REASONS TO BUY
Very portable
Easy to assemble
Minimal weight
Dual-burner temperature control
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Difficult to clean
Limited wind resistance
nomadiQ Review
This lightweight propane grill features dual-burner temperature control along with enough output power to sear meat or cook veggies low and slow
Some grills provide more cooking area than others, which allows you to prepare food for small groups with ease.
Credit: Trish Matheny
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 18, 2025
RELATED: The Best Portable Grills of 2025
Our Verdict
The Nomadiq propane grill is designed to optimize portability without sacrificing performance. The dual U-shaped burners boast a combined 9,200 BTUs and offer independent temperature settings that can maintain low or high heat on either side, as needed. The sleek design packs down into the size of a shoulder bag or briefcase and offers a shoulder strap for easy carrying. It then unpacks just as easily when you're ready to set up and cook. With 226 square inches of grill space, there's enough room to grill for 2-4 hungry people. Plus, the ceramic-coated non-stick grates do a solid job of distributing heat efficiently, so you won't have any problem rotating your meat to achieve professional-grade sear marks. Although it will set you back a bit up front, the Nomadiq is a high-functioning, compact design that sets the bar for “portable” when it comes to portable grills.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nomadiq propane grill is different. Not often does one sling a grill over one's shoulder, as if heading off to the office for the day. But this creative compact design offers surprises at every turn, offering a lightweight solution that is as easy to set up and transport as it is to grill on.
The Nomadiq is a uniquely portable design that is fueled by propane with dual burner adjustments for each side.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Output Power
The Nomadiq delivers 4,600 BTUs on each side of its U-shaped, propane-fed dual-burner grill top. 9,200 BTUs is a surprising amount of output power for such a little grill buddy, and we're here for it. While its open clamshell design makes it susceptible to wind, lacking any walls or enclosure to trap the heat, enough power is consistently generated to leave perfect grill marks on your meat and deliver expertly seared meat that will impress your friends. It may be designed to carry, but this smartly crafted tabletop grill produces a flame capable of matching the results you might otherwise expect from a full-size grill.
During our extensive testing period in Yosemite Valley, we were initially underwhelmed by the low-profile heat it produced. However, once we ramped up and the grill found its sweet spot, things took off. A bit of fat dripped away from the red meat sitting on top of the grill, sparking the flame higher and higher to deliver flawless sear marks with consistency on each side eventually. While not the best choice for those who need higher output in a range upwards of 20,000 BTUs, this compact, easy-to-carry option is capable of producing enough power to feed a small group in calm conditions.
Although the grill is only capable of 9,200 BTUs spread between two sides, there is enough output power to sear meat with a high heat flame.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Control
The Nomadiq features an electronic ignition system that lit reliably on each side during our testing period. Two separate burners are controlled by two separate dials that easily adjust the temperature setting from low to high, while two ceramic-coated non-stick grates help further distribute heat to more evenly cook the food.
While our test team loved the dual burner for simultaneously cooking different foods at different temperatures, we did note some inconsistent hot spots on the cooking area. Specifically, we found the outside of the grill runs cooler than directly above the U-shaped burner. To work that temperature variation to our advantage, we ended up rotating food around the burner to match. As items became cooked, we would continually move them, shifting items to the outer areas as they neared completion so they could remain warm, while other, less-cooked items were then moved inside to make use of the higher heat. Overall, the Nomadiq provides a nice temperature range between the minimum and maximum settings to meet your mealtime goals, along with the ability to maintain consistent temperatures on either side so long as there isn't too much wind to affect the open flame.
Dual burners allow you to achieve high heat and sear meat on one side while cooking veggies low and slow on the other.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Portability
Portability is where the Nomadiq really shines. It's got a sleek shape in roughly the size of a laptop or shoulder bag, and weighs only 12 pounds. When packed up, it measures 14 inches by 5 inches by 16 inches and comes with a thick shoulder strap to distribute the lightweight design better across your upper body, making it easy to carry no matter where you plan to grill. The unique clamshell design also features an ergonomic handle located on the top of the grill to make it easy to pick up when moving it short distances.
Without touching the instructions, our test team was able to assemble the Nomadiq propane grill for use in about 5 minutes. Just release the locking mechanism on each side before pulling up on the ergonomic handle. This separates the dual burners before unfolding the plates and locking them into position. Two legs sit at the base, rotating out to offer stability when the grill is open or tucking away back in when not in use. This thoughtful design ranks as one of the lightest grills we've ever tested without sacrificing its grilling performance.
Every detail was considered on the Nomadiq propane grill, from its tiny 5-inch packed width to the ergonomic handle on the top and the thick, padded shoulder strap strung across for easy transport.
Cooking Area
The Nomadiq propane grill measures 16 by 25 inches and offers 226 square inches of cooking area. That's plenty of room if you are only cooking for a smaller group of 2-4 people at a time. Its non-stick grilling grates are ceramic coated to prevent food from sticking to the checkered top while it sears meat under high heat.
Even though the Nomadiq is advertised as non-stick, we found some meats still stuck to the grilling gates fairly easily, making it difficult to flip meat without losing some of the exterior sear marks. Since our lead tester lives at Camp Four in Yosemite Valley and doesn't have access to a dishwasher, she found this an annoyance. It was difficult to get these surfaces clean between testing rounds, with the buildup making it even more difficult to prevent meat from sticking to the grate again the next time around. That said, the cooking area is substantial considering the packed size of the grill, and the grates are easily removable, rust-resistant, and yes, even dishwasher-safe.
There is enough cooking area on either side to provide enough space for 2-4 hungry people.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Wind Resistance
The Nomadiq is vulnerable to wind, there's no two ways about it. Its flame is completely open and susceptible to any interference caused by wind. While we tested mostly in calm conditions during the dog days of summer, on one particularly stormy day, we took the opportunity to see how such conditions might affect our grilling experience. In short, it greatly increased our grilling time, dampening the flame and reducing its effectiveness at the surface.
While one could get creative with wind barriers, the Nomadiq doesn't inherently offer a solution. There is no lid or wall to prevent wind from reaching the open flame and extinguishing it.
The completely open design is fully susceptible to interference from the wind. The best you can do is build some sort of block to help reduce the affect on the open flame.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Should You Buy the Nomadiq?
If the main requirement for your next grill purchase is “easy to carry,” the Nomadiq is where we would point you. Its unique clamshell design is as compact and light to carry as an average shoulder bag, but inside, BBQ magic awaits. A dual burner with superior grill power is at your service, including independent controls to customize the temperature settings on each side for different foods. Although it's an investment out of the gate, you may find yourself grilling more often and in different locations than usual, turning a few heads along the way.
The Nomadiq propane grill highlights portability thanks to a lightweight design that is easy to assemble and grill for a small group while just as easily stowing into a small package with a thick shoulder strap that makes it easy to transport between locations.
Credit: Trish Matheny
What Other Portable Grills Should You Consider?
While the Nomadiq propane grill may be exactly what you need for a small group that's on the move, its expensive price tag could be a turnoff for some. If you're looking for a lightweight option that won't break the bank, check out the Cuisinart Grillster that features a more traditional shape. Or, take a look at our tester's overall favorite grill, the Weber Traveler. It stood out with top-notch performance in nearly every testing metric and ranks as a grill we would be willing to cart around with us anywhere. If you will have access to electricity and want to build out a multi-purpose outdoor kitchen, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker with Thermometer is the right choice. Or, if you want the joy of sitting by a fire before and after the grill is done, the Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill provides woodfire results with a little extra fireside ambience.
The Nomadiq is a highly portable propane grill design that provides dual burner temperature control along with 226 square inches of cooking area that is ample space for smaller groups.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare nomadiQ versus top competing products:
—Trish Matheny
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