BUYER'S GUIDE · PORTABLE / CAMPING
Best portable kamado: 2 units to take in the van, camping or to a second home
Weighs under 35 kg, has real handles, and the chamber cooks for 2-4 anywhere it isn't raining. Only two kamados in the catalogue meet all three conditions honestly.
QUICK PICK
If you only want to know which one to buy
Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
The Joe Jr wins on portable: 30 kg with folding handles, fits a family-car trunk, and cooks with the same ceramic as the Classic III. Dual-sided cast-iron grate ships stock.
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"Portable" in the kamado world has a strict physical definition: weight under 35 kg (two people can move it without lifting gear), volume that fits in an SUV or estate boot, real transport handles (not "cart handles"), and enough robustness to survive the trip without cracks. Of the 17 kamados in our catalogue, only two satisfy all four: the Kamado Joe Joe Jr and the Big Green Egg MiniMax.
Other "small" kamados advertised as portable fail at least one condition. The Monolith Icon is small but 47 kg — two people move it but it's not "van and to camp". The Klarstein Princesize is light but the handles are on the cart, not the ceramic body (separate it from the cart and there's no grip).
Uncomfortable truth about portable kamados: none is truly "camping". Ceramic, however dense, risks cracking if you trailer it on dirt roads. Joe Jr and MiniMax real portability is "home-to-second-home" or "terrace-to-friend's-garden for a barbecue". Serious mountain camping with potholes: a portable steel grill (Weber Smokey Joe or similar) beats a kamado.
The full ranking
#1
Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
The Joe Jr is the obvious portable pick. 30 kg, folding steel handles on both sides of the ceramic body (not the cart), designed so two people lift and transport effortlessly. Ceramic is exactly the same as the Classic III, so cooking quality isn't "portable-grade" — it's Kamado Joe in miniature. Ships with dual-sided cast-iron grate stock, which for use at a friend's house or second home (where you may not have accessories) is practical: arrive, open, light. Drawback: analogue dome thermometer is very basic. On a trip, pack a small digital probe thermometer (ThermoPro TP19, 30 €) in the bag.
Pros
- 30 kg with folding handles on the ceramic body
- Dual-sided cast-iron grate included
- Same Classic III ceramic: no quality compromise
Cons
- Very basic analogue dome thermometer
- No cart: needs a table or stand wherever you set up
#2
Big Green Egg MiniMax
The BGE MiniMax is the only real alternative to the Joe Jr on portable. 35 kg, forged-steel handles built into the body and an official BGE "carrier" (rigid transport bag with leather handle) that costs 90 € separately and turns the MiniMax into the truly most "travel-ready" kamado on the market. NASA-patented ceramic, transferable lifetime warranty. Main reason to pick it over Joe Jr: the official carrier. If your use is genuinely "throw it in the boot and head to the village every weekend", the rigid BGE bag stops the ceramic banging into other items in the car. Drawback: no stock cast-iron grate (BGE's standard is stainless steel and it's good, but not the same for searing steaks).
Pros
- Official BGE carrier: rigid travel bag
- Forged-steel handles built into the body
- Transferable BGE lifetime warranty
Cons
- No factory cast-iron grate
- Official carrier is a separate accessory (+90 €)
How to choose between these models
The decision between the two is simple.
Will you mostly cook steak and red meat on your trips? Joe Jr. The included dual-sided cast-iron grate makes the difference.
Do you actually take it places and need a rigid bag to protect the ceramic? BGE MiniMax + carrier. Total spend is similar to Joe Jr (~900 € both) and the carrier is the missing piece for real portability.
For anything else they're interchangeable. Both cook with the same quality as their bigger siblings (Classic III and BGE Large), both have transferable lifetime warranty, both will last decades if you treat them with respect.
Extra recommendation for the travelling profile: also buy an outer soft cover (35-50 €) even if you use the MiniMax rigid carrier. Costa Blanca salt and car dust accumulate and accelerate metal-part ageing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a Joe Jr or MiniMax in a motorhome?
Yes, with two precautions. First, secure it tight against bouncing: ceramic resists soft impact but a direct hit on a loading rack can crack it. Second, don't use it inside the motorhome or near the awning — only outside at 1.5 m minimum. The kamado's spherical shape makes it tip-stable; "4x4 raid" type roads aren't a problem.
Do they survive frequent transport without cracking?
Yes, with basic care. Kamado Joe and BGE ceramic is tested for vertical impact (one of the points covered by lifetime warranty). What cracks it is sudden thermal shock — heat to 250 °C and splash cold water — and side impacts on hard surfaces. In 5 years of domestic use + 20-30 annual car transports, neither should fail. If it does, Kamado Joe and BGE replace the ceramic body free under warranty.
How do I clean it if I use it at someone else's house?
Kamado cleaning is minimal: pyrolysis at 400 °C for 15 minutes at session end incinerates grease and residue, and enamelled ceramic wipes with a damp cloth when cool the next day. Don't use soap or chemicals inside — they alter the next smoke's flavour. If the grate is very dirty, a stiff-bristle brush once cool. Total: 5 minutes. It's the only grill in the world that doesn't need a dishwasher.
Are there options lighter than the Joe Jr for solo camping?
Not in ceramic kamado. Under 30 kg, ceramic has to be so thin it loses all thermal inertia and stops cooking like a kamado. If you go solo and need under 15 kg, the right category is "portable steel grill" (Weber Smokey Joe Premium 1.3 kg, BBQ Toy 8 kg) or "folding pot" for minimalist camping. A 30 kg kamado almost always needs two people.
Can I leave the portable kamado outside at the second home all winter?
Yes, with a cover. Joe Jr and MiniMax ceramic survives rain, snow and sub-zero (Big Green Egg has tested to -25 °C). What degrades is the metal (handles, hinge, hardware). A reinforced PVC cover at 35-50 € and semi-annual WD-40 on steel parts guarantees 15+ years outdoors. On Costa Blanca specifically: salt accelerates rust, so WD-40 every 3 months if you live within 500 m of the sea.
Other buying guides
Best kamado for a couple: 3 small options for 2 (with room for guests)
The 3 best kamados for a childless couple: Kamado Joe Jr, BGE MiniMax and Monolith Icon. 32-38 cm diameter, under 50 kg, enough for 2 with room for 4 guests.
Best kamado for a terrace: 4 compact options that fit in a flat
The 4 best kamados for a terrace or balcony: Monolith Icon, BGE MiniMax, Kamado Joe Jr and Klarstein Princesize. Diameter, weight and footprint reviewed on the ground.
Best kamado 2026: the 5 ceramic grills we recommend without reservations
Editorial comparison of the 5 best kamados of 2026. Kamado Joe Classic III, Big Green Egg Large, Big Joe III, Monolith Classic Pro 2 and Primo Oval XL. No pay-for-coverage.