Accessories — Page 2

The Best Games, Gadgets & Music For Tailgate Partying! Update 2017.

A totally amazeballs tailgate party experience gets down to the host’s ability to figure out in advance everything that is needed. Think comfort, effortless presentation but most of all, FUN. You don’t want any aspect of the day to stress you out. (Awwww gee, maybe the game can cause a bit of angst if you’re backing the wrong team) …

We’ve got a heap of it covered at the Tailgate Party Site but here are a few of the more unusual things you could invest in to rock your tailgate party.

Play A Game

1. The PDGA Approved Deluxe Disc Golf set.

Deluxe Disc Golf Set

If you have a bit of space in your site, then add Disc golf to your party games.

It is played kinda like traditional golf. Balls and clubs are replaced by flying discs, or Frisbees®. People played this for years but in the 1970s the rules became standardized. The object is to progress around each ‘hole’ in as few throws as possible starting with a ‘tee’ area and ending at the target (‘hole’) which can be one of a number of disc golf targets, such as a Pole Hole® which is an elevated metal basket. Otherwise, it’s the same as golf, the landscape or area played in providing the obstacles and challenges. There are no snobby green jackets, no caddies needed (yaaay no tip there) no massive club fees, no age or sex limits and in most places, it is free to play or to practice.

You can play this around the whole car-park or your garden or in a park. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the disc-golfer. When the disc lands in the basket, the hole is completed and player #2 begins at the starting point. Instructions are on the package and there are some great YouTube demos as well and these pros make our drunken efforts look … well, like the drunken efforts that they are.

Scare Off The Bugs

2. Thermocell Portable Mosquito Repeller

So you’re tailgating down in the car-park of, say, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and out come the flies and mosquitoes spoiling your BBQ and stinging your guests. Here’s a really effective way to beat the bugs. It’s a portable mosquito repeller that provides relief from the airborne pests in any outdoor situation. It’s around the size of half a drink can, is cordless and sends out a safe, subtle scent to repel mosquitoes, gnats, and midges. No more spraying chemicals. Just put it on your patio table. I also like to put one under the table to protect bare legs and ankles. Coverage is 15 feet square feet. The Thermocell butane cartridge will last for around 12 hours protecting your fellow tailgaters from nasty bites. Insect mats last 4 hours. You get 3 in a pack.

Bring Your Own Music!

3. ION Audio IPA17 TAILGATER AM/FM Lightweight Speaker System for iPOD

Ion Tailgater AM_FM Portable Speaker with iPod dock

You need music at any party. The best way is to play off your special tailgate party mix on your iPod or iPhone. Here’s a great iPod Dock speaker system with an eight hour battery (with level indicator) and a sound that will fill your tailgate party space. It has inputs for microphones and other audio sources so that your crowd can belt out those team songs.

Comparable with the Bose unit, the Pioneer unit and the Bowers/Wilkins Unit it is cheaper and without the stellar sound of those three, but performs well enough whether outdoors or in the man cave. Very portable and sturdy, kind of industrial looking rather than glamorous but that’s OK with me and it’s light enough to carry using one of the handles rather than both (which is a bit awkward). You can run it while plugged in or for 8 hours battery. The AM/FM tuner is a bit of a bust as it takes a while to set it and doesn’t save stations or have presents but you could use your iPhone as the radio and use an input instead. This is the old model so is incredibly barganacious at the moment and will give you a few seasons before you need to replace it.

If you want the grand-daddy version, have a look at the…

4. ION Audio Block Rocker Rechargeable Wireless Speaker

Ion Audio Block Rocker with Lights

The difference between the Block Rocker and the Tailgater is that this rechargeable battery lasts 12 hours and the sound, well, I guess it can be heard all round a neighborhood block. It’s portable and the sound is beefy enough for all massive scale tailgate parties, BBQs, neighborhood events, weddings and anything. It’s not too strong on the bass, but that probably means the battery life is longer and also your neighbors won’t totally hate you.

So big, it needs wheels. The AM/FM radio and antenna can be tuned to the Game of the Day and keep everyone informed just in case the party keeps you from actually getting inside to the game. Just note that there is no control to save your station selections. It just has to be scrolled through again from the start. Ugh!

Great performance and value for money and has independent volume controls for all sources. Tough as nails with metal edges to protect from dings.

90 day warranty.
Note: Allow the unit to drain the battery totally before recharging. This will protect it and give you a better unit life. Read the instructions carefully.

5. Riva Turbo X Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Riva Turbo X Wireless Speaker

OK, so from the biggest, to this compact and sleek little speaker. It operates via Bluetooth so no need for a dock for an iPod. Just link to the iPod you stash in your picnic set. It is not even 6” in length and around 9.1 x 4.1 x 3.5 inches and weighs 3 pounds. Sweet!

Perfect stereo sound for your tailgate party and the sound won’t blast your neighbor sites into kingdom come. The battery lasts 26 hours and is rechargeable (Lithium-ion battery). It is very compact but has a volume that is excellent for the tailgating party.

It comes in a wide range of colors so you can select one to match your team logo!

USB charge port for charging other devices& USB data port.

Speakerphone with noise & echo cancellation technology

You can connect with 2 devices at a time so you can double up your music library.

Choose The Right Tailgate Party Songs!

6. Top Twenty Sports Songs For Tailgate Parties

Ok, so now you have your great speaker, what music do you want to feature at your tailgate party? Here’s a list for your reference! You can get these all from iTunes.

20 Kenny Chesney – “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems”

19 Craig Morgan – “Redneck Yacht Club”

18 Brad Paisley – “Alcohol”

17 Joe Nichols – “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”

16 Jason Aldean – “She’s Country”

15 Trace Adkins – “Swing”

14 Alan Jackson – “Good Time”

13 Big & Rich – “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)”

12 Zac Brown Band – “Toes”

11 Billy Currington – “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer”

10 Toby Keith – “I Love This Bar”

9 Gretchen Wilson – “Here For The Party”

8 Billy Currington – “People Are Crazy”

7 Hank Williams, Jr. –“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”

6 Eric Church – “Smoke A Little Smoke”

5 Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”

4 Trace Adkins – “Ladies Love Country Boys”

3 Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party”

2 Alan Jackson – “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”

1. Blake Shelton – “The More I Drink”

(These are as voted by the GAC network fans in August 2013.)

My two bonus picks are:

Deaf Havana – “Nicotine and Alcohol Saved my Life”

Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs – “Most People I know Think that I’m Crazy”.

7. Classic Collection from that icon of taste, Larry the Cable Guy.

Larry the Cable Guy

Just go the whole hog and buy the Tailgate music collection from Larry the Cable Guy. Self-explanatory. Very appropriate. Politically incorrect. To inspire you, just think about these classic, uplifting and motivating tracks:

‘Prostate Professional’, ‘Half Cocked’, ‘Boob Tube’, ‘Male Enhancement’ – ahhh, that’s sure to get the party started.

Larry Cable Guy Tailgate Party CD

Tailgate Party CD – Larry The Cable Guy

Finally, how about a bit of a disguise? You may want to at some tailgate parties.

Here are some suggestions and you may want to haul these out for tailgate parties at horse racing events:

DRESS UP (AND WEAR A DISGUISE AT THE SAME TIME).

8. Magical Unicorn Mask

Magical Unicorn Mask

Nothing says you’re here to have a magic time than a Magical Unicorn Mask. A bit eerie, but there’s still space for a beer bong in that cavernous mouth. Made of latex, can be cleaned depending on just exactly what you intend doing in the mask. It has a full head with a confronting stare. Air any of these masks out well before wearing to minimize the rubber smell and if you have a latex allergy, give them a miss. Please remove it while driving. Unicorns are not eligible to pass a DMV test.

9. Horse Head Mask

Horse Head Mask

More into horses than unicorns? Then here’s an awesome one which is not just suited to wear at, say, The Dallas Cowboys, the Denver Broncos games but also for horse racing events:

10. Pig Head Mask

Pig Head Mask

Look, I’m the last person to point the finger, foam or otherwise, but some people just should be made to wear this mask. As the sellers say, ‘We recommend this mask while grilling at your BBQ this summer or just ordering at the butcher counter.’ It’s worth checking this mask out just to read the witty reviews …

Finally, just remember that in the words of the philosopher, Homer – that’s Homer Simpson –

“We’re not here for the game. The game is nothing. The game is crap. The game makes me sick. The real reason we Americans put up with sports is for this: Behold, the tailgate party. The pinnacle of human achievement. Since the dawn of parking lots, man has sought to fill his gut with food and alcohol in anticipation of watching others exercise.”

Filed Under: Atmosphere Tagged With: Accessories, Gadgets, Games, Music, Tailgate Party

Top 20 NFL Tailgate Party Essentials – updated for 2016-17

By Rawhide

1. NFL Football Ladder Toss Game with Houston Texans Logos.

Tailgate Party Essentials: NFL Ladder Toss Game

What you need for your tailgate party is a range of games. And if they match the (licensed) logo of your team, wow, that will be even cooler.

Of course, they need to be compact, easily transported, built and taken down, nice packing, fun to play whether adult or child, sober or buzzed, no sharp edges and entertaining enough to add to the fun of your party.

This is one of the games the ‘Survivor’ tribes sometimes play. Most commonly though, it’s played in the car park or patio at tailgate parties – which is more fun because there’s no beer on Redemption Island. There is no age limit. Kids enjoy it as much as the adults do. Toss the rubber football shaped bolos onto the ladder rungs and score points. Each ladder rung earns different score. It’s simple but so darn addictive and the winner gets a beer or three.

With this easy-to -assemble and take-apart, lightweight kit (24 lbs) you get 6 football bolos (2 teams of 3 throws each), game rules, 2 x 50″H x 25″ W metal goal posts that you set on a Football Field base. All parts fit into a nylon carry bag for easy packing.

Note that some buyers have found a challenge in putting it together. Try using a little WD-40 on the metal rods and you will be fine. The good thing is that it is strong and will last. Also, the assembly and game rules are not super clear in the instructions but if you want to learn
how to play ladder toss, check out our guide on How To Play Ladder Toss.

Be sure to specify your team’s logo when you place the order.

Keep score with your NFL Team themed pens!

2. NFL Team Themed Retractable Click Pens- 5 Pack

The whole idea is to keep these NFL pens in your tailgate party box for keeping score on the games but I guarantee that the diehard fan will have them stashed all over the house, office, gift bags and even sneaked into the kids’ backpacks to start them off the right way as a fan. So you’d better buy two packs. And you can annoy supporters of rival teams by handing them out while you gloat. They are retractable pens, five to a pack.

3. NFL Tailgate Toss Game – Dallas Cowboys or your own team

NFL Bean Bag Toss – Essential Tailgate Party Gear

Exclusively Licensed NFL merchandise, the Toss Game has two game boards branded with your NFL team colors and logo and eight bean bags(four for each team) sized to match. Instructions for the game are included but if you want the full lowdown on the game of Corn Hole (as well as some of the best Corn Hole boards for tailgating) check out our guide to Cornhole For The Tailgate Party.

There are 2 game boards (Football Field Base) , 2 sets of 4 bean bags and 2 x 50″Hx25″W metal goal posts in the kit which is niftyly packed up into a carry bag. When you first unpack it, just take note of how it was packed so that you can keep it all together. It weighs 24 lbs so is quite sturdy and won’t bend under the pressure of the bean bags being thrown at it.

It has carry handles and the boards flip out for use and back again underneath the boards when you pack it away after your tailgate party. I usually have a practice at re-packing because who knows how I will feel at the end of the day? You want to do it well so that your gear doesn’t get damaged. All teams are represented in this range.

4. NFL Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo 14-Inch Plush Doll

NFL Plush Doll range

Now, IMHO , this doesn’t look much like Antonio Ramiro Tony Romo, famous Cowboy’s quarterback. For starters it’s only 14″ high and Tony is 6’2″. But if you can’t get Tony to come to your tailgate party, then you could buy one of these and take it instead. Kids love these and so do adults who kind of treat the doll like some religious statue. However you like to show your team love, that’s fine with me. Anyway, it’s equally popular with boys and girls, men and women, is made in China from plush and polyester filling and is one of the Bleacher Creatures. Why not buy the whole team and stage a re-enactment of the game after your tailgate party?

Recommended ages 3 and up.

5. NFL Licensed Hot Dog Brander

NFL Hot Dog brander – Essential Tailgate Gear

So you have hotdogs on your tailgate party menu! But do you have NFL hotdogs? You can. Just buy one of these brands and sear the sausages with the Cowboys logo while the brats are cooking on your flat-top BBQ. Here is how you do it:

USE TONGS.

(Preheated) Gas BBQ: heat the brand well on a burner.

(Preheated) Charcoal or solid fuel BBQs: Bury the brand in the coals once they have reached cooking temperature.

On first use, it takes some time to get the letters red hot and ready to make a clear sear but gradually the brand will be seasoned.

Allow 10-15 minutes for the letters to heat first use but after, 5 to 7 minutes pre-heating is fine.

Take great care and don’t pick it up without tongs. An oven mitt is a help to protect the chef from radiant heat.

When it is red hot, brush with some oil to stop any sticking, put the brat on the flat top and stamp/brand it by dropping it on the top and pressing it down.

Note, you may need more than one to cook enough hot dogs for your tailgate party guests but wow, this really makes an impression. (Pardon the pun).

6. NFL Dallas Cowboys Meat Brander

NFL Meat Brand – essential gear for Tailgate parties

Working on the same principle is this meat, veggie and bread branding plate and it proudly features the Dallas Cowboys team logo. I think these are a real hit at tailgate parties and work well with the brats branders above. You will get faster at using them but again, practice with a few steaks before launching at your tailgate event.

Spray with some Pam or other non-stick spray.

Heat till red hot and place your food on the Fan Brand. Logo will be cooked on in minutes.

Remove, cook the meat to required doneness and reheat the plate on the BBQ thoroughly before moving on to next piece of meat. ie. Don’t put a lukewarm one onto raw meat. Always avoid mixing raw and cooked foods.

Made from high conductivity metal alloy and it will be very hot so use tongs and mitts to avoid burning.

7. NFL Dallas Cowboys Chef Hat and Apron Set

NFL Apron, hat, mitts and utensils

You’re going to cook at the Dallas Cowboys tailgate party so you may as well look the part. There’s so much great Dallas Cowboys gear out there that you can put on your game colors, celebrate your team while you man the BBQ. And we have hunted for the best prices. This Chef Hat and apron not only look great but will keep the spatters off your clothing and are easily machine washed and dried. The pack has everything a Tailgate Party Chef would need.

I think these make great gifts and also a nice souvenir for your international friends and guests as they are lightweight and easy to ship. They are available for all teams so follow the links.

8. Green Bay Packers NFL Face Paint Kit

NFL Green Bay Packers Face Paint

Theming a tailgate party successfully can be as easy as painting everyone’s faces with the team colors. Tailgate party essentials include this kit from Rico which is licensed and therefore, the colors are authentic as well as the team name and logo stencils. Contents are 3 colors plus a sponge and genuine logo stencils and 15 of your guests can be painted with just one kit. It’s great value as the professionals can charge more for one face than this can cover. Just have a practice before the big day and get a few skilled painting moves.

9. Game Time Veteran series – NFL licensed Wristwatch

NFL themed watch – essential tailgate party gear

You will need to keep tabs on the food, the games, the match of the day and sometimes the smartphone isn’t enough. It’s not hands-free! But this watch is, and will keep you on track with cooking times and other vital times at your tailgate party. Smart enough to wear to work, water resistant to 99 feet (30 meters) so heck, dropping it in a red cup of beer won’t damage it at all. A smart-looking watch with a Japanese-Quartz analog movement and tough fabric band with a Velcro fastener for easy on and off. And it’s not expensive! Comes in all team logos and colors.

10. NFL Dallas Cowboys Riddell NFL Ultimate Hand – Essentail Tailgate Party Gear

NFL team themed pointing finger

Show everyone who’s Number One with Ultimate Hands for the Cowboys. (or whatever team you support!)

These are amazing and a definite improvement on the foam finger at any tailgate party. 20″ in size and joined to a coordinated team ‘jersey cuff’ that fits over your hand and forearm. Think the Dallas Cowboys are Number One? Then wear one of these to your tailgate party. Weighs around a pound so it stands to reason that you bring one to your tailgate party.

11. NFL Themed Sunglasses – Denver Broncos pictured

Denver Broncos NFL themed Sunglasses

Officially licensed NFL merchandise, these sunglasses are a cool accessory to wear for tailgate parties and any other day, for that matter! They are so cheap that you could make them host gifts for parties you attend. Diehard fans will love them, logos and colors on display. 100 UVA/UVB protection, great for sunny days or the day after the tailgate party. Super cheap at the moment here. They feature the logo on one arm and the team name on the other and team-color rubber accents are set into the arms. All NFL teams are represented so follow the links from this one.

12. Dallas Cowboys custom made Mat “The Ulti-Mat

NFL Themed Tailgate Party Mat

At any tailgate party, the challenge is to mark your territory, especially in small spaces. This Dallas Cowboys logo-emblazoned mat is perfect out in the field or at home. Show your team pride and add style to your tailgating party with Fanmats area rugs, proudly made in U.S.A. 100% nylon carpet and non-skid recycled vinyl backing so you can slap it on the blacktop in the car park without damage. Officially licensed and chromojet printed in true team colors.

NOTE: These products are custom made and take around 7 – 10 working days to make and print and any team can be accommodated. They are official.

Great for the man-cave as well, of course! The comfy nylon pile and vinyl backing are like a deluxe picnic rug too.

SIZE: 60 x 96 x 0.5 inches.

NOTE: It weighs around 15 pounds and is a quality item.

13. Amazing Raiders NFL themed BBQ Cover for Tailgate Party – Essential Tailgate Party Gear.

NFL themed BBQ cover

When you set up your BBQ for the patio tailgate party, make a statement with this awesome grill cover. It’s like a big version of NFL jerseys printed over weather-resistant vinyl so it will protect your favorite appliance and last for tailgate parties and beyond. Some people I know do transport their full sized BBQs to the car park and these nicely made covers are like a banner declaring the love felt for the Raiders or whoever you support (all versions are available).

Measurements = 60″ x 41″ x 19″

It’s heavy duty so will last for many seasons.

14. Dallas Cowboys 4-Piece BBQ Grilling Utensil Set

Dallas Cowboys NFL Themed Utensil set

The finest accessory to go with your grill at the tailgate party is a set of cooking tools especially one branded ‘Dallas Cowboys’ with logos and colors of the team. This one is official licensed.

Contains a basting brush, fork, tongs and spatula (and that has the Dallas Cowboys logo etched into it – pretty cool!) with the colors on the long handles. It’s all the stuff you need to grill a great rack of smoky ribs.

Keep one in your tailgate party kit and get one for home. It makes a great gift for all Cowboys fans and is essential tailgate party gear.

15. New York Jets NFL Coleman Folding Chair With Carrying Case

NFL Themed folding chair

It’s your standard Coleman camp chair with your team logo on the seat – SWEET! These are official licensed chairs so the quality and comfort are superb and you do need reliable chairs at the tailgate party. Especially if you’re beer is pumping from a keg and nobody’s counting. Sure, they aren’t as comfortable as a reclining camp chair but you’ll appreciate it when you’re at a game with no bleachers. Come to think of it, you’ll probably be so drunk comfort won’t be an issue. The important thing is that they have your team logo. Period.

Remember to select your own team when you make your choice.

16. New England Patriots XL Cooler Quad Folding Chair

New England Patriots NFL Themed Chair XL

So if you’re a big fan of the Patriots, and I mean a BIG FAN then you’d better pay a little more and get this bigger version for your tailgate party guests.

Everyone needs a Coleman chair – especially an oversized version. You’ll be the coolest and coziest guy at the tailgate on this padded seat which includes a cooler that holds up to 4 cans and an ice pack. It’s the perfect chair for hours of sitting. Definitely one of the more comfortable outdoor chairs and super sturdy capable of supporting 300 lbs. Also has a mesh cup holder and 13″x9″ program holder.

17. Dallas Cowboys 10 X 10 Straight Leg Canopy Tent Shelter

NFL themed canopy – Essential Tailgate Party Gear

I prefer the straight leg canopies to the slant leg as the latter pokes over into your neighbors’ spaces and can lead to an exchange of bad language especially as the tailgating festivities ramp up. So this tent shelter is pretty awesome for setting up a self-contained tailgate party ‘kitchen’. Be sure to keep it away from the grill as the Silver coated 150D poly Oxford canopy with UPF 50+ protection will burn. It’s always safer to grill in the open air anyway.

Comes with a neat carry bag with wheels and can be erected and dismantled by one person. Again, practice this in your back yard.

TIP: To secure it on blacktop, you can’t use tent pegs because hammering them into the ground is a no-no, but just thread some rope/bungee through the hole and tie it to a sandbag at each corner.

It may seem expensive but you will be pleased after a few seasons of tailgating when this model survives and your neighbors have replaced theirs many times. It’s good quality. Also available in all teams so follow the links.

18. Coleman Dallas Cowboys 10X10 Tailgating Shelter Wall

NFL Themed Canopy Wall – essential tailgate party gear

We all need some privacy as we empty that keg and feel the effects of a fun tailgate party.

Here’s how you can protect yourself from a few embarrassing moments. Put up a one-wall screen on your canopy and still be a part of the fun with a little protection. This can be a huge shout out to your team with the Dallas Cowboys colors and logo while sheltering you from the elements. It’s from Coleman the tailgate and camping experts, with all kinds of stuff you need for outdoor living and partying.

NOTE: If you own a slanted leg canopy, you will need a different shelter wall.

If this is for camping, buy more than one.

For attaching it you can simply use clamps or bungee cord threading it through the eyelets.

19.NFL Themed Auto Folding Umbrella – San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Themed Umbrella

This is a personal umbrella, auto folding feature and will be handy for the tailgate party downpour or need for shade. You can strut your stuff in team colors with the NFL Team logo printed on it and store it in a bag when it’s not needed as it folds to a compact size. There’s a sturdy handle, rubber coated for waterproofing and it’s nicely made. Excellent gift for NFL fans.

Approx. 42″ across.

20. NFL Dallas Cowboys 62-Inch Double Canopy Umbrella

NFL themed double canopy umbrella

For tailgate parties, for golf or just for emergencies, this is the grand-daddy of all umbrellas and has a double canopy for waterproofing and a push button feature to open it. 100% nylon, nicely printed with the Dallas Cowboys’ logo and in their colors and even the base has the star on the end. The nylon sheath (for storage) has the team name printed on it. You can get any team so follow the links.

This is the real deal – super high quality.

The handle is also sturdy and made of a rubber alloy material and the wide canopy will give you some real protection from the elements. This is 62″ across and gives a lot of shade.

TIP: Check with your stadium as some do not allow umbrellas to be taken in.

THE BONUS ROUND – More Dallas Cowboys Accessories For Your Tailgate Party!

Dallas Cowboys NFL Stadium Seat

NFL Themed Stadium Seat

This is the standard stadium seat cushion and really, there’s no alternative to its nice design, with the Cowboys’ logo and colors adding a lot to its
quality. It’s made by Coleman, those kings of camping and tailgate party gear.

Made of 600D polyester, it rolls up for easy carrying and stashing, is comfortable enough to protect your sensitive areas from those tough old bleachers and gives your back a little support. It’s handy for tailgating as it takes up so little space and provides plenty of seating in the back of a truck or on your tailgate. Kids can sit in these for hours. Buy one for everybody in the family.

Don’t forget to specify ‘Dallas Cowboys’ in your order or choose another team by following the links.

Happy tailgating!

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Filed Under: Accessories, NFL Tagged With: Accessories, Dallas Cowboys, Football, NFL, Tailgate Party

Top 10 Best Tailgate Grills For The Tailgate Party

By Tailgator

If you’re the type of man who believes salad is what food eats then this post is for you! Grilling is the soul of a good tailgate party and no tailgater is complete without a good quality, portable grill. So here is a review of the best tailgate grills for your tailgate party.

Remember, no one can get fired up about the game without first having fired up the grill – and eaten enough meat to make our paleolithic ancestors proud.

You can’t just take any grill or BBQ to a tailgate party. When tailgating you need something that’s portable, reliable, robust and, most importantly, grills to perfection. It’s also essential to balance cost since not everyone can afford the latest Weber Q Portable, so this list includes affordable (but still high quality) options for those on a budget.

So here you have, in no particular order,

The Top 10 Best Tailgate Grills For The Tailgate Party.

Coleman Roadtrip Grill

1. The Coleman Road Trip LX Grill Coleman is the most familiar brand at every tailgate party (as well as most outdoor events, picnics, camping sites etc). And there is good reason: it’s a quality brand with products designed specifically for an outdoor American lifestyle. This grill is perfect for tailgating due to its portability (it’s collapsible with detachable side tables) and rugged build. The Coleman Road Trip Grill has two fully adjustable 20,000 BTU burners with an aluminium grate and griddle and has the versatility to allow for mix-and-match cooking surfaces (grill, griddle, stove). I’m a big fan of the hibachi grills but the Coleman will win you over with its clever design and neat features like the side tables, quick setup, independent burners, utensil storage hooks, removable grease pan and easy push button ignition. The grills are porcelain coated with brushed stainless-steel table inserts making it much easier to clean than others. The Coleman Road Trip Grill works with a disposable 16.4 Ounce propane cylinder or 20 pound propane tank and is covered by a 5-year warranty.

Cooking Area: 285 Square Inches
Burner: 20,000 BTU
Pros: Ultra Portable, Folds up Small, Easy Clean, Fast Ignition
Cons: Price – you pay for what you get. It’s one of the more expensive tailgating grills

Weber Q Portable Tailgating Grill

2. Weber Q 100 Portable Grill It’s hard to fault the Weber Q. It truly is a masterpiece of top quality and super compact design. It’s extremely sturdy, weather resistant, has precision controls and a well balanced cast aluminum grill that cooks to perfection. The burner runs at only 8,500 but the Weber Q works like a pressure cooker when it’s on. The cooking grates are made from porcelain enameled steel, stainless steel and porcelain enameled cast-iron which means it’s durable and easy to clean. The proof really is in the cooking and anyone who has used a Weber BBQ before knows that cooking meat is perfection in one of these beauties. Steaks and chops sear succulently in the Q. For the traditionalist there is always the Jumbo Joe. Comes with a 5-year warranty.

Cooking Area: 189 Square Inches
Burner: 8,500 BTU
Pros: Cooks perfectly, Portable, Robust, Easy to Clean, Fast Ignition
Cons: Small Cooking Area relative to other highend grills

Picnic Time Tailgating Grill Set

3. Picnic Time Vulcan All-In-One Tailgaiting Cooler/BBQ Set with Trolley This great set-up has everything you need in one convenient tote. It’s not just a BBQ, it’s a cooler, storage bag and trolley. It’s big enough to hold 24 cans of soda and comes with three BBQ tools. The grill itself is nothing fancy but this is all about portability and convenience.

Cooking Area: 180 Square Inches
Burner: Propane
Pros: Very portable, multi-purpose grill and cooler and tote. Super convenient.
Cons: Not a great grill but does the trick. Price.

Weber Go Anywhere Charcoal Grill

4. Weber Go-Anywhere Grill This is the super-affordable, super portable, super convenient, no mess, no fuss option for those wanting something simple, cheap and effective for their tailgate party. Well, it’s not actually ‘no mess’. It’s more like ‘less mess, less fuss’. But the grilling bars are triple nickle-coated while the bowl and lid are porcelain enameled making them easy to clean and the unit itself is so minimal that there isn’t really much to go wrong. The design is for compactness: the nickel-plated legs fold up to lock the lid in place for travel and storage and, when in use, the lid can be fit to the hangers on the side of the grill and acts as a wind barrier. But this is no light-weight. Being a Weber™ it has a well designed grill using patented ‘Flavorizer’ technology which basically means it can cook a good steak. There are both options: propane and charcoal (which is the same grill unit fueled with charcoal or gas).

Cooking Area: 160 Square Inches
Burner: Disposable 1-pound LP cylinder.
Pros: Ultra-compact and portable. Simple. Affordable. Good griller.
Cons: Small Cooking Area, Legs can be unsturdy. Sits low to the ground.

Smokey Joe Tailgating Grill

5. Weber Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill The Smokey Joe might just be one of the greatest inventions ever made! So simple yet so effective it really is ideal for grilling at the tailgate party but should also be the required accessory to any meeting – or, should that be “meating”. It’s small and it grills. And the reason it is such a good griller is the Weber patented design triple nickle-plated grill. All essential parts are porcelain-coated for easy cleaning and weather-proofing, while the handle is glass reinforced nylon to keep it from heating. That’s why the Smokey Joe comes with a 10-year warranty.

Cooking Area: 147 Square Inches
Burner: Charcoal
Pros: Very affordable. Can use anywhere. Grills nice.
Cons: Legs a little unsturdy. Small grilling area. Sits low to the ground.

Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill

6. Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill If ever a grill had “Tailgate Party” written all over it, it was the Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill. It’s rugged, very easy to clean, has no gimmicky parts and grills better than anything on the market. The draft door allows you to regulate heat so the Sportsman’s Grill can be used for heating, grilling as well as frying. But you have to be careful with a grill like this since hibachis get extremely hot. But what’s a few 3rd degrees burns between friends when you’re eating a perfectly seared steak and a couple of kabobs!

Cooking Area: 153 Square Inches
Burner: Charcoal
Pros: Anything cooked on this will be delicious. Easy to clean. Affordable.
Cons: Heavy. Takes time to cool. Slightly dangerous. Needs maintenance (oiling) every now and then.
RRP: $107.99 – ($69.97 on Amazon.)

7. Fire Sense Notebook Charcoal Grill A clever idea that saves a lot of space, the Fire Sense folds up like a notebook for storage down to a width of 1-inch. This is perfect for those with a small car or a motor bike who have limited carriage space. The setup is an extremely simple two-step process and it sits slightly higher than some of the other grills at just over 14-inches. However, the painted steel isn’t as robust as the porcelain coated grills and, because of the patented design, charcoal can fall out the bottom of the grill while barbequing.

Cooking Area: Approx 150 Square Inches
Burner: Charcoal
Pros: Very portable. Great for storage. Quick setup.
Cons: Not robust. Charcoal Embers not secure.

Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill

8. Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill The GrateLifter is a very high quality, durable charcoal grill from Cuisinart that has some really nifty features that make it stand out from the others. It has a large cooking area which is attached to the porcelain enamel cover and designed to lift up away from the charcoal bed so you can access the charcoal underneath. The base is very sturdy the the ash collection bin handy for easy cleaning. The GrateLifter also has a temperature gauge built into the lid so you can manage the temperature which is regulated by the precision designed air flow system. This is a very capable grill but, unlike a few others, doesn’t come with side tables or a lock. A lock really is essential for portable grills since you need to avoid spillage during transport!

Cooking Area: 240 Square Inches.
Burner: Charcoal.
Pros: Very capable grill. Robust. Quick setup. Sturdy. Looks nice.
Cons: No side tables. No lock. Pricey.

Bayou Classic Fold and Go Charcoal Grill

9. Bayou Classic Fold & Go Grill The Bayou is exactly what its name suggests: A Classic. When you want simple design you can’t get much more simple that this. The Bayou is focused on essentials: portability and large grilling area. It’s decent quality stainless steel grill is 198 square-inches and the body is black powdercoat finished. It’s cheap, compact, heats up fast and grills well. On the downside it isn’t made from top quality materials and won’t last many seasons of hard-core tailgate grilling. It also doesn’t have an efficient safe catchment area for the undercarriage so you wouldn’t want to use this on any flammable areas.

Cooking Area: 198 Square Inches.
Burner: Charcoal.
Pros: Cheap. Portable. Light weight. Simple. Fast set-up.
Cons: Not durable. Not weather-proof.

Margaritaville G1000 Tailgating Propane Grill

Margaritaville Tailgating Propane Grill

10. Margaritaville G1000 Ride-Behind Tailgating Propane Grill The G1000 was designed for the Tailgate Party to be used by the Tailgater while Tailgating.

UPDATE: August 2016: The Margaritaville is unfortunately no longer available! We’ll have updates as soon as it’s back on the market, or we find a better alternative tailgating grill.

It has a swing-out travel arm that attaches directly to the back of a standard 2-inch hitch receiver. But it’s not just a gimmick. This grill packs some real punch with 352 square inches of cooking surface it’s enough to grill up to 20 hamburgers or 4 or 5 good sized steaks with room for some corn. The grill is made from heavy-duty porcelain coated steel and the Margaritaville also features 2 resin side tables, fold down front condiment tray, utensil hooks and has integrated legs if you want to put it on a tab-top. Like the Coleman, it has push-button ignition for matchless startup but has a shorter warranty period of 3 years. It is designed for use with a 1-pound propane tank. This is really one very capable grill that won’t take up any space inside your SUV since it hitches to the back.

Cooking Area: 352 Square Inches
Burner: 20,000 BTU
Pros: Ultra Portable (fits to the back of your vehicle); Robust; Easy to Clean; Fast Ignition
Cons: Price; can only be used on a flat surface

BONUS TAILGATE GRILLS:

So that’s the top 10 best grills for your tailgate party. And now for the bonus round!

Here are 4 fantastic little units by Coleman plus 1 from Cuisineart. They aren’t the greatest grills on earth but are really suitable to tailgating because of their small, compact size and clever portable design.

Coleman Roadtrip Tailgate Party Grill

1. Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill A cute little grill designed specifically with tailgating in mind. It uses a small 8,000 BTU burner but the grill is balanced for even cooking via the Perfectflow flame regulator (though it tends to grill hotter in the center like most single burner grills). Like the high-end Coleman grills it has matchless lighting via the InstaStart Ignition and all the components are detachable so you can fold up the unit and pack it away in the carry-bag. Every part of the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill (except the burners) are dishwasher machine safe which is awesome. It’s not a very sturdy grill but it is easy to set up and very small and portable.

Cooking Area: Approx. 120Square Inches
Burner: 8,000 BPU
Pros: Small. Cheap. Portable. Light Weight.
Cons: Unbalanced cooking surface. Not sturdy.

Coleman RoadTrip Sport Charcoal Grill

2. Coleman RoadTrip Sport Charcoal Grill The smaller cousin to the RoadTrip LX, the Coleman RoadTrip Sport is a decent grill at a decent price and very handy for tailgating. It has a generous 225 Square Inches of grilling area and a porcelain coated grate. It’s lightweight and easy to set up with collapsible legs that improve storage. It does lack the ability to raise or lower the gridiron which means that controlling the temperature is only done by controlling the amount or position of charcoal. The frame is made from durable steel but the handles are plastic.

Cooking Area: 225 Square Inches.
Burner: Charcoal.
Pros: Portable. Fold-up. Easy Setup. Wheels.
Cons: Not as robust as more expensive grills.

Coleman PerfectFlow Insta Start Propane Grill

3. Coleman PerfectFlow Insta Start Propane Grill A fantastic little grill that is really simple to set up, has a generous grilling area, a quality burner as well as many of the features of the higher-end Coleman grills such as InstaStart matchless lighting, Perfect Flow pressure-control system for consistent cooking performance regardless of the weather or amount of fuel left, Windblock windshield which double up as a side-table, and a grease management system with a removable dishwasher safe tray. The grill plate is good quality die-cast aluminum plated.

Cooking Area: 180 Square Inches
Burner: 11,000 BTU
Pros: Portable. Even cooking. Fast setup. Works when windy.
Cons: Difficult to clean. Not designed to cook with lid down.

Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill

4. Coleman Fold N Go InstaStart Portable Grill The little brother to the Coleman PerfectFlow at the same price but with more compact size and portability but reduced cooking area and burner power. The Fold N Go really is just what the name suggests. At just 11 pounds it’s light enough for pretty much anyone to carry under one arm which still including the patented Coleman InstaStart matchless ignition as well as dishwasher safe removable porcelain-coated stamped-steel grate and water-tray/grease pan. The dome-shaped lid makes it great for “real grill” cooking performance and heating efficiency. A convenient carry handle and secure lid latch make for easy transport; folding metal feet and handle tuck out of the way when not in use, for compact storage. It tends to be good for things like burgers and wieners.

Cooking Area: 100 Square Inches
Burner: 6,000 BTU
Pros: Ultra compact. Well designed for less mess and easy cleanup.
Cons: Small grilling area. Low cooking temperature.

Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill

5. Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill Said by some to be the perfect grill for the tailgate party, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet has a great fold up design with a ‘briefcase’ handle and is lockable for safe transport. There’s enough room on the cooking area for 8 burgers, 10 chicken breasts or 4 p0ounds of fish. The aluminum legs fold up and out quickly and are very sturdy plus there is a very effective drip tray and an optional carry-bag (that doubles up as a cover).

Cooking Area: 145 Square Inches
Burner: 5,500 BTU
Pros: Ultra compact. Great, portable design. Generous cooking area. Strong burners.
Cons: Not as large as some of the more expensive grills.

Filed Under: Accessories, Food Tagged With: Accessories, Food, Grills, Tailgate, Tailgating