Tom Bricker
Consumer Research Analyst & Product Tester
10+ years backyard grilling across every fuel type
Tom Bricker has grilled on gas, charcoal, pellet, electric and flat-top cookers for more than a decade. At SmokyHQ he tests gas grills, portable and tabletop units, indoor/electric grills and griddles, and maintains our budget-tier best-of lists.
His testing centres on everyday ownership: assembly time, ignition reliability in cold and wind, preheat speed, propane use, heat evenness across the grates, cleanup and long-term value at each price tier.
Tom also writes our maintenance and troubleshooting guides and fact-checks every pellet, charcoal and smoker review published by Marcus Reilly.
- Reviews
- 17
- Guides
- 19
- Fact-checks
- 36
Grill Reviews by Tom Bricker
Gas★ 4.8/5Weber Genesis E-325
$949–$999Our Weber Genesis E-325 review: 8 test cooks, under 12°F edge-to-edge heat spread and a 13,000 BTU sear zone. See if this $949–$999 grill fits you.
Gas★ 4.7/5Monument Denali 605Pro 6-Burner Gas Grill
$969–$999Monument Denali 605Pro review: 6+1 burners, 78,000 BTU, rotisserie and app probes for $969–$999. Specs, third-party results, pros, cons and who should buy it.
Gas★ 4.7/5Napoleon TravelQ PRO285X
$432–$482Napoleon TravelQ PRO285X review: 285 sq in, two 15,000 BTU burners and a cart that folds to 7 inches. Tested 6 weeks at tailgates and campsites.
Gas★ 4.6/5Broil King Regal S 420 Pro
$1,349–$1,369Broil King Regal S 420 Pro review: 680 sq in, four 15,000 BTU burners and 90-second ribeye crust after 40+ hours of testing. See if it's worth $1,349.
Flat Top★ 4.6/5Blackstone Original 36" Griddle
$536–$636Blackstone Original 36 griddle review: 768 sq in, four independent burners and 60,000 BTU tested over 8 cooks. See who it suits and who should skip it.
Gas★ 4.6/5Weber Spirit E-325
$499–$529Weber Spirit E-325 review: the Sear Zone ran 90–110°F hotter and seared ribeyes in under 3 minutes per side. We tested 8 cooks to judge its $499 value.
Gas★ 4.5/5Char-Broil Pro Series 4-Burner Gas Grill
$629–$669Char-Broil Pro Series 4-burner review: infrared sear zone crusted ribeyes in under 2 minutes per side over 8 test cooks. Is it worth $629–$669? Our verdict.
Electric★ 4.5/5Weber Lumin Portable Electric Grill
$389–$399Weber Lumin review: this outdoor electric grill hit 600°F, seared in about 10 minutes and passed our rain test. See if it's worth $389–$399 for your balcony.
Portable★ 4.5/5Weber Smokey Joe 14"
$54–$84Weber Smokey Joe 14 review: a sub-10 lb portable charcoal grill that seared burgers in under 6 minutes. 147 sq in, $54–$84, tested at tailgates and camp.
Electric★ 4.4/5Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill
$269–$299Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 review: hits 500°F in about 7 minutes, and its smart thermometer nailed 5 doneness presets. Tested over 8 indoor cooks.
Portable★ 4.4/5Blackstone 2364 22" Tabletop Griddle
$179–$199Blackstone 2364 review: a 168 sq in camping griddle plus side burner for $179–$199. We ran 8 cooks over 3 weeks to see who should buy it.
Gas★ 4.4/5Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect
$1,199–$1,299Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect review: a 5-in-1 WiFi gas grill that hit 600°F in 7 minutes. We tested all 5 modes to see if it's worth $1,199–$1,299.
Gas★ 4.3/5Monument Grills Mesa Series 4+1 Burner Gas Grill
$489–$529Monument Mesa 4+1 burner review: ±12–15°F consistency and 500°F sears in 9–11 minutes over 40+ hours of testing. Is this $489–$529 gas grill worth it?
Portable★ 4.3/5Cuisinart Portable Propane Grill
$214–$234Cuisinart Portable Propane Grill review: 275 sq in, two independent burners and first-twist ignition at 44°F. Tested over 8 cooks for tailgaters and campers.
Electric★ 4.2/5Ninja Sizzle Indoor Grill & Griddle
$120–$150Ninja Sizzle review: this indoor grill hit 500°F in about 8 minutes for real steak sear marks on our countertop. Is the $120–$150 grill and griddle for you?
Portable★ 4.1/5Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill
$114–$149Cuisinart Petite Gourmet review: a 150 sq in, 5,500 BTU portable gas grill for $114–$149 that fits in a backpack. See who it suits after 8 test cooks.
Portable★ 4/5Megamaster Tabletop 1-Burner Gas Grill
$69–$99Megamaster Tabletop 1-Burner review: 215 sq in propane grill for $69–$99, set up in under 5 minutes and lit at 42°F. See if one burner is enough for you.
Guides by Tom Bricker
- Best Gas Grills $500–$1,000 (2026): Tested & RankedUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Premium Gas Grills 2026: $900+ Grills Worth It?Updated October 9, 2026
- Why Is My Food Sticking to the Grill? 7 FixesUpdated October 9, 2026
- How to Replace a Grill Igniter: Step-by-Step GuideUpdated October 9, 2026
- How Long Does a 20 lb Propane Tank Last on a Grill?Updated October 9, 2026
- Grill Not Getting Hot? Fixes for Gas, Charcoal & PelletUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Electric Grills for Apartments & Balconies (2026)Updated October 9, 2026
- How to Clean Grill Grates: Stainless, Cast Iron & PorcelainUpdated October 9, 2026
- How Long to Preheat a Grill: Gas, Charcoal & Pellet TimesUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Grills Under $200 (2026): Cheap Grills That WorkUpdated October 9, 2026
- Gas Grill Won't Light? 9 Ignition Fixes That WorkUpdated October 9, 2026
- How to Clean a Grill: Complete Maintenance Guide (2026)Updated October 9, 2026
- How to Season a Griddle: Blackstone & Flat Top Step-by-StepUpdated October 9, 2026
- How to Winterize Your Grill: Storage ChecklistUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Weber Grills 2026: Which Weber Should You Buy?Updated October 9, 2026
- Best Portable Grills 2026: Camping & Tailgate Picks TestedUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Gas Grills Under $500 (2026): Tested & RankedUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Grills for Small Patios 2026: 7 Compact Picks TestedUpdated October 9, 2026
- Best Grills of 2026: Top Picks for Every Fuel & BudgetUpdated October 9, 2026