Traeger Woodridge Pro

The Traeger Ironwood 885 is a WiFi-connected wood-pellet grill and smoker from Traeger, the company that popularized pellet grills. It uses the D2 direct-drive controller and WiFIRE app for hands-off cooks. Note: this model is no longer sold new as of 2026. Its current equivalent is the Traeger Ironwood XL. (Still sold at $1,399.99 on traeger.com under 'Legacy Grills'; new Ironwood/Ironwood XL (2023) and Woodridge (2025) are the current lines)

The Woodridge is the grill that finally retired Traeger's ancient Pro Series platform — it's the true successor to the Pro 575/780, and at $799 it undercuts them while fixing their two biggest complaints: cleanup and hopper size. You get 860 sq in (more than the old Pro 780), a 24 lb hopper with a clean-out chute, WiFIRE, a wired probe, and the same EZ-Clean ash keg as the $1,800 Ironwood, all under a 10-year warranty. Owners on r/pelletgrills call it the best value Traeger has ever shipped, with steady temps from the new digital controller. The honest trade-offs: no Super Smoke mode (that's the $1,149 Woodridge Pro), no pellet sensor or side shelf, and like every Traeger it tops out at 500F with a mild smoke profile — Camp Chef's Woodwind and the Weber Smoque both produce noticeably more smoke flavor. Early-batch owners reported some app-pairing friction and thin-ish lid steel. If you want the Traeger ecosystem without flagship pricing, this is the one to buy; if you mostly chase heavy smoke, look at the Pro trim or a competitor.

The Traeger Pro 575 is Traeger's best-selling entry-level WiFi pellet grill, using the D2 controller and WiFIRE app. It's the model most people picture when they think 'Traeger.' Note: this model is no longer sold new as of 2026. Its current equivalent is the Traeger Woodridge. (Retailer-only closeout: traeger.com lists $799.99 but no longer sells direct; remaining retail stock clearing at $500-600)

The current-generation Ironwood replaced the discontinued Ironwood 885 in Traeger's lineup, trading raw cooking area for a dual-wall insulated barrel, a color touchscreen, and Smart Combustion tech that owners on r/pelletgrills consistently say holds temps within a few degrees even in wind and cold. The EZ-Clean ash keg is the sleeper feature — cleanup drops from a shop-vac session to emptying a bucket. The honest knocks: at $1,800 you're paying a steep premium over a Woodridge Pro that cooks nearly as well with more space, the 500F ceiling still won't sear like a gas grill or a Weber Searwood's 600F, and Traeger's smoke profile stays on the mild side unless you lean on Super Smoke and 225F cooks. Some owners report WiFIRE connectivity drops and occasional startup temp overshoot, and the induction fan is audible. But as a set-and-forget smoker with genuinely modern controls and a 10-year warranty, it's the best-sorted mid-size Traeger yet — just know you're paying for polish, not capacity.

The Traeger Timberline XL is Traeger's top-of-the-line flagship pellet grill, with a fully insulated double-wall body, induction side burner, and a touchscreen controller. It's aimed at serious enthusiasts.

The Recteq Backyard Beast 1000 is the successor to the beloved RT-700 'Bull', pairing 1,014 sq in of stainless cooking space with a dual-band WiFi PID controller and a class-leading 180-700°F temperature range that lets it sear as well as it smokes. Note: this model is no longer sold new as of 2026. Its current equivalent is the Recteq Backyard Beast 1200 (RT-1200BB). (RT-1000 discontinued; Backyard Beast 1200 replaces it (and the Flagship 1100) at $1,199.99, frequently on sale at $1,049.99. No verified non-Amazon rating for the discontinued RT-1000)