Weber Smokey Joe Premium
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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 I throw in the back of my truck for every camping trip, every beach day, every parking lot tailgate. It's tiny, it's tough, and it just works. I'm on my third one in fifteen years — and the only reason the previous two went was that I lost them, not that they broke.
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. I've left mine in the rain, dropped it down stairs, and used it in -10°F weather. Zero 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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