Schickling Walter XL Basic

The Walter XL Basic is the simplest of four versions of a charcoal grill trolley that Schickling, by its own account, makes in Visbek. It has no lid. On Amazon it costs approx. €475 (as of 5 October 2026), and in the Schickling shop the same amount was shown on 14 October 2026.

We rely on the manufacturer’s pages (retrieved 14 October 2026) and the Amazon catalogue data. The sources contradict each other on several points, from material to weight to the number of people. We have not handled the grill and have not grilled anything on it: what is written here is either a manufacturer’s statement or our interpretation of it, and where Schickling contradicts itself, we show both places.

Basic, Classic, Deluxe, Pro: where the Basic stands

Schickling offers the Walter XL in four versions, each with its own product page. The Basic’s equipment list ticks off ash tray, charcoal tray and height adjustment, and marks side shelf, grill lid, swivel castor, base cabinet and rotisserie as not included. The Classic adds a double-walled stainless steel lid with a thermometer and two side shelves, the Deluxe also a base cabinet and swivel castors, and the Pro a rotisserie set.

The prices in the manufacturer’s shop: Basic €475, Classic €833, Deluxe €1,071, Pro €1,246; the weights according to the product pages are 27.5, 51, 66.5 and 69.5 kg. In the shop the Classic therefore costs €358 more than the Basic and weighs 23.5 kg more. The higher versions are priced in line with the individual parts. From Classic to Deluxe it is €238, while the swivel castor set (€39.50) and base cabinet (€199) cost €238.50 individually. From Deluxe to Pro it is €175, as much as the rotisserie with back burner costs individually.

Behind the brand is EdelDesign GmbH in Visbek, Lower Saxony. Schickling Grill has existed since 2014 by its own account, founded by the brothers Philipp and Oliver Schickling. The product page says “100% Made in Germany”, and the manufacturer says it makes everything metal itself: the stainless steel sheets are cut, folded, welded, ground and assembled. Parts such as the thermometer or wheels are bought in; “100% Made in Germany” therefore does not mean that every component is made in Visbek. As its target group, Schickling describes people who value classic grilling over direct embers and still want control over heat and grilling methods. In our catalogue the Basic is listed under charcoal grills.

Is the Walter XL Basic entirely stainless steel?

This cannot be said with certainty, because Schickling contradicts itself. The Basic page says the complete grill trolley is made of stainless steel; the model selection page for all Walter versions names galvanised and powder-coated steel for all black coated components, especially in the base structure.

The model selection page is more specific about which grade is where: stainless steel 1.4301 (V2A) for the grates and load-bearing components such as the grill legs, stainless steel 1.4016 where no direct heat acts, for example the base plate. The structured data of the Basic page lists 1.4016 and 1.4301, while the model selection FAQ also lists V4A. For context from materials science, not from Schickling: 1.4301 is the common chromium-nickel steel, 1.4016 a nickel-free chromium steel with smaller reserves against corrosion.

The other places diverge. The material comparison on the category page also lists galvanised and powder-coated steel for Schickling charcoal grills; the Walter block of the same page, on the other hand, advertises “Material: 100% stainless steel” and carries the figures of the smaller Willy L, which is why we give it less weight. The general FAQ lists only two painted or powder-coated components across the whole range, gas bottle holder and base cabinet; the Basic has neither. According to its product page, the housing of the base cabinet from the accessories is made of galvanised and powder-coated steel, and only the door fronts are stainless steel. That every screw and rivet is stainless steel is stated only in the Amazon listing.

In the product photo, frame, tray, grate and the shelf between the legs are silver, and only the wheels and the handle ends are black. That is no substitute for a parts list. We therefore write “mostly stainless steel according to Schickling” and do not adopt “100% stainless steel” as our own statement.

Even stainless steel does not stay flawless by itself. In its FAQ, Schickling explains flash rust: foreign rust particles from dust, pollen or metal abrasion settle on the surface and show up as brown dots. According to the FAQ, stainless steel does not need to be oiled. How to deal with rust on a grill in general is covered in our guide Rusty grill: what to do?.

In detail: charcoal tray, grate and zones

On the Walter XL it is not the grate that is adjusted but the charcoal tray. According to Schickling it can be set to five levels, so that the distance between embers and grate changes, and with it the heat reaching the food. The Amazon listing calls the five heights “infinitely adjustable”; five fixed positions and “infinitely” rule each other out, and we follow the manufacturer. The handles of the height adjustment stay cool according to its statement. The principle: the closer the embers are to the grate, the more heat arrives there, and in the lower tray positions it gets milder at the grate.

At the front there is a flap that serves as a heat shield and makes refilling charcoal easier. It gets hot, which is why Schickling says to always wear grill gloves. The stainless steel ash tray pulls out to the front. As fuel, Schickling names charcoal, briquettes and split logs, and the Amazon listing says the same. What to bear in mind with charcoal and briquettes is explained in our guide Charcoal or briquettes.

The grate measures 71 × 45 cm and consists of four stainless steel segments with 6 mm thick bars and 1.2 cm spacing. The segments can be removed, and according to Schickling you can replace the four-part grate with plancha inserts, cast iron grates or grill pans; prices for these are in the FAQ below. On the number of people, Schickling writes “up to 20 people” on the product page, model selection and category page, whereas in the buying checklist of the model selection page it says “up to 10 people”. For larger groups we would plan with the smaller number.

Two Schickling statements do not fit together on the question of how far the Basic gets without a lid. The Basic page says the height-adjustable charcoal tray allows different methods, “from direct to indirect grilling”. The manufacturer’s blog, on the other hand, says: “For indirect grilling you absolutely need a lid.” The Basic has none.

Indirect means: embers on one side, food beside them, lid closed, so that the hot air circulates around the piece instead of escaping upwards. Without a lid, what remains is the division into zones. For this Schickling sells two stainless steel charcoal dividers, 1 mm thick, as a 2-piece set for €17.50; they divide the charcoal tray into areas with different temperatures. Our assessment: with the dividers you create a hot and a milder side, but for thick pieces that need to cook long and gently you need the lid. How zones can be set up is explained in our guide Using direct vs. indirect heat properly.

Kit, dimensions, weight and wheels

According to the FAQ, the Basic is a kit. Schickling lists four pre-assembled models there (Big Rocket, Rocket, Einbau Big Rocket, Profistar), all other grills come as a kit in sturdy packages with assembly instructions, and the Walter XL is not among the pre-assembled ones. Assembly takes between 2 and 4 hours depending on model and experience.

The weight is given three different ways: 27.5 kg in the text of the product page, 31 kg in the machine-readable page data, 30.0 kg in the Amazon catalogue (66.14 pounds).

On dimensions, the manufacturer’s infographic shows 95 cm, 92 cm and 58 cm. The dimensioned drawing on the product page adds 104 cm as the maximum height, and the 95 cm there is the working height. According to the drawing, the 104 cm reach to the top edge of the sheet behind the grate. As a footprint you can reckon with about 92 × 58 cm, and in the photo handles protrude sideways beyond the body. The Amazon catalogue swaps height and width; we follow Schickling.

In the product photo, two wheels sit at one end of the frame, and at the other end the trolley stands on feet. The equipment list marks the swivel castor as not included on the Basic. A swivel castor set can be added for €39.50: two castors of 75 mm diameter, 100 kg load capacity each and a brake with direction lock, according to Schickling also for the Walter XL. The category page lists “max. 2 swivel castors” as mobility for the Walter.

Accessories and what the Basic costs in the end

The lid for the Walter XL costs €260. According to Schickling it is double-walled at the top and has an integrated thermometer and two air vents. Together with the Basic that comes to €735. The Classic costs €833 in the Schickling shop, and so €98 more. Two side tables at €49 each would give exactly this €98, if the price applies per piece; the accessories page says nothing about this, and whether the accessory lid matches that of the Classic is also open. The side table XL measures 49 × 31 cm, can be folded down and removed, and carries more than 20 kg. The Classic page describes its side shelves as 45 × 31 cm and up to 25 kg, so it is not the same part.

The Defender XL cover costs €49.50, is made of 600 D polyester, measures 1196 × 1244 × 674 mm, weighs 2.7 kg, is water-repellent and has Velcro fasteners. Schickling calls it tailor-made for the Hermann XL gas grill and the Walter XL charcoal grill and says a cover is highly recommended, especially if the grill stands outdoors all year round. We would put it on only once grill and charcoal have cooled down completely. The stainless steel chimney starter costs €42.50.

The shop lists the rotisserie with back burner for €175: an electric 5 watt motor turns the 10 mm spit at two revolutions per minute, up to 6 kg of food, with and without a lid. The base cabinet costs €199 and holds around 160 litres.

The Basic with cover, chimney starter and the two charcoal dividers comes to €584.50 by our calculation. Add the lid and swivel castors and it is €884, excluding fuel, assembly service and shipping.

As a wear part, Schickling names the charcoal tray, which will eventually need replacing after many years of intensive use. Spare parts are available directly from the manufacturer, ordered by phone or email.

Safety and care: what Schickling writes

We did not find an operating manual for the Walter XL online, neither as a PDF nor on product pages, FAQ or blog; according to the FAQ, every grill comes with assembly instructions. What is written here comes from Schickling’s blog, FAQ and category page and applies there to charcoal grills in general or to grills in general, not specifically to the Walter XL.

The blog post on whether a charcoal grill is the right choice contains a safety list with eight points:

• make sure it is stable, ideally on concrete or asphalt, to avoid tipping
• “Only use outdoors, such as on a terrace!”
• no flammable materials such as garden furniture, leaves or curtains in the immediate vicinity
• keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher ready to react quickly in an emergency
• use a chimney starter for controlled and safe lighting
• do not leave the charcoal grill unattended while in use
• wear heat-resistant grill gloves and keep children and pets away while the grill is in use or still hot
• let grill and charcoal cool down completely after use before you clean or dispose of the ash

Elsewhere on the same page it says to light the chimney starter only outdoors and to make sure it is stable and on level ground. The lighting blog says, among other things: do not use methylated spirits or petrol, make sure the surface is fireproof, especially on a terrace.

In its section on safety and technology, the general FAQ mostly deals with gas grills. It advises at least 50 cm distance from walls, furniture and other flammable materials, requires a stable, level and non-flammable surface, considers adequate ventilation decisive under a roof, and says never to leave the grill unattended.

For balcony and garden, according to the category page: on a balcony the smoke from charcoal is often problematic, and Schickling points to its gas grills there. In the garden, grilling is generally allowed as long as smoke does not cause a lasting nuisance. According to Schickling’s page on grilling with charcoal, flying sparks can become a problem in wind, so keep away from hedges, furniture and the edge of the balcony or garden. What your tenancy agreement and house rules say about this is covered in our guide Grilling on a balcony.

As a general rule for every charcoal grill, regardless of Schickling: smouldering charcoal releases carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas that collects in enclosed spaces. The grill therefore never belongs in a garage, tent or living space.

On cleaning, the page on charcoal grill trolleys says the stainless steel grate elements are dishwasher-safe; the Walter page does not say this explicitly. According to the FAQ you should avoid aggressive scouring agents and steel wool. According to the category page, the ash tray should be emptied regularly and wiped with a dry cloth, and the blog requires letting the grill cool down completely before cleaning.

What Schickling does not state

On the Schickling pages we read (retrieved 14 October 2026), the following information on the Basic is missing:

• an operating or assembly manual as a download
• placement advice that explicitly applies to the Walter XL, such as distances and balcony use
• a note on carbon monoxide
• an instruction on extinguishing the embers; the blog only requires cooling down
• maximum temperature, heat-up time and burn time; the 500 °C is the display range of the lid thermometer, and the Basic has no lid
• capacity of the charcoal tray, maximum amount of charcoal and model-specific consumption of charcoal or wood
• log size, quantity and temperature control with split logs
• how the air supply is regulated on the Basic; Schickling describes thermometer and air vents only for the lid
• sheet thicknesses of body, charcoal tray and frame, weight of the charcoal tray, load capacity of the grate
• material of screws and rivets
• which components of the Basic are coated and which component is made of V4A
• number, material and diameter of the wheels, fixed or swivelling
• a clear weight and a dimension table with height, width and depth
• the calculation behind the number of people
• scope of delivery and packing list, shipping method, packed dimensions
• test marks or standard testing such as EN 1860-1 (a European standard for barbecues) or GS (a German safety mark)
• a manufacturer’s guarantee beyond the statutory warranty
• the price of a replacement charcoal tray

What else comes into question?

Three grills from our catalogue, each for a different reason:

The prices are guide values from our price boxes and change; we took the price of the Walter XL from the Amazon catalogue of 5 October 2026. The rating is our editorial assessment from the data comparison, not a measurement result. For the PK360 the guide value is unconfirmed, as pkgrills.com lists the model at US$999.99. The HUB II is in the table as a counterpoint, not as a competitor. Our charcoal grill comparison shows more models.

Who the Basic suits, and when another grill is better

On grate area, only the HUB II has more in our table: 71 × 45 cm is arithmetically 3,195 cm² (our multiplication of Schickling’s figure), and Everdure gives 3,270 cm² for the HUB II. Related to price, that is about 6.7 cm² per euro for the Basic, 2.7 for the Willy L Classic and 1.3 for the HUB II; for the PK360 this cannot be calculated reliably, because PK Grills gives 24.8 × 15.8 inches and 360 square inches at the same time and its price in our file is unconfirmed. If you regularly grill for larger groups, you therefore get the most area for your money in this selection, provided you grill openly.

If you want to cook indirectly, according to the manufacturer’s blog you need a lid. With it, the Walter costs €735, €72 more than the Willy L Classic, which brings a lid and shelves and in return has only a 55 × 33 cm grate. The PK360 is arithmetically €24 above the Basic (guide value €499, unconfirmed) and according to the manufacturer has a cast aluminium body with a lid and four vents, but less grate area; the HUB II costs €2,028 more and lights the charcoal with a heating coil. For the Basic the manufacturer recommends the chimney starter; electricity appears on its pages only with the rotisserie motor.

For the location, 92 × 58 cm of footprint and 27.5 to 31 kg count, depending on the source. Schickling describes its charcoal grills as suitable for use in winter; a cover then belongs in the calculation. On a balcony, the house rules first clarify whether charcoal is allowed, and whether a charcoal grill suits your everyday life at all is shown by the Grill Finder. Schickling itself counts longer heat-up times, somewhat more effort when lighting and smoke among the disadvantages of charcoal grills; with the Basic there are also the 2 to 4 hours of assembly.

The Basic is wrong for anyone who wants to grill spontaneously and quickly, and for balconies where smoke is not cleared. It is also wrong for anyone buying because of “entirely stainless steel”: ask Schickling first which components of the Basic are coated.