Traeger vs Weber – The Two Best Brands on the Market

Choosing a high-quality grill that will last with you for years is crucial. It ensures that you are investing your money in a product that’s worth it.

However, with so many options in the market, it’s pretty hard to find the right one for you.

For this, sometimes, you need to go after well-known brands that have been known to produce high-quality grills throughout the years. And if we’re talking about two of the top favorites, we have Traeger and Weber grills.

Traeger grills are known for producing the best pellet grills in the market. On the other hand, Weber grills are known for their wide range of grills that can accommodate the different needs of people. Both are top-quality grills, but sometimes your choice would depend on what would work best for you.

In this article, we’re going to compare these two grills – a pellet grill from Traeger and a three-burner gas grill from Weber. The grills we’ve chosen are within the same price range but would differ on features.

So, if you’re looking to buy a brand new grill from these two brands, this article might give you the insights you need…

But first, let’s talk about the history of Traeger and Weber grills.

History of Traeger

The history of Traeger grills started in the 1980s. They’re the very first company that brought pellet grills on the market. So, it’s safe to say that it’s thanks to them that we get to enjoy the many benefits of pellet grilling.

Everything started in 1982 when Joe Traeger started experimenting on pellet-burning furnaces. This is to make it easier for anyone to use wood pellets as it is the most affordable heat source around that time. And by 1985, Joe decided to build a grill that also burned wood pellets. 

Production officially started in 1988, and the mechanism involved in the grill was very impressive. It revolutionized how people smoked their meat, as it offers a reliable and convenient grilling process.

And until now, they remained to be at the top, and it took years before a competitor showed up.

History of Weber

On the other hand, the history of Weber started in 1952, way before the Traeger grills. But just like with Traeger grills, Weber also pioneered a very popular version of a charcoal grill.

Everything started with an imaginative man named George Stephen, Sr. He’s a salesman at his father’s company, the Weber Brothers Metal Works, which mainly creates innovative products with metals.

Around that time, the only available grill people can use is an open charcoal grill that is very much exposed to outside elements. So, Stephen decided to create a grill that can protect your food from these.

He decided to chop a metal buoy in half and put them together to create a body of our very popular grill today. He added some air vents and some legs and took the whole thing home, which was laughed at by his neighbors.

However, the grill did an excellent job in protecting food from outside elements, retaining smoky flavors to the meat, and retaining heat – all of which most people struggle from back in the day. That’s why it’s no wonder that everyone got interested in it pretty soon enough.

By the mid-1950s, Stephen quit his job at the metal company and started his own grill manufacturing business. And by 1958, he bought out his father’s company and named it Weber-Stephen.

From that one grill, Weber now offers a wide range of grills:

• Spirit series
• Genesis series
• Summit series

Each of these grills is known for its excellent quality and innovative features, which makes Weber one of the top grill manufacturers today.

Comparison of the Two best models

Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill

The Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill is one of the popular grills from Traeger, and it’s kind of easy to tell why. It’s a good-sized grill that offers everything you’d want from a grill – convenience, easy temperature control, delicious smoky flavors, and great versatility.

The elegant style of this grill will immediately get your attention. It features a black color throughout, which is very easy to look at. You’ll also notice a unique-looking chimney that comes with a little “witch hat,” so it’s not that vulnerable to outside elements.

The undercarriage features a sawhorse design which makes the grill excellent stability. You also have two all-terrain wheels that will allow you to move the grill around quickly, no matter what ground you have.

Like many Traeger pellet grills, the Pro Series 22 offers 6-in-1 versatility. This means that you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue just with this grill. You don’t need to have much cooking equipment at home to cook whatever you want; you’d only need this grill.

So, you’re basically saving more money and, of course, cooking space with this grill.

Another thing I love about this grill is that it uses wood pellets as fuel. So, if you love natural, smoky flavor to be incorporated in your meat, this is definitely the grill for you.

You’ll also love that the grill comes with a large hopper with an 18-pound capacity, which can allow you to cook good food for long periods. On top of that, you also get a hopper clean out so that you can unload a half-filled hopper easily.

The usage of this grill is mostly automatic. Once you set the temperature and the timer, the system inside loads the grill with enough pellets every time. The loading is very efficient, allowing you to save money on buying more wood pellets.

We also love that it comes with a large cooking space of 572 square inches, which can let you serve food for a good number of people. According to Traeger, you can cook four pork butts, five rack ribs, four whole chicken, or 24 burgers with this grill. 

If you’re having a large party, then you don’t have to bore yourself by staying beside the grill at all times. The grill also features a Digital Pro Controller that allows the grill to maintain the temperature within 15 °F. It has a set-it and forget-it capability, which is very convenient.

The grill grates are porcelain-coated, so whatever you’re cooking, it won’t stick on the grill. On top of that, we love that heat retains really well, and it’s distributed evenly.

Overall, it’s an excellent grill that does its job really well. It’s perfect for those who are looking for a versatile, reliable, and convenient grill.

Weber Genesis II E-335

The Weber Genesis II E-335 is one of the top grills from Weber, and an absolute favorite by many Weber fans. It’s a three-burner grill that may cost a bit of money, but it has a lot of wonderful features that you’d love.

At first look, the Genesis II E-335 is a big grill. So, you really need to make sure that you have enough space for this grill at your home.

The grill provides a total of 696 square inches of cooking area – 513 square inches for the main cooking area and 156 square inches of space for the warming rack. This gives you better versatility on what food you can cook and whether you’ll cook them at direct or indirect heat.

The three burners are separately controlled by knobs, giving you great control over how much heat you should distribute in the grill. Each burner distributes a powerful 30,000 BTUs of heat across your grill plate. And as if that’s not enough, Weber also provided us with a searing station that uses 9,000 BTUs of heat.

So, when it comes to grilling capabilities, this grill is really at the top. It even comes with a side burner that provides 12,000 BTUs of heat if you need extra cooking space.

You also get two side tables, wherein one table is convertible to the side burner. But if that’s not in use, you have two large spaces to utilize for food preparation. On top of that, the side tables also have integrated hooks so that you can keep your tools within reach. There’s also a wide cabinet below where you can put extra tools or condiments inside.

We love that the grill is iGrill-3 compatible. This is a feature that Weber designed, so you don’t have to stay beside the grill the whole time you’re cooking meat. Because now, you can monitor your grill through your phone using an app, which is pretty convenient. 

Another thing we love is that the grill is very easy to clean. It comes with an excellent grease management system that saves you more time and prevents cleaning from becoming messy.

Overall, it’s a large grill that offers great features that will make your grilling experience more enjoyable.

In-depth Comparison of Both Models

Now that we’ve taken a look at the grill’s features in detail, let us now compare the two models based on their:

• Design and Construction
• Price
• Place Manufactured
• Warranty
• Available Accessories
• Stand Out Features

Design and Construction

At first look, we can already see that both grills are well-designed, sturdy, and made of high-quality materials.

The Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill is very elegant looking with its black color throughout. It also looks unique with its sawhorse-style undercarriage and a chimney with a witch-hat. We also love the brass finish that Traeger gave with the lid, which made it look premium.

As for the Weber Genesis II E-335, we have a porcelain-coated cast-iron construction, which is pretty sturdy. But what we love the most is the extra spaces provided for us. We have a cabinet, two side tables, and some integrated hooks that help ensure that everything you need should be within reach.

Aside from the general construction, both grills also offer a large cooking space. However, Weber is larger and provides a two-zone cooking system, which means you can use either direct or indirect grilling.

But this may not be really a big issue because, as we know, Traeger grills offer a 6-in-1 cooking versatility.

Price

The Traeger Grill Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill is more affordable than the Weber Genesis II E-335.

Since the Weber Genesis II E-335 comes with many features such as multiple burners and extra shelves, this might have been a factor for the price. Traeger grill, on the other hand, looks simple but comes with a very reliable system inside.

Traeger might also be the better choice if we’re talking about long-term use. This is because you’ll be able to save more money as these grills pride themselves on energy efficiency.

Manufactured In

Weber has manufactured all their grills in Palatine, Illinois, since 1952. So, you can definitely say that it’s a homegrown grill.

Traeger grills, on the other hand, used to manufacture their grills in the US but have now moved into China. This might be one factor that influenced its lower pricing. However, changing the place of manufacture definitely did not affect the quality of grills Traeger produced.

Warranty

When buying any product, a warranty is one thing that we should look at. This way, if you notice any damage from manufacturing, you can get that fixed at no price at all.

Traeger offers a 3-year warranty for all of their grills. This covers any damages from workmanship or material. You can simply contact support, and they’ll ship you the parts you need. It’s also highly recommended to register your grill on their website for a more efficient service.

Weber, on the other hand, offers a longer warranty of 10 years for all its parts. So, you can use the product for ten years without any worries at all.

Available Accessories

Between the Traeger and Weber grill, it’s undeniable that the Weber Genesis II E-335 offers more accessories. You’ve got extra side tables for space, a side burner, a storage cabinet, and some integrated hooks to keep everything you need close to you.

Traeger, on the other hand, doesn’t come with any of these things, and it might be because there was no need, especially for the burner. It would have been nice to get a sample of wood pellets, though, to get you started.

Stand Out Features

The Traeger Grill Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill comes with a lot of stand-out features.

The fact that it offers 6-in-1 cooking options is already big enough for everyone who loves cooking. The large hopper capacity is also a great bonus if you want to smoke overnight. And the fact that everything runs automatically, there’s very little left for you to do.

It’s a set-it and forget-it grill. It also uses fuel efficiently, which helps you save money in the long run.

The Weber Genesis II E-335 is also an excellent grill. We’ve been talking about large space, but what we really love is the iGrill-3 compatibility that allows you to monitor your meat even if you are at a distance.

Our Verdict

Both the Traeger Grill Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill and Weber Genesis II E-335 are excellent grills that really do their job well. They both offer great convenience and versatility in their own unique way.

However, if we were to choose between two grills, we would prefer the Traeger Grill Pro Series 22.

Although it doesn’t offer extra space, I think it’s a good grill for its price. And the fact that it provides 6-in-1 cooking options and is fuel-efficient, it’s a grill that can save you money long-term. It’s perfect for families who are on a budget or may have limited space. We also love the natural, smoky flavor it gives.

But, of course, we’re not saying that the Weber Genesis II E-335 is a wrong choice.

If you’re looking for a reliable grill that offers perfect sear on meat, the Genesis II E-335 is a great choice. It’s also larger and perfect for those who have bigger families. And if you love that extra space and accessories, it’s worth the investment.

Overall, these are two top grills from the two best grill manufacturers in the market. What you choose will always depend on what you need.