Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE vs Weber Original Kettle 22: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 82% of 56 ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE owners recommend it, vs 84% of 37 for the Weber Original Kettle 22.

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

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 →

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 →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Weber Original Kettle 22 if
  • Charcoal fans grilling burgers, steaks, and sausages
  • Cooks wanting one versatile do-it-all cooker
  • Buyers who value a grill lasting decades
  • Occasional low-and-slow smokers on a budget
Skip it if
  • Cooks plating lots of sides alongside the main (fills fast)
  • Serious low-and-slow smokers wanting easy temp control

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

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

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE vs Weber Original Kettle 22: frequently asked questions

Is the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE or the Weber Original Kettle 22 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 82% of 56 ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE owners recommend it, vs 84% of 37 for the Weber Original Kettle 22.

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.

Who should get the Weber Original Kettle 22?

Owners point the Weber Original Kettle 22 at charcoal fans grilling burgers, steaks, and sausages, and cooks wanting one versatile do-it-all cooker.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE is expensive, best bought on sale. For the Weber Original Kettle 22, it's hard to control low temps for smoking.