Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Kamado Joe Classic II vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 75% of 32 Kamado Joe Classic II owners recommend it, vs 76% of 339 for the Weber Smokey Mountain 18.

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 Smokey Mountain 18

76%of 339 owners recommend
76% recommend · 12% neutral · 12% don't
Owners praise
  • Easy to use, forgiving, and beginner-friendly
  • Holds steady temperature for hours, nearly set-and-forget
  • Solidly built and lasts for many years
Owners complain about
  • Too small to fit large briskets or full racks of ribs without trimming
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 Smokey Mountain 18 owners say

“the 18 is an engineering masterpiece for several reasons”
— @Hoosier-Dave on YouTube
“Best $40 I've spent”
— @chriscooper1657 on YouTube
“I usually find a slight acrid taste to the food so I'll give this approach a try (assuming cleaner smoke).”
— @ants7075 on YouTube