Middleweight · $899–$999

Grills, Smokers, and Pizza showdown

Traeger Woodridge vs Weber Searwood 600 vs recteq vs Pit Boss vs Weber Smoque XL: The Middleweight Pellet Grill Showdown (2026)

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad Smith · Independent, no paid placement · Updated October 15, 2026Prices checked October 2026

Some links here are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (sometimes with a discount for you). It never changes which products we recommend — and we name the SKIPs to prove it.

Five pellet grills at the price where the name brands meet: Traeger, Weber, Pit Boss and recteq. Every box promises steady smoke and real heat. The testers who put their own thermometers on these grates found that each grill keeps one of those promises better than the other.

This is the Middleweight class, the sweet spot of the ladder. Five grills, one winner, and a role for each of the others. Here’s who wins, and for whom.

Quick comparison

Model	Best for	Max temp	Cook area	Hopper	Warranty	Price
Traeger Woodridge	Best overall	500°F	860 sq in	24 lb	10 years body and structural; 3 years controller, auger and fan; 1 year sensors and igniter; authorized seller only; labor and freight at the owner's expense	Check price →
Weber Searwood 600	Best for searing	600°F	648 sq in	20 lb	5 years cook box; 3 years electrical; 3 years grates, burn pot and heat diffuser (Weber warranties page)	Check price →
Pit Boss Navigator 1300	Most grill for the money	500°F (flame broiler for direct sear)	1,329 sq in	30 lb	5 years all parts and 5 years electrical (wood pellet grills, brand policy); original purchaser, residential use only; parts only, no labor or freight; no performance warranty; authorized retailer or reseller only (unauthorized marketplaces may be refused)	Check price →
Weber Smoque XL	Best for big low-and-slow cooks	500°F	918 sq in	not published by Weber	5 years cook box and all parts not listed; 3 years electrical; 3 years grates, pellet slide, burn pot, heat baffle, pellet grate and controller bezel; no channel clause found	Check price →
recteq Deck Boss 900	Highest dial temperature	700°F	956 sq in	18 lb	4 years, the whole unit, original owner; authorized recteq distributor only; parts only, freight prepaid by the owner, no labor	Soon

Prices move constantly — any Amazon price shown is as of the date noted and subject to change; tap through for today's number.

Best overall: Traeger Woodridge

If you mostly smoke, and most pellet grill owners do, this is the one.

Wirecutter ran the Woodridge against a ThermoWorks Smoke and found it “reliably maintained steady cooking temperatures, producing small swings of around 5 to 10 degrees.” It has the lowest list price here, it has 860 sq in (520 on the main grate), and Traeger backs the body for 10 years and the controller, auger and fan for 3. Amazon sells it directly, and its owner base is the deepest of the five.

Not for you if: you want to sear, or you are impatient. Wirecutter timed over 28 minutes to reach 325°F, Food & Wine watched a 500°F setting sag to 425–450°F after a lid opening, and Men’s Health found it 15 to 63 degrees under target while seasoning. Owners’ critical reviews also report failures inside the first year, on parts Traeger covers for 3 years rather than 10.

Winner

Our top pick

Traeger Woodridge

Best overall · 860 sq in · WiFIRE app · the easy all-rounder

Your pick if you want the easiest app-driven pellet grill and the deepest accessory ecosystem — 860 sq in and WiFIRE control; searing tops out at 500°F, so it's for low-and-slow more than steakhouse heat.

4.6 · 173 owner ratingsacross Amazon · 2026-10-15 · global base

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · 30-day refund / replacement · read 2026-10-08

Picked before we checked what this link pays us.

· Engadget

“The sturdy construction, reliable performance and smart grilling features allow this grill to punch above its weight.”

Pro review GearJunkie

“The Traeger Woodridge is a cook's pellet grill at a value price.”

Traeger Woodridge

Best overall

Your pick if you want the easiest app-driven pellet grill and the deepest accessory ecosystem — 860 sq in and WiFIRE control; searing tops out at 500°F, so it's for low-and-slow more than steakhouse heat.

4.6 · 173 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-15 · global base

“The sturdy construction, reliable performance and smart grilling features allow this grill to punch above its weight.”— Billy Steele, Engadget

Pro review “The Traeger Woodridge is a cook's pellet grill at a value price.”— Sean McCoy, GearJunkie

Pros

• Best-in-class app — WiFIRE sets temp, monitors probes, and alerts from your phone
• Biggest accessory + recipe ecosystem of any pellet brand
• 24-lb hopper and 860 sq in — room for ribs plus sides, fewer refills
• Easiest to live with; 10-year warranty and strong resale value

Cons

• Slow to heat and short at high heat: Wirecutter timed over 28 minutes to 325°F, and Food & Wine saw a 500°F setting sag to 425–450°F
• You pay the Traeger brand premium on accessories
• WiFi can drop on a weak backyard signal
• Only one meat probe included

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

It fails inside the first year - thermostat, an E10 igniter fault, the auger - and owners consistently say Traeger's warranty support is the bigger problem than the fault itself.

5 of the first 10 critical cards (of 14) are a failure within a year, and 4 of those name the warranty experience · critical reviews read August 2026

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · 30-day refund / replacement · read 2026-10-08

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall for the Woodridge (checked Jun 2026). For context: Traeger recalled its Flatrock flat-top propane griddle in Dec 2023 for a mislabeled burner knob — a different product, not this pellet grill. As with any grill, run it outdoors with clearance from walls and keep grease cleaned up to avoid flare-ups.

Best for searing: Weber Searwood 600

If you want one pellet grill that also sears a steak, this is it. Bon Appétit’s laser read 611°F at the top setting, Smoked BBQ Source reached 600°F in 13 minutes, and AmazingRibs gave it its top Platinum Medal for smoke quality “whether doing low and slow ribs at 225°F or sizzling steaks at 600°F.”

The catches are evenness and availability. AmazingRibs measured it about 15°F under the setting at every temperature, and Smoked BBQ Source’s probes found about 50°F front to back; Weber supplied both test units. It is the smallest grill here, 648 sq in. And when we read Amazon on October 15, 2026, the listing was down to one unit from Acme Tools, not Amazon.

Weber Searwood 600

Best for searing

Your pick if you want one pellet grill that also sears — testers measured 611°F at the top setting and smoke within 5°F; it has 648 sq in, and testers found uneven heat across the grate.

4.5 · 84 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-14 · early data

“Searwood is an all-in-one pellet smoker/grill that produces great smoke flavor, aroma, and color whether doing low and slow ribs at 225°F or sizzling steaks at 600°F.”— Max Good, AmazingRibs · Platinum Medal (5/5)

Pro review “The Weber Searwood 600 pellet grill is an all-in-one pellet smoker/grill that produces great smoke flavor, aroma, and color whether doing low and slow ribs at 225°F or sizzling steaks at 600°F.”— Max Good, AmazingRibs.com

Pros

• AmazingRibs Platinum medal — a top BBQ-authority pick
• Solid 4.5★ from Amazon owners (its brand-page figure on Weber's own page)
• 600°F searing plus clean smoke; Weber Connect app with two probes
• Trusted Weber build and support; 5-year cookbox warranty

Cons

• Testers measured uneven heat: about 15°F under the setting (AmazingRibs) and about 50°F front to back (Smoked BBQ Source)
• 648 sq in, 420 of it on the main grate
• Amazon's listing was down to one unit from a third-party seller (Acme Tools) on October 15, 2026
• Amazon's base is still early: 4.5★ across 84

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Acme Tools · read 2026-10-14

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall for the Searwood (checked Jun 2026). For context: Weber's Feb 2026 recall was for wire-bristle grill brushes — an accessory, not this grill. Run it outdoors with clearance and keep grease cleaned up.

Most grill for the money: Pit Boss Navigator 1300

The Navigator 1300 is the biggest grill in the fight, 1,329 sq in with a 30 lb hopper, and its Flame Broiler lever opens the fire for direct searing. AmazingRibs gave it a Best Value Silver Medal, and Wirecutter’s biscuit test had it at 325°F in 18 minutes, against over 28 for the Woodridge.

The catches: AmazingRibs’ thermometer read 240 to 250°F at a 275°F setting, and below 35°F outside it struggled to hold temperature. Pit Boss supplied that grill. Its Amazon rating is shared by three Navigator sizes, and only 5 of those reviews are the 1300.

Pit Boss Navigator 1300

Most grill for the money

Sold in 3 grill sizes on this listing: 850 sq in, 1300 sq in, 1600 sq in — this card is the 1300 sq in. Check the size before you add to cart.

Your pick if you want the most grill for the money and a real sear — 1,329 sq in and a flame broiler; a tester measured it 25 to 35 degrees under a 275°F setting in cold weather, and its Amazon rating pools three sizes.

4.6 · 72 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-15 · early data · listing-wide base · global base

Pro review “I give it our AmazingRibs.com Best Value Silver Medal.”— John Bowlsby, AmazingRibs.com

Pros

• 1,329 sq in and a 30 lb hopper
• Flame Broiler lever for direct-flame searing
• Fast to heat: Wirecutter's biscuit test reached 325°F in 18 minutes
• 5-year warranty on all parts

Cons

• AmazingRibs' thermometer read 240 to 250°F at a 275°F setting, and it struggled below 35°F outside
• Amazon's 4.6★/72 pools the 850, 1300 and 1600; only 5 reviews were of the 1300 in October 2026
• Critical reviews on the shared listing cluster on early part failures and slow warranty help
• AmazingRibs' test unit was supplied by Pit Boss

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Parts fail early on the shared Navigator listing - the auger, the igniter, the controller board - and owners say Pit Boss's warranty support did not fix it.

5 of 10 critical reviews on the shared listing describe a part failing (mostly 850-size units) · critical reviews read October 2026

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · 30-day refund / replacement · read 2026-10-15

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall for the Navigator or any Pit Boss pellet grill (checked 2026-10-14).

Best for big low-and-slow cooks: Weber Smoque XL

Weber’s newer smoker line in its larger size: 918 sq in, 595 on the main grate. Smoked BBQ Source reviewed the XL and found it reached 275°F in about 10 minutes, “held that target rock steady”, and ran “nearly identical from left to right.” That is one test, and it names no thermometer; its small Amazon base is clean.

Its sibling, the smaller Smoque, fell 30 to 46 degrees short of a 450°F setting in Men’s Health’s test. Nobody has measured the XL at high heat, so treat it as a smoker.

Weber Smoque XL

Best for big low-and-slow cooks

Your pick if you want a big, steady Weber smoker for long cooks — 918 sq in (595 on the main grate) and a tester's report of a rock-steady 275°F; it is a smoker first, tested by one outlet so far.

4.7 · 14 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-26 · too thin to judge

Pro review “During testing, it came up to 275°F in around 10 minutes and held that target rock steady.”— Jeff Rice, Smoked BBQ Source

Pros

• Smoked BBQ Source: 275°F in about 10 minutes, held 'rock steady'
• 595 sq in on the main grate plus a 323 sq in warming rack
• Two meat probes and Weber Connect app control
• 5-year warranty on the cook box

Cons

• Only one credentialed test so far, and it names no thermometer
• The smaller Smoque fell 30 to 46 degrees short of a 450°F setting in Men's Health's test; no one has measured the XL at high heat
• Weber does not publish the hopper size
• Amazon's base is small: 4.7★ across 14

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · 30-day refund / replacement · read 2026-10-14

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall for the Smoque (checked 2026-10-14). Weber's recalls on record are gas grills from 2003 and 2007.

Highest dial temperature: recteq Deck Boss 900

The Deck Boss dials to 700°F, the highest setting here, in a 304-stainless barrel with 956 sq in. That is all we can tell you from the spec sheet, because no credentialed tester has measured it, and recteq lists no direct-flame mode. Until someone puts a thermometer on it, it is a contender, not a pick.

recteq Deck Boss 900

Highest dial temperature

Your pick if you want the highest dial setting and a 304-stainless build — 956 sq in and a 700°F setting; no tester has measured it yet, and recteq lists no direct-flame mode, so treat it as unproven at searing.

“The 700°F top end is still rare in pellet grills, especially at this price point.”— Erik Naso, Erik Naso

Pros

• 700°F on the dial
• 956 sq in of cook area
• Heavy 304-stainless barrel and cast-iron heat deflector
• recteq PID control; two meat probes and a 4-year warranty

Cons

• No credentialed test has measured it; the 700°F is a dial setting, and recteq lists no direct-flame mode
• Brand-new (launched April 2026) — owner ratings not established yet
• 18-lb hopper is smaller than the Traeger's for marathon overnight cooks
• App and ecosystem less polished than Traeger's
• Ships direct — some assembly required

Buy link coming soon

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked Jun 2026). Standard pellet-grill care: run outdoors with clearance, keep the firepot and grease tray clean to prevent flare-ups, and don't leave it unattended on high.

How to choose between them

1. Mostly smoking? The Traeger Woodridge.
2. Want to sear on the same grill? The Weber Searwood 600.
3. Want the most room and a flame broiler for the money? The Pit Boss Navigator 1300.

Spending less? Our Welterweight showdown puts the Traeger Westwood XL against the Z Grills 700D4E and the Weber Smoque. Want a step up? The Light Heavyweight showdown puts the Grilla Silverbac 2.0 against the Traeger Woodridge Pro. Cooking for crowds? The Heavyweight showdown has the bigger grills, and the best pellet grills of 2026 page gathers every tester measurement.

What to look for in a mid-tier pellet grill

• A tester’s thermometer, not the dial. Several of these grills read hotter on their own display than on a tester’s probe.
• Searing ability. Only a direct-flame mode or real grate heat sears; a 500°F dial does not.
• The warranty on the moving parts. The controller, auger and igniter fail first. Read those terms.
• Who sells the listing. Several makers tie the warranty to an authorized seller.

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