Traeger vs. Pit Boss: Both Are Good, but This Pellet Grill Gives You More for Your Money

5 min readYou can’t get more “set it and forget it” than a pellet grill. Charcoal smokers are great, but maintaining the low-and-slow temperatures you need requires constant care and attention. Pellet grills automate the process, allowing you to set it up and walk away.Traeger was the top name in pellet grills for a long time, but younger companies like Pit Boss are making a mark, so I decided to compare two of their grills: The Pit Boss Navigator 1600 Connected Grill and the Traeger Woodridge Pro Grill and Smoker.ProsWell-sealed hood results in good heat retentionSturdy construction is built to lastIntuitive controls are easy to learn and operateConsSmall searing sectionHard for just one person to put togetherKey SpecsCooking Area1,593 sq in. (three shelves)Temperature Range180° F - 500° FPellet Hopper Size30 lbExtra FeaturesWi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, two meat probes, one side shelfIf you’re not familiar with pellet grills, they differ from traditional gas or charcoal grills in two major ways: First, they burn small compressed wood pellets made from flavored wood varieties like apple wood, mesquite, or cherry. The pellets produce the heat and emit the flavored smoke, so you don’t need separate smoking chips. Second, they use a specially designed system that automatically delivers pellets to a burner cup as needed to maintain a chosen temperature.ProsEasy to learn the controls and fun to cook onThe retro display seems odd at first but is really easy to read from afar, which is niceThe Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connected easily to a well-designed appConsSome lesser construction quality in certain partsMinor heat retention issuesKey SpecsCooking Area970 sq. in. (two shelves)Temperature Range180° F - 500° FPellet Hopper Size24 lb Extra FeaturesWi-Fi/Bluetooth, one meat probe, two side shelves, “super smoke” modeBecause of this, they look a bit different, with a hopper on the side or rear of the grill that holds the pellets and houses the digital controls. Inside the base of this hopper is the start of a long, electrically powered auger that spirals the pellets to the burner cup, normally located in the center or side of the grill, where they ignite. Fans help feed oxygen into the burner cup and distribute heat and smoke throughout the chamber. Because of the electronics and the mechanical auger, pellet grills need to be plugged into an outlet (though you could also use a power station).Build QualityFor my money, Pit Boss’s Navigator 1600 wins in this category. While it wasn’t the easiest grill to put together, it’s solidly designed. The pressed metal chassis that makes up the main chamber and pellet hopper is thick and strong, and the sturdy legs roll on four 360-degree ball-bearing wheels. There’s also a padded, fireproof seal lining the edges of the hood that helps retain heat and smoke.The extra features are well-built, too, including a strong side shelf that features an inlaid removable cutting board, a built-in bottle opener, and hooks to hang grilling tools and towels. There are three racks for cooking and smoking for a total cooking area of 1,593 square inches, and the hopper holds up to 30 pounds of pellets, which is six pounds more than the Traeger.Trevor RaabThe hood of the Pit Boss grill is lined with a fireproof seal that helps retain heat.This isn’t to say that the Traeger Woodridge Pro isn’t built well. It comes with one of the best assembly guides I’ve ever seen and was relatively easy to assemble. And while it seems sturdy once built, it uses thin pressed sheet metal for every part, has very thin grill grates, and rolls on four thin plastic wheels, two of which are fixed and do not rotate. Even though they are roughly the same price, when you stand the two pellet grills next to each other, the Pit Boss looks and feels higher-end.Which One Is Easier to Use?The whole point of pellet grills is to make the task of cooking at low-and-slow temperatures easier by regulating the temperature automatically via a digital interface. In this regard, both grills are pretty equally matched, with simple controls that you can learn in just a few minutes. Basically, you turn a dial to a desired temperature, and the grill does the rest, delivering pellets from the hopper to the burner cup, as needed. Both also have apps that allow you to monitor and adjust temperature remotely, too, and each worked very well.Trevor RaabThe controls on the Traeger Woodridge Pro are clear-cut, and the display is large and easy to read from far away.One thing I liked about Traeger’s grill was that you could read the temperature from afar on the digital display. The temperature numbers are large and easy to read, and there’s a helpful motion graphic that shows whether the grill is heating up or lowering the heat. There’s also a sensor that lets you know when pellets are running low. So, if I had to choose one that is “easier” to use, Traeger gets my vote, but it’s so close that both are winners in this category.How Well Do They Cook?I used both grills to cook and smoke some of my favorite things. I used the Pit Boss for a favorite recipe for smoked flat iron steak, as well as a mix of zucchini, onions, and red peppers. For the Traeger grill, I smoked a seasoned brisket, as well as a buttermilk-and-spice-marinated spatchcock chicken, and also some veggies. Both grills delivered delicious results, though I will admit I had to keep my eye on the Traeger a bit more.Trevor RaabThe cover of the pellet hopper on the Traeger grill is set lower so that the top can act as a shelf.In both tests, I used both the included wired meat thermometer for checking the internal temperature of the meat (Traeger includes one; Pit Boss includes two) and a Meater Bluetooth Thermometer, which gives you an internal reading, as well as an ambient temperature reading. With Traeger’s grill, I found that the ambient temperature reading on the grill’s control panel was always a bit higher than the one on the Meater. I suspect this is because the internal thermometer of the grill is on the same side as the burner cup, making the grill a bit hotter on one side.Trevor RaabThe Pit Boss Navigator has a sliding panel that allows flames from the burner cup to sear meats, if you desire, though it is only a small area.Pit Boss’s burner cup is located in the center of the grill, and because of that, as well as better overall insulation, I found the temperature was more consistent between the grill’s reading and my own independent reading. As a result, I didn’t have to keep an eye on the temperature or adjust it on the fly as much as I did with the Traeger.Another feature Pit Boss’s grill has that the Traeger does not is a flame broil function. Most pellet grills do not expose food to direct flames like a gas or charcoal grill can. So if you like that flame-seared look and taste, you’re out of luck. But the Navigator 1600 has a sliding plate directly over the burner cup that exposes food to some direct flames. Nice in theory, but in practice I didn’t think it worked all that well. Since the burn pot is only a few inches wide, this is only useful for food that sits directly over it, and the flames just were not intense enough to match the searing power of a flame grill.Which One Is Better?My choice between these two is the Pit Boss Navigator 1600. You get a lot for your money with this pellet grill, and when you’re paying more than $1,000 for a grill, that matters. But ultimately, the most essential thing is how well a grill cooks, and in that regard, both brands deliver on the promise of a pellet grill—automated outdoor smoking and grilling that make you look like a pro. If you catch the Traeger Woodridge Pro on a good sale day, it’s still a worthy option.Other Editor-Recommended SmokersDavid is a Reviews Editor for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, contributing to Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography. He has over 25 years of experience writing about and reviewing consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, DIY products, outdoor gear, and more. He also spent years covering the ever-changing world of online retail. To relax, he loves experimenting with new recipes, tweaking his smart home setup, and spending time outdoors on his bike or camping.