About Pit Boss
Pit Boss has been around since 1999 when the company was founded as a subsidiary of Dansons Inc. by Dan Thiessen. They hold product quality and fair prices above all else with a family-oriented mindset.
Pit Boss was originally founded as an alternative to more expensive pellet grill manufacturers. Their combination of high quality grills and affordable prices earned them an enthusiastic following. In fact, they were one of the best-selling grill brands in the United States in terms of units sold.
About Traeger
This barbecue company has been around since the 1980s and is known for inventing the charcoal barbecue. They are very proud of this innovation, and rightly so.
Much to the delight of their fan base, they still produce some of the best wood-fired grills and barbecues on the market today.
The Traeger team consists of cookbook authors, pitmasters, recipe developers and nature lovers. This unique cast puts their minds together to conjure up barbecues unlike any other.
They have over 1 million Instagram followers who follow the brand’s feed of delicious recipes.
Both brands sound promising, but which one should you choose? In this review of Pit Boss and Traeger, I will look at this question from different angles.
I’ll give you an insight into both companies’ products, practices, quality, prices, customer recommendations, promotions and much more. That way, you’ll know what you’re getting into before you put your feet to the fire.
What to Consider
Product range
A brand is more than the sum of its parts. A company can have a single product that is worth its weight in gold, but is weak with its other available items.
Traeger specializes in charcoal grills and has a huge selection of grills in different sizes, shapes and functions. They also sell their own wood pellets as well as accessories such as sauces, liners, grill covers and more.
Pit Boss sells wood pellet and gas grills, smokers, griddles, fire pits and combination grills. They also manufacture their own barbecue accessories.
Target audience
Everyone wants to grill, but not everyone wants the same kind of grill. Frequent travelers would prefer a portable grill, while stay-at-home dads would be better served with a Rube Goldberg-style grill.
It seems that Traeger is targeting an audience that spends a little more money and has room for larger grills. In comparison, Pit Boss’ wide selection means that their target audience is slightly larger than Traeger’s.
Design and durability
Pitting the durability of the brands against each other is more about the product than anything else. I’ve summarized that both Traeger and Pit Boss have a design that will suit your needs, whether you’re looking for a compact grill or a large barbecue grill.
Simple installation
Pit Boss and Traeger both publish their instruction manuals on their websites. After a quick look at the instructions, it can be said that most of their products are easy to install.
Extras
Neither of these companies is the distant stepfather of the barbecue world. Both offer support to their customers long after the initial purchase.
I’m not just talking about warranties and repairs here. Pit Boss and Traeger each publish recipes developed by their own kitchen team.
Pit Boss has recipes for various meats, vegetables and even some baking options. There are detailed instructions for preparing poultry, beef and pork and how they differ. Their experts also offer beginner’s guides for customers who are grilling for the first time.
Alternatively, Traeger could probably publish their own cookbook based on the number of recipes on their website. They have filters for recipes based on the type of meal, preparation method, dietary habits and holidays.
The company also produces its own cooking show that airs every Thursday on the website. Fans can follow professional chef Eduardo Garcia as he shows viewers how he prepares some of his favorite dishes.
Sustainability
Pit Boss doesn’t publicize much about its sustainability practices and doesn’t seem to put much emphasis on it.
In contrast, Traeger only uses wood pellets that are made in the USA. This reduces the ecological footprint by reducing the transportation of the products.
Accessibility
It would be a real shame if you made it to the end of this Pit Boss vs Traeger review only to find out that it’s almost impossible to find either brand anywhere.
Pit Boss makes it easy for its fans to buy its products. They are available in over 30 countries and can be purchased in chain stores such as Walmart, Lowe’s, Canadian Tire, and Home Depot. You can also find their products on Amazon’s digital shelves.
Those curious about Traeger can find their grills in the aisles of stores like The Home Depot, Ace, Bass Pro Shops, and Costco. Just like Pit Boss, Traeger products can also be purchased on
Pit Boss Sportsman Portable 2-Burner Gas Grill vs Traeger Timberline 1300 Review:
This section of my Pit Boss vs Traeger review compares the two well-known grills from the two companies.
With the Pit Boss Sportsman portable 2-burner gas grill, you can grill anywhere. Whether you’re going on a camping trip, to college football or have to leave the house because of a restraining order, you’ll definitely want to take it with you.
It’s the epitome of convenience, both in terms of its portability and functionality. The grill has two burners that work independently, so you can cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time.
The cooking surface is 320 square inches and is powered by a simple push-and-turn ignition system.
The Traeger Timberline 1300 is a real powerhouse among barbecues. It has three levels of stainless steel grill trays, which is enough space to feed an armada of soldiers.
But what really makes this grill worthwhile is its WiFIRE technology. You can control the temperature of the grill from your phone, meaning you can adjust the heat without even stepping near the grill.
Traditionalist grillers will probably scoff when they read this, but this is a big plus if you’re grilling for a big family gathering or party. The Traeger Timberline 1300 also uses wood pellets as fuel, which give the food a pleasant smoky aroma.
And finally, a bamboo chopping board and a storage shelf at the front are already built in, so you can prepare your dishes flexibly while cooking.
So the Traeger Timberline 1300 is a huge beast that cooks with wood pellets and can be controlled via WiFi.
The Pit Boss Sportsman portable 2-burner gas barbecue is comparatively more modest. It is better suited for trips outside the home. It is smaller, uses gas as fuel and has a simpler interface.
Pit Boss Stainless Steel Portable 2-Burner Gas Grill vs Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill Review:
Let’s even the scales a little by comparing two other similar products. These grills are both compact and portable, but you’ll find that the devil is always in the details.
The Pit Boss Stainless Steel portable 2 burner gas barbecue is another product in Pit Boss’ range of versatile and robust barbecues. This model has a stainless steel casing to protect it from the elements and (more importantly) to ensure that not even a tsunami can harm your burgers.
It has 275 square inches of grilling surface and its burners have an output of 10,000 BTU. I hope you’re not sweating too much just reading this.
Traeger doesn’t seem to be sweating it, however, when you consider what the Trager Ranger Pellet Grill offers. It is a lightweight and portable alternative to the normally heavier appliances. This grill has a cooking surface of 184 square inches and weighs only 60 pounds.
The Trager Ranger Pellet Grill uses wood pellets as fuel, which is a big plus for people who prefer rustic flavors. Even if you’re not an avid griller, this item offers a lot of practical options to make your life easier.
I’m talking about the Trager Ranger pellet grill’s keep warm mode, which allows you to keep the temperature constant so that your food stays at an edible temperature without overcooking it. You can also control the temperature of the grill to the exact degree with the digital arc control.
So the Trager Ranger pellet grill is easier to use for the average person. It’s easy to grill with, while the Pit Boss Stainless Steel portable 2-burner gas grill is better suited for those who want to put some work into their food.
Pit Boss Grill & Smoker Cleaner & Degreaser vs Traeger All Natural Grill Cleaner Review:
A dirty grill isn’t just a surefire way to make sure you never get a response to your Tinder date. It can also be detrimental to your health, as burnt food builds up, which can lead to even more smoke (and not the good kind).
That’s why it’s important to keep your grills clean. In this section of my review of Pit Boss and Traeger, I’ll explore how each brand helps their customers keep their grills as clean as a nun’s vocabulary.
The Pit Boss Grill & Smoker Cleaner & Degreaser actually does more than its name suggests. It penetrates deeply to remove stains, burns and dirt. So its cleaning properties are not just external.
You can use this cleaning product on the inside and outside of your barbecue. It couldn’t be easier to use either. Simply spray it on, leave it to work, wipe it off and admire the end product.
With the Pit Boss Grill & Smoker Cleaner & Degreaser, your barbecue will not only look like new, but it will run like the first day you took it out of the box.
It is also made from natural extracts and contains no toxic ingredients.
However, there are two cowboys in this showdown, so we introduce the Traeger All Natural Grill Cleaner. This cleaner is made from all-natural ingredients and is therefore suitable for surfaces that normally come into contact with food.
It’s also biodegradable, a feature that underlines its versatile cleaning abilities. It is great for removing deep grease stains from your barbecue and for removing deposits using a hand brush.
Both cleaning products are safe, non-toxic and non-caustic. It’s hard to choose between the two, but you should have at least one of them on hand!
Pit Boss vs Traeger: Quality
Quality is what separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, and the grill masters from the frat boys who rely on air fryers.
In this section comparing Pit Boss and Traeger, we’ll take a closer look at what each company does to give their products their own unique level of quality.
The team at Pit Boss develops all of their products in-house with a team of excellent engineers and grill experts (and no, Guy Fieri is not on that team). Their grills are built to withstand outdoor conditions and a wide variety of culinary experiments.
For this reason, Pit Boss often uses stainless steel and cast iron for its products. These materials are durable and easy for the customer to maintain.
However, this is not to say that Traeger cuts corners. After all, the company invented the charcoal barbecue and therefore attaches great importance to product quality. They encourage their customers to find the product that best suits their needs by offering a quiz that guides customers to their ideal barbecues.
Their appliances are usually powered by pellets. This sets them apart from Pit Boss, which offers barbecues that run on gas, pellets and other fuels. Wood pellets have their own advantages as a fuel source. Most of these are related to how they affect the flame and the resulting flavor of the food.
All wood pellets are made in the USA and are 100% natural. Their products are also equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as the WiFIRE system, which allows you to control the temperature of your grill via the Traeger app.
It’s fair to say that both brands exude high quality, but Traeger places more emphasis on ingenuity than Pit Boss.
Pit Boss vs Traeger: Price & Value
If you’re reading this Pit Boss vs Traeger review, then it’s obviously important to you to invest your money in a product you can trust. Really, if you didn’t want to spend money, you could just cook all your food over a campfire in your backyard.
But you’re not a caveman, you’re a gentleman, and gentlemen take precautions before they act. Now then, sir, allow me to detail the prices of the Pit Boss appliances I’ve featured so far:
- Pit Boss Sportsman Portable 2-Burner Gas Grill $250
- Pit Boss Stainless Steel Portable 2-Burner Gas Grill: $210
- Pit Boss Grill & Smoker Cleaner & Degreaser: $13
Now let’s take a look at what the competition has to offer in terms of price:
- Traeger Timberline 1300: $2,300
- Trager Ranger Pellet Grill: $450
- Traeger All Natural Grill Cleaner: $15
You don’t need a calculator to see that Pit Boss products are cheaper. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Pit Boss products are designed for transportation and therefore have to make concessions on power and fuel sources.
So while Pit Boss barbecues are easier to transport, Traeger barbecues use pellets. This gives them a completely different grilling behavior. The Pit Boss units I’ve included in the list are all gas-powered – which isn’t a bad thing – but they don’t have the same surface area as a charcoal grill.
I recommend you look beyond the numbers and ask yourself what the intentions of each product are. Were they designed as an easy way to grill on the go, or were they designed to optimize cooking at home?
Pit Boss vs Traeger: What Do Customers Think?
They say the customer is always right, and who am I to disagree. I’m releasing my grip on the steering wheel of this Pit Boss vs Traeger 1review and leaving it to the customers to lead you to enlightenment.
By enlightenment, I mean an honest look at what real people think about Pit Boss and Traeger.
Let’s take a look at what fans think about Traeger’s products by checking out their reviews on the company’s website:
- Traeger Timberline 1300: 4.2/5 stars out of nearly 300 reviews
- Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill: 4.3/5 stars from more than 50 reviews
- Traeger All Natural Grill Cleaner: 4.6/5 stars from more than 60 reviews
It looks like Traeger gets high marks across the board, but what did fans like so much about these products? Customers described the grills as easy to install, great to use and passionate in design.
Here’s an insightful review of one fan’s experience with the Traeger Timberline 1300:
“It is well built. Installation was easy, and there’s even a beer holder in the box….The WiFi was easy to connect. I love this feature. You just fire it up and tell it to use one of the online recipes and it does the rest, or you can control the temperature from your phone and see the probe temperature at all times.
The ease of use of the device was also praised on other sites on the internet. This was one of the reasons why 40 customers at Consumer Affairs gave it an average rating of 3.4/5 stars.
One of the many 5/5 star reviews was bursting with enthusiasm about Traeger: “What else can you say about this appliance except that this grill is so easy to use. Set it to the desired temperature and let it do the work. It couldn’t be simpler. 5 GOLD stars for this appliance!”
The wifi cooking function was the most highly touted component of the Traeger grills. But fans also said the grills are big enough to cook whatever they want, however they want.
The negative reviews from fans were mainly related to the inconsistency of the Traeger appliances. They mentioned that the blowers sometimes failed or that they could not rely on the grills to deliver the same smoky flavor that the company promised. Fortunately, these comments were in the vast minority.
With these positives and negatives out of the way, let’s take a look at how fans have received the Pit Boss.
I evaluated customer reviews of Pit Boss products on Wayfair, since that’s where much of the brand’s catalog can be found. Here’s what I saw:
- Pit Boss wood pellet grill: 5/5 stars out of 3 reviews
- Pit Boss 2 – Burner Liquid Propane 24000 BTU Gas Grill: 4.8/5 stars out of more than 30 reviews
- Pit Boss Single Burner Portable Liquid Propane 10000 BTU Gas Grill: 4.6/5 stars out of 30+ reviews
I wasn’t shocked to read that customers loved the portability of Pit Boss’ smaller products. Many of them took their Pit Boss grills with them on trips across the country and enjoyed great meals.
Although the brand’s products are portable, they are not wobbly. Customers found that their Pit Boss grills were rock solid. That’s what this customer appreciated about his Pit Boss 2-burner 24000 BTU liquid propane gas grill:
“This grill stand was exactly what I was looking for: durable, sturdy and portable. It’s the perfect height and my grill fits nicely on it. The sides fold down when you don’t need them and the bottom shelf is very handy. It is quite heavy but folds up easily and has a handy carry strap. I will be using this table a lot.”
Fans have also praised Pit’s Boss elsewhere on the internet. The Pit Boss Pro 1150-sq in Hammer Tone Pellet Grill received an average rating of 3.8/5 stars out of more than 500 customer reviews on the Lowe’s website.
Pit Boss vs Traeger: Promotions & Discounts
Barbecues can be a big financial investment. Much like a wedding, you don’t want to put a ton of money into a grill only to realize it doesn’t wow you after the honeymoon.
In this section of my comparison between Pit Boss and Traeger, I’ll go over what each company does to help their customers save money.
Let’s start with Pit Boss, because they have an entire page on their website dedicated to products that are offered at a special discount. The offers change regularly, so you can always check back to see which products you can get at a lower price.
Currently, the Pit Boss 2-Series Gas Vertical Smoker and the Pit Boss Maintenance Ammo Box Kit are on sale for $199 and $80, respectively.
Pit Boss is also offering a 25% discount for police officers, firefighters and members of the military. Both active duty and veterans can take advantage of this discount by verifying their identity at checkout.
Traeger doesn’t seem to be able to compete in this category. Despite my best efforts, I wasn’t able to find any ongoing specials or flash sales from Traeger.
That’s not to say that there are never special offers, but Pit Boss makes it easier to see what products are available at a lower price.
Pit Boss vs Traeger: Shipping & Returns
It’s sad to admit, but sometimes the perfect grill is not the grill you ordered. In such cases, I understand the desire to return the grill.
In this penultimate part of my test between Pit Boss and Traeger, I will examine how the two companies handle such situations. I’ll also take a look at their shipping policies.
Let’s start with returns. Pit Boss offers a 60-day return policy, during which you can return unused, unopened, and undamaged grills for a refund. Pellets, sauces or condiments cannot be returned.
Traeger’s policy is virtually the same, with one key difference. While Pit Boss gives you 60 days to request a return, Traeger customers only have 45 days to request a refund.
For customers in the United States and Alaska, Traeger uses UPS Ground Shipping Service. These deliveries take an average of 7 business days. Shipping and handling charges will be calculated at the product checkout.
Frustratingly, I couldn’t find any shipping information on Pit Boss’ website. They don’t even have a page showing where they ship to. So Traeger has a leg up on them here.
Pit Boss does claim to be available in over 30 countries, but it’s hard to tell which countries they mean!
Who Will You Shop With?
When deciding between Pit Boss and Traeger, there are some important points to consider.
Traeger’s products are more expensive, but they all use pellets made on American soil.
On the other hand, Pit Boss’ grills are designed for portability and accessibility, which means that while they are more affordable, they may not deliver the same end product as Traeger’s.
Either way, you should have all the information you need to make the best choice for your grilling needs after you finish my Pit Boss vs Traeger review.
