Bigger is Better!
At least when it comes to grilling! After months of anxious waiting, I received my "new" 26 inch Weber grill from Amazon a few weeks ago. I say "new" because this is not Weber's first 26 inch grill. They previously had manufactured a 26 inch model that has long since been discontinued.
After having grilled on a 22 inch One Touch Gold and a Performer for years, I was anxious to have more charcoal grilling space. Although I have slobbered over the Ranch Kettle, I always felt that it was a little too much. Of course, I was also never able to convince my wife that I needed one.
The 26 inch kettle took about 20 minutes to assemble. The instructions were written in the international language of "pictures" and are very straightforward. The 26 inch is in all practical purposes a larger 22 inch grill. The wheels, ash catcher, handles, and charcoal baskets are all standard size. The only difference is the larger kettle. When you compare the kettle of a 26 inch to...
a better choice
First of all, I'm a loyal Weber fan and have owned numerous models over the better part of 40 years. I consider them the best of the backyard BBQ grills, so no hate mail please. But let's be realistic, for the same amount of money you can get two Gold One Touch 22.5" grills and have more combined cooking space, not to mention the flexibility of setting one up for indirect and another for direct grilling, OR set up one as a smoker and another as a straight grill, OR set up one for steaks and the other for chicken (or fish) etc.
The design flaws in this larger model are obvious and well documented by other reviewers; leg assy and supports designed and manufactured for the smaller kettle and the single handle grip (which is now the heat seeking plastic material) allows the much heavier lid to swing and arc during removal, not the safest choice Weber could have made. If you really have to have a "bigger one" than Mr. Jones next door, fine, but how often are you really going...
A real Grillers Grill - A worthwhile upgrade or new purchase
This new model is a must have for serious grillers who feel cramped on their old 22.5" like I did. I never had quite enough room for proper indirect cooking or for creating the necessary heat zones. Many times I was forced to use my 6 burner Gas Weber Summit for larger BBQ parties. On the 26" I cooked chicken for 15 last week with room to spare. Problem solved. Don't bother buying the smaller model if you are serious.
Pros:
1. Lots of grill space for cooking tons of food.
2. Room for proper indirect cooking with larger items like Roasts or a whole Turkey
3. Better thermometer than my old 22.5" One-Touch Gold
4. Plastic handle on the lid vent so it can be adjusted when hot.
5. Reinforced grate to hold up the coals. Much better design
6. Stainless Steel cooking grill is much easier to clean and will last much longer than the chrome plated grill on smaller models
7. Looks impressive :
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