Specifications
- 18-inch diameter primary grilling surface (270 square inches primary with 604 square inches of total cooking space)
- Cast iron and steel vents
- Thick ceramic body
- Stainless steel cooking grates
- Electric hot contact ignition
- Spring loaded lid for easy lifting
- Removable ash drawer
- Vinyl cover included
- Made in China by Vision Grills
Full Review – Vision C-Series Kamado Grill
PROS
- Removable Ash Drawer
- Electric Charcoal Starter
- Numbered Dial Vents
- Two Level Cooking Grates
- Inexpensive
CONS
- Low Construction Quality
- Many Points of Failure
- Limited Support
Kamado grills started out as a relatively expensive, specialty charcoal grill. As they gained in popularity more companies started making them and they started showing up in all kinds of stores. The original makers stuck to a distribution system that favored small, local retailers and avoided the big box stores. This left the door wide open for Vision Grills.
These Chinese imported grills can be found in a wide range of stores, most notably, Home Depot, but also online through Amazon. They are not the same quality as other Kamado grills, but they balance price with features. The Vision Professional Grill C-Series has things like an electric charcoal starter option. Basically, this is an old-style electric heating element that can be inserted through a door in the front of the grill. While some of these features are nice additions, they kind of work against the simplicity that makes a great Kamado Grill.
Kamado grills work by holding in heat through superior insulation (typically the ceramic shell) and limiting airflow by being a sealed unit with a single intake and exhaust vents. The Vision grill has a number of ‘holes’ in the body of the grill. This makes for a large number of points of failure and can cause problems with the airflow. While I like the numbered dial vents, this isn’t a high-quality product.
Now, for around $900USD you get the complete unit. This makes this Kamado Grill much less expensive than the better brands. You get the ignition system I mentioned as well as legs for it to stand on and a pair of side tables. A comparable setup with a better grill would be several hundred more. Take this into consideration when deciding on a Kamado Grill. There is a definite tradeoff.
