Traeger Woodridge Elite vs Traeger Ironwood XL
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Quick take: The Traeger Woodridge Elite costs $200 less; the Traeger Woodridge Elite offers more cooking space (970 vs 924 sq in).
| Spec | Traeger Woodridge Elite | Traeger Ironwood XL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,800 | ~$2,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (99) | 3.6★ (151) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 970 sq in | 924 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 24 lb | 22 lb |
| Burners | 1 | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | Yes | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | 221 lbs | 243 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Woodridge Elite
- ✓Side burner is a genuine cast-iron gas burner, not a pellet sear zone — it will hold skillet-searing heat a pellet firepot cannot
- ✓970 sq in across two racks fits several pork butts or around nine racks of ribs
- ✓24 lb hopper is large enough for an unattended overnight cook
- ✓Enclosed cabinet keeps pellet bags and tools dry, which the open-leg Woodridge and Woodridge Pro do not
- ✓10-year warranty, the longest Traeger writes
- ✓Super Smoke mode and a digital pellet sensor are both included, unlike the base Woodridge
- ✗Same price as the Ironwood, which has the better controller, touchscreen and sealed chamber — the choice is burner versus electronics
- ✗500°F chamber ceiling still will not sear on the main grates; that is what the side burner is for
- ✗At 221 lbs it is a fixed-position grill, not one you reposition on a whim
- ✗Side burner needs its own 1 lb propane cylinder or an adapter hose — the grill itself is electric
- ✗Second cooking rack is fixed height, limiting clearance for a tall turkey or standing rib roast
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