Control, convenience, set-it-and-forget-it, and great wood flavor. Everything you ever wanted from your backyard grill. It’s easy to see why pellet grills are getting much love from a lot of outdoor chefs. It’s been decades since the great grill revolution (thank you, Traeger!) which means we now have a lot of great options available. Of course, on the flipside, more choices, more problems. It’s harder to pinpoint which of these backyard wonders are best for you. Whether you’re a weekend griller or the pit boss master, you’re going to need some help sifting through the various brands offering pellet grills. That’s where we come in. Today, we’ve got two of the greats on stage – the original pellet grill maker Traeger and Pit Boss.
Let’s start with Traeger, a company that has been around since the 80s. Their grills are well-known among pellet grill fans and it’s not just because they were the original makers. The brand has consistently produced pellet grills that are reliable, durable, and easy to use. Their models may not come cheap but all of them are worth every penny due to their high quality construction and performance. Whether you’re feeding two or your entire neighborhood, you’re bound to find a model that suits your needs. Even better, Traeger has “upgraded” its products, so they now all offer WiFi, making them even easier to use.
Pit Boss, in comparison, is not as expensive as Traeger. The brand is actually known for offering budget-friendly pellet grills. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t deliver great pellet grills. In fact, if you want value for money, a Pit Boss pellet grill is a great choice. They offer about the same sizes you’ll find in Traeger but with a little more features and at least $100 less. Moreover, Pit Boss recently increased their warranty from three years to five, which is two years more than a Traeger grill. Plus, by a strange twist of fate, Joe Traeger, the founder of Traeger, is now designing pellet grills for Pit Boss.
Does that mean Pit Boss is better because you get more bang for your buck? Or do we prefer the longstanding reputation of Traeger for quality and reliability? Let’s find out with several one-on-one comparisons.
Comparison 1: Traeger TFB29LZA Junior Elite Pellet Grill vs Pit Boss PB440TG Pellet Grill
- Sales Rank is1802
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score:9.3 points
Main Features
Comparison 1:
If you think pellet grills wouldn’t be great for tailgating, you’d be wrong. The Traeger Junior Elite is a versatile little bugger. You can use it to cook, roast, smoke, broil, and bake your favorite meals. It features porcelain enamel steel grates that offer 300 square inches of cooking space, enough to feed a family of 6 to 8 people. What makes it really great for tailgating isn’t its small size (though that helps). It’s the presence of the integrated Digital Elite Controller. It allows you to set and maintain temperatures within +/- 20 degrees Fahrenheit which means you can set it and forget it. Let the grill do all the cooking for you while you drink and be merry. And it comes with a hopper capacity of 8 lbs. Now, if you think the Traeger Junior Elite is great, then wait until you see the Pit Boss 440TG. This pellet grill is even better and costs much less. It offers 440 square inches of cooking space which means being able to cook more food for your hungry horde. Just like the Junior Elite, this model is pretty versatile. But it does one thing better – it comes with a flame broiler perfect for direct flame cooking. Moreover, it features collapsible legs and rolling wheels for easy transportation. The only drawback is its small hopper capacity – only 5 lbs.
Comparison 2: Traeger Grill TFB57PZBO Pellet Grill vs Pit Boss 71820FB PB820FB BBQ Pellet Grill
- Sales Rank is1
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.5 points
Main Features
- Never use gas or charcoal again: cooking with wood just tastes better. Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste
- Versatile barbecue cooking: hot and fast, or low and slow, the Traeger Pro Series 22 pellet grill offers 6-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to juicy perfection
- Precision temperature control: The Digital Pro Controller rocks Advanced Grilling Logic, which maintains a +/- 15 degree F temperature control to precision grilling. 450 °F Max Temp
- Sturdy and durable: powerful Steel construction and durable powder coat finish, Easy to clean porcelain grill grates and all-terrain wheels
- Large cooking capacity: 572 sq. In. Cooking capacity that can accommodate 4 chickens, 5 racks of ribs or 24 burgers.
- Sales Rank is840
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 8.9 points
Main Features
Comparison 2:
The Pit Boss 71820FB Pellet Grill is a lot similar to its tailgating little brother, only bigger. It comes a flame broiler as well for direct flame cooking, a unique feature you’ll only find with this brand. It offers 580 square inches of primary cooking space and 240 square inches of secondary cooking space due to the removable upper rack. It also features the digital control board that lets you set-it-and-forget-it. The temperature range is from 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The grill also features two wheels for mobility and a bottom shelf for storage. Plus, it has heavy-duty, all-steel construction for improved durability. When compared to the Traeger Pro Series 22, the first thing you’ll notice is the price. It costs $100 more. Is it worth it? You bet. It’s cooking capacity is 572 square inches, just slightly smaller than the Pit Boss model. This model also has its own integrated digital temperature controller for set-it-and-forget-it capability. No, it doesn’t feature a bottom shelf for storage like the 71820FB model. So, what makes it better? A few things, really. There’s the hopper cleanout door that allows you to store away unused pellets back into a container. You also get dual meat temperature probes to ensure your meats are cooked to perfection. The all-terrain wheels make transporting this grill from one end of your backyard to the other incredibly easy. Even better, you also get porcelain grill grates for easy cleanup. Like we said, it’s worth the extra cost.
Comparison 3: Traeger Grills TFB65LZBC Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill vs Pit Boss 72700S PB72700S Pellet Smoker Grill
- Sales Rank is
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 8.7 points
Main Features
- Never use gas or charcoal again: cooking with wood just tastes better. Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste
- Assembled Grill Dimensions: 54" W x 22" D x 49" H | Weight: 125 lbs
- Versatile Barbecue Cooking: Hot and fast, or low and slow, the Texas Elite 34 pellet grill offers 6-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and bbq food to juicy perfection
- Protect Your BBQ Grill at All Times: Made of heavy-duty, all-weather material to protect your grill from rain, sun, and snow
- Avoid Water Damage: Water resistant to ensure your grill stays dry
- Expand Your Working Area: Perfect for prep space and as a landing pad for finished food
- Never in the Way of Your Cooking: Conveniently folds down when not in use
- Sales Rank is
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 8.5 points
Main Features
Comparison 3:
The Pit Boss 700S is a grill worth investing in. It features heavy gauge steel components, a high-temp powder coat finish, a cast iron cooking surface (including an S Tier rack), and an upgraded cart with locking caster wheels. It offers 700 square inches of cooking space and a temperature range of 180° to 500° Fahrenheit. The digital control board lets you set and maintain the temperature while the flame broiler enables you to sear meats. You also get a shelf for extra prep space as well as a bottom shelf for storage. The Texas Elite 34 Pellet Grill, our contender, looks a little similar to the Pit Boss 700S. It features porcelain coated grates, a Digital Elite Controller, and an all steel construction with durable powder coat finish. The grill also comes with easy-glide wheels that have locking casters for improved mobility. Unlike the Pit Boss, it doesn’t come with a flame broiler and shelves. It also has a smaller cooking surface at only 646 square inches. That being said, the Texas Elite 34 still gets our vote for one simple reason – build and performance. This Traeger grill is made from high quality materials and can easily produce the most delicious foods. All things being equal, we’d place our money where our mouth is happiest – Traeger.