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Below we’ll compare two important Weber Grills from their catalog; the Spirit and its sequel, the Spirit II.
CooksIllustrated (2018 update) published their stance on the best gas grill under $500. After testing the previous Spirit E-310 with the Spirit II E-310, they included in their write-up “a good grill has gotten even better”. They went on to say what Weber specifically changed and the significance of these supposed improvements. While the thick cast heavy duty enameled steel/aluminum cookbox is still there, the bottom slope of the cookbox was shifted so the grease drippings can be sent to the grill’s center (compared to the older model’s offset design, it “works even better”).
Weber Spirit II
Before I get into it, there’s been certain forum talk of first impressions from those who felt the Weber Spirit II in store, and it certainly sounds an alarm for Weber’s direction in quality. As well, Weber appears to have priced these 2018 Spirits $50 cheaper than their predecessors, so there may be truth here. But is this a dealbreaker?
The Changes Weber Made to the Spirit
After the original Spirit came on the grilling scene (four or more years ago), Weber decided to update the model and give it more flair. The cooking area for the new E-210 and E-310 are precisely the same as their predecessors, and only the BTU-per-hour input of the E-310 changed from 32,000 to 30,000.
-This new version only offers two models, and there is no longer a side burner option, which may be a turn-off for those who like to multi-task. One cool thing, however, is the color variety (relevant only to the lid) since it now comes in black, ivory, red, and sapphire.
One of the most significant changes is Weber’s decision to remove the cabinet and instead opt-out for an open-cart design, which some people have complained about. Although it should make it more easy to reach for and slide the grease trap out. Now, the propane tank goes on the outside, and while the open-cart makes it easier to reach for supplies, one Amazon reviewer said it looked messy.
One useful aspect of the re-design was their addition of four legs and two giant wheels that allow for more accessible transportation, especially over rough surfaces or sand. The new models also come with Weber’s GS4 high-performance grilling system that should promise your grill will ignite every time.
The grease catcher has remained the same. The “flavorizer bars” have been notched (CooksIllustrated noting this makes the flames “easier to see”), which are supposed to catch grease drippings and direct them to the grease catcher as well as preventing flare-ups. One online reviewer mentioned that he wasn’t impressed with the “flavorizer bars” because he still had plenty of flare-ups.
While the original Weber Spirit was minimal in its design, the Spirit II has a couple of perks that make it stand out.
1.) First is the liquid propane scale, which gauges how much fuel is left in your tank, preventing you from buying a new one prematurely or having the dreaded Walmart visit in the middle of a cook-out for a new one. With this simple feature, you know exactly how much fuel you have left.
2.) The other feature is its iGrill 3 integration, which is sold separately, but coughing up that Benjamin (or less) might not be a bad idea. With the iGrill 3, all you have to do is stick the thermometer into the meat and check the temperature from your phone, which is not something that is standard in most grills. Spirit II’s now feature a spot on the right side table for the iGrll probe thermometers to be plugged into.
Despite the arguably steep price tag, I’d like to hear your testimony of cooking that whole chicken as you sip on a cold one and relax without having to worry about it being dry or overcooked. For an even cheaper alternative, the iGrill 2 was given the “Gold Medal” best value nod over at Amazingribs website.
While the lack of a cabinet is a bummer, the Spirit II more than makes up for it with its new standout features like the iGrill 3.
3.) A red bright line has been added to the control knobs (should be less complaints on interpreting where the user set the dial).
Amazon sells both new models, the E-210 and E-310, for this much a piece, so between them you’re faced with reasoning $100 more. Assembly is required, but this is a grill that will last a long time, so it’s definitely worth assembling it yourself instead of paying someone. While the price of the Weber Spirit II is higher than others in its category, it has a 10-year warranty and comes from a great brand.
Weber Spirit
The original Weber Spirit came out around 2013 (Amazon revealed their price pre-2013) and generally online giants like Amazon priced at $399 and $499 for the E-210 and the E-310, respectively.
The E-210 has two burners and a combined BTU-per-hour input of 26,500 while the E-310 has three burners and a combined BTU-per-hour input of 32,000. There are also some other models that are variations of the two and come with perks like a side burner.
The most important thing is the cooking surface, and the E-210 has a primary cooking area of 360 square inches and 90 square inches for the warming rack, totaling 450 square inches of cooking surface. The E-310 has one more burner, so it’s cooking area totals 529 square inches—424 square inches is for the primary cooking area and 105 square inches for the warming rack.
The Weber Spirit is an all-black grill, except for the stainless steel model, with four small wheels and a cabinet for storing your propane tank. Besides storing the propane, it can also store towels and other grilling essentials you might want to keep away from the weather. The grates on the grill are porcelain-enameled cast iron and if you’ve owned a cast iron pan before, then you know if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Other perks are fold-down tables—only on the E-210—and six hooks for hanging all your grilling tools.
The small grill market is not for grill masters, but they are for city people who live in small apartments or don’t have much of a yard. Both of these grills are small enough to feed a family, but they’re not the go-to when entertaining a party. For the most part, the grill is a no-frills affair that delivers enough power and space to keep most people satisfied.
There are few pleasures in life such as the juicy bite of a well-cooked steak— medium rare, of course. Your grill may be a bit older than you remember or you may be looking for something new, perhaps with more burners or maybe switching to a propane grill.
Going to Lowe’s or Academy to purchase a grill, however, can be overwhelming as there’s so many options to choose from.
Don’t let the summer pass you by without having a proper cook-out with (perhaps) one of these grills. How about you? What grill have you been rocking, and what do you want to upgrade to? Is the Weber Spirit II within your budget, or are you considering something even bigger, like the Genesis II?
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