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
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
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
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.”
“It was a great grill. Worth it at that price today.”
“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).”