This thing does the job. Most people buying this will want to know what is different from other years in the Weber lineup. Well, quite a bit and mostly for the better. The handles no longer have hinges that can rust. You can hang a few appliances on them. There is a decent thermo on the top of the grill and a heat shield on the handle. The ash catcher is very nice and a solid improvement from years past. The legs are not too wobbly anymore and I had no trouble with the height of this thing being a little over six feet myself. All in all this is a very solid upgrade if you are using an older Weber. The sides of the main grill grate also flip up for easy access to charcoal. You can fit comfortably about 3.5-4 racks of ribs on here. It's definitely enough for a 3-4 person family in most cases.
I prefer this model based on a few pointed observations that I will get to in a little bit. But let's compare this to the other models directly: that would be the Master Touch, which is 50 dollars more expensive, and the 26 inch version of that grill without the Gourmet BBQ centerpiece or warmer. The 26 inch is 300 dollars. It will all come down to personal taste here between the grills. There are some things that you should pay attention to though, as it is not cut and dry which model you will want just from looks or lists.
The 22 inch Master Touch and the 26 inch grill are a tiny bit taller, 39.5 vs 42 inches per the Weber site. I'm not sure what adds into the height to be honest or how they make it ever so slightly taller. It could just be the wheels for all I know or possibly the legs are a touch longer. It doesn't make any difference in my experience. The MT has a center piece that is removable for "gourmet BBQ". A quick point here: I don't personally like this addition. I use a nice wooden grill scraper--chinese wire brushes are the bane of existence and a real danger at times--and the center piece would screw up the burn lines on my large and heavy duty scraper. The normal plates are already a tad off on the moveable sides. You can however purchase this version and then get a different grate if you want, but that is adding a decent cost to an already extra 50 dollars.
**You must purchase a stainless steel grate for over 60 dollars with shipping from Weber directly over the phone. Part# 80728 @ 58.47 dollars--comes out to about 70 total. I advise most to actually do this. Another reason I prefer the cheaper model as I use the extra 50 for the better grate. The SS grate is heavier, larger guage steel, and in general does not rattle. I love it, though it was expensive. And it will also last a LOT longer than the mediocre plated steel grate at high heat.
I'm not entirely sure what the point of the center piece is but to sell more Weber accessories. And these accessories are not super high quality either. Anything like a cast iron griddle or pan is easily placed on the 22 and 26 inch grill surface. I don't cook pizza on my grill and have no use for extra grill patterns or a wok. IDK your mileage may vary but it just seems to me they want to sell you more things. In my case it would burn awkward lines into my expensive wooden scraper. I don't want a lot of extras hanging around for the grill that need to be cleaned and preened. And without the attachments the center piece is useless. Add in the fact that all I want is a stainless steel grate and there is no point in getting this grill for this extra feature.
They do however include two of the cheap charcoal holders on the MT. You can arrange your charcoal fine without these holders IMO, and when you actually need to move things around I find they become a bother more than anything else. If you want them they are an extra that costs 15 dollars otherwise.
BOTH the 22's have plated nickel steel cooking grates as opposed to the stainless of the 26 inch. As noted Weber does provide the little known stainless upgrade for more cash. My grilling grate has a slight uneven rattle, though, I have not cooked on it yet. It seems fairly durable but I have to somewhat doubt its longevity. I will order the SS version soon. It is thicker and heavier.
There is also the metal side holder for the lid that is engrained into the grill on the MT and 26 inch. From the pictures and videos it looks like it may actually touch the enamel lid of the grill. While pragmatic I am not sure if this will scratch the grill or not in normal practice. On the other hand the hook on this model will not be to everyone's preference, though, it lines up with the damper and is honestly pretty easy to hook onto the side with some practice. Minimal scraping of the edges of the basket will occur more than likely as opposed to the possible scraping of the top by the other method.
I'm not too keen on extra holes in the heating basket from the lid holder on the upper models, but it's hard to say how well they will seal in the end. In practice I would prefer a lid holder with some rubber protection from scratching the top of the lid. I think this is something they will improve on future versions. Beware, the enamel WILL scratch easily on these models.
The wheels are slightly different on the MT and 26 inch models, though I prefer the aesthetics of the originals by a decent margin. The gray hubcaps with a grill logo are kind of well not all that pleasing to my eyes and look no more useful. Neither seem much different in practice. The MT has black handles as opposed to grey. Both look nice. A secondary warming rack is also equipped on the MT. I personally have little need for something like this, but others may find it handy. The MT and 26 inch grills come with a heat grip on the top damper. This is really the only thing I wanted on the normal model. Why this could not be included on the normal 22 I have no idea, but it really isn't needed anyway. I'm usually only using the damper once or twice and have a grill glove on hand or a metal tool to slide it. It should be noted that the rib roaster fits fine in any model. I recommend the higher priced stainless steel version.
The 26 inch grill is wider and heavier, for twice the price again. To me, as someone that does not cook for more than 4 people, I don't need something that large. It takes a bit more charcoal to heat up a larger grill to the proper temps and the legs seem to be the same thin design that have to accomodate more weight. For a larger family you will want this option as it is quite a bit more space. The only downside again is that it's very expensive. Per the Weber site they list stainless steel for the cooking grate vs plated steel on the cheaper model. 508 square inches of cooking area vs 363. The cooking grates are honestly the biggest deal to me about these grills. It is a nice feature of the 26 inch to include a stainless as they are expensive to buy separately.
So I have spelled out the major differences here. For me it comes down to preference. I don't really care about cost, but 300 was a teensy bit more than I was willing to spend for something I am not totally sure of the long term quality. I like the MT but have absolutely no use for the center piece and the wheels and lid holder to me are very questionable. If the lid holder does not scratch I see no problem with it, but metal against metal is going to scratch a bit if it makes a lot of contact at high heat. Not a huge problem but the basket and top are easily the most expensive parts of the deal and I want to keep them looking nice. All in all the last Webers had more than a few problems that seem to have been corrected in the new models. Only time will tell.
I did also get two damaged tops with this grill. I don't mark down the grill because customer service was fantastic at Amazon. Just beware you may have to take one back if you get a damaged top. Weber should invest in some better packaging. Otherwise. this thing is a beauty. Highly recommended.
I do not however recommend the cheap and terrible cover for the 22 inch grills. It has a hanging bag sewn to it and only one main velcro strap. It looks cheap. It is cheap. Yet it's 30 dollars. I bet it's made in China for about a dollar. Just a warning. You might want to look elsewhere to see if you can find a better cover. I will wait until they improve it before I buy anything of such low quality.
I will also update this review as I keep using the grill.
| Brand | Weber |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 22.5"D x 22.5"W x 27"H |
| Special Feature | Superior Heat Retention, One-Touch Cleaning System, Lid Thermometer, Hinged Cooking Grate, Heat Shield |
| Color | Black |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Outdoor |
| Finish Type | Rust-resistant |
| Included Components | Lid |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Item Weight | 32.3 Pounds |
| Heating Power | 8000 British Thermal Units |
| Model Name | WEBER |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Installation Type | Ground Mount |
| Manufacturer | Weber |
| Part Number | 14401001 |
| Item Weight | 32.3 pounds |
| Item model number | 14401001 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 22 inch |
| Style | Grill |
| Finish | Rust-resistant |
| Power Source | Charcoal |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Superior Heat Retention, One-Touch Cleaning System, Lid Thermometer, Hinged Cooking Grate, Heat Shield |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 10 year limited warranty |
