Weber Smokey Joe Premium
Last Updated
Exactly Which Model This Is
- Manufacturer
- Weber
- Product name
- Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14"
- Model number / SKU
- Smokey Joe Premium
The Smokey Joe Premium is the smallest Weber kettle — 14 inches across, 10 lbs, and $50. It's been the default tailgate and camping charcoal grill for decades because nothing else in this price range comes close to its build quality.
What We Love
- +$50 price is unbeatable
- +Same porcelain-enameled steel as the full-size kettle
- +10 lbs — easy to carry one-handed
- +Glass-reinforced nylon handles stay cool
- +Lid latches for travel
- +10-year warranty
Watch Out For
- −147 sq in fits 4 burgers max
- −Single bottom vent limits temp control
- −No ash catcher (loose ash spills)
- −Lid latch is plastic (eventual failure point)
- −No tuck-away lid holder
Specifications
Cooking Area
147 sq in
Diameter
14.5 in
Material
Porcelain-enameled steel
Weight
10 lbs
Fuel
Charcoal
Warranty
10 years
The Full Review
The Smokey Joe is the grill that lives in the back of a truck for camping trips, beach days and parking-lot tailgates. It's tiny, it's tough, and it just works. Long-term owners typically report replacing them only after losing them, not after a failure.
The cooking surface is genuinely small. 147 sq in fits exactly four standard burgers or two steaks with no room to spare. For a couple or a small family, it's perfect. For a tailgate crowd, you'll be cooking in shifts.
The single bottom vent is a real limitation. You can't fine-tune airflow the way a full-size kettle lets you. Set it once and live with the temperature curve. That said, with a chimney of lump charcoal you get 45 minutes of solid 500°F+ heat — plenty for burgers, dogs, brats, and chicken.
Build quality is identical to a full Weber kettle — same porcelain enamel, same heavy-gauge steel. Owners report leaving them in the rain, dropping them down stairs and firing them in -10°F weather with no damage.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest portable charcoal grill rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Smokey Joe Premium (this) | 4.6 | $50 | The original portable Weber kettle — 14 inches, $50, and bulletproof. |
| Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal | 4.3 | $45 | The original portable grill — folds flat, weighs 15 lbs, and actually grills well enough for real cooking on the go. |
| Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable | 4.2 | $55 | A 13. |
Who Is It For?
Campers, tailgaters, beachgoers. First-time charcoal cooks who want to test the waters before committing to a full kettle. Anyone who needs a grab-and-go grill that lives in a truck bed.
Final Verdict
The Smokey Joe Premium at $50 is the best disposable-priced grill that refuses to be disposable. Buy one, throw it in your car, forget about it until you need it. It'll be there in ten years.
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