Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Pit Boss 850 Navigator vs ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE: 82% of 56 owners recommend it, vs 75% of 20 for the Pit Boss 850 Navigator.

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

Pit Boss 850 Navigator

75%of 20 owners recommend
75% recommend · 10% neutral · 15% don't
Owners praise
  • Owners are overwhelmingly satisfied and say they'd buy the Navigator again, repeatedly described as running flawlessly for years with no issues
  • The open-flame broiler/direct-heat vents let it grill and char like a real grill, not just smoke like a typical pellet unit
  • Seen as strong value for the money, especially around the ~$399 price point and Black Friday/Costco deals
Owners complain about
  • Electronics reliability problems, control boards, WiFi controller, grill probes, and igniter failing or needing replacement/upgrade
  • Uneven heat distribution and temperature control, hopper-side food cooks faster than the far side, temps fluctuate, and the 10-degree adjustment increments feel too coarse
Full owner report →

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

82%of 56 owners recommend
82% recommend · 13% neutral · 5% don't
Owners praise
  • Extremely fast, near-instant temperature reads
  • Very accurate and precise
  • Outlasts cheap thermometers; worth the money long-term
Owners complain about
  • Expensive, best bought on sale
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Pit Boss 850 Navigator if
  • ✓Cooks who want both smoking and open-flame searing
  • ✓Budget buyers wanting solid build for the money
  • ✓First-time pellet grill owners
  • ✓Fans of heavier, smoky flavor and good smoke rings
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing even heat across the whole grate
  • Buyers worried by reports of control-board failures
Get the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE if
  • ✓Smokers and BBQ cooks wanting near-instant reads
  • ✓Home cooks tired of cheap thermometers breaking
  • ✓Bakers and precision cooks needing accurate spot checks
  • ✓Buyers wanting a last-thermometer-you-buy workhorse
Skip it if
  • Bargain shoppers unwilling to pay premium or wait for a sale

What Pit Boss 850 Navigator owners say

“STILL ROCCCKING WITH THE NAVIGATOR 1150 AND 850”
— @VietKieuLongNguyen on YouTube
“Just picked one up Black Friday at Academy for a great price and have already grilled on it a few times, Great Product!!”
— @Intoxacajun on YouTube
“I have a Navigator 850G over a year old. Have replaced 4 control boards and 2 grill probes. Waiting on igniter. Does anyone have any ideas why they keep going bad?”
— jcbitsme on Pit Boss Grill Forum

What ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE owners say

“Thermoworks Thermapen One. Just bought one for the first time and it is by far the best thermometer I've ever used. Didn't know how much I was missing out my entire life.”
— ebone88 on Reddit
“Still working like a charm!”
— @gosman949 on YouTube
“Can’t believe these aren’t magnetic for $100”
— @charlesbrown4689 on YouTube

Pit Boss 850 Navigator vs ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE: frequently asked questions

Is the Pit Boss 850 Navigator or the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE better?

Real owners lean toward the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE: 82% of 56 owners recommend it, vs 75% of 20 for the Pit Boss 850 Navigator.

Who should get the Pit Boss 850 Navigator?

Owners point the Pit Boss 850 Navigator at cooks who want both smoking and open-flame searing, and budget buyers wanting solid build for the money.

Who should get the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE?

Owners point the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE at smokers and BBQ cooks wanting near-instant reads, and home cooks tired of cheap thermometers breaking.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Pit Boss 850 Navigator is electronics reliability problems, control boards, WiFi controller, grill probes, and igniter failing or needing replacement/upgrade. For the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE, it's expensive, best bought on sale.