Which Offset Smokers Are Worth It? | Testing The Best Offset Smoker Under $1,000
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- We take the best offset smokers we can find under the $1,000 price point and put them in a head-to-head battle to see which ones are worth your hard-earned money.
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Featured products
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► Dyna Glo Vertical offset - amzn.to/3m2Ny6K
► Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow - amzn.to/3KsQQJQ
► Char-Griller Grand Champ XL- thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Oklahoma Joe's Bandera- amzn.to/3zu2uhn
► Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn- amzn.to/3GaMWTx
► Broil King Smoke XL- bbqguys.sjv.io/daoxKK
► Wicked Good Lump Charcoal - acehardware.dttq.net/WqO9qA
► Kingsford Charcoal - thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Kinkaid’s Meat Market - kincaidsmeatmarket.com/
► Cotton Glove Liners - amzn.to/3pyM7OD
► Nitrile Gloves - amzn.to/42JQl4l
► Salt Shaker - amzn.to/4505b90
► Diamond Crystal Salt Kosher Salt - amzn.to/44N3KdI
► Black Pepper - amzn.to/41nRCwX
► Cholula - amzn.to/3LRpeO3
► Thermoworks Signals - thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Yeti Cooler - thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Shop our favorite products:
thebarbecuelab.com/shop/
Outdoor Cooking Appliances
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► Pellet Grill: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► XL Kamado: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Gas Grill: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Outdoor Griddle: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Pizza Oven: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
Accessories
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► GrillGrates: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Grate Cleaning Brush: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Grill Cleaning Spray: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Grilling Gloves: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Apron: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Grill Tools: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Large Spatula: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Vacuum Sealer: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Pork Racks: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► BBQ Sprayer: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
Fire Starters
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► Electric Fire Starter: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► GrillGun: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Smoking Pellets: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Fire Starter: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Kindling Cracker: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
Thermometers
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► Instant Read Thermometer: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Infrared Thermometer: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Control Fan: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Probe Storage: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
Outdoor Kitchen
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► Doors & Drawers: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Refrigerator: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Ice Maker: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Sink: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Gas Grill: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Pro Burner: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Griddle: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
Consumable Items
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► Mail Order meat: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► All Purpose Rub: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Brisket Rub: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
► Beef Tallow: thebarbecuelab.com/recommends...
0:00 Introduction
1:15 The Testing Process
1:32 The Smokers We're Testing
4:30 Longevity & Warranty
5:02 Mobility
6:00 Stability
6:26 Construction
7:13 Cooking Square Inches & Upper Racks
9:15 Fuel Types
9:53 Firebox Sizes & Opening Sizes
10:59 Airflow
12:33 External Temperatures while Cooking
14:17 Biscuit Test
16:09 Chicken Quarters Test
17:54 Brisket Test
22:04 Can They Grill As Well?
23:39 Cleaning The Smokers
25:13 How Easy Are They To Use?
28:00 Giveaway Details & How To Enter
29:35 Who Is Each Smoker Best For?
33:25 Where you can buy each smoker
34:32 The Resource for all the BBQ Supplies - Навчання та стиль
Got my grand champ for a even 300 from Home Depot. I believe they were liquidating stock! Can’t be mad at that price
Is it cooking good?
I have 2 grand champs..it works great..the second one I bought damaged for 100.
Dang man if I see that deal I'm buying it too
Been waiting for the price to drop.
I have 2 Pit Barrel Cookers. Had 1 for 5 years just bought the 2nd.
I put a 14" clay pot under the charcoal basket if I want to grill. Works great.
But these things are smoking machines.
You can hang a couple briskets, or 2 14 pound turkeys, or 2 pork butts or 8 racks of ribs.
You can also get a grate with a hinge on it and do a pork butt and chicken or veggies etc. on the grate.
I did my own Brazilian BBQ and used some skewers you can get and did picana, pork tenderloin, chicken legs, and I forget what all else. Everything came out fantastic.
If food doesn't it was my fault.
Thanks for the video. This was very insightful and helped me make my selection.
Wow. The detail in this video. Thanks so much.
One of the best presentations I've seen. Thank you!
I have a Oklahoma Joe's highland smoker and it took me a while to dial it in....a very rewarding journey indeed.
I have a sixty year old son-in-law who is a professional chef, having been the head chef at several five star restaurants in San Diego and at a few four star restaurants (one was at a ski resort in Idaho, and one was an upscale restaurant in Huntsville Alabama). I have an offset smoker but he told me not to use the offset chamber but to have the fire inside the main barrel, off to one side, and to have the meat on the other side. I've tried it both ways and I do agree that doing it the way he said is the way to go.
Okay 👌
I really needed this video …. Thank you 🙏
always outstanding reviews! thumbs up 👍
awesome video :) thanks for all the details on these models.
One thing I'd love to see is a feature list to look for when looking to buy a smoker (especially a cheaper one). I live in Europe, so most American brands are either unavailable or far more expensive due to shipping costs. I'd love to see a video on general features, what makes a great smoker, what makes a poor one, etc
I wish our off set smokers were as big as & as cheap as that, here in the UK. Just purchased myself a cheap one at £90. Just to give it a go for the first time.
Man this was an awesome informative video. I love my Dyna Glo. It gives the craziest smoke ring out of anything I've used. But ya.. it is a pain to keep consistent temps. Never had a problem with the drawer though unless there is debris in the way.
I have the Char griller and its been fantastic all summer.
Learning to manage the heat is key to any smoker.
Great video you didn’t say a word a bout the highland reverse flow is able to move the stack to the other end to make it a conventional offset smoker
I use my pellet smoker but looking for a used offset now- cool video- I love my pellet smoker too...
Great video man!
From what I’ve learned from other videos, the Grand Champ is a great after you add seal around smoke box & the actual grill lid… It helps to seal the smoke & regulate the heat much better.
Shouts to TonyTonebbq for that nugget!
Very thorough! Thanks brother!🙏👍🔥
Thanks for watching, and I hope it helped!
Excellent review
Having owned a couple of these offsets, I'd like to share a few notes on the Bandera vertical offset. Without going into modifications, replacing the provided water bowl with a 2/3rd size steam pan (hotel pan) results in a significant improvement. It sits perfectly over the provided bracket for the water bowl and when positioned in the center (front to back), it nearly eliminates the hotter spot on the lower grate beside by the firebox. After more than 100 cooks on all types of meats and temperatures, the smoke chamber holds with just a 5-10 degree difference from top to bottom with the said 2/3rd steam pan as a water pan. Also, a common practice with the Bandera is to place a metal griddle over the firebox and leave the hinged top sitting up. This smooths the airflow into the firebox and makes for a large griddle surface for either heating splits before they go into the firebox or for other cooking. For me, I just used a thick sheet of steel to sit over the firebox. The downside is that you have to have gloves to lift this griddle/plate to feed the fire, but I find that this is only a minor inconvenience. I hope that this is helpful for those who are evaluating which offset to purchase. :)
Steam/hotel pan? Is this something that makes it's own steam ( independent of the smoker?) I like the design of this offset as I think vertical seems to be the preferred for electric and disc smokers
I have the Oaklahoma Joe highlander. But have it set up for conventional offset smoking.
I also have the first baffle plate put in.
Thank you so much for making this video. It has made my decision that much easier. Thanks again!
Get a Brazos or a Pecos and smoke on. After you get use to one of those move on up to a custom offset.
Very well done Sir! 👍
Great video,that was one hell of a project.I appreciate your work
Much appreciated Wayne. Thanks for watching!
Have the Long Horn & Love it.
I only smoke Brisket or Pork Shoulder on it, there isn't nothing better than smoked meat !!!!
This video is perfectly timed, as we are looking to buy a smoker this summer. 🎉
I hope it's helpful in your search! I hope you can find one of these locally, since I know you guys are always travelling, but even if you can't, hopefully the tests transfer for what you can get your hands on. All the best!
Great review! Have you considered doing a similar one with workhorse, Lang, Franklin, mill scale, fat stack, etc? Comparative reviews of premium backyard smokers are few and far between and often highly suspect.
Don't hesitate to shoot any of those you need to get out of your way over to my place, got some testing I want to do to! lol Thanks for what you do to help us make better choices.
Great video.
I just ordered the char-griller grand champ. Never had the time to dedicate to a stick burner but now that I’m retired I’m ready to dive in. I’ve been q’n for over 35 years. I have 3 ceramic primo’s, a char-griller Akorn and Akorn jr, and 2 Recteq pellet smokers. Looking forward to learning new skills.
That was a hell of a test...I was glad to see the Char Griller XD included per I have one that I have learned and mastered.
Thanks for the review and hard work you put in.
Thanks for watching, and all the best with the Char Griller!
HAve my heart set on the Char Griller ( my first offset ) I'm guessing you would say "Go for it! "
@@quailstreetcoffeeroastersm6674I say go for it! I just picked mine up. I had the Mrs. get me Home Depot gift cards for the last two Christmases and birthdays. Saved them up and purchased it right after the holidays. Made some beef ribs and burgers for the first cook and she ate up those beef ribs like it was no one’s business and my wife is more of a chicken person but she couldn’t resist the beef coming off the offset! Do it!!!
Look at this: @12:11 I have an offset Dyna-Glo (horizontal one) since one month, and the hotbox is already bent. I am glad to hear (well sort of) that is wasn't just me: Dyna-Glo smokes are really cheap. And for the temp control, I am with you here : for long cooks it is a real nightmare.
Too bad this video didn't include the Old Coutry brand available at Academy or Bucees. I've used an Oklahoma Joes and the Old Country blows it away. With that said, the Brazos is fully welded and made out of 1/4" steel. At $1200, it's also more expensive that any on this review. Worth the extra chedder in my opinion. BUT, seeing this review is for "under $1000", the Old Country Pecos is made with 1/8" steel and is the same dimensions at the Brazos at less than half the price.
But the Pecos, which is smaller but made of the same 1/4" plate steel at $500, hits that backyard offset need for those that only smoke a single brisket or a few racks of ribs at the same time.
Agree. Love my pecos😊
Such a great video! I have been between the chargriller and longhorn for a while now and I think this may have sold me finally.
On which one
I went with the chargriller xd and its been working great so far @@PatheticPeasant
Thanks for the video. I think you helped me to most likely go up in quality (and price). You alluded to it that cooking on this level of smoker is more difficult than a higher quality one. Hello too from a fellow Hoosier hanging out on the Southside of Indy. Subbed.
You'll have to let me know what smoker you end up leaning towards as you continue your search. There's not a lot available in big box stores above these, but there's a gap between these models and what you can get custom made. It will be interesting to see if someone fills that gap sometime soon in the market. All the best in the Midwest!
Once again another great video. First off didn’t know Broil King has an offset I’ve only seen the keg and that thing is amazing. Most of my buddies have the Longhorn and Chargiller. The Longhorn is definitely a favorite of mine. I love vertical smokers for hanging meats like sausages. Definitely will be keeping an eye more on Broil Kings products.
Thank you Chef! Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you're enjoying that Silverbak and are out there getting it dirty as often as possible!
@@TheBarbecueLab Absolutely getting ready for Memorial Weekend!!! Have a great one!!
Thanks for all the info! I already have the OKJ Highland reverse flow. I love it. I found it interesting how it matched up to some of the others out there.
Same here! I love my Highland reverse. More importantly, so do my guests. He doesn’t mention that it can be swapped to a traditional setup. Makes it more versatile.
why get the reverse instead of just the regular highland?
The reverse has a more consistent temperature across the cooking chamber.
I have the dyno glo offset smoker works really well very happy with it and for the price can't beat it
It is hard to beat for the price. Glad you're enjoying your smoker.
I purchased an old country offset smoker. It burns clean after it gets going it has clean smoke. I’m not sure of the model but it was regular $600.00 on sale for $300.00. It has lots of luxuries of much higher price smokers. I am learning smoking. It looks like a wrangler.
Love the videos. I'm an expert at eating smoked meats, but an novice at making them. Looking to take my game to the next level with new gear and your Offset and Pellet comparison videos are awesome, explaining what specs we need to look for; as well as getting an idea of which grill/smoker is going to be fit our *needs* best. Cheers, Lab lads!
Thanks for the kind words @Drew-C- and best wishes in your hunt for your next cooker. There's some great options out there, and you'll love learning to bbq. The journey is what makes it fun for me, so have fun learning new things! Delicious, delicious things...
Concise & beautifully presented! Strange how the Broil King is the thinnest of all the smokers (& most difficult to transport) & yet is the clear winner. I've had the Good One Open Range for several years & it is a great product, but it's a lump-burner, & I have an urge to get a wood-burner. Leaning toward the Old Country Brazos but wanted to see what was available for less. This vid is a great help!
Why not burn wood in your the good one? I have the same but smaller pony express and she burns wood great! I love the flat lids for pots and pans!
Awesome video, one day I'll have a high end smoker. For now I'll keep smoking delicious food on my $200 Outdoor Gourmet smoker
I really enjoy this video.. I was looking on youtube about.. How to keep the smoke inside the grill.. And what I was saying how they sealed the edges on the Grill.. I have oklahoma.. How do you feel about selling them off On the edges of the openings.??😮
Thanks for this video! I’m leaning towards the Broil King. Do you know if there’s any difference between the BK Regal 500 and the one in your video? They look the same but prices vary online.
Thank You.
I’ve had the Oklahoma Joe, Bandera for about 7 years. It’s still cooking but I suspect my fire box will rust out soon, but I feel like I’ve gotten my money’s worth. I’ve always kept it covered. The paint peeled off the fire box in sheets the first time I used it. I called OJ and they tried to blame me, and offered to send me a can of paint. I wasn’t having it and demanded that they either come fix it or send me a new fire box. I got the firebox. The cooking area is almost too small for a rack of ribs. I put the ribs on the grate and make sure they’re compressed and insert the grate. The same with brisket. You have to be careful with the thermometer probe as it will stick into your meat due to where it’s located.
I was hoping to see old country barbecue pits
It wasn't for lack of trying. We worked on getting our hands on an Old Country pit for testing in the video, but we couldn't make it happen. Maybe sometime in the future, but this go round it wasn't able to happen.
@@TheBarbecueLab - Sold at Academy or Bucees. I have a Brazos myself.
Great video
Thanks for watching, and I'm glad it was helpful!
I have both the longhorn and the standard highlander, and have had both for over 10 years. They are great for the price and what you can do with them.
Question: I won't be cooking large quantities. Does it matter which route I go as far as highland vs the longhorn? I understand the longhorn is reverse flow. Thanks!!
Probably the best video I have seen on UA-cam. Was considering all these smokers and you definitely helped me with my decision
What are you going with? I need help lol
@@bayodaman i ultimately went with the Oklahoma Joes Highland. Good price and today is my first day using it. Working beautifully so far
Thank you for your work and reviews. I'm still deciding between one if these offset smokers or a pellet smoker. If you do anymore reviews soon could you review Pit Boss Pellet/ Charcoal combo since it is the first and only one on the market. I'm torn between a combo with gas pellet or offset and Charcoal but depending on results may get the Pit Boss. I've seen no reviews anywhere on it.
I used to have my dad's old offset like the one those previous owners left. You don't see most of the BBQ guys on UA-cam talking about the vertical smokers. No old countries?. I was kind of shocked to see them all having the same thickness. I don't think i will spend 3-4K on a smoker, but i was expecting there to be a couple slightly thicker brands as you approached 1K
I noticed on the reverse flow, where you said you had trouble getting good flow, you had the exhaust barely open. That’s how you regulate draw. The more closed, the less draw. That’s why smoke was coming out everywhere.
My grill also had a smoky lid that I sealed up with some felt seal it helped a lot on that front
Still didnt help me make a decision, but great video and thank you.
the benefit of reverse flow one should be larger cooking area with the same temperature across the whole unit as opposed to non-reverse, where you get brutal temps at intake and exhaust areas, would be interesting to measure that! Non reverse flow ones can reliably cook in the central area sacrificing both ends of the unit. Whoops, got ahead of myself there. Watching the biscuit test. Shame as this should have been this model's biggest advantage... saved me some $$$
Was looking for a good comparison video with box retail store offset smokers as my first offst , mainly for smoking without out spending over 1k . I know it takes time to learn good fire management, but I would rather work smart and not hard with less headaches, lol. Im willing to spend more for better quality . Learned that with other items like tools etc. I'm from the Chicagoland area and also looking for one that will withsatnd the 4 seasons. Does your recommendation differ with climates from the video ? Thanks. I'm looking forward to more videos
Which one did you get? I'm also from the Chicagoland and had the same question in mind
It looks like the Highlander gives the option to run reverse or normal flow. Is this correct? Thanks.
I think there is a New Braunfels Black Diamond smoker in my mom's back yard. It has now become mine but am unable to find very much information on it. I would love to restore it but don't know where to go for parts.
Hello, I am from Costa Rica and I have an Oklahoma Joe’s Bandera, love it but hard to cook a huge brisket, so I think I will get an Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn as a second smoker, my wife is gonna kill me 😂
Your wife and Melissa ought to talk. She feels the same way with all the grills we have around here.
I can't believe you didnt add in the Old Country Pecos or Brazos
Excellent Video and Very Competent Commentary... Bog K's Florida Georgia Line BBQ USA located in Bremerton Washington State is Looking for Capital start up.. I'm Very Good Baby... No Sauce on the Market is better than what I can produce... None!
Im in the UK. I have a weber smokey mountain and a Cactus Jack/blackfire Indiana. The backfire is small with a small firebox. I've played with starter methods and split sizes. I wish i could say that smoked Turkey on an offset was better than smoked turkey on the WSM. The reality is results on the offset are unpredictable and it's arduous... Adding splits every 15-20 mins means its all you do for the day.
Wood quality in the UK is also not as good as in the US. Most is kiln dried. I've stored kiln dried wood in an outside wood store for 2 years and its just now attaining a moisture content in the mid teens.
In all honestly, if you're in the UK, the offsets available aren't worth the sky high prices, unless you are prepared to buy a US import like a workhorse pits 1975 and pay a fortune. You might be able to approximate Texas BBQ then.
You'd really be better off in the UK buying a weber smokey mountain, a pit barrel, or if you have a bit more money, a pitboss champion drum smoker.
I love the WSM too
One brand I noticed you haven’t done was the old country pit smokers. I have the Pecos. Your trout?
I talked with the gang over at Old Country before we shot this video asking if they'd like to be a part of it, but they decided not to be a part. I hope one of these days to get a chance to work with their pits, and when I do, you know i'll have a camera rolling.
great
How long will any of these last, before they are rusted through?
So what's the difference between a smoker with burn box on left side vs right side?
What are those mats under the smokers?
Where is the Dino vertical offset available for 350? I see it on Amazon for 900
I've been wanting to add an offset to my grill collection since I only have pit-style smokers like the Weber Smokey Mountain and a UDS. I think the clear winner is the Char-Griller Grand Champion in most of these categories. I've had my eyes on the Longhorn but your video sold me on the Grand Champion. It will be a learning curve on managing the fire as my other smokers are a set-it-and-forget-it style of cook. Smok'em if you got'em!
Awesome video super informative, but your backing track is giving me panic attacks lmao.
Should of added a Lang for the non box store smoker. To see the difference
I would think that using these smokers regularly would give an edge due to experience with each. I think they could all give similar results with experience. You'r opinion will be different if you only use each one a few times as opposed to using them exclusively. Every smoker takes a learning curve. Arguing that would be ridiculous
I know I'm late to this party. What are your thoughts on Yoder offsets?
This video is more about budget ones, sub $1k units. You won't find a Yoder any where near below $1k.
They also seem to specialize in pellet smokers mainly.
Guess there were no old country smokers in your area, easily your best bang for your buck
Where the Old Country units at?
No old country grill smokers?
Why don’t you hang the briskets in the vertical smoker?
No sarcasm, I’m NO bbqer.
So where was the Pit Boss?
What no Old Country Smoker?
I have had the Dyna-glo 2 years and everything you said about it mirrors my own experience.
My own observation: Using wood it can get very hot, I'm going to add a stone and try it as a pizza oven.
Let me know how that goes. I'd be interested to hear how it functions as a pizza oven.
like one tenth of a inch is like 2000 km of thickness so it will take a nuclear bomb to brake it , bro how thick in actual thickness?
Aren’t all of these models are made of cheap sheet metal?
Under $1,000 and available in big box retail, I haven't found any that are 1/4 inch like you'd get from a custom pit maker.
Like a seasoned professional welder once told me. A cheaply made welding machine doesn't make you a better welder, it just makes you develop bad welding habits. Food for thought.
No Old Country Pitts? I got mine for $399 at Academy. I have the Pecos model. Its $499 now. Bidenflation! Its better than all of these in my opinion
We tried to get our hands on an Old Country pit for this, but it didn’t work out this time around.
Cheap asz grills
There is a significant issue with all of these products, as they emit excessive smoke and heat, posing a potential hazard.
😂😂
I know your son
An Offset-smoker needs a Wallthickness from minimum 5 mm to hold the temperatur !!
Anything else is shit ..
Spend the bucks an buy a smoker that is heavy gauge steel. The TINNY ONES only last solong.
The brisket test is a joke. Way too many variables when it comes to brisket cooks. I could use a cheap offset and compete with the dyno glo hands down.
Amazingly concise and detailed video. You seem so organized! Did you actually purchase all of those offsets?? It must have cost a small fortune if you did I have lots of BBQs & smoker, but no offsets. Where do you get your wood from? Thanks for yet another great, informative video guys! Besides the $$$ it must have been A LOT of work.
Thanks for your kind words Tom. The organization comes from Melissa, who's the Queen of organization here at The Lab. We wouldn't get anything done without her, that's for sure. For the wood, we get that from a local supplier who cuts it and splits it for us to keep us stocked for smokers, pizza ovens and fire pits. In our article on offset smokers on the website, we lay out how we got each of the offsets. All the best, and thanks for watching.