Well, Traeger. The name is practically synonymous with pellet grills, and the price tag matches the reputation. But after twenty years of logging my own cook data, I've learned that a famous name doesn't mean an honest thermostat.
I've been running pellet grills for over a decade, and I've got a logbook full of charts that show the digital display on most of these things is a polite fiction.
So, is a Traeger worth the name, or are you paying a premium for a badge? I've spent the last few months with three of their Pro series models in my garage, and I've got some thoughts.
Traeger Pro 22 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, 572 Sq In
The Goldilocks size for most folks, and it holds temps better than the bigger units I tested.
Visit on Amazon →
Traeger Pro 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, 884 Sq In, WiFi
Traeger Pro 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker.
Visit on Amazon →
Pro 34 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Bronze with Signature Blend Pellets 18 lb Bag
Comes with a bundle of pellets, which is a nice touch if you're starting from scratch.
Visit on Amazon →The 22 is the workhorse
I'll get the biggest gripe out of the way first: the built-in meat probe. The one that shipped with my Pro 22 was ten degrees off right out of the box. I've seen this across brands, and it's the reason I tell everyone to budget for a ThermoPro TP20. I've got two of them mounted on my garage wall, and I don't start a cook without one.
Now, why I like this thing. The Pro 22 is the version I've had on my deck for about two years. It's the "just right" size for me and the wife. We're not feeding a crowd every weekend, so the 646 square inches of cooking space is plenty for a couple of pork butts or a couple of chickens.
The hopper holds 18 pounds, which means I can get a full overnight cook in without stumbling out to the garage in my boxers.
On an 8lb shoulder, I set it to 225 and it held a fairly honest 225 to 240 for the whole 14 hours. I logged a 15-degree swing on a calm, 70-degree evening.
That's acceptable. That's a machine you can sleep next to.
The meat is the final judge, and this one passed. I did a poor man's brisket, a 3.5lb beef roast, on it a few weeks back. Set the display for 225, my ThermoPro said it was hovering around 240. The bark set up perfect, the smoke ring was a solid pink quarter-inch, and the wife, who only tolerates mild smoke, actually asked for seconds.
The meat told the truth even if the display was stretching it a bit.
The 34 is a beast, but it's a hungry one
Let me tell you about the Pro 34 I've been testing. The first thing you notice is the size. This is the one you buy when you're cooking for the whole block. The 884 square inches of space is massive, and it will hold a 21lb turkey without the wings touching the lid. The hopper is bigger too, at 20 pounds, which is good because this thing eats pellets.
My biggest issue is the temperature swings on a cold, windy day. I had it set to 180 for a batch of jerky, and my ThermoPro logged it bouncing between 210 and 250 for a solid hour. It will struggle a little on a cold windy day but hell, who doesn't.
But for a unit at this price, I expect a bit more consistency. The bigger the chamber, the harder it is to keep even temps, and I think that's what's happening here.
That said, I cooked a 14-hour pork shoulder on it and it came out perfect. The hopper needed feeding twice, but the meat was worth the babysitting. If you need the space, this is the one. Just know you're buying a project, not a set-and-forget machine.
The bundle with pellets
There's also a version of the Pro 34 that comes with a bag of Traeger's Signature Pellets. It's the exact same grill, just with a bundle of wood. If you're new to the game and don't have a stash of pellets in 5-gallon buckets like I do, this is a convenient way to start.
I'm not a pellet reviewer, but I'll say this: Traeger pellets are the standard reference I use across every brand I test.
They're consistent and they burn clean.
The grill itself has all the same quirks as the standard Pro 34. The temp swings on cold days, the smallish fire pot that needs cleaning after every few cooks. The bundle doesn't change the machine. It just adds a bag of pellets to the box.
If you find it at the same price as the bare-bones version, it's a no-brainer. If it's a ~$100 premium, you're better off buying the standard grill and a bag of pellets separately.
What about the Traeger name
I've been judging KCBS competitions for fourteen years, and I've tasted thousands of entries. I've seen what Traegers produce, and they're not the be-all and end-all. The name carries a weight, sure, but so does the price tag.
I've tested budget grills like the Cuisinart 8-in-1 that are crazy good for the price. But I've also seen the thermal runaway stories from that unit, the flames shooting out the back slots under pressure like a forge.
Traeger doesn't have that problem. The build quality is solid, the steel is thick enough to hold up to years of use, and the customer service, while not perfect, is better than most. I've had one warranty denial in my life from a different brand, and it left a sour taste. Traeger has a reputation for backing their products, and that counts for something in my book.
The fire pot is the soul
Here's the thing I tell everyone who buys a pellet grill: clean the fire pot. I don't care if it's a Traeger or a Pit Boss. If you don't clean it after every 3-4 short cooks, you're asking for trouble. I've seen thermal runaway. I've seen flames out the back slots. I've seen fire travel back up the auger into the hopper. It's not pretty, and it usually happens at 2 AM.
I wrapped my heat deflector in foil, like everyone I know does. It makes cleanup easier and it doesn't affect performance. One manufacturer voided a warranty for that, but Traeger hasn't. They know it's standard practice. That's the kind of thing that tells you a company is serious about its customers.
Which one should you buy
Look, I don't track prices day to day, so I won't pretend to know what these will cost next week. But I can tell you what I'd do with my own money.
Choose the Pro 22 if you're cooking for a household, not a hoard. It's the sweet spot of size and performance, and it's the one I trust with a ~$60 brisket at 2 AM. The temp swings are manageable, the hopper lasts through the night, and the results speak for themselves.
Choose the Pro 34 if you're regularly cooking for crowds or you want to do a whole packer without worrying about space. Just be ready to feed it more often and deal with bigger temp swings on cold days. It's a beast, but it's a high-maintenance beast.
And if you're just starting out, the bundle with the Signature Pellets is a decent deal if the price is right. But don't buy it for the pellets. Buy it for the grill.
The bottom line: Traeger isn't the only game in town, but it's a safe bet. The display lies a little, the probes are junk, and you'll need a ThermoPro. But the meat comes out right, and that's what matters. If you can stomach the price tag, you won't be disappointed. Just clean the fire pot.