We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases to cover data analysis costs. Rankings are based solely on our PatioRank Score algorithm. Full disclosure
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker, compared side by side using critic reviews, Reddit opinions, and Amazon data.
Quick answer: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch wins (90 vs 64). The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
8 critics · 55 Reddit · 5,495 Amazon
Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
3 critics · 22 Reddit · 112 Amazon
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Weber Smokey | Oklahoma Joe's |
|---|---|---|
| PatioRank Score | 90/100 | 64/100 |
| Critic Score | 88/100 | 60/100 |
| Reddit Score | 90/100 | 70/100 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7★ | 3.7★ |
| Reviews | 5,495 | 112 |
| Price | $419 | $729 |
Pros & Cons
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
- + Holds temp for 8-12 hours with zero babysitting
- + Produces deeper smoke flavor than any pellet grill
- + Bulletproof reliability - users report 10+ years of heavy use
- + Massive online community (virtualweberbullet.com)
- − No WiFi or app - manual monitoring only
- − Water pan management is tricky for beginners
- − Limited capacity vs larger offset smokers
Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
- + Reverse flow design genuinely evens out temperature
- + Huge capacity for multiple briskets and rib racks
- + Great entry point for learning real stick burning
- + Heavy-gauge steel feels substantial for the price
- − Leaks smoke from every seam out of the box - gasket mods mandatory
- − Paint quality is terrible - chips and rusts within months
- − 90-day warranty is a joke for a $600+ product
- − Constant attention required - true offset learning curve
What Reddit Says
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
"WSM 18 is the best smoker you can buy under $500. I've had mine for 7 years. Briskets, ribs, pulled pork - never let me down once."
"Sold my pellet grill and went back to the WSM. The smoke flavor isn't even comparable. Pellet grills are glorified ovens."
Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
"Day one with the Highland: smoked leaked from every seam, door, and hinge. Spent $40 on gaskets and RTV sealant. Day two: pulled off the best brisket of my life. This thing is a project, not a product."
"The 90 day warranty tells you everything you need to know about how much OK Joe's stands behind this thing. The paint started peeling after 3 months. Budget for a can of high-temp paint."
Verdict
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch takes this comparison with a PatioRank Score of 90/100. The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.