Traeger Ironwood XL vs Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 800
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Quick take: The Traeger Ironwood XL costs $90 less; the Traeger Ironwood XL offers more cooking space (924 vs 846 sq in); the Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 800 reaches a higher max temp (1000 vs 500°F).
| Spec | Traeger Ironwood XL | Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 800 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2,000 | ~$2,090 |
| Rating | 3.6★ (151) | — |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 924 sq in | 846 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 1000°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | 304 Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lb | 29 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | No | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | 243 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 10 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Ironwood XL
- ✓924 sq in is 50% more grate than the standard Ironwood for $200
- ✓Sealed, gasketed chamber holds temperature in wind better than the Woodridge family's simpler lid
- ✓Touchscreen plus two wired probes, with Traeger's app handling multi-probe alarms
- ✓Digital pellet sensor warns before the hopper runs out, a real feature on overnight cooks
- ✓EZ-Clean grease and ash keg empties both waste streams into one container
- ✓10-year warranty
- ✗3.6 out of 5 across 151 reviews on Traeger's own store — the weakest owner score in the current Traeger line, largely firmware and controller complaints
- ✗500°F ceiling, so it is a smoker that grills rather than a grill that smokes
- ✗243 lbs — the heaviest grill in the Traeger line short of the Timberlines, and not something to wheel across grass
- ✗22 lb hopper is smaller than the 24 lb Woodridge despite costing more
- ✗No side burner or sear station at a price where the Woodridge Elite includes one
Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 800
- ✓304 stainless construction rather than powder-coated steel, the same grade Yoder charges well over $2,500 for
- ✓1,000°F open-flame sear via SearTech is the highest ceiling of any pellet grill in this catalog by a wide margin
- ✓29 lb hopper is the largest here and genuinely covers an overnight brisket without a refill
- ✓Pressurized Cooking System with adjustable rear exhaust gives real control over smoke density, not just temperature
- ✓Griddle insert, grill light and collapsible stainless shelves are included, not upcharges
- ✓Digital touchscreen with both WiFi and Bluetooth
- ✗$2,090 puts it against the Yoder YS640s, which has a far deeper reputation and dealer network
- ✗5-year warranty is short for the price; Recteq covers its stainless models longer
- ✗The maker's direct store is entirely sold out, so buying means finding a specialty dealer
- ✗Heavy and cart-mounted — the stainless barrel makes it a permanent installation
- ✗Louisiana Grills' app has a thinner feature set than Traeger's or Weber Connect's