The right grill changes how weekends taste, whether you’re feeding a family of four or stretching a 14-hour brisket for a neighborhood block. Picking the wrong one leaves you battling flare-ups, babysitting vents, or fighting a hopper that empties too soon. This list breaks down seven options across charcoal, pellet, and accessory categories so you can match the cook to the moment.
A Side-By-Side Look
Weber® Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill (22-Inch)
Weber® Original Kettle Charcoal Grill (22-Inch)
Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill & Smoker (970 Sq In)
Traeger Woodridge Pellet Grill & Smoker (860 Sq In)
Traeger Woodridge Elite Pellet Grill & Smoker (970 Sq In)
Brisk It Zelos-450 Pellet Grill & Smoker (450 Sq In)
DONSIQIZZ Traeger Pellet Grill Power Cord (6 ft)
Meet The Standout Selections
The 22-inch Weber Premium keeps the silhouette backyard cooks have trusted for decades, then layers on the small upgrades that make a Saturday cook feel less like a chore. The hinged grate is the headline feature, letting you lift a corner and drop fresh charcoal into a live fire without sending burgers tumbling into the coals.
You still get porcelain-enameled steel for heat retention and rust resistance, plus a high-capacity ash catcher that handles long burns without constant emptying. Compared with the original kettle below, this version trades simplicity for convenience features most weekend cooks come to appreciate after a few sessions.
The Helpful Details
- Hinged grate allows mid-cook charcoal refills without losing food
- One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash into a large, removable catcher
- Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid handle weather and frequent temperature swings
- 22-inch cooking surface fits roughly 13 burgers at once for family meals
Worth Noting
- Charcoal-only design means no set-and-forget low-and-slow sessions like a pellet grill offers
- No built-in temperature gauge accuracy guarantees, so most owners pair it with a probe thermometer
Who It Suits Best
Weekend charcoal cooks who want the classic kettle feel with fewer mid-grill interruptions, especially families cooking for four to six people.
Consider Something Else When
The Traeger Woodridge Pro suits your plans more if you want hands-off low-and-slow smoking without tending a live fire.
The original 22-inch Kettle is the grill many people picture when they think “charcoal.” It strips away extras and focuses on the basics: a porcelain-enameled bowl, adjustable dampers, and a clean-out system that has barely changed in decades. For first-timers, that simplicity is the point.
Without the hinged grate of the Premium model, you pull the entire cooking grate to add fuel, which is a small learning curve rather than a dealbreaker. The trade-off is a lower barrier to entry and fewer parts that can wear out or need replacing over years of use.
A Few Strong Suits
- Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl hold heat consistently across long sessions
- Adjustable dampers give precise top and bottom airflow control
- One-Touch cleaning system channels ash into a removable catch cup
- Compact footprint fits apartment patios and small suburban yards
Trade Offs
- No hinged grate means the whole grate comes off for charcoal refills
- Standard charcoal cook times require more hands-on attention than a pellet model
- Legs and wheels feel basic compared with rolling carts on dedicated smokers
Right Fit For
New charcoal owners and small-space cooks who want a proven, no-frills kettle without paying for upgrades they may not use yet.
Look Elsewhere When
You cook for a crowd most weekends and want fewer mid-cook interruptions, in which case the Weber Premium above is the smarter jump.
The Woodridge Pro is where Traeger starts stacking tech into the cook. A 970 square-inch grate gives you room for a full pack of ribs plus sides, and built-in WiFi connects the grill to an app so you can monitor temps from the kitchen while the meat does its thing. Pellet grills work by feeding compressed hardwood through an auger into a fire pot, so heat stays steady without much fiddling.
Versus the smaller Woodridge below, the Pro adds more cooking area and the smart features that justify stepping up. For most homes, 970 square inches is generous enough to skip the larger Elite unless you’re regularly feeding 10 or more people.
The Upside
- WiFi connectivity lets you monitor and adjust cook temps from your phone
- Large 970 sq in surface fits brisket, ribs, and sides in one run
- Pellet feed system holds steady temps for long, low-and-slow sessions
- App-based cook programs help you replicate recipes consistently
Points To Note
- Pellet grills need a reliable power outlet and dry pellet storage
- Reaching very high searing temps is harder than on a gas or charcoal setup
Key Attributes
Made For
Tech-forward home cooks who want set-it-and-forget-it smoking with app control and enough room for full-pack meals.
Swap It Out When
You live in a small patio with limited outlet access, in which case the Brisk It Zelos-450 is a more compact pellet option worth considering.
The standard Woodridge hits a useful middle ground for families who want pellet convenience without the largest footprint. At 860 square inches, you lose a rack’s worth of space compared with the Pro, but you keep the six-in-one versatility that covers grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and barbecuing in one unit.
WiFi comes standard, which most shoppers in this segment expect by now. The honest read is that for weeknight family cooks, this is often the smarter buy than stretching to the Pro or Elite unless cookout size truly demands the extra grate real estate.
The Good Stuff
- 6-in-1 versatility covers grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ
- 860 sq in surface fits a full meal for a family of four to six
- WiFi control keeps cook monitoring easy from indoors
- Pellet feed system reduces the babysitting that charcoal demands
Honest Caveats
- Smaller hopper than larger Woodridge models means longer cooks may need a refill
- Wood-fired flavor is milder than what dedicated charcoal purists chase
Feature Snapshot
Best Suited To
Family cooks who want versatile wood-fired cooking with app control and a manageable size for typical weeknight meals.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
You regularly host 10-plus-person cookouts, in which case the Traeger Woodridge Pro with its larger surface handles bigger spreads more comfortably.
The Woodridge Elite sits at the top of the Woodridge family, aimed at cooks who want the largest surface, the most advanced features, and a build designed for serious repeat use. The 970 square-inch main grate handles full-pack brisket sessions with room to spare, and the same WiFi control that runs the Pro carries over here.
What you’re really paying for is the upgraded construction and feature set, which the standard Woodridge and Pro already cover for most households. The Elite makes sense once you know you’ll push the grill hard week after week and want the extra headroom.
A Favorable Mix
- Top-tier Woodridge build targets heavy, frequent use
- Spacious 970 sq in main surface fits large cuts alongside sides
- WiFi cooking control for remote monitoring and adjustments
- Versatile pellet system handles low-and-slow and high-heat cooks
Some Limits To Know
- Larger footprint requires meaningful patio or deck space
- Reaches a higher tier cost than the standard Woodridge for similar core features
Core Details
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Enthusiasts who already know they want the largest Woodridge surface and the most polished feature set for serious low-and-slow cooks.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Budget matters and most of your cooks are smaller, in which case the Traeger Woodridge 860 below covers the same core versatility at a friendlier entry point.
The Zelos-450 brings something different to the pellet conversation: an A.I. cooking assistant that responds to natural-language requests, plus a more compact 450 square-inch footprint that suits tight patios and small decks. WiFi ties the grill to your phone so the A.I. can track the cook in real time.
Versus the larger Traeger Woodridge line, the Zelos trades raw cooking area for a smaller, more guided experience. For beginners or apartment dwellers, that trade often feels like a win.
Where It Excels
- A.I. cooking assistant supports natural-language recipe guidance
- Compact 450 sq in footprint fits balconies and small patios
- WiFi and app control for monitoring from indoors
- Pellet feed design keeps temperatures steady without much hands-on time
Potential Drawbacks
- 450 sq in limits how many guests you can cook for in a single session
- A.I. features depend on app and connectivity availability
Quick Facts
Perfect Match For
Small-space dwellers and first-time pellet grill owners who want guided, app-connected cooking without a large deck footprint.
Not Your Match When
You regularly host extended family or block parties, in which case the Traeger Woodridge Pro’s 970 square inches handles bigger crowds more comfortably.
A pellet grill without a reliable power cord is a giant metal shelf, so this 6-foot replacement cord earns its spot on the list. It targets several popular Traeger models, including the Ironwood 650 and 885, Pro Series 575 and 780, and Timberline 1300 and 850, which is a useful range for owners hunting for a backup or a replacement.
The 6-foot length is the practical middle ground: long enough to reach an outdoor outlet, short enough to keep cable clutter under control. Compared with the full-size grills above, this is purely a support accessory, not a standalone cook.
The Case For It
- Listed compatibility covers Ironwood, Pro Series, and Timberline Traeger models
- 6-foot length fits typical patio outlet setups
- Replacement-grade cord gives owners a backup for outdoor storage or moves
Less Ideal Details
- Compatibility is model-specific, so check the full list before ordering
- Black cable may show scuffs and dirt over seasons of outdoor use
Who Should Grab It
Existing Traeger pellet grill owners who want a spare cord or need a clean replacement without rebuilding the entire setup.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
You don’t yet own a Traeger grill, in which case the Traeger Woodridge Pro above is the better starting point for a full pellet setup.
What To Weigh Before Choosing Your Setup
The right grill depends on how you actually cook, not just the marketing copy. Charcoal kettles give you hands-on flavor and high heat, but they ask for more attention during long sessions. Pellet grills trade some searing power for app-connected, set-and-forget convenience, which suits busy weeknight cooks and anyone planning to smoke a 12-hour brisket on a Sunday.
Fuel And Flavor Profile. Charcoal produces a classic, smoky char that many purists chase, while pellets add wood-fired depth with milder intensity. Your taste preference matters more than the spec sheet here.
Space And Footprint. A 22-inch kettle fits most patios, but a 970 square-inch pellet grill needs real estate. Measure before you commit, especially if you rent or share outdoor space.
Connectivity And Tech. WiFi and A.I. features help if you cook while juggling kids or work. Skip them if you prefer a hands-on ritual and don’t want to troubleshoot apps mid-brisket.
Long-Term Costs. Pellet grills use ongoing fuel, while charcoal costs add up over frequent cooks. Replacement parts like the cord above are also worth factoring into ownership.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Wrong Turns To Avoid
Many first-time grill shoppers pick by cooking area alone and end up with a grill that’s too large for their space or too small for their cookouts. Measure your patio before falling for raw square-inch numbers, and think about how often you actually feed a crowd versus cook for two. Another common miss is ignoring fuel storage, since pellets need a dry bin and charcoal needs a sealed container away from moisture.
When Paying More Pays Off
The jump from the standard Traeger Woodridge to the Pro or Elite mostly buys you more cooking area, a more durable build, and incremental feature polish. The upgrade makes sense once you know you’ll push the grill hard week after week, host large gatherings often, or simply want the most refined experience in the line. For occasional weekend cooks, the standard Woodridge typically delivers more grill than you’ll realistically use.