Camp Chef vs Traeger: Which Pellet Grill to Buy in 2023?

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Everyone looks forward to preparing their meals in the best way. Using reliable pellet grills has proven to be an excellent way of doing this. Yet, choosing the best grill is a daunting process.

This article compares two popular grills, namely Camp Chef and Traeger. These insights will help make logical decisions and even get value for money.

Brand History

Camp Chef is a renowned brand that was established in 1990. It aimed to make excellent and reliable outdoor cookware.

Its target audience was sportsmen and campers that struggled with what cooking equipment they could use outdoors. Over the years, this brand has grown significantly, prioritizing premium quality and affordability.

This brand focuses on utilitarian outdoor cookware, which has been of excellent quality and enhanced durability. These aspects have helped improve its reputation, thanks to the value of money customers get.

Traeger is yet another grill manufacturer that started in 1985, yet it only sold its first commercial grill in 1988. This company, founded by Joe Traeger, initially focused on set-and-forget grills, whose patent has expired.

This patent helped keep competitors from copying their ideas. Today, Traeger manufactures most of its products in China, making them relatively cheaper.

Traeger was the first company to enter the market, building a solid reputation over the years. It provides products with excellent quality and robust construction, yet quite affordable.

Comparison: Traeger vs. Camp Chef

Traeger and Camp Chef are excellent manufacturers of grills. Yet, they do not offer similar quality levels, products, or even pricing.

Understanding what each of them brings could help make more logical resolutions in the long run. Some of the outstanding distinctions are as follows.

Camp ChefTraeger
PriceFor people on a budgetFor high-income earners
ConstructionPowder-coated steel body and enamel-coated gratesPowder-coated steel body and porcelain-coated grates
Temperature Range160 - 500 degrees Fahrenheit150 - 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Temperature Intervals5 degrees Fahrenheit15 degrees Fahrenheit
Cooking Space500 - 1236 square inches575 - 1300 square inches
Pellet Hopper Size18 and 22 pounds18, 24, and 20 pounds
Warranty3 years3 years

Price

Camp Chef targets people on a budget meaning its products are relatively more affordable. Most of their grills come between $700 and $1000, attracting a significant population.

However, you could consider their high-end items, which cost over $2000. These high-end products come with more features and advanced technology.

Conversely, Treager targets middle-income to high-income earners. Their products start at the cost of $700, with most of them costing around $1000.

However, if you have a generous budget, you could consider their top-of-the-line grills, which cost about $2000 or more.

Construction

Everyone looks forward to having grills with robust construction, as it helps enhance durability and reliability. Notably, both Camp Chef and Traeger boast sturdy construction and premium-quality materials.

Camp Chef products come with a powder-coated steel body and enamel-coated grates. These coatings help minimize rusting, corrosion, and damage, regardless of the weather condition.

You’ll also love its stainless steel firebox, which enhances your device’s durability. This brand boasts double-wall insulation, mainly among its top-notch models, enhancing your safety.

On the other hand, Traeger boasts a powder-coated steel body and porcelain-coated grates. If you consider their top-of-the-line products, you’ll find them with stainless steel grates, which are more durable.

Its products come with enhanced insulation, assuring you of less susceptibility to damage and safety concerns.

Temperature Range

The temperature range offered by grills differs from one model to another, with high-end products assuring you of better ranges. Typically, this temperature could fluctuate by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit, positive or negative.

Trager models assure you of a temperature range between 150 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, some of its high-end models could enjoy a higher temperature range. This brand’s grills have three main settings: smoke, medium, and high.

High-temperature ranges are about 450 degrees Fahrenheit and above, while medium-range temperatures are 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Smoke temperature ranges lie between 150 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Camp Chef offers a temperature range of between 160 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

This range could rise to approximately 650 degrees Fahrenheit in two instances: when using high-end products and during direct-flame grilling.

It has four temperature probes, allowing you to control the device effortlessly.

Temperature Control

An excellent grill should have easily accessible control knobs. Controlling this device has to be straightforward, assuring you of convenience and quality foods in the long run.

You can achieve the best results if the control device and settings are precise.

Traeger assures you of excellent temperature control. It comes with the D2 drivetrain, which assures you of faster heating on startup. It also helps improve the smoke quality.

Its top-range products, Timberline and Ironwood, feature an extra Turbo Temperature functionality that helps minimize temperature fluctuations.

Traeger brands are often WiFi compatible, meaning you can control their temperature levels remotely. Remote control aims to improve convenience and even food quality. Its temperature intervals are 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not the most accurate option.

Similarly, Camp Chef assures you of straightforward temperature control. This brand allows you to control and adjust the temperature in intervals of five degrees.

With this small difference, it becomes much easier to attain precision when using Camp Chef products.

Both brands assure you of Smart Smoke Technology, which alters temperature variance and increases the smoke produced.

Cooking Space

Unless you get enough cooking space, it’ll be hard to be comfortable when preparing your foods. Notably, both Camp Chef and Traeger assure you of great cooking space.

Traeger offers you bigger cooking spaces. Their products measure approximately 575 square inches on average, which is big enough to accommodate a small family when cooking.

You could also consider the extra-large devices, which measure between 800 and 1300 square inches. This size is big enough to accommodate up to 12 chickens.

Conversely, Camp Chef models have a cooking size of about 500 square inches and above. This brand offers a maximum cooking space of 1236, which is fairly impressive. Its vertical cooking grills tend to hold more food compared to others.

Pellet Hopper Size

A pellet hopper is one of the most important parts of a grill, which stores the pellet fuel used by the device. Choosing a relatively big pellet hopper helps hold enough pellets to complete your cooking. Minimal refilling helps improve convenience.

Traeger has three distinct hopper sizes: 18, 24, and 20 pounds.

This variety allows you to choose a size that matches your cooking style—for instance, choosing the 24-pound hopper cushions you from frequent refilling. Its purge system helps clean the pellet every time it gets full.

In the same vein, Camp Chef offers two hopper sizes: 18 and 22. These sizes are good enough when cooking for between 18 to 24 hours.

There is a purge system that helps clean the pellet automatically. Its SmokePro DMX cleaning system is unrivaled, emptying the hopper effortlessly, timely, and efficiently.

Warranty

Warranties are designed to increase your confidence in specific products. They also help highlight the item’s durability and whether maintaining it could be costly.

Both Camp Chef and Traeger come with relatively impressive warranties.

These two brands offer you a 36-month warranty. These warranties cover defects in the device under normal use.

Usually, the firms replace defective parts within these three years, exposing you to no additional charges.

Extra Features

Undoubtedly, everyone prioritizes performance when selecting their grills. Additional features on these grills, including advanced technologies, often help improve the outcome.

Camp Chef has up to four temperature probes and a tall cooking chamber. These aspects help improve your cooking experience, as you will prepare larger meats effortlessly.

On the other hand, Traeger comes with up to two meat probes. It also features Turbo Temp and Super Smoke Mode, allowing you to prepare your food without the hassle.

Top Camp Chef Grill

Choosing the right Camp Chef or Traeger grill depends on your preferences and budget.

However, you might want to know what their best devices bring. Here are a few insights into it.

Affordable Choice (Value for the Money)

Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill

The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill will be your ultimate choice if you are looking for robust construction.

This product boasts thick steel construction, highlighting durability and reliability. Its modern technology makes it one of the best choices, as this helps improve your cooking experience.

Controlling this grill is relatively effortless, thanks to its PID controller. The PID controller helps ensure that the temperature levels remain within manageable ranges.

Usually, it allows you to set the temperature to between 160 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

It also comes with two meat probes, assuring you of extensive control over your food’s temperature. Its digital display ensures you have access to every data you need during cooking, including temperature and time.

You’ll also have an easier time cleaning this device thanks to the self-cleaning mechanism. All you have to do is turn the control knob, and the ashes will drop from the burn cup.

This product comes with a relatively sleek design. It comes with a sidekick, which improves its attachment capabilities.

This element allows you to add a grill, oven, stockpot, or griddle whenever necessary.

Pros
  • Comes with robust construction for enhanced durability
  • Has a sleek design makes it relatively appealing
  • Assures you of an exceptional cleaning mechanism
  • Has a digital display allows you to read the temperatures and time accurately
Cons
  • Could be a little too costly for some people

Top Choice By Camp Chef

Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker

The Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker is an irresistible choice, assuring you of advanced technology and incredible features.

Its robust construction helps boost its durability and reliability. This product comes with coated steel, which cushions against rust and corrosion.

You’ll also be sure of over 570 square inches of cooking space. This space is big enough to accommodate a small or medium family cooking.

Controlling this grill is relatively effortless. Its accessible front knob allows you to alter the temperature settings whenever necessary.

Remember, its temperature ranges between 160 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It comes with an auto-start ignition that gives you an easier time when starting it.

This product features an LED display that allows you to read the current temperature and remaining time. The temperature shown indicates both the internal cooking heat and the food temperature.

Its Ash Cleanout system is one of the most reliable. It helps remove accumulated debris, burned food, and ash.

All you need to do is pull a lever, and you’ll be ready. Thanks to this, you will no longer have to vacuum the grill.

Pros
  • Comes with a dual-LED temperature readout
  • Assures you of enough cooking space
  • Provides you with incredible temperature ranges
  • Has enhanced durability
Cons
  • Could be too costly

Traeger TFB57GZEO Pro Series 575 Grill and Smoker

Nothing assures you more convenience than a remote control. You get that from the Traeger TFB57GZEO Pro Series 575 Grill and Smoker.

This WiFi-compatible product allows you to control it from wherever you are. This control system will enable you to set the temperature at between 165 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

You’ll love the significant cooking space offered by this item. It assures you of up to 575 square inches of cooking space.

You will take a relatively short time cooking your food, thanks to its Pro D2 Drive system. This system works with the Turbotemp system, which helps cook ultra-fast food.

Its robust construction boosts its lifespan. It features stainless steel in its body and traits body and tray, meaning it is less susceptible to corrosion and rust.

Pros
  • Compatible with WIFI, allowing you to control it easily
  • Assures you of enhanced durability
  • Comes with a relatively impressive warranty
  • Assures you of a better cleaning mechanism
Cons
  • Accuracy levels might not appeal to some enthusiasts

Winner: Camp Chef vs. Traeger

While Traeger has built a solid reputation over the years, Camp Chef seems to edge it. Camp Chef assures you of enhanced affordability and quality.

You’ll also have access to various advanced features. Yet, you can still choose a Traeger grill.

Conclusion

Camp Chef and Traeger are excellent pellet grill manufacturers with unique strengths and weaknesses. Camp Chef targets people on a budget with affordable products, while Traeger focuses on middle-income to high-income earners with more expensive grills.

Both brands boast sturdy construction, but Camp Chef offers a higher temperature range and more precise temperature control, with intervals of five degrees Fahrenheit compared to Traeger’s 15-degree intervals. The cooking space and pellet hopper size of both brands are comparable.

Ultimately, choosing the best pellet grill comes down to personal preference and budget, and this article provides valuable information to help make an informed decision.

Bobby Johnson

When he's not writing about barbecue, you can find Bobby smoking meat for friends and family. He's been a backyard pitmaster for roughly half his life, and has worked with nearly every cut of meat. Not everyone has a hands-on guide to teach them BBQ, but that's what Bobby hopes to do with Electric Smoker HQ. He wants to help people create amazing food that they can be proud of.