Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Pit Boss 850 Navigator vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 75% of 20 Pit Boss 850 Navigator 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

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 →

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 →

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 Weber Smokey Mountain 18 if
  • ✓First-time smokers wanting an easy, forgiving charcoal smoker
  • ✓Backyard cooks feeding a family of four
  • ✓Cooks wanting rock-solid temps for long overnight cooks
  • ✓Buyers prioritizing durability and simplicity over gadgets
Skip it if
  • Cooks doing full untrimmed briskets or big-batch ribs
  • Anyone needing more capacity (step up to the 22")

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 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

Pit Boss 850 Navigator vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18: frequently asked questions

Is the Pit Boss 850 Navigator or the Weber Smokey Mountain 18 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 75% of 20 Pit Boss 850 Navigator owners recommend it, vs 76% of 339 for the Weber Smokey Mountain 18.

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 Weber Smokey Mountain 18?

Owners point the Weber Smokey Mountain 18 at first-time smokers wanting an easy, forgiving charcoal smoker, and backyard cooks feeding a family of four.

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 Weber Smokey Mountain 18, it's too small to fit large briskets or full racks of ribs without trimming.