I've got a little electric smoker my in laws got me a few years ago but i'm looking to upgrade to a real one. My budget is sub $500. Looking at the Weber 22'' smokey mountain cooker. Have heard good things about pit boss and trager as well
With a Smokey Mountain and I would get the 22 over the 18. I have a Pt Barrel Cooker and I enjoy it. I do mostly beef and pork. I do one turkey a year usually after thanksgiving. I’ll do wings too.
If you already have an electric one for set it and forget it - do you want to tend your stuff?
Offset smokers are the real deal. Nothing fancy needed.
If you want a bullet style - webers are pretty good. I have one. Easy ribs. Easy pork and brisket. There is the water pan you have to clean but other than that turn key, no fuss.
Traegers are basically fake electric smokers but the flavor is great. If you have a costco usually pellets can be gotten there. Again - not a ‘real’ grill or smoker but the outcomes are tasty as hell.
If it's occasionally making a brisket or some ribs, I'd recommend getting a regular 22" kettle. You can smoke on that thing just as well as a WSM. Plus it offers a lot more versatility. There's a whole host of accessories made for it.
I grabbed a used Weber Performer off FB marketplace for $50. Cleaned it up and replaced the grill grate. Thing is outstanding and I honestly use it for damn near anything. Only time I use my WSM now is when I'm hosting a big bbq for close to 30 ppl.
Personally I like the set it and forget it of the pellet grills. I can put something on the smoker on the weekend and check it a few times and it just goes. Idiot proof which is nice because I’m an idiot. Rectec is another one I’ve heard good things about. But For me the key is pellets over fire management. I work from home so it’s a weekday option for me because of that. Pork butt on in the morning. Check it a couple times and delicious at dinner.
If you want the legit charcoal/smoke box experience go with WSM, I think.
I didn't want to spend too much at first then ended up dropping a grand on a Weber SmokeFire and love it. A friend of mine has a Traeger and loves that also.
I love the set it and forget it convenience of a pellet grill and don't think I would have had an interest going a charcoal route, though Masterbuilt has a charcoal gravity smoker that's supposed to produce great results. Only problem I've read there is that the parts for the hopper can start to go bad quickly, but who knows if they've improved that.
I'd recommend looking at Traeger and Camp Chef for what your budget is. Personally, I've loved my SmokeFire, there's been some hiccups here and there, but nothing I haven't been able to work around or solve, mostly software related that I'm sure they'll iron out the kinks for over time. Two of the biggest reasons I got the SF is that it gets to 600 degrees for great searing (other pellet grills/smokers usually top out in the 450-500 range) and that it seems to produce better smoke and flavor than some others. Can't speak to the smoke/flavor difference to other smokers from my own experience as this is the only one I've owned, but going off of others comments/reviews that have owned other pellet smokers.
With a Smokey Mountain and I would get the 22 over the 18. I have a Pt Barrel Cooker and I enjoy it. I do mostly beef and pork. I do one turkey a year usually after thanksgiving. I’ll do wings too.
I would +1 this. I never had a smokey mountain but I had a generic bullet smoker that worked really well, and Weber is so reliable.
is a great smoker. I had both the 18 and 22. My sister is a rep for Weber, actually earned Queen of Weber one year. So I am biased in that regard since my equipment is usually discounted or free.
Everyone I know that owns a Traeger absolutely loves it so I don't think you can go wrong with these two or Reqtec. Ultimately you have to figure out what your goal for smoking is... how many people, what types of meat, how much do you want to set and forget, etc.
If you are set on getting a pellet, RecTeq, Traeger, Grilla Grills, Green Mountain, and Yoder are the brands I'd consider. I have 2x RecTeqs and they are cooking beasts.
If you are looking for a versatile smoker / cooker, consider a ceramic / kamado smoker. I have 2x Big Green Eggs and they are my workhorses that never disappoint. You can go direct or indirect, and low n slow or roar 600+ to cook pizza. BGEs, Grilla Grills Kong, Akorn, Kamado Joe are all good ones.
I also have a Cotton Gin Harvester Drum Smoker too! It's a badass rib cooker for sure.
I have two boys under 4 so I don’t have the time to tend the fire, I can even adjust temps on my phone while I’m out doing things. It may not be as “authentic” as an offset or some of the other products but it produces great food, great smoke flavor, is easy to use, and like another said, basically fool proof. What’s not to like?!
RE: I went down a big rabbit hole with this last year
I didn't want to spend too much at first then ended up dropping a grand on a Weber SmokeFire and love it. A friend of mine has a Traeger and loves that also.
I love the set it and forget it convenience of a pellet grill and don't think I would have had an interest going a charcoal route, though Masterbuilt has a charcoal gravity smoker that's supposed to produce great results. Only problem I've read there is that the parts for the hopper can start to go bad quickly, but who knows if they've improved that.
This is the one I have/mentioned above. The first gen (I was an early adopter) had some issues with the hopper liner, but these were apparently dealt with in subsequent lines. I know people love their pellet smoker, but in my opinion, there is just no comparison to the flavor between this unit and a pellet...and it comes with all the same conveniences of set it and forget it (plus, as mentioned with the Weber, the ability to reach searing temps of 700+).
Cannot say enough good things about it...especially for the price.
Recteq - ( New Window )
Thanks guys. I definitely like the idea of less cleanup with pellets. Do you find that you still get the smokey flavor?
Offset smokers are the real deal. Nothing fancy needed.
If you want a bullet style - webers are pretty good. I have one. Easy ribs. Easy pork and brisket. There is the water pan you have to clean but other than that turn key, no fuss.
Traegers are basically fake electric smokers but the flavor is great. If you have a costco usually pellets can be gotten there. Again - not a ‘real’ grill or smoker but the outcomes are tasty as hell.
I grabbed a used Weber Performer off FB marketplace for $50. Cleaned it up and replaced the grill grate. Thing is outstanding and I honestly use it for damn near anything. Only time I use my WSM now is when I'm hosting a big bbq for close to 30 ppl.
If you want the legit charcoal/smoke box experience go with WSM, I think.
I love the set it and forget it convenience of a pellet grill and don't think I would have had an interest going a charcoal route, though Masterbuilt has a charcoal gravity smoker that's supposed to produce great results. Only problem I've read there is that the parts for the hopper can start to go bad quickly, but who knows if they've improved that.
I'd recommend looking at Traeger and Camp Chef for what your budget is. Personally, I've loved my SmokeFire, there's been some hiccups here and there, but nothing I haven't been able to work around or solve, mostly software related that I'm sure they'll iron out the kinks for over time. Two of the biggest reasons I got the SF is that it gets to 600 degrees for great searing (other pellet grills/smokers usually top out in the 450-500 range) and that it seems to produce better smoke and flavor than some others. Can't speak to the smoke/flavor difference to other smokers from my own experience as this is the only one I've owned, but going off of others comments/reviews that have owned other pellet smokers.
I would +1 this. I never had a smokey mountain but I had a generic bullet smoker that worked really well, and Weber is so reliable.
Everyone I know that owns a Traeger absolutely loves it so I don't think you can go wrong with these two or Reqtec. Ultimately you have to figure out what your goal for smoking is... how many people, what types of meat, how much do you want to set and forget, etc.
If you are looking for a versatile smoker / cooker, consider a ceramic / kamado smoker. I have 2x Big Green Eggs and they are my workhorses that never disappoint. You can go direct or indirect, and low n slow or roar 600+ to cook pizza. BGEs, Grilla Grills Kong, Akorn, Kamado Joe are all good ones.
I also have a Cotton Gin Harvester Drum Smoker too! It's a badass rib cooker for sure.
I love the set it and forget it convenience of a pellet grill and don't think I would have had an interest going a charcoal route, though Masterbuilt has a charcoal gravity smoker that's supposed to produce great results. Only problem I've read there is that the parts for the hopper can start to go bad quickly, but who knows if they've improved that.
This is the one I have/mentioned above. The first gen (I was an early adopter) had some issues with the hopper liner, but these were apparently dealt with in subsequent lines. I know people love their pellet smoker, but in my opinion, there is just no comparison to the flavor between this unit and a pellet...and it comes with all the same conveniences of set it and forget it (plus, as mentioned with the Weber, the ability to reach searing temps of 700+).
Cannot say enough good things about it...especially for the price.
Gravity Series - ( New Window )