Weber Original Kettle 22 vs Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker
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Quick take: The Weber Original Kettle 22 costs $1 less.
| Spec | Weber Original Kettle 22 | Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$149 | ~$150 |
| Rating | — | 4.8★ (56) |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 363 sq in | 363 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | 400°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | 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 | 39.5 x 22.5 x 25 in | 23 x 26.2 x 38 in |
| Weight | 32 lbs | 23.1 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Weber Original Kettle 22
- ✓Cheapest route into the 22-inch grate size that nearly every kettle accessory is built around
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash with a single lever rather than a brush
- ✓Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid carry the same 10-year no-rust-through warranty as kettles three times the price
- ✓363 sq in is enough to bank coals to one side and still hold a full indirect zone
- ✓Replacement parts are stocked by Weber and most hardware stores for decades-old kettles
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature has to be read with an aftermarket probe
- ✗Open aluminum ash pan spills in wind and holds far less than the Premium's enclosed catcher
- ✗Fixed one-piece grate means the fire has to be reached by lifting the whole grate mid-cook
- ✗No lid holder, so the hot lid goes on the ground or hooks over the bowl edge
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