Coleman Gas Grill, Portable Propane Sportster Grill Review (2026)

Who This Grill Is For

The Sportster is aimed at solo travelers, couples, or small families who want a simple grill for burgers, hot dogs and other quick campsite meals rather than a full backyard style cookout. Its compact, collapsible body is sized to fit into an RV storage bay or truck bed without eating much of the available space, which matters more to RVers and campers with limited exterior storage than to someone grilling at home. Because the cooking surface is modest, it suits day to day camp cooking for one or two people rather than hosting a group, and it works best as a secondary grill alongside a camp stove rather than the only cooking appliance on a trip.

Burner, Cooking Area and Ignition Explained

The Sportster runs on a single 11,000 BTU burner over a 225 square inch porcelain-coated, stamped-steel grate, dimensions not listed in the product title but confirmed on Coleman's own product pages and major retailer listings. That cooking area is enough for a handful of burgers or a few servings at once, but it is on the small side compared with multi-burner portable grills built for group camping. Ignition uses Coleman's InstaStart push button system, lighting the burner without a separate lighter or matches, which matters at a campsite in wind or after dark. A removable grease tray sits under the grate to catch drippings for easier cleanup, and the grill runs on small 16.4 ounce propane cylinders that are widely available at outdoor and hardware retailers.

Using and Storing the Sportster

Day to day use centers on the wheeled, collapsible stand, which lifts and locks into cooking position and then folds down small enough to store in a bay or vehicle trunk between uses. On a full 16.4 ounce propane cylinder, the burner runs up to about two hours on high, which comfortably covers a single meal but means longer cookouts or all day grilling need a spare cylinder on hand. Cleanup is straightforward thanks to the removable grease tray and porcelain-coated grate, which resists sticking better than bare steel. Because the burner and grate are compact, owners cooking for more than a couple of people at once will find themselves grilling in batches rather than all at once.

Trade-offs and How It Compares

The main trade-off is capacity. At 11,000 BTU and 225 square inches, the Sportster puts out less heat and less grilling surface than multi-burner portable grills such as the Cuisinart 17.6 inch model or Coleman's own RoadTrip 285, which offers three adjustable burners and roughly 20,000 BTU across a larger grate. Those larger grills cost more and take up more storage space, so the trade-off runs the other way too, more capacity in exchange for a bigger footprint in the bay. For anyone who regularly cooks for more than two or three people, the Sportster's single burner will feel limiting compared with a multi-burner alternative sized for group meals. Owners choosing between the two should weigh how many people they typically cook for against how much bay space they can spare for a larger grill.

Verdict and Who Should Pick a Bigger Grill

This grill suits solo campers, couples and anyone who wants a compact, easy to store propane grill for simple campsite meals rather than feeding a crowd. Owners who regularly cook for larger groups, or who want more precise heat control across multiple zones, should look at a multi-burner portable grill such as the Coleman RoadTrip 285 instead. For quick burgers and hot dogs with minimal storage impact, the Sportster's small footprint and reliable InstaStart ignition make it a practical secondary grill for RV trips. Keeping a spare propane cylinder on hand is worth doing for anyone planning more than one meal's worth of grilling in a day.

Frequently asked questions