Char-Griller Barrel Pro Charcoal Grill vs Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker
vs
Quick take: The Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker costs $30 less; the Char-Griller Barrel Pro Charcoal Grill offers more cooking space (520 vs 363 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Griller Barrel Pro Charcoal Grill | Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$180 | ~$150 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (1,416) | 4.8★ (56) |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 520 sq in | 363 sq in |
| Max Temp | 400°F | 400°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel with Coated Cast Iron Grates | Porcelain-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 43.7 x 27.6 x 49.2 in | 23 x 26.2 x 38 in |
| Weight | 72.8 lbs | 23.1 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Barrel Pro Charcoal Grill
- ✓785 sq in total for $180 is the cheapest large charcoal surface Char-Griller sells
- ✓Dual dampers — intake and stack — give two-point airflow control, better than the single vent on most barrels at this price
- ✓Coated cast iron grates rather than plated wire at a $180 price point
- ✓Side shelf is standard, unlike on the Patio Pro and Wrangler
- ✓Adjustable charcoal tray lets you move the fire up for searing and down for indirect cooking
- ✗Walmart-exclusive, so no dealer network, no BBQGuys support, and parts availability tracks one retailer's stocking decisions
- ✗Rated only to 400°F, so searing is weak for the grate size
- ✗2 lb charcoal capacity against 785 sq in — you will refuel mid-cook on anything long
- ✗No side firebox port, so it cannot become an offset smoker the way the Classic can
- ✗73 lbs of thin steel on a light cart; it is not a windy-yard grill
Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker
- ✓$150 for a 22-inch kettle with a removable ash pan — Weber charges $229 for the equivalent Original Kettle Premium
- ✓363 sq in is the full 22-inch grate, the same class as a Weber Original Kettle 22
- ✓Adjustable vents top and bottom, so proper two-zone and snake-method smoking both work
- ✓Porcelain-coated bowl and lid rather than painted steel, which is what determines whether a kettle rusts out in year three
- ✓At 23 lbs it is genuinely liftable into a truck bed for a tailgate
- ✗23 lbs is light for a 22-inch kettle — the steel is thinner than Weber's and holds heat correspondingly worse
- ✗Rated to 400°F versus the 500°F+ a Weber kettle will reach with the vents open
- ✗Only 56 Walmart reviews, so the 4.8 is not yet a settled number
- ✗No hinged grate, so adding coals mid-cook means lifting the whole grate with food on it
- ✗Char-Griller's kettle accessory ecosystem is nearly empty; Weber's is the reason most people buy a Weber