Pit Boss Navigator 850
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The Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the grill that quietly wins the value war in mid-size pellet smokers. It does almost everything a $1,200 Traeger does, plus direct-flame searing, for roughly half the money. After a full season on mine, I understand why it's the pellet grill that keeps showing up in serious backyards.
What We Love
- +Sliding flame broiler enables true direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F
- +Massive 850 sq in cooking area across two racks
- +PID-controlled digital controller holds temps within ±15°F
- +Heavy steel cabinet construction with porcelain-coated grates
- +Hopper holds 21 lbs of pellets — enough for an unattended overnight cook
- +Significantly cheaper than equivalent Traeger or Recteq models
Watch Out For
- −WiFi/app integration not as polished as Traeger WiFIRE
- −Cold-smoking below 180°F requires aftermarket smoke tube
- −Pellet auger can be noisy during ignition
- −Cart wheels feel undersized for the grill's weight
Specifications
Cooking Area
850 sq in (650 main + 200 upper)
Temp Range
180°F – 500°F (1,000°F with flame broiler open)
Hopper
21 lbs
Controller
PID digital with meat probe
Construction
Heavy gauge steel, porcelain-coated cast iron grates
Weight
146 lbs
Warranty
5 years
The Full Review
The Navigator 850 is the model that exposes how much the pellet grill premium tier is paying for branding versus capability. The cabinet is genuinely solid, the controller is PID (not the cheap on/off thermostats Pit Boss used to ship), and the flame broiler is the feature nobody else in this price bracket offers.
The sliding flame broiler is the headline. Pull the lever and a steel plate slides aside, exposing the burn pot's open flame to the grates above. Suddenly you have a pellet grill capable of 1,000°F direct searing. I've put steaks straight from a 225°F smoke onto the open flame for a 60-second-per-side finish — the result rivals charcoal.
The 850 sq inches of cooking space is genuinely usable. I've fit six racks of baby backs on the main grate with the second rack open for sausage. For most families, this is more than enough capacity.
The PID controller is the real upgrade over older Pit Boss models. Set 225°F, walk away, and the grill holds ±15°F all day. I ran a 14-hour overnight brisket cook in February at -10°F outside and the grill never wavered.
Where Pit Boss still lags Traeger is the app experience. The Pit Boss app works, but it's clunky compared to Traeger's WiFIRE. If you live on your phone during cooks, factor that in. If you set it and forget it, you'll never notice.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest pellet grill rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss Navigator 850 (this) | 4.4 | $697 | Pit Boss's mid-size workhorse pellet grill. |
| Recteq Bullseye RT-380X | 4.4 | $699 | Recteq's compact kettle-style pellet grill. |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 820 | 4.3 | $649 | Mid-tier Pit Boss with WiFi, PID controller, and 820 sq in of cooking surface for under $700 — the value pick in mid-size pellet grills. |
Who Is It For?
Mid-tier pellet buyers who want serious capability without the premium-brand markup. Cooks who want a single grill that can smoke at 200°F and sear at 1,000°F. Anyone cross-shopping the Traeger Pro 575 who wants more cooking area for less money.
Final Verdict
The Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the pellet grill I recommend most often to value-conscious buyers. At $697 you're getting more cooking area, true searing capability, and PID control that competitors charge a thousand dollars more for. If app polish isn't your top priority, this is the buy. Cross-shopping the category? Start with our [best mid-range pellet grills roundup](/best-of/best-pellet-grills).
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