Expert Rating

90

Cooking outdoors might not be for everyone, but if you fancy yourself as an adventurer and are constantly camping out, then it’s something that you’ve got to get well accustomed to. In this particular case, your regular grill won’t have you cooking a wide range of different foods, so you’re going to have to go for something a lot more versatile, like the Blackstone Tailgater for example. It’s one of the best grills around since it allows you to prepare many foods, and it’s also got easily adjustable legs that’ll remain very stable even on uneven ground. Is it the best flat-top grill around? Well, that depends. Have a look at some of its features, and see if it could be the best for you.

Why We Like It – Blackstone Tailgater

The Blackstone Tailgater is a top-tier grill griddle and stove top combo that’ll have you make anything you need whenever you’re outdoors. It comes with a grill box and a griddle plate that when removed, gives you direct burner access, and this allows for your cooking to be even more versatile.

Pros
  • Adjustable heat control with an electric ignitor
  • Adjustable stands
  • 3-in-1 functionality
Cons
  • No wind traps

Power/Heating

The Blackstone Tailgater Combo has a gas grill, griddle plate, and stove top that allows you to cook just about anything, and also allows for a variety of different setups for your added convenience. It features a powered ignition start, so you won’t have to deal with any lighters to get its two burners started up. You’ll also be able to easily adjust the grill to your required temperature through the different burner knobs, and thanks to its adjustable legs, you’ll be able to adjust the height of the combo grill and have a level cooking surface regardless of the terrain. This is very different from what you’ll be able to do with the Blackstone TableTop Grill, which requires a flat surface for you to place it on.

Related: Also check out our Blaze Grill review.

Size/Versatility

When you first unpack the Blackstone Tailgater combo, you’ll find a grill box and some griddle plate accessories. Once you assemble, you’ll find that the cooking surface that you’ll get is pretty decent to allow you to cook some large-sized meals. The multipurpose grill cooking surface on the left measures about 15 x 15 inches, while the griddle grill on the right measures about 18 x 14 inches. This space is enough to prepare up to 9 burgers, 4 stakes, or 20 hotdogs, and will allow you to prepare food that feeds 2 – 6 people; far more than the Blackstone Table Top Griddle 22 will allow you to prepare.

Durability

Of the two burners on the Blackstone Tailgater, one happens to be a cast-iron burner, while the other is an H-tube stainless steel burner, and they are both capable of putting out 20,000 BTUs and 15,000 BTUs respectively. This is a good amount of heat that’s perfect for cooking virtually anything. Its steel frame is also powder-coated, so you shouldn’t expect it to rust over time. It’s quite durable, just like its cousin the Blackstone 28-inch outdoor flat-top gas griddle station.

Related: If you want a durable grill you can use for a long time, also check out our Blackstone tabletop griddle 22 review.

Ease of Use

Even for a person that has never cooked on a grill before, the Blackstone Tailgater is pretty easy to get around. Its easily adjustable legs, independently controlled burners, and high heat intensity make it an all-around cooking appliance that’ll be perfect for any outdoorsman to have. The only thing that you’ll have to buy separately is a propane gas tank, but other than that, you’ll have everything you need to cook anything you want. Compare Blackstone vs Nexgrill if you truly want to put this grill to the ultimate test.

Value

Retailing at just below $300, the Blackstone Tailgater is an affordable alternative for anyone that wants to have a great cooking experience outdoors. It’s backed by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and will serve you well as long as you ensure proper maintenance by doing things like emptying and cleaning the grease traps once done cooking. If you’re looking for something slightly bigger, then perhaps the Camp Chef Flat Top grill might be worth looking into.

Blackstone Tailgater Wrap Up

If you look through the market, you’ll see that there’s a wide range of grills that offer so many different options for you to choose from. This might make it difficult for you to choose if it’s the first time you’re buying one, but if you’d like to go for an option that covers all the important bases, get the Blackstone Tailgater.