Smoker and barbecue gear
12 researched guides. Every one presents a beginner, an intermediate and an expert pick rather than one flat list, and every expert pick says plainly who should not buy it. We compare published specifications, materials, capacity, warranty terms and verified owner reviews. We do not test gear in person and we do not publish hands-on claims we cannot support.
Cookers
Start here if you are choosing a smoker. If you are not sure which fuel you want, the electric versus charcoal and pellet versus offset comparisons are the faster way in than reading four roundups.
- Best Pellet Grill in 2026: Controllers, Capacity and Fuel Cost ComparedThe best pellet grills compared by controller type, grate area, hopper size and insulation, with picks for first-time owners... Open →
- Best Charcoal Smoker in 2026: Bullets, Cabinets and Drums ComparedThe best charcoal smokers compared on fuel capacity, temperature stability and how long each one holds 225F, with picks for budget... Open →
- Best Electric Smoker in 2026: Capacity, Chip Loaders and Cold Weather LimitsThe best electric smokers compared on capacity, chip loading, temperature range and cold weather performance, with picks for first... Open →
- Best Offset Smoker in 2026: Steel Gauge, Capacity and Fire Tending ComparedThe best offset smokers compared by steel thickness, cooking capacity and how much fire tending each one demands, with picks for... Open →
- Best Vertical Smoker in 2026: Bullets, Cabinets and Gravity-Fed ComparedThe best vertical smokers compared on heat path, rack capacity, fuel burn and patio footprint, from a $219.70 charcoal cabinet to a... Open →
- Best Smoker for Beginners in 2026: The Honest First BuyThe best smokers for beginners compared by how much fire management each one asks for, with a $219 electric cabinet as the default... Open →
- Best Smoker Under $500 in 2026: Charcoal, Electric and Pellet ComparedThe best smokers under $500 compared across charcoal, electric and pellet, with what each fuel type actually buys you at this... Open →
Everything else you need
The thermometer is the one purchase not to compromise on. It is the most under-bought item in barbecue and the one that most improves results, because doneness and safety are both decided by a measurement rather than by the cooker.
- Best Meat Thermometer for Smoking in 2026: Accuracy, Probes and AlarmsThe best meat thermometers for smoking compared on accuracy, calibration, probe count and wireless range, with picks for first-time... Open →
- Best Wood Pellets for Smoking in 2026: Blends, Ash and Burn Rate ComparedThe best wood pellets compared on wood content, ash, moisture and cost per hour of cooking, with flavour pairings by meat and picks... Open →
- Best BBQ Gloves in 2026: Heat Ratings, Certifications and Cuff LengthThe best BBQ gloves compared on heat rating, EN407 certification, cuff length and dexterity, with picks for handling meat, working... Open →
- Best BBQ Tools in 2026: What You Need, What You Do Not, and WhyThe BBQ tools that earn their place on a smoker, compared by job: tongs, chimneys, butcher paper, injectors, racks and pans, with... Open →
- Best Grill Cover for Smokers in 2026: Denier, Fit and WeatherproofingThe best smoker and grill covers compared on denier, waterproofing, venting and fit, with sizing guidance for pellet grills... Open →
Would you rather buy the whole kit at once?
A roundup answers one category. The complete setups answer all of them at once: three full builds with every item you need, a per-item price, a real running total, and a section on what to skip.
- The beginner build at $449.98
- The intermediate build at $784.68
- The expert build at $1,765.06
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, which is how the site is funded. It does not change which product wins a category: the picks here are chosen on published specifications and owner reports, and several roundups recommend the cheaper option over the more expensive one. Read the affiliate disclosure for the full statement.