Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22 vs Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5
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Quick take: The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22 costs $51 less; the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22 offers more cooking space (726 vs 22.5 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22 | Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$549 | ~$600 |
| Rating | — | 4.9★ (380) |
| Type | Charcoal Smoker | Charcoal Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 726 sq in | 22.5 in grate plus 3 hanging rods (16 hooks) |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | Porcelain-Enameled 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 | 23 x 24 x 48.5 in | 30 x 30 x 36 in |
| Weight | 68 lbs | 84.5 lbs (shipping) |
| Warranty | 10 years on bowl, lid and center ring; 2 years on remaining parts | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22
- ✓22.5-inch grates take a full untrimmed packer brisket flat — the single biggest practical gain over the 18-inch
- ✓726 sq in across two racks handles roughly six pork butts or four slabs of ribs in one load
- ✓The larger charcoal ring supports 12-plus hour unattended burns at 225–250°F, so overnight cooks do not need a refuel
- ✓Grates share the 22.5-inch diameter of the Weber kettle line, so kettle accessories and replacement grates drop straight in
- ✓Porcelain-enameled bowl, lid and center section carry a 10-year no-rust-through warranty
- ✓Bolt-on temperature controllers from the aftermarket are designed around this exact body, making it the most upgradeable bullet
- ✗At 68 lbs and 48.5 inches tall it is not something you move alone once it is assembled
- ✗$549 is $130 over the 18-inch, and the 18 covers most home cooks' volume needs
- ✗The stock lid thermometer reads the dome, not the grate, and is often 15–25°F off
- ✗No probe grommets from the factory — wires have to run through the door gap or be drilled for
- ✗Water pan needs refilling on long cooks and the pan is awkward to reach with both racks loaded
Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5
- ✓Four full packer briskets or four turkeys in one load is more capacity than any vertical water smoker near this price
- ✓Three hanging rods instead of two means you can run ribs and butts on separate levels without crowding
- ✓All hanging hooks, rods and racks interchange with the 18.5-inch Classic, so an upgrade does not orphan your accessories
- ✓Same no-damper simplicity as the rest of the line — light the basket, set the intake, close the lid
- ✓Porcelain over steel rather than paint, so it will not burn off around the intake the way painted drums do
- ✗Runs noticeably hot when lightly loaded, which Pit Barrel warns about on the product page — this is not a cooker for a single rack of ribs
- ✗Ash pan, hinged grate and cover from the 18.5 do NOT fit, so three of the common accessories have to be rebought
- ✗84.5 lbs and 30 inches wide: it needs a dedicated spot, and the caster kit is the only way to move it
- ✗$600 puts it against a 22-inch Weber Smokey Mountain at $549 that does hold low temperatures