There’s a new flame war in town. We’re pitting two popular brands against each other to see which one will come out on top. This battle is between Weber, the king of charcoal, and Traeger, the original creator of the wood pellet grill. As you may already know, Weber is the golden standard when it comes to charcoal grills. It’s one of the oldest brands in the business, as far back as 1893 when George Stephen invented the kettle grill. Weber is well-known for creating grills that have excellent performance and long-lasting durability. Many brands have followed in its wake, copying the Weber design, only to fall short because there’s nothing better than a true Weber. As for Traeger, well. This brand has been around since the 80s and was a result of a quest for combining the best features of charcoal grills and gas grills. The company offers large and small wood pellet grills to suit the needs of its various customers. The grills are reliable, durable, and convenient. Plus, they incorporate modern technology, specifically WiFi capability. One brand embraces tradition while the other has pushed forward with innovation and evolution. Both brands produce excellent quality grills with great cooking performance. As for which brand is better, It’s up to the individual comparisons to duke it out.
Comparison 1: Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill and Smoker vs Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18 Inch Smoker
- Sales Rank is1
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.3 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 is38
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.5 points
Main Features
- Material Type: Steel
- The Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal smoker helps you achieve an authentic smokehouse flavor at home
- It can accommodate a whole turkey and an entire ham at the same time. Item weight- 39.1 pounds
- Made of porcelain-enameled steel, this smoker comes with 2 nickel-plated 18-1/2-inch-wide cooking grates
- Includes a water pan, thermometer, individual vents on bowl and lid, and heat-resistant nylon handle
Comparison 1: In the first round, we’ve got the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker vs the Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill and Smoker. And we have to admit, it was a pretty close call. The Traeger is pretty large with 572 square inches of cooking space. It has integrated digital temperature controller which means you can easily set the temperature and go about your merry way until your food is cooked. To make things even easier, this model features 2 meat probes; you can monitor the temperature inside the meat and prevent overcooking or undercooking your meal. The versatility of a pellet grill is amazing; you can grill, smoke, roast, bake, braise, and BBQ foods with just this in your backyard. The entire grill has a steel construction with a durable powder coat finish. It has easy-to-clean porcelain grill grates and all-terrain wheels for easy maneuverability. Cleanup is a breeze with this grill. Plus, it looks absolutely cool. In comparison, the Smokey Mountain Cooker from Weber is quite limited in its versatility. This dedicated smoker features a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, two cooking grates for cooking two different meats at once, top and bottom dampers for temperature control, and a center section for retaining heat. So, why is it a much better option? Well, despite our glowing review of the Traeger grill, it’s the Weber that we’re voting for. And that’s because of the delicious flavor that this smoker can produce. Just try cooking some ribs in it. You’ll see. Plus, it’s easy to use, quick to heat up, and maintains a steady temperature. There’s no learning curve. And it costs half the price.
Comparison 2: Traeger TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker vs Weber 15502001 Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
- Sales Rank is
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.2 points
Main Features
- Assembled Dimensions: 22" D x 42" W x 49" H | Cooking Grid Dimensions: 22" X 19" | Weight: 98 lbs
- 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 Lil' Tex Elite 22 pellet Grill offers 6-in-1 versatility to Grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to juicy perfection
- Grilled to perfection every time: integrated digital Elite controller keeps temps within +/- 20 degrees F and makes setting the Grill temperature As easy as turning a dial
- Easy and predictable: The Lil' Tex Elite 22 offers consistency you can trust, allowing you to craft amazing wood-fired creations time and time again with the ease of set it and forget it
- Perfect size for the at-home cook: enjoy 418 sq. In. Of grilling space that can accommodate up to 16 burgers, 4 whole chickens, or 5 racks of ribs; pellet Hopper capacity: 18 lbs
- Sales Rank is120
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.7 points
Main Features
- Electronic Touch-N-Go with Propane Gas powered ignition system (propane tank not included)
- Dimensions - Lid Closed: 43.5"H x 48"W x 30"D | Weight: 91 lbs
- 22-inch diameter porcelain-enameled bowl and lid with a cooking area of 363 square inch
- Aluminized steel One-Touch cleaning system with removable, high-capacity, aluminum ash catcher
- Removable LCD cook timer and built-in lid thermometer
- 3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app.
Comparison 2: Our second battle is between the Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22 Pellet Grill and Smoker and the Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill. The Traeger grill may be called “Lil” but it can bring in the heat. It has an output of 20,000 BTUs with a hopper capacity of up to 18 pounds. The Digital Elite Controller allows you to set it and forget it. As easy as that. Within 4 minutes or less, the grill is going to be piping hot, ready to bake, broil, braise, roast, and grill your favorite meals. The temperature range is from 180 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking surface measures 418 square inches which is enough to feed a mid-sized group. The cold rolled powder coated steel construction ensures that your grill will be cooking for a long time. Now, the Performer Deluxe 22-inch Charcoal Grill from Weber is much like it’s original kettle model, only with upgraded features. It comes with the Gourmet BBQ Cooking System that features a hinged plated steel grate that has a removable round center where you can place inserts like a pizza stone, wok, or griddle. The grill comes with a cart that has a large working surface along with tool hooks. The nylon lid handle features a heat shield to protect your hands as well as a tuck away lid holder to keep both your hands free while you cook your food. You also get the electronic Touch-N-Go gas ignition system, an aluminized steel One-Touch cleaning system, a removable LCD cook timer, and a built-in lid thermometer. Everything you love about the kettle plus some excellent additional features. Both grills are excellent choices, rich with features that any serious griller will love. But there’s really only one choice we can go with – the Weber. It still ranks number 1 for quality, ease of use, and cook performance.
Comparison 3: Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and Smoke vs Weber 18301001 Summit Charcoal Grill
- Sales Rank is936
- 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.
- Versatile barbecue cooking: hot and fast, or low and slow, the Traeger Renegade Pro 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 guarantee precision grilling.
- Sturdy and Durable: Powerful steel construction and durable powder coat finish, easy to clean porcelain grill grates and all-terrain wheels.
- Perfect size for the at-home cook: 380 sq. in. cooking capacity that can accomodate 2 chickens, 3 racks of ribs or 12 burgers.
- Exterior Dimensions: 27" D x 39" W x 50" H
- Sales Rank is
- Department:Lawn & Patio
- Weight:
Our Summary Score: 9.4 points
Main Features
- Dual-walled, air insulation for all-day smoking at a consistent temperature
- Porcelain enamel lid and bowl retains heat and withstands the elements
- Gas ignition makes lighting charcoal as easy as pushing a button
- Stainless Steel one-touch cleaning system. Removable, high-capacity, Aluminum ash catcher
- Smokes, sears, and bakes with an adjustable grate system
- Low maintenance OneTouch cleaning system for all of the flavor & none of the mess
Comparison 3: Our last battle is between Traeger’s Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill. The Renegade Pro is a medium-sized grill that offers 380 square inches of cooking space which can fit around 16 large burgers or 3 full racks of ribs. The Digital Pro Controller lets you set a precise temperature and dual meat probes help you monitor your meat’s inner temperature. The porcelain grill grates are excellent at heat retention and easy to clean. The all-steel construction and powder coat finish of the grill increase durability. This grill is pretty portable with its all-terrain wheels and a side lift bar. The hopper capacity is 18 lbs which means you can keep the wood pellets burning for approximately 20 hours which means overnight low and slow cooking. The Weber Summit Charcoal, on the other hand, features the Gourmet BBQ System that includes the stainless steel hinged cooking grate and hinged diffuser plate. Like the original, it also has the stainless steel one-touch cleaning system. In short, it has everything that’s great with the Weber Kettle. And then there’s the extra features like the two position fuel grate, a snap-jet ignition system, an air-insulated double-walled porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, and a gas ignition system. All of that added together means that you can use the Summit as a kamado smoker as well. And that is why the Summit beats the Renegade Pro. Because while the Traeger grill can be used like a smoker, only the Weber can function as a true one and the flavor tells us that.