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Summer’s approaching, which means it’s time to get your barbeque grills out. What’s more relaxing than sitting in your backyard with a fresh burger right off the grill and a bottle of beer in hand?
A pellet grill is a great investment to make, regardless of the season, to host barbecues with friends and families or to cook meat in a healthier way. Pit Boss is one brand that does pellet grills the right way. So let’s overview the brand as a whole and its best pellet grills.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Pit Boss Smoker
- OUR TOP PICK: Pit Boss 71820FB PB820FB BBQ Pellet Grill and Smoker
- RUNNER-UP: Pit Boss 77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Pit Boss Classic Wood Fired Pellet Grill & Smoker
Comparison Chart of the Best Pit Boss Smokers
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Who is Pit Boss?
Pit Boss Grills is owned by Dansons Inc. and was established by Dan Thiessen and his two sons, Jeff and Jordan, in 1999. It was particularly known for portable and other massive grills. After their success with that in the market, they now specialize in making pellet grills as well.
Their success is owed to the Thiessen family as their approach to running a business, and craftsmanship skills are remarkable. It is no surprise that Danson was awarded the EY (Entrepreneur Award of the Year) in 2017 for their durable and excellent products.
How Does Pit Boss Compare to the Competition?
Pit Boss is one of the pioneers of the smokers' industry. Dansons Inc. is a renowned company and is certainly worth trusting. But how do they compare to the competition? Let’s have a look:
Efficiency
Pit Boss is a large corporation and has strong values when it comes to quality, efficiency, and customer service. You can register any of their products on the website for warranty and online manual access. That is how much they value their customers
User-Friendly
Their grills do require assembly, but with their easy to understand user’s manual, even a beginner can set up the smoker in no time.
The temperatures are easy to maintain as well, as most smokers provide meat probes, insulation, and digital displays. They also offer a wide range of wood pellets of excellent quality.
Features
When it comes to the actual grill, Pit Boss is generally considered better than its rivals. They have greater capacity and sturdier build. The construction of their smokers is unmatched as the material used is not only durable but also aesthetically pleasing.
All of these features come at very good prices; you certainly get your money’s worthwhile many of Pit Boss’s competitors have higher prices.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Pit Boss Smokers
Here are the best Pit Boss smokers:
Review of the Best Pit Boss Smokers
With so many smokers by Pit Boss present in the market, it’s inevitable to find one easily. To help ease the process, we’ve reviewed some of the best models below. Have a look!
Best Overall:
Pit Boss 71820FB PB820FB BBQ Pellet Grill and Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers can’t say enough about this grill! The flame cooks the food in an excellent way. It is easy to assemble and use and provides a healthier alternative to cooking meat. The fact that the temperature is uniform throughout is one of the best traits of this smoker.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Pit Boss has outdone itself with this griller. There are many reasons why we rank this as the best overall. The black powder coating on the steel and porcelain coating on the cast iron gives the smoker a polished look. It also has removable cooling racks and makes amazing smoked meats.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re looking for something with a large cooking space, this is the best option for you. It is beginner-friendly since it is easy to understand and use. Compared to some other brands, this model by Pit Boss is also relatively light on the pocket.
Bottom Line
When you picture a perfect summer day in the backyard, a grill is something that would definitely be there. And the 71820 pellet grill is the perfect option for you. Allowing you to cook your meals in multiple ways, this unit is even great to look at and use with ease.
Runner-up:
Pit Boss 77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Users are quite happy with their purchase. The grill comes in great packaging and is easy to assemble, thanks to the instructions given. It grills meat evenly and gives it an excellent taste. And most importantly, it is a steal for the price, and most people highly recommend it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What we love most about this smoker are its design and construction. The vertical shape gives it a unique look and larger cooking space in a smaller area. A great advantage is that you don’t need a lot of wood pellets since the hopper’s capacity is only 40 lbs. So you can cook throughout the day without having to add any more.
Who Will Use This Most
If you don’t have much space but want to own a smoker, the vertical design of this Pit Boss grill can accommodate your needs easily. Since it’s greater in height, the griller can fit into small spaces while still giving you enough cooking space.
Bottom Line
At the low price point it comes at, it’s safe to say that this is great value for money. It has a sturdy build and three cooking grills that are coated in porcelain. The compact size is one main feature you might consider getting this, and we believe you won’t be disappointed with this purchase.
Best for the Money:
Pit Boss Classic Wood Fired Pellet Grill & Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
“This grill is phenomenal!” That is how most users reviewed the smoker. It’s not only the size and design of the smoker but also the flavor of the meat that has lured users into buying this. The best part is its versatility as it allows cooking in multiple different ways, from braising to searing, baking, and more.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We believe that this unit offers the best value for its money. Allowing to cook between temperatures of 180 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the grill maintains its temperature for even cooking. It has a unique flame broiler design, which gives you the chance to cook directly in the flame, giving your meat a delicious flavor.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re looking to get the most out of your money, here’s where you’ll get the best deal. Versatility, flame broiler, excellent design, and flavor, this wood pellet griller is an all-rounder and fit for everyone to use.
Bottom Line
For its price, we believe that this unit has a lot to offer. Apart from the wide temperature range and flame broiler, you might want to consider investing in this for its ease of use and excellent design.
Best Pit Boss Pellet Smoker:
Pit Boss Grills 77550 5.5 Pellet Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
An excellent product that has beat many other models on the market, this unit has left its customers in glee. The large capacity allows for grilling throughout the day without having to replace the pellets. Users certainly recommend this for its ease of use and other additional features.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Pit Boss has really outdone itself with this one. The griller is designed in such a way that the hopper is constructed to the rear of the smoker, hence increasing cooking space.
It is the best pellet smoker for many reasons; its ability to monitor the internal temperature with a probe, displaying readings in LED, giving a sleek design, providing a wide range of temperatures, and more.
Who Will Use This Most
If you plan to cook for more than ten people at a time, this griller has the capacity to do so. It is on the pricier side, but well worth the investment. The auto shut-off feature is for the forgetful ones and those with young children since it’s an added safety feature. The griller is quite heavy, though, so make sure you wouldn’t have to move it around much.
Bottom Line
To sum up, this unit is built to last and has pleased numerous users. Durable and sturdy, it offers everything a griller should have and more. Say goodbye to badly barbecued meat with this product, and you’ll have better-tasting meat than ever.
Best Pit Boss Vertical Pellet Smoker:
Pit Boss PBV3P1 Vertical Pellet Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This pellet smoker is simple to use and has many features. Most users appreciate the capacity and ability to control the temperature, as it provides a range of 150 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, users particularly opt for this pellet smoker during the cold weather thanks to the double-walled body. This insulates the inside of the griller to maintain the temperature.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We ranked this as the best Pit Boss vertical pellet smoker. The hopper capacity will keep the griller running for hours without need a refill. And the best feature about it is its ability to insulate the insides. The digital display gives a read of the temperature so that you can cook your meat the best way possible.
Who Will Use This Most
If you had your eye on the Pit Boss 77550 Vertical pellet smoker, but it seems too heavy or expensive for your budget, then this one is an excellent alternative. It is cheaper but offers almost the same features with reduced capacity and weight.
Bottom Line
This pellet smoker is best for you if you’d just dipped your toe in the griller market. With some great features, it is versatile enough to cook in many different ways, all at a reasonable cost. Its users highly recommend it, and we believe it can best suit your needs!
Best Pit Boss Electric Smoker:
Pit Boss Grills 77221 2.2 Digital Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
With excellent quality, users claim that this is a worthy purchase. The digital control panel makes it easy to control the temperature, and the double-wall provides blanket insulation, which has pleased many users in cooler climates. Overall, most users recommend this smoker.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is the best Pit Boss electric smoker for a reason. The Wrap Around lower element can increase the smoke without increasing the temperature. It is also easy to maintain the temperature with this electric smoker. It is also highly versatile and can be used to grill meats or vegetables both; and even sear, bake or smoke meat.
Who Will Use This Most
We find that this smoker is for those who prefer digital controls. It is also perfect for cooler climates with its double-walled insulation. Moreover, if you like smoking your meat, the grill has the feature of increasing the smoke generated without raising the temperature.
Bottom Line
We highly recommend this smoker for the reasons listed above. The healthiest way to cook your food is by grilling it, and this unit has all the right features. At the low price, it has a lot to offer; hence you’ll get your money’s worth with this!
Comparison Overview
Finding the right smoker can be a stressful task indeed since there are many brands competing out there. Here we’ll discuss two brands, other than Pit Boss, that have conquered the market successfully. Pit Boss, Traeger, and Camp Chef all have their distinct features, which makes them stand out from each other.
Pit Boss has certain features, which makes it one of the best choices on the market. It boasts a high-temperature range of 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and the best part is that the temperature remains uniform throughout the grill. It also provides 700 square inches of cooking space, which is great when preparing food for eight to ten people.
All in all, Pit Boss is great for those looking for a long-lasting grill and want a versatile one as well.
Pit Boss vs. Traeger
Now let’s compare Pit Boss with Traeger and Camp Chef.
Similarities
Both Traeger and Pit Boss’ grills promise uniform temperature throughout their grills with the help of digital temperature controls. They also allow you to cook in many different ways and make steaks, biscuits, pizzas, hot dogs, and a lot more. The hopper in Traeger and Pit Boss is large enough to keep enough wood pellets.
Differences
The two brands have limited similarities. However, the differences are many, including:
Temperature Range
Traeger grills reach up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is much less than what Pit Boss grills offer.
Grill Design
Although both grills are usually made of cast iron, Traeger uses a non-toxic material on the grill to prevent harmful substances from getting into the food. Overall, Traeger’s grill is sturdier than Pit Boss’.
Versatility
Traeger is extremely versatile and allows you to cook your meals in six different ways, including BBQ, grilling, roasting, braising, smoking, and baking.
Warranty
Having a product with multiple years of warranty gives you the security of a good product. Traeger offers its users a three-year warranty whereas, with Pit Boss, you only get one year.
Camp Chef vs. Pit Boss
Camp Chef is another big name in the cooking industry. Let’s see how it fares against Pit Boss.
Similarities
Both Camp Chef and Pit Boss have similar hopper capacities and allow you to keep more or less the same amount of wood pellets. Not just that, but they also have sear zones and two meat probes each.
Differences
The differences between the two brands are many. The most prominent ones include:
Cooking Surface
The cooking surface determines how much time you’d be spending at the grill. With Camp Chef, you get 1236 square inches of cooking space, meaning you’d be done much quicker than with Pit Boss.
Cost
Generally, Camp Chef grills cost much higher than Pit Boss’.
Conclusion
There you have it. Those were our top picks from Pit Boss smokers. We also tried to answer any queries you may have had and compare these grills with those of other brands on the market. We hope this guide helps you in your shopping experience and gives you an insight into what to look for.
People Also Ask
If this is your first time purchasing a smoker, there might still be some questions buzzing in your mind before you decide to make your purchase. Fret not, for we shall not leave you in the dark. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions answered.
Who Makes the Pit Boss Grills?
Pit Boss is a subsidiary of Dansons Inc. and was established by Dan Thiessen and his two sons, Jeff and Jordan. This is the same brand that also makes the well-known Louisiana Pellet Smokers.
Where are Pit Boss Grills Made?
Pit Boss’ headquarters are based in Phoenix, Arizona. However, their grills are made in Canada and China as well.
Can I Use my Pit Boss Pellet Grill in the Rain?
As long as you ensure that there isn’t much wind pushing through the vent at the bottom or too much rain through the vent at the top, you can use your Pit Boss Pellet Grill in the rain. It is also important to keep your wooden pellets away during the rain, or they will swell up.
