Recteq Deck Boss 900 vs Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi Vertical Pellet Smoker
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Quick take: The Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi Vertical Pellet Smoker offers more cooking space (2,408 vs 956 sq in); the Recteq Deck Boss 900 reaches a higher max temp (700 vs 350°F).
| Spec | Recteq Deck Boss 900 | Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi Vertical Pellet Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$900 | ~$900 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 956 sq in | 2408 sq in (3 smoking racks, 3 jerky racks, 1 hanging rack with 12 sausage hooks) |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 350°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Stainless Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 18 lb | 30 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | 24 x 15.5 x 55 in |
| Weight | — | 145 lbs |
| Warranty | 4 years | 3 years |
Pros & cons
Recteq Deck Boss 900
- ✓956 sq in for around $900 is more grate per dollar than any Traeger at the same price
- ✓700°F ceiling is 200°F above every Traeger in the line — it will actually sear on the main grates
- ✓PID controller holds a set point far tighter than the timer-driven augers on budget pellet grills
- ✓304 stainless firepot and drip pan are the parts that burn out first on cheaper grills
- ✓HotFlash ceramic igniter is rated over 100,000 cycles, where hot-rod igniters are a common failure item
- ✓4-year bumper-to-bumper warranty with US-based support
- ✗18 lb hopper is small for a 956 sq in grill — an overnight brisket needs a refill
- ✗4-year warranty is Recteq's shortest on a full-size cabinet grill; the Beast and Flagship get 6
- ✗Recteq sells direct and through a thin dealer network, so there is no local store to walk into in much of the country
- ✗No side burner, sear station or induction top at a price where Traeger's Woodridge family offers one
- ✗Recteq does not publish an exterior footprint, which makes it hard to plan a patio around
Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi Vertical Pellet Smoker
- ✓2,408 sq in is roughly four times a Weber Smokey Mountain 22 and more than any other vertical in this catalog
- ✓The Smoke Box addresses the standard complaint about pellet smoke being thin - it burns chunks, not just pellets
- ✓Dedicated jerky racks and a 12-hook sausage hanger mean it is genuinely set up for charcuterie, not just barbecue
- ✓30 lb hopper plus a WiFi PID controller is a true overnight, phone-monitored cook
- ✓Smoke Number 1-10 lets you dial smoke density independently of temperature, which most pellet controllers cannot
- ✗Discontinued: absent from campchef.com, whose vertical-pellet-smoker collection page now lists zero products
- ✗350°F ceiling - it cannot grill, sear or crisp anything, which is the trade for the vertical layout
- ✗145 lbs and 55 inches tall, and the pellet hopper hangs off the side, so it needs real space
- ✗Two heat sources (auger and smoke box) mean two things to clean and two failure points
- ✗Parts and controller support for a discontinued Camp Chef electronic product is a genuine risk at this price