Wood pellet grills (also called wood pellet smokers) have become the ultimate choice for grillers. And when it comes to that, Traeger and Grill Pit Boss are the best grill brands to give you what you need.
To know what extra vibe their pellet grills hold, read our Traeger vs. Pit Boss review below.
Table of Contents
Pit Boss vs Traeger Pellet Grills: Which One Should You Buy?
Here are the incredible features of Traeger and Grill Pit Boss that will make you fall for them instantly. Let’s find out which pellet grill brands are best. Pellet grills also let you subtly flavor your food with different types of wood pallets.
Pit Boss Advantages
- Highly affordable pellet grills
- More storage space all around, adjustable and retractable
- Includes P setting in most units
- Heavy-gauge stainless steel construction
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
Traeger Advantages
- Precision cooking with Turbo Temp, Direct D2 Drive, and AGL
- Remote operation (Alexa-enabled)
- 6-in-1 cooking versatility
- Easy to use and assemble
Best Overall: Pit Boss 440D vs. Traeger Ironwood 650
Pit Boss 440D Pellet Grill
Our overall choice from Pit Boss is the 440D model because of its highly affordable price and durable construction. This grill will not only avoid rust but also provide you with a max temperature of 500°F. It also comes with a smoker, flame broiler (for direct grilling), and even a built-in temperature gauge on the lid that goes up to 750°F.
With two-tier cooking grates and 465 square inches of cooking space, you can cook a variety of foods in one go. The only concern with this grill is its sudden temperature spike and auger system, but it’s nothing that a pro cannot handle. Pit Boss produces a wide range of grilling equipment, including charcoal and gas grills.
Pros:
- Durable and built to last long
- Reaches up to 500°F and above
- Tools hooks and stainless-steel side shelf
- Sizable cooking surface area
- Automatic start and cool down
- Two-toned black-and-copper finish
- Affordable
Cons:
- Poor customer service
Pit Boss 440D is one of those versatile and portable pellet grills that lets you sear and smoke instead of grilling alone. It has a well-built grease management system and comes with a wide range of optional accessories like bottle opener, ample storage space, and an automatic ignition system. Pit Boss pellet grill, then you definetly have more options with Pit Boss than you do with Traeger.
Traeger Ironwood 650 Grill
This elegantly built Traeger grill had us fall for it in the first glance. Be it the WiFIRE Technology, 6-in-1 cooking versatility, sturdy all-terrain wheels, or digital control panel – Ironwood 650 has left us impressed throughout.
Ironwood 650 boasts of 650 square inches of cooking space that can easily cook eight chickens at a time, making it perfect for backyard parties. Its stainless-steel construction means that you may not have to invest on other pellet grills ever again.
Pros:
- Sufficient cooking surface
- Storage space on both sides of the unit
- Rollerblade wheels
- Supports TurboTemp, D2 Direct Drive, and Alexa
- Efficient temperature control
- No need for charcoal and gas
- Easy to assemble and operate
Cons:
- Expensive
The 20-lb pellet hopper (and its sensor), meat probe, TurboTemp (immediately reaches desired set the temperature), D2 Direct Drive (eliminates auger jam issues), and the LED digital panel can add extra stars to this Traeger grill.
Best Budget: Pit Boss Sportsman 820 vs. Traeger Renegade Pro
Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Pellet Grill
The looks, the larger cooking surface area (849 square inches) and pellet hopper capacity (21 lbs), and the extra storage space all provide an upper hand to Pit Boss Sportsman 820. What it lacks in some advanced technological features for precision cooking has been made up for by its dial-in digital control with P setting. They are specially designed to provide superior heat retention compared to other brands, which helps manage the perfect low and slow cooking temperature. This model includes a handy side shelf, and includes tool hooks for easy storage.
Pros:
- Great finish with orange highlights
- Tracks fuel with pellet hopper window
- Monitor meat doneness and supports P setting
- Easy to use and assemble
- Stainless steel removable and adjustable side rack
Cons:
- No extra handle or wheels
Sportsman 820 has Pit Boss’s patented flame broiler, which can be easily adjusted with a bar leveler. It also has ample storage space on the right, left, and bottom areas, as well as a bottle opener, spice rack, tool hooks, removable side shelf and many more.
Traeger Renegade Pro Series Pellet Grill/Smoker
Traeger Renegade Pro is a budget-friendly grill that you can get your hands on easily. This is a perfect grill for small-sized families that love having BBQ parties on weekends.
Since it has 380 square inches of cooking space, it will serve you a fantastic quantity of grilled food. This Traeger Renegade Pro pellet grill is designed to provide 6-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to juicy perfection.
Pros:
- Steel construction with durable coating
- Side rack and smokestack
- Two sturdy rollerblade wheels
- Bucket for collecting ash
- Cool-touch handle
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Temperature control dial
This Pro series grill has an impressive 18 pound pellet size capacity, which is compatible with the cooking area. Even at such a low price, you can experience 6-in-1 versatility and durability, enjoy operating digital temperature control, and facilitate precision cooking with Advanced Grilling Logic.
Best for Beginners: Pit Boss Sportsman PB206PSP2 vs. Traeger Pro 780
Pit Boss Sportsman PB206PSP2 Portable Grill
The Sportsman portable grill is ideal for beginners and travelers alike. You will be amazed by its flexibility, considering its foldable legs can turn it into a rolling griller in no time. More importantly, this unit doesn’t take much power to operate and can even be connected to your car inverter.
Pros:
- Premium gauge stainless steel construction
- 19-lb pellet capacity
- Includes one meat probe
- Grease management system
- Fan forced convection cooking, smoker
- Flame broiler adjustable bar at the front
- Facilitates direct as well as indirect grilling
Cons:
- Gets hotter on one side
Sportsman has a pellet hopper at the back and grill grates in the front half. Its 387 square inches of cooking area will allow you to feed a few people easily. One of the most interesting facts about the parent company Dansons inc is the fact that Joe Traeger of the Traeger family is a part of it.
When it comes to temperature range, you don’t have to worry about that either. This grill has a dial-in digital control with an LED read display. It also has stainless-steel latches, so it’s effortless to secure the lid.
Traeger Pro 780 Grill
Loaded with advanced features like, Traeger Pro 780 grill is perfect for beginners. It has 780 square inches of cooking space and four wheels, so you can move it around even when the grill is working. The 18 pounds pellet hopper, barrel-shaped chamber, and two-tier chamber system will enable you to cook for hours with ease. Pro 780 provides 780 square inches of cooking space
Pros:
- Easy ash cleanout system
- All-terrain wheels with lock latches
- Alexa-enabled
- Heavy-grade stainless-steel body
- Bronze-colored chamber lid
- Comes 1500 inbuilt recipes with grill guide
Cons:
- Expensive
Traeger Pro 780’s advanced digital temperature controller with an LED read display lets you cook delicious foods even without expertise. The Pro series D2 Controller, D2 Direct Drive, TurboTemp, and WiFIRE technology are all flushed in it, proving that it is perfect for beginners. The Traeger Pro 780 is the best selling wood pellets grills in the world.
You get precision cooking, improved searing marks, Set It and Forget It feature, and grill comes with oven this Pro series grill. It’s as easy to operate as a microwave oven, with an added benefit of using the unit as a smoker. Check the Price of Best Traeger for Beginners Pro 780.
Best for Pros: Pit Boss Rancher XL vs. Traeger Ranger
This minimalistic grill is for someone looking for a large cooking space at the cheapest price possible and isn’t too obsessed with advanced technology.
You can gift it to anyone because it’s so reasonably priced and compact. Thanks to the griddle, it can be used to cook anything you like, including fried eggs and pancakes.
Pit Boss Rancher XL Pellet Grill
Rancher XL is a grill big Pit Boss unit that can definitely be used in competitions and commercial spaces or if you love to throw big parties. Just cook on it once, and it can feed an impressive of people because of its surface area that goes beyond 1000 square inches. When you fill the pellet hopper, it will run for hours without interruption. It is best selling Pit Boss.
Pros:
- Enormous cooking space
- Heavy-duty build
- Porcelain-coated cooking grates
- Fan-forced convection cooking
- Maximum temperature up to 500°F
- 31-lb hopper size capacity
- Ash management system
Cons:
- Auger jam issues
With ample storage space on all side shelf, tool hooks, and a bottle opener, a pro may have more fun cooking over it. The analog thermometer over the chamber lid also adds to its aesthetic appeal and functionality.
The grill features the traditional V3 digital control board that only comes with a dial and LED read out. Still, it has an impressive hopper capacity of 31 lbs, 8-in-1 cooking versatility, pellet fuel window, and even a standard flame broiler.
If you like Pit Boss grills, you might be interested in reading this review to ease the decision-making process.
Traeger Ranger TBT18KLD Pellet Grill
Traeger’s Ranger is a portable pellet grill that can be loaded in the back of your vehicle without a hassle. Its shape is similar to those traditionally styled suitcases we used to carry. If you are a professional RV traveler or adventurer and excels in grilling, this is undoubtedly made for you. The Traeger Ranger also has a cast iron griddle if you want to sear your steak to perfection.
Pros:
- Heavy and durable build
- Comes with meat probe and griddle
- Digital controller with LED read out
- Four legs for stability
- Stainless-steel lid latches
- Priced below $400
Cons:
- Poor grease management issues
Its griddle can be used for sautéing fish and veggies or making an omelet. It also has a special digital controller, Advanced Grilling Logic, Keep Warm feature, and many more.
With 8 lbs of size capacity, 187 square inches of cooking space, lid latches, and even cook timer, it fits for everyone, even if you’re pros, beginners, travelers, or just normal people.
Final Verdict
The Pit Boss pellet grills included in our list stands tough against the pellet grills Traeger. It’s difficult to do that since the latter come with ultimate precision cooking and have been the pioneers of wood pellet grills. Still, the new series has totally outdone the others with their advanced digital control board with P setting. It provides a flame broiler, advanced temperature range control, and more storage space than Top Traeger at a much lesser price.
However, if you are looking for long term and durable grills with at least a 3-year warranty, Traeger’s grills won’t disappoint anytime. Still, if you are on a budget, these best grills under 500 need your attention.
To summarize this Traeger vs Pit Boss review, both brands flaunt amazing grills that are all worth trying. Also, don’t forget to check out our comparison of Camp Chef vs. Traeger and Camp Chef vs. Pit Boss.
Wood pellet grills have become the ultimate choice for grillers. And when it comes to that, Traeger and Pit Boss are the best brands to give you what you need.
To know what extra vibe their pellet grills hold, read our Traeger vs. Pit Boss review below.
FAQs
1. What is P setting in Pit Boss pellet grills?
P in P setting stands for Pause. This can be used to maintain the temperature when your pellet grill is either too hot or too cold. With the P setting’s help, you can increase or decrease the pause time between pellet cycles. If your grill is too hot, you can withhold the pellets in the auger to lower the temperature, resulting in more smoke.
Moreover, did you know that pressing the P button for long can change the temperature readings from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa?
2. Are wood pellet grills worth the money?
Yes, they are worth the money as they provide more cooking versatility. Moreover, they do not cost too high — you can even find wood pellet grills for even less than $500. Though they require electricity to operate, the power used is minimal and will not be too heavy for your pocket.
3. Is Pit Boss better than Traeger?
There is no clear winner between Pit Boss and pellet grills traeger. Some of the Pit Boss grills work much better than Traeger, while others are not. It all depends on your requirements and the amount of money you are willing to spend.
Though Traeger and Pit Boss pellet grills are highly affordable, the latter miss out on advanced features like that can enhance the user’s grilling experience. Also, Traeger grills provide the most impressive tailgater lineup. Nevertheless, Pit Boss offers a 5-year warranty, while Traeger only gives a 3-year warranty.
4. Are pellet grills good for health?
Pellet grills are safer to use health-wise compared to other types. When it comes to risks, it all depends on how well you operate and take precautions. Hence, choose between Traeger and Pit Boss accordingly.
Similarly, you might also like to read our Z grills review.
5. How long do Traeger grills last?
As Traeger provides a 3-year warranty on some of its wood pellet grills, they meant to last that long or more. Their durability also depends on how well you clean and maintain the unit. Still, just by looking at the Traeger grills, you should be able to feel their sturdiness.
Noam
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