking this. Indeed, there are many grill enthusiasts, who would choose charcoal over gas at any opportunity. And, when we take this into consideration, it becomes refreshing, that a grill manufacturer would do anything to make the most portable grill in the world, except compromise flavor.

Conclusion:

The Weber 121020 comes at a very low price of $50 to $60, so it really is the best value portable charcoal grill on the market. 160 inches of cooking space, great results, total portability, 20 years in the making, and a variety of foods, all grilled well. It cooks evenly, and can Go-Anywhere, which is what Weber originally promised. So if you don’t mind hauling charcoal around, and most people don’t, then I’d strongly recommend buying this grill.