Confused between Camp Chef and Pit Boss grills?
Well, this is where I found myself a few days back. I tested 50+ wood pellet grills from the two brands in the last few weeks, but I could not recommend most of them! The silver lining is that I can tell you with full knowledge which ones may be worth buying before you reach a final decision.
Table of Contents
Camp Chef vs. Pit Boss: Which One You Would Choose?
Camp Chef Advantages
- Slide and grill technology
- Patented ash cleanout management system
- Great customer service
- Extended chamber height
- Gen 2 PID digital controller
Pit Boss Advantages
- Known for providing additional storage space
- Comes with tool hooks, bottle opener, spice rack, etc.
- Affordable and durable
- Pellet view window in units
- Deals in gas and charcoal grills, vertical smokers
Now, let’s head on to the reviews to understand the advantages mentioned above.
Best Overall: Camp Chef SmokePro SG vs. Pit Boss 440 Deluxe
Camp Chef Smoke Pro SG Grill/Smoker
Its elegance is not the only favorable thing about Camp Chef’s SmokePro SG. This smoker has a decent cooking area of 811 square inches, which is subdivided into two racks. It entails that you can cook at two different temperatures simultaneously. The expanding chamber is like an icing on top as it lets you cook more.
The hopper has a good 22-lb capacity, so you won’t have to refill it with pellets even after grilling for several hours. This Camp Chef product also has a PID controller that displays the temperature and a knob that lets you set temperature at +/- 5 increments for precision cooking.
- Has a max temperature of 650°F
- Priced at around $700
- Electronic auto-start ignition
- Side shelf included
- 3-year warranty
- Works better as a grill than a smoker
Furthermore, the Camp Chef’s SmokePro SG has two meat probes, a menu dial, and wireless capability, all thanks to the Camp Chef App. The slide-and-grill technology makes it easy to cook directly over the flame, while the patented ash cleanout system comes with a removable cup for a quick disposal of the ashes.
So, if having more cooking options and faster cleanup process matters for you, this Camp Chef needs all your attention.
Pit Boss 72440-PB440D Grill 440 Deluxe
Pit Boss 440 Deluxe grill is gold among a bunch of new technology grills you can find in the market.
You can’t name a feature this pellet grill doesn’t provide. Be it a decent cooking space, built-in temperature gauge, bottle opener, side tables, ample storage space, or grease management system, 440 Deluxe is built well with no serious flaws.
- Durable construction
- Reasonable priced
- Comes with bottle opener
- Two side shelves and bottom storage
- Two-tone black and copper finish
- Temperature range (170-500°F)
- 10-lb pellet hopper capacity
- Supported on 2 wheels
Like every other Pit Boss grill, it has a heavy built constructed from 16 gauge steel, which guarantees its durability. It also comes with a flame broiler, which is ideal for direct grilling and searing. With 465 square inches of cooking space, this is perfect for cookouts in the backyard.
Best Budget: Camp Chef PG24XT SmokePro vs. Pit Boss Sportsman 820
Camp Chef PG24XT SmokePro Pellet Grill
The PG24XT SmokePro is one the most budget-friendly pellet grills from Camp Chef. It costs around $500 only and comes with all the necessary advanced features you may ever need.
Its cooking area measures 570 square inches, so it’s great for beginners. This Camp Chef pellet grill offers smart smoke technology, slide-and-grill system, 18-lb hopper, meat probe, stainless firebox, and automatic auger feed pellet that make it convenient to use for everyone.
- Includes side and bottom shelves for storage
- Highly affordable
- Easy to set and maintain temperature
- Ideal for new grillers
- Temperature swing issues
Thanks to Camp Chef’s patented ash cleanout system, you will not have to hassle yourself with cleaning the ash after hours of cooking. All you need to do is remove the cup by turning the knob attached at the base of the unit, and free the latter of ash in no time. Furthermore, it has two wheels in front, so it’s easy to move around.
Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Grill
Another worthy Pit Boss pellet grill is this Sportsman 820, which has an ample cooking area of 820 square inches at $599.
This unit will be favorable for people who love having extra space when they are grilling. Along with side shelves and bottom storage for your pots or cooking ingredients, it has a removable front shelf and a built-in spice rack on the left side.
- 180 degree F to 500 degrees F
- Heavy build with flame broiler
- Easy to assemble
- Flame broiler handle is a plus
- Not Wi-Fi enabled still works like Set it & Forget it
Pit Boss Sportsman 820 has a pellet hopper capacity of 21 lbs, as well as a meat probe, a sleek digital panel with a dial-in knob for temperature setting, and flame broiler adjustable bar. It also boasts of 8-in-1 cooking versatility, so you can use it to grill, smoke, roast, bake, braise, sear, BBQ, and char-grill any meat.
If you have extra space in your backyard, this Pit Boss pellet grill is what you need.
Best Portable: Camp Chef Pursuit PPG20 vs. Pit Boss Sportsman PB206PSP2
Camp Chef Pursuit PPG20 Portable Grill
When it comes to naming the top portable pellet grills, the Camp Chef PPG20 has to be one of them.
It is commendable for having a cooking surface area of 501 square inches and a hopper that can hold up to 10 lbs of wood pellet. It also has Camp Chef’s patented Gen 2 digital controller that lets you cook like a pro with ease and precision.
Camp Chef PPG20 is the ultimate smoker with ten levels of smoking settings. Aside from that, it comes with two meat probes (difficult to find in portable pellet grills), temperature-setting capability, bottle opener, rolling wheels, lockable latches, etc.
- Twin-fold cooking area
- Automatic ignition
- Automatic auger
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
- Auger feeding issues
What makes this Camp Chef grill unique is its roll-away features, which increase its portability. It is perfect for folks who love camping in the woods or near the lakes.
Pit Boss Sportsman PB206PSP2 Portable Grill
The Sportsman PB206PSP2 is among the amazing portable pellet grills from Pit Boss. The has all the amazing things you need in a grilling unit at only $399.
A portable Pit Boss pellet grill with a 19-lbs pellet hopper capacity, its two-tier cooking grates can over 387 square inches of space. The grill’s legs form the X shape and are foldable, so you may carry the product wherever you go.
- Flame broiler leveler
- Direct and indirect heating
- Grease management system
- Foldable legs and rolling wheels
- Hotter on one side of the grill
Like other pellet grills, Pit Boss Sportsman PB206PSP2 can maintain a temperature ranging from 180-500°F, but the ideal maximum heat should only be 450°F. The external flame broiler leveler in front allows direct grilling and raises the temperature up to 1000 degrees °F.
You can find the hopper at the back of the Pit Boss pellet grill, so it won’t hide the matte black finish and orange highlights adorning the unit. The digital control board is on the right, while the storage space sits at the top. A meat probe, fan-forced convection cooking, timer, and easy ignition are all in the package, too.
Best Large: Camp Chef SmokePro DLX vs. Pit Boss Rancher XL
This freestanding unit will impress you with its smoking ability and the number of years it can last. If taken properly, you won't have to buy another grill for the coming generations.
If you want to feed a ton of people at your house, just get the party started with this griller and cook a variety of food on it. It is biggest than many pellet grills on the market.
Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Grill
The SmokePro DLX is an upgraded version of SmokePro XT. It has a 570-square-inch cooking space, which is sufficient for feeding an average-sized family. This Camp Chef also has a 10-lb pellet hopper capacity, pellet rake, the same steel construction as SmokePro XT.
- Auto-start ignition
- Automatic pellet auger feeding
- Dual LED temperature readouts
- Priced at around $700 (depending on the color)
- More storage area
- Ash cleanout system not as effective
SmokePro DLX is better than its predecessor, in the sense that Camp Chef has set it up with a bottle opener, side rack, and comparatively larger shelf on the top pellet hopper. It comes with two meat probes and an advanced Gen 2 PID controller for effortless grilling. The latter allows better temperature control and lets you cook at two different temperatures simultaneously with the help of meat probes. That — along with other features — definitely makes it worth every buck.
Pit Boss Rancher XL Grill
Rancher XL from Pit Boss is like a beast with over 1000 square inches of cooking space. This will suffice to accommodate 31 burgers for big parties. The 31-lbs pellet hopper capacity ensures that you will not need to add feed it with more wood pellets to keep the flame going.
What’s special about Rancher is that it allows direct cooking by removing the slider plate and sear over direct flame. You can use it to cook in eight different ways, and it is definitely heavier than other models, thanks to its heavy-duty structure.
- Automatic start and shut down
- Two-tier porcelain-coated cooking grates
- Fan-forced convection cooking
- Temperature up to 500 degrees°F
- Auger jamming problems
Pit Boss Rancher XL has a removable side shelf with towel handle and tool hooks, which helps you store every cooking accessory in one area. You will also find a bottle opener near it and sturdy bottom storage.
This Pit Boss grill has an analog thermometer on the lid to help you keep an eye on its internal temperature. It uses a D3 digital control board with a dial-in knob and a digital screen.
(Must-see: Check Rancher XL’s twin — Pit Boss Austin XL.)
Final Verdict
When it comes to precision cooking, Camp Chef’s pellet grills performed neck and neck with the ones from Pit Boss. If you are a beginner who’s looking for easy temperature control and portability, Camp Chef is also better than Pit Boss.
However, if you a pro in grilling, and affordability matters to you, Pit Boss provides the most cost-effective pellet grills. Pit Boss grills are also ideal for parties and other large events because of their larger cooking surface area.
If you are still in doubt, you may check our reviews about Camp Chef vs. Traeger, Pit Boss vs. Traeger, and even Z pellet grills if the options above are not enough for you. Furthermore, we have some information about the most amazing pellet grills below 500.
Noam
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