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Spend $3,500 on a smoker and you're choosing between two completely different worlds. Lone Star Grillz 24x48 is a hand-welded Texas-style offset for serious stick burners. Traeger Timberline XL is a fully connected, induction-fan, double-walled pellet grill. Both are excellent at what they do — but they don't do the same thing.
Quick Verdict
Buy the Lone Star Grillz 24x48 ($3,495) if you want competition-quality smoke and you'll learn fire management. Buy the Traeger Timberline XL ($3,499) if you want set-it-and-forget-it convenience with smart-home integration.
The Contenders
Lone Star Grillz 24x48 Offset
$3,495
Stick-burner purists chasing competition-grade smoke flavor
Check PriceTraeger Timberline XL
$3,499
Convenience-first cooks who want premium pellet performance and the WiFIRE app
Check PriceCategory Breakdown
Smoke Flavor
Winner: Lone StarLone Star wins decisively. Wood splits in a real firebox produce smoke with depth and complexity that pellets cannot match. Brisket off a properly run offset has a flavor ceiling that even the best pellet grills can't reach.
Convenience
Winner: TimberlineTimberline wins by a country mile. Push a button, walk away, get alerts on your phone. The Lone Star demands attention every 45-60 minutes for fire tending across an 18-hour brisket cook. If you have a job and a family, this matters.
Versatility
Winner: TimberlineTimberline wins. It smokes, bakes, sears, and roasts across 165-500°F. The Lone Star is a smoker first; you can grill on it but it's not its purpose. For a one-cooker household, the Traeger is far more flexible.
Build & Longevity
Winner: Lone StarLone Star wins. 1/4-inch steel construction, hand-welded in Texas, with a build quality that will outlive you. Timberline is well-built for an electronic appliance, but with electronics comes failure points. Lone Star has nothing to break.
Learning Curve
Winner: TimberlineTimberline wins for accessibility. A complete beginner can produce great results day one. The Lone Star rewards skill — your first brisket may be mediocre while you learn fire management. The journey is part of the appeal for some, frustrating for others.
Final Verdict
Buy the Lone Star Grillz if smoking is your hobby and the process is part of the joy — you want to chase competition-quality results and don't mind tending fire all day. Buy the Traeger Timberline XL if smoking is one of many things you do and convenience is non-negotiable.
Buying Advice
Be honest about your weekends. If you genuinely love spending Saturday managing a fire with a beer in hand, the Lone Star will reward you for decades. If you'd rather smoke a brisket and also do anything else with your day, get the Traeger.
