Home LivingGardenBarbequeNapoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: a top premium gas barbecue for both home and awayThe perfect two-burner family BBQ cart for patios, balconies and camping tripsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Napoleon)T3 VerdictThe folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warrantyReasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber TravelerWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Home LivingGardenBarbequeNapoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: a top premium gas barbecue for both home and awayThe perfect two-burner family BBQ cart for patios, balconies and camping tripsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Napoleon)T3 VerdictThe folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warrantyReasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber TravelerWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The perfect two-burner family BBQ cart for patios, balconies and camping trips
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Napoleon)T3 VerdictThe folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warrantyReasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber Traveler
(Image credit: Napoleon)
(Image credit: Napoleon)
T3 VerdictThe folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warrantyReasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber Traveler
T3 VerdictThe folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.
T3 Verdict
The folding Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a perfect barbecue for the balcony, the patio and campsite. It’s superbly designed, easy to use and reliably tough enough to provide delicious al fresco nosh-ups for years to come. Highly recommended.
Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warrantyReasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber Traveler
Reasons to buy+Great size for patios and balconies+Two burners+Transportable+Excellent build quality+Ten-year warranty
Great size for patios and balconies
Two burners
Transportable
Excellent build quality
Ten-year warranty
Reasons to avoid-Too heavy to pull long distances-Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber Traveler
Too heavy to pull long distances
Folding mechanism not as slick as the Weber Traveler
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Napoleon Phantom TravelQ Pro285X deals
$499ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$499View
$499View
$499View
$499
$499
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No price informationCheck Amazon
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Welcome to our review of the special-edition Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom, a gorgeous matt black two-burner gas barbecue with innovative rolling cart for supreme portability. Not for nothing is it hogging the top spots in our guides to thebest portable BBQandbest gas BBQ.
The TravelQ Pro285 is available in two colour schemes, a standard black model that retails at £449.99 and, for £50 more, the Phantom option we’re reviewing here which comes in a stylish black matt finish. On top of that, the standard TravelQ Pro285 is also available without the scissor cart for £359.99.
Whichever variant you choose, rest assured that you’ll be purchasing a barbecue that will last for years and grill all types of food with consummate aplomb. How do I know this? I have one right in front of me and it has already produced three delicious meals without breaking into a sweat.
Is it a better choice than its most obvious challenger, the stupendousWeber Traveler?
Let’s find out.
Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom: price and availability
The Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom is a hugely popular barbecue so many UK stockists are currently sold out and awaiting new shipments. However, we’ve managed to track some down atOaktree Garden CentreandKeen Gardenderwhere it’s selling for around £474. More shipments are due but, such is the way with the world at the moment, there may be some delays.
However, its cheaper stablemate, the TravelQ Pro285x in standard black is more widely available from theBBQ Shop(£427),BBQ World(£425) andChessington Garden Centre(£429).
If you live Stateside, the Phantom model is available fromBBQ Guys($549) andTown Appliance($549). If you don’t mind the standard black model, tryWayfair($449) andHome Depot($549).
And if you live Down Under, head over toJoe’s Barbecueswhere they’re selling the standard black scissor-cart version for A$699.
Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: design and features
(Image credit: Napoleon)
(Image credit: Napoleon)
If you like your products Mad Max black like a supercar wrap, you’ll love the paint job on this beauty. It’s a stunner in all weathers, whichever way you look at it.
There are good arguments for both systems – the Weber is set up for use away from home without the need to lug a large gas bottle around while the Napoleon is better suited for use at home. However, I still prefer the Napoleon method for use away from home because it will cook for far longer on a large propane bottle than it would using a disposable canister.
Napoleon’s unique wave-shaped cast-iron grate stops small foodstuffs from slipping through(Image credit: Napoleon)
Napoleon’s unique wave-shaped cast-iron grate stops small foodstuffs from slipping through
Napoleon’s unique wave-shaped cast-iron grate stops small foodstuffs from slipping through
(Image credit: Napoleon)
Aside from the tall cast aluminium lid with integral thermometer – which will easily accommodate two large chickens – one of the best things about any Napoleon BBQ is the quality and design of its grill grate, which adopts a unique wave-shaped design that not only leaves an attractive pattern on steaks but also prevents slim foodstuffs like small prawns, halloumi and chipolata sausages from slipping through onto the heat deflectors below.
The wavy grate itself is made from high-quality cast iron and measures 54 x 37cm – or 285 snare inches, which is where the TravelQ gets part of its name from. You should be able to get two large chickens on it or about 20 hamburgers. It also ships with a narrow stainless still warming rack that literally sits on top of the main grate.
Given that this model comes with a foldable cart for easy transportation and storage, it also features two side shelves, one foldable for storage convenience.
Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: folding system
(Image credit: Napoleon)
(Image credit: Napoleon)
Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: performance
The Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom looks amazing in all weathers(Image credit: Future)
The Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom looks amazing in all weathers
The Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom looks amazing in all weathers
(Image credit: Future)
Having two burners is a major bonus when it comes to grilling because it allows you to adjust temperatures either side of the grate. This is especially useful if cooking two different types of ingredients or when some of the food has cooked more quickly and you need to move it to a section that isn’t quite as hot.
I’ve tried a few different ingredients on this barbecue – chicken legs, wings, fillet steak kebabs and halloumi – and everything has cooked to succulent perfection with no serious flare ups. Control is immediate, mind, so it doesn’t take long to tame the heat at any one time.
As is the case with any BBQ with a lid attached, I stuck to the American maxim – if you’re lookin’, it ain’t cookin’ – and I managed not to burn anything. The aluminium tub and lid helped a lot in this regard because aluminium is an excellent heat conductor. Hence, temperatures across the entire grate with both burners on full whack were very consistent.
Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Phantom review: verdict
Feel the quality(Image credit: Napoleon)
Feel the quality
Feel the quality
(Image credit: Napoleon)
In many ways, this is the perfect barbecue for a family of four and up to six or eight guests if serving small ingredients like drumsticks and sausages. In fact, I’d rather have this barbecue on my patio than any of the larger models I’ve reviewed in the past, simply because it’s compact, easy to use and, if necessary, I can take it away from home. It’s also superbly made – it comes with a 10 year warranty – and is unquestionably one of the best looking barbies on the market. Top buy.
Napoleon Phantom TravelQ Pro285X : Price Comparison
$499ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$499View
$499View
$499View
$499
$499
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
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