Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Kamado Joe Classic II vs Weber Original Kettle 22: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Weber Original Kettle 22: 84% of 37 owners recommend it, vs 75% of 32 for the Kamado Joe Classic II.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Kamado Joe Classic II

75%of 32 owners recommend
75% recommend · 13% neutral · 12% don't
Owners praise
  • Built like a tank and lasts for years in all weather
  • Excellent heat retention and precise temperature control
  • Outstanding customer service and support
Owners complain about
  • Ceramic heat deflector cracks easily and replacements are hard to get
  • Expensive, premium-priced cooker
Full owner report →

Weber Original Kettle 22

84%of 37 owners recommend
84% recommend · 13% neutral · 3% don't
Owners praise
  • Incredibly versatile, you can cook anything
  • Great for low-and-slow smoking, not just grilling
  • Durable, lasts decades with minimal care
Owners complain about
  • Hard to control low temps for smoking
  • Cooking area fills up fast with sides
Full owner report →

What Kamado Joe Classic II owners say

“We switched about 1.5 years ago to the kamado joe classic ii’s and I can assure you those things are WAY better engineered in almost every way.”
— ImNotClever_Sorry on Reddit
“The food in it turns out great.”
— @fawzye22 on YouTube
“the heat deflector cracked. On to the shop to buy the replacement. Ordered 6 months ago and still not received. Rumour tells me that the heat deflectors are now discontinued. What? This thing cracks so easily but discontinued? People who wants KJ, think twice.”
— dDerDol M. on ProductReview.com.au

What Weber Original Kettle 22 owners say

“Still cooks like a beast, so you can make a hell of a feed with any of them.”
— @ShivaFn on YouTube
“It was a great grill. Worth it at that price today.”
— @brianr5665 on YouTube
“2 of my legs were a fraction too long. Had to shorten them so the little knob could click into place. Very frustrating!”
— @PinkyFloyd5529 on YouTube