Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Weber Original Kettle 22 vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Weber Original Kettle 22: 84% of 37 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

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 →

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 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
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 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

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

Weber Original Kettle 22 vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18: frequently asked questions

Is the Weber Original Kettle 22 or the Weber Smokey Mountain 18 better?

Real owners lean toward the Weber Original Kettle 22: 84% of 37 owners recommend it, vs 76% of 339 for the Weber Smokey Mountain 18.

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.

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 Weber Original Kettle 22 is hard to control low temps for smoking. For the Weber Smokey Mountain 18, it's too small to fit large briskets or full racks of ribs without trimming.