There are different types of smokers that you can buy. The smokers come with different features and at various price levels. Among the smokers available are wood burning smokers.
As the name suggests, a wood burning smoker uses wood to produce heat, suffusing your meat with an earthy taste that can only be achieved by cooking food over a low fire.
The smokers are simple and may seem traditional but are effective at smoking tasty foods.
Wood smokers comes in various configurations, from upright models to reverse flow units. The units also come in different designs.
Which is the Best Wood Smoker?
Here are the top units that make it on my list of the best wood smokers you can buy:
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1. Dyna-Glo DG01176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker
If you are simply looking to smoke, you should get a vertical charcoal smoker. While horizontal smokers allow you to lay all your food out on one grate, vertical smokers allow you to stack grate on top of each other in the unit.
The Dyna-Glo Charcoal SMoker is one of the best wood smokers on the market. With this smoker, you can but a lot of meat at once.
The smoker comes with six cooking grates and has about 800 square inches of space. With a capacity of handling up to 100 pounds of meat, this is the ultimate smoker you need for those summer backyard parties.
The charcoal smoker features a quality build, with plenty of vents for better temperature control.
Specs:
| Weight | 57 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 20.2 X 34.5 X 47 Inches |
| Materials | Steel |
| Space | 784 square inches |
Pros
- Sturdy and well-built with heavy-duty materials
- Affordable
- Minimizes heat loss
- Great value for money
Cons
- The custom-fit cover is sold separately
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2. Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
The aptly names Oklahoma Joe’s Reverse Flow Smoker has the best smoke flow possible.
This offset smoker features heavy-duty materials that enable better heat control. Moreover, it has adequate cooking space; a staggering 1000 square inches. The grates are coated with porcelain to make cleaning and maintenance easy.
If you wish to cook the traditional way, you can remove the baffles that control the reverse flow.
Features
- The temperature gauge is mounted in the lid
- Has four baffles that control reverse smoking
- Has 290 square inches of direct cooking space in the firebox
- The total smoking space is 1060 square inches
Pros
- Great for cooking large amounts of meat
- Easy to use, even for beginner pit masters
- Solid build and construction
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Over time, the heating compartment will have to be recoated
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3. Char-Griller E1224 Smoking Pro Offset Smoker
The Char-Griller E1224 is an affordable traditional wood burning smoker that has plenty of cooking space. This unit boasts of 250 square inches of cooking area in the firebox and 580 square inches in the smoker.
The smoker is made from heavy duty material and, therefore, you can be sure it is durable. The iron grates are made from cast iron are are built to last. The smoker has drawers that make it easy to add charcoal and remove ash.
This well-ventilated wood burning smoker also comes with a temperature guage.
Features
- Has removable charcoal drawers that make it easy to maintain the unit
- Has a temperature gauge mounted in lid
- Made of heavy-duty materials
- Has cast iron grates
- Has a total smoking space of 830 square inches
Pros
- The adjustable fire grate allows total control
- Easy to clean
- Has adequate cooking space
- Made of solid materials
Cons
- The packaging needs some improvement
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4. Landmann 560202 Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
If you have limited space in your home but still want a wood burning smoker, you should check out the Landmann 560202 Barbecue Grill with Offset Smoker Box. This smoker has just 169 square inches of cooking space in the firebox and 360 square inches in the smoker. The small grill is perfect if you have a small family or limited space at home.
The Landmann smoker comes with a temperature gauge that you can use to control the heat, a charcoal tray, and a hand crank for adjusting the charcoal tray.
Specs
| Weight | 78.7 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 54 X 25.5 X 47.5 Inches |
| Materials | Steel |
| Space | 530 square inches |
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5. Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker
Also making it on my list of the best wood burning smoker is the Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker. This simple smoker has plenty of cook space for a large family. The smoker features a grill that has a separate firebox, which can be used for direct searing and cooking.
You can easily track and adjust the smoker’s temperature through the temperature guage. This smoker has plenty of vent, tray for both water and wood chips, and wheels for easy transportation.
Specs
| Weight | 46.5 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 17.5 x 46.2 x 44.8 inches |
| Materials | Steel |
| Space | 290 square inches of indirect, smoking space with 40 square inches of direct cooking space in the firebox |
Pros
- Easy to use, even for beginners
- Comes with adjustable cooking grates
- Easy to clean
- Has an offset smoker, BBQ and charcoal grill
Cons
- The materials are not as heavy-duty as those used to make other wood burning smokers in this list
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6. Broil King Offset Smoker
The Broil King Offset Smoker is pretty big and boasts of 625 square inches of primary cooking space. Despite the large cooking area, the smoker is still affordable when compared to other large smokers on the market. This large smoker is what you need if you’ll be regularly cooking for many people (think family reunions, backyard BBQ events, etc.)
The wood burning smoker is solidly constructed with stainless steel. Its heat retention is above average thanks to the thick cast iron cooking grids that distribute heat across the large surface area of the grates. You can also be sure your meat will cook well by keeping tabs with the temperature through the thermometer that is built into the lid.
This offset smoker has excellent dampers that are easy to use and is quite affordable.
Specs
| Weight | 185.3 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 52.5” x 26” x 60”. |
| Materials | 2 Mm Steel (Exterior), Cast Iron (Cooking Grids). |
| Space | 625 Square Inches |
Pros
- Spacious interior cooking area
- Affordable
- The thick cast iron grids ensure heat is evenly distributed
- Sturdy construction
- The fire chamber is easily accesible
- Has an in-built thermometer
- The dampers are easy to use
Cons
- The wheels are made from plastic and tend to wear out faster
- Lacks advanced features for precise smoking
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7. Royal Gourmet BBQ Offset Smoker
Another budget wood burning smoker that you can check is the Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker. The smoker has quite a large cooking area (483 square inches) but is quite affordable. From the manufacturer’s information, the smoker has 800 square inches of cooking area. However, this is the whole cooking area, inclusive of the warming rack.
The side box has 183 square inches of space while the warming rack has 179 square inches. However, we usually don’t take these into consideration when looking at the cooking area of a smoker. Still, for the price and the available cooking area, this is a great buy.
The body is sturdy thanks to the stainless steel constructions. However, the legs are cheap and flimsy. They won’t last long.
Specs
| Weight | 54.2 Lbs |
| Dimensions | 55.1” X 27.2” X 48.4” |
| Materials | Stainless Steel (Overall), Porcelain (Cooking Grates). |
| Space | 438 Square Inches (Plus 183 Square Inches Side Box And 179 Square Inch Warming Rack) |
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Spacious cooking area
- Affordable smoker
Cons
- The bottom parts are not as sturdily built as the rest of the body
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8. Z Grills 8-in-1 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is an affordable mid-range offset smoker that is solidly built. This smoker features a strong stainless still shell that will last for years. The smoker's cooking grates are made from nonstick porcelain enamel, which makes cleaning easier.
The smoker comes with a well-arranged table that featured a removable front rack. When you are not cooking, you can remove the rack and store it away. Under the chimney, there is a side table where you can set your grill sauces, containers, bowls, utensils, and other items.
The interior of this wood smoker is separated into three but quite spacious. On the main grill, you have a solid 324 square inches of grilling space. An additional 128 square inches is available on the warming rack.
Instead of a traditional firebox, this smoker has a pellet grill. There is an auger system that pushes the pullets to keep the heat low and slow for as long as you need it.
The smoker also has a built in electronic temperature controller. Therefore, you can be sure of the right temperature when you are smoking, even if you are not directly monitoring the unit.
Specs
| Weight | 84 Lbs |
| Dimensions | 48” x 22” x 51” |
| Materials | Stainless Steel (Overall), Porcelain Enamel (Cooking Grates) |
| Space | 324 Square Inches (Plus 128 Square Inches Of Warming Rack) |
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Good table placements and design
- Affordable for a pellet grill and smoker combo unit
Cons
- The pellets can be quite expensive to buy in the long run
Which is the Best Wood Burning Smoker?
I've tested all the wood smokers above and they function well. The smokers do not have a lot of advanced features and, therefore, may not be suitable for the pro pit master. However, if you usually smoke as a hobby or are a novice pit master, they are perfect.
One thing that I've realized is that all these smokers have flimsy wheels. Therefore, if you will be moving your smoker quite a bit, it is only a matter of time before the wheels get spoiled.
