After reading about the issues with the OEM cover and a few positive posts about coverstore.com, I decided to take advantage of a recent sale on their website to try it out.
My grill will be facing the sun/rain and running into a lot wind and small branches. So I opted for their Ultima line, which uses the heavier 600D nylon. The fabric is substantially thicker than my other OEM covers.
There are two choices in size: 29” and 34”, but the site doesn’t explicitly state that the smaller is for the Classic and the larger is for the Big Joes. I initially purchased the 29” and while it does cover the Classic 3, it’s a rather snug fit and it takes some finagling to get the cover on and off the grill. The bottom of the cover doesn’t drape completely over the wheels and will actually rest slightly above because the legs flare out a little wider than the diameter of the cover. In addition, the top of the cover that goes over the air vent is also snug and will detach the upper part of the vent if you pull the cover off quickly.
I decided to return the 29” and get the 34” cover instead, which is what the picture shows. The fit is looser and is much easier to take on and off, especially with the stiffer Ultimate fabric. The cover now drapes over the top of the wheels but still leaves some space on the bottom for ventilation. There’s also a hidden flap for additional ventilation, which is nice. The buckles and pull cords on the bottom should help prevent strong winds from stripping the cover off. The top is still snug around the air vent but it’s easy to pull off if you’re mindful about it.
Overall I’m fairly satisfied with the fabric quality, which is something that makes Coverstore stand out. I think the smaller size is better suited for the Classic 1 & 2. Perhaps a revision could offer a more tailored fit for the Classic 3 but in the meantime I recommend folks opt for the 34” cover.
by Tanque1308