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Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Traeger Ironwood 616 Pellet Grill
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Traeger Ironwood 616 Pellet Grill, compared side by side using critic reviews, Reddit opinions, and Amazon data.
Quick answer: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch wins (90 vs 72). 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
Traeger Ironwood 616 Pellet Grill
7 critics · 38 Reddit · 39 Amazon
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Weber Smokey | Traeger Ironwood |
|---|---|---|
| PatioRank Score | 90/100 | 72/100 |
| Critic Score | 88/100 | 80/100 |
| Reddit Score | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7★ | 4.2★ |
| Reviews | 5,495 | 39 |
| Price | $419 | $1799.99 |
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
Traeger Ironwood 616 Pellet Grill
- + WiFi app lets you monitor cooks from the couch
- + Super Smoke mode adds noticeably more flavor at low temps
- + Set-it-and-forget-it convenience for beginners
- + Sturdy build with premium feel
- − Reddit consensus: overpriced, Camp Chef and recteq offer better value
- − Weaker smoke flavor than charcoal or offset - it's a pellet grill
- − WiFIRE app has constant connectivity complaints
- − Ongoing pellet costs add up fast
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."
Traeger Ironwood 616 Pellet Grill
"I own an Ironwood and it makes great food. But if I could do it over I'd buy a Camp Chef Woodwind and pocket the $500 difference. Traeger is paying for Super Bowl ads, not better engineering."
"WiFIRE app is garbage. Disconnects mid-cook, notifications don't work half the time, and the UI feels like it was designed in 2015. Use a standalone thermometer and pretend the WiFi doesn't exist."
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.