Review of BGE custom islands

Gdhoosier

I haven't been able to find any real reviews of the BGE custom cooking islands (standard and compact), so now that I have both, I thought I would post my thoughts in case that might help others.  Here are my early thoughts (after only a couple weeks having them):

Pros:
Appearance - my wife strongly preferred the BGE tables to the Challenger tables, primarily due to the unique shape and design.  Seemed a bit more organic versus all 90 degree angles, etc.  
Both units seems very well-built and water tight.  
Lots of available work surface around the eggs.
Storage in the standard custom island is outstanding.  I can fit 3 bags of charcoal on the left side and another one on the right side if needed, plus all of my Eggcessories with plenty of room to spare.  Beneath the egg, there is a sliding drawer where I keep my placesetter and pizza stone, and then is room below that for whatever (tools, starters, etc.).  The right cabinet has a paper towel holder, which is really nice, and the left cabinet has hooks for tools.
Covers - it's nice to be able to buy stock covers for each island,  Even though the cabinets are both water tight, I ilke having the extra coverage and protection of the covers.

Cons:
Compact island - there just isn't much storage.  I couldn't fit a bag of charcoal on the right right side, so I'm sure it would be the same on the left side if I tried to remove the shelf.  The storage underneath is fine for place setter, etc., but if this were my only cooking table, I would be disappointed.
Height - I am very tall, so for the standard custom island, it worked out great, but for most people, the height of the egg would be too tall.  I have an XL in that table, and even for me, it is at max height.  For someone below 6' tall, I am not sure what you would do.  The height of the egg in the compact island seems OK, and the size of the storage area below the egg in the compact island is lower than in the standard island, so I imagine that is the reason for the difference.  Not sure why BGE made the heights different.
Standard island - if you get it for the XL, you lose the handy tool storage and hook for the cooking grid, which is disappointing.  Not a big deal, but it is a nice feature if you get the island for the large egg.

At the end of the day, if you are looking for a table, I would definitely recommend the standard cooking island (if you are tall) but not really the compact island.  I think the compact island is great for a second egg, but I don't think it would be sufficient for your primary egg.  I will update this if my thinking changes are more use...

snoqualmiesmoker

Was just looking at both. Egg one looks pretty cool. Saw both full size and compact. 

SoCalTim

Hey brother, I'd sure love seeing pictures of the islands and your setups.

blasting

Great review.  Thanks for taking the time.

Gdhoosier

Here are some pictures as requested...

Tspud1

I thought Challenger made the Green Egg table

pgprescott

Tspud1 said:

I thought Challenger made the Green Egg table

They do. The shape and paint are exclusive to BGE as part of their deal. 

pgprescott

@Gdhoosier you can fit 10# bag of lump on the compact table. I like the 10# bags because they are less likely to be damaged due to the lower weight per bag. Just less weight per bag when stacked on the pellets. Thanks for the write up. 

Gdhoosier

pgprescott said:

@Gdhoosier you can fit 10# bag of lump on the compact table. I like the 10# bags because they are less likely to be damaged due to the lower weight per bag. Just less weight per bag when stacked on the pellets. Thanks for the write up. 

Good to know about the 10# bags!  Thanks for sharing - I will have to pick some up.

Gdhoosier

Yep - that's correct - sorry for the confusion. 

pgprescott said:

Tspud1 said:

I thought Challenger made the Green Egg table

They do. The shape and paint are exclusive to BGE as part of their deal. 

Gdhoosier

I decided to decorate a bit around the Eggs. A little signage, a "dinner bell" triangle, and the BGE bottle opener. 

Gdhoosier

Not sure why the pics didn't attach...

Monty77

I love mine too, well made and very handy.  My large and Mini Max reside in my island.  I have had mine for over a year now and it still looks like new!  

Gdhoosier

Excellent!  I am so tempted to get a Mini-max - your picture is tempting me... Glad to see the island is holding up nicely.

bessburton

HI, new to the blog here but have a large green egg.  Couple years ago I got my husband a cabinet island made by Select Outdoor Kitchens, the Finley.  It has the granite top and cabinet below.  Can't remember how much but it was not cheap. Cabinet leaks and always has.  Drawer most always has water in it and water even gets into the lower cabinet storage areas. Been looking at the Bigger GE island as it 'says' it is water tight.  Have you had yours thru rain, without cover? Ours will be setting out on a deck with no roof over it.  I love the amt of storage it has. We are seniors and both under 5'5 and you remarked it was best for taller folks.  If we had a large BGE and not the XL, do you think that would work for us?  Thanks for the infro.  Had not known of a height problem, just really want to be sure they are water tight.

pgprescott

bessburton said:

HI, new to the blog here but have a large green egg.  Couple years ago I got my husband a cabinet island made by Select Outdoor Kitchens, the Finley.  It has the granite top and cabinet below.  Can't remember how much but it was not cheap. Cabinet leaks and always has.  Drawer most always has water in it and water even gets into the lower cabinet storage areas. Been looking at the Bigger GE island as it 'says' it is water tight.  Have you had yours thru rain, without cover? Ours will be setting out on a deck with no roof over it.  I love the amt of storage it has. We are seniors and both under 5'5 and you remarked it was best for taller folks.  If we had a large BGE and not the XL, do you think that would work for us?  Thanks for the infro.  Had not known of a height problem, just really want to be sure they are water tight.

I always put a table nest under the egg which raises it 2". They say you don't need the table nest for these tables, so I guess you could set it directly on the shelf and that would lower the egg 2" from what we usually do.

Photo Egg

Those are nice tables.
I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Be careful with chemicals around your powder coated tables. There was a post not to long ago and someone put a can of bug spray on their table. Must have had some that ran down the can and it ate the paint right off the table top.
I'm not saying this is the same brand of table or paint type, just to be careful.