Best Camp Chef Grills: The Outdoor Cook's Swiss Army Knife

Camp Chef's Secret Weapon: Modularity

Camp Chef's greatest innovation isn't any single grill — it's the modular Sidekick and Sear Box attachments that bolt onto most of their pellet grills. These turn a smoker into a complete outdoor kitchen.

**Sidekick**: A 14" propane-powered accessory range with a flat-top griddle, cast iron grill box, or pizza oven attachment. Sear steaks at 900°F+, cook breakfast on the griddle, or bake pizza while your brisket smokes on the main pellet chamber.

**Sear Box**: A dedicated propane side burner that hits 900°F for steakhouse searing. Smaller than the Sidekick but focused purely on high-heat finishing.

This modular approach means you're not choosing between a smoker and a griddle — you're building a system that does both. No other brand offers this flexibility.

Best Overall: Woodwind Pro 24

The Woodwind Pro 24 ($999) is Camp Chef's flagship and the most versatile pellet grill under $1,000. PID controller, WiFi, smoke box for wood chunks (real smoke flavor on top of pellet smoke), and compatibility with both the Sidekick and Sear Box.

The smoke box is the killer feature. While most pellet grills produce mild, clean smoke, the Woodwind Pro lets you add wood chunks for heavy, offset-style smoke flavor. It's the bridge between pellet convenience and stick-burner depth.

The 24" chamber handles a full brisket or four racks of ribs. Add the Sidekick ($299) and you have a smoker, griddle, and sear station in one unit. Total system cost: $1,298 — less than a Traeger Ironwood with half the capability.

Best Budget: SG 24 WIFI

The SG 24 WIFI ($749) drops the smoke box but keeps PID, WiFi, and Sidekick compatibility. It's the Woodwind Pro without the heavy smoke capability — still an excellent pellet grill at a $250 discount.

For cooks who want set-and-forget smoking with the option to add a griddle later, the SG 24 is the right starting point. The build quality is identical to the Woodwind Pro; you're just losing one feature.

If you know you'll never use the smoke box (some pellet users prefer mild smoke), the SG 24 is the smarter buy.

Best for Entertainers: Woodwind Pro 36

The Woodwind Pro 36 ($1,299) adds a massive 36" cooking chamber with 1,236 sq in of total cooking area. That's enough for four pork butts, eight racks of ribs, or two briskets plus sides.

The 36" also adds a second smoke box and a larger hopper (22 lbs vs 18 lbs). For competition cooks, caterers, or serious entertainers, the extra space and dual smoke boxes justify the $300 premium over the 24".

For backyard family cooking, the 24" is plenty. Buy the 36" only if you regularly cook for 10+ people or compete in BBQ contests.

Camp Chef vs Traeger: The Real Comparison

At the $1,000 price point, Camp Chef Woodwind Pro vs Traeger Ironwood is the debate that matters.

**Camp Chef wins on**: versatility (smoke box + modular attachments), direct-flame searing capability, and value. A Woodwind Pro 24 with Sidekick costs the same as an Ironwood 650 but does significantly more.

**Traeger wins on**: app polish, dealer network, brand recognition, and warranty ease. When something breaks, Traeger's dealer network gets you parts faster. The app has more recipes and better UX.

**Cooking results**: Nearly identical. Both produce excellent low-and-slow barbecue. The Woodwind Pro's smoke box gives heavier smoke flavor; the Ironwood's PID is slightly more precise. Most eaters can't tell the difference.

My recommendation: If you want one outdoor cooking system that handles everything, buy Camp Chef. If you want the safest, most supported pellet experience, buy Traeger.

The Verdict

**Best overall**: Woodwind Pro 24. The most capable pellet grill under $1,000, full stop.

**Budget pick**: SG 24 WIFI. Same build, same modularity, minus the smoke box.

**Entertainer/competitor**: Woodwind Pro 36. Maximum space and dual smoke boxes.

**Skip**: The entry-level Camp Chef pellet grills without PID. They're not bad, but PID is non-negotiable in 2025. Spend the extra $100 for a controller that works.