Hans Plads Tool Box Grill

Cost: $50 for charcoal; $65 for gas
Contact: 800-227-3861; www.toolboxgrill.com

Do you remember at family picnics and gatherings that fourth-removed uncle who always insisted on working the grill? He would endlessly slave over the flames barbecuing up everything he could get his hands on. Heck, he would have kept grilling into the wee hours of the morning if he could have taken the grill with him. Now, thanks to the Tool Box Grill, that annoying uncle can continue his obsessive cooking habits long after your aunt has dragged him home.

The Tool Box Grill is the latest in portable cookware from Hans Plads and it fits in just as well with the MTB crowd as it does with the grill-hungry uncle types. The Tool Box's heavy-duty 20 gauge steel construction and 152-square-inch cooking area make it extremely tough yet easy to carry around. The grill and coal basket are nickel-plated and the vent-free box design keeps charcoal dust inside when transporting.

For people who prefer to cook with gas, Hans Plads also makes a propane version. And to top it all off, there is a tool tray accessory kit available that fits inside the charcoal or gas grills just like a normal tool box tray. The kit includes spatula, tongs, knife and fork, and comes with plastic handles.--Pat Corran