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Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch vs Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch vs Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch, compared side by side using critic reviews, Reddit opinions, and Amazon data.
Quick answer: These are neck and neck (93 vs 90). Pick Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch for best bang-for-buck grill on the market, or Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch for holds temp for 8-12 hours with zero babysitting.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch
12 critics · 85 Reddit · 12,688 Amazon
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
8 critics · 55 Reddit · 5,495 Amazon
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Weber Original | Weber Smokey |
|---|---|---|
| PatioRank Score | 93/100 | 90/100 |
| Critic Score | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| Reddit Score | 92/100 | 90/100 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7★ | 4.7★ |
| Reviews | 12,688 | 5,495 |
| Price | $219 | $419 |
Pros & Cons
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch
- + Best bang-for-buck grill on the market
- + Insanely versatile - direct grill, smoke, reverse sear, bake
- + Lasts decades with zero maintenance
- + Massive aftermarket accessories (Slow N Sear, Vortex)
- − Built-in thermometer is basically decorative
- − Three-leg design wobbles on uneven ground
- − Charcoal temp management has a learning curve
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
- + Holds temp for 8-12 hours with zero babysitting
- + Produces deeper smoke flavor than any pellet grill
- + Bulletproof reliability - users report 10+ years of heavy use
- + Massive online community (virtualweberbullet.com)
- − No WiFi or app - manual monitoring only
- − Water pan management is tricky for beginners
- − Limited capacity vs larger offset smokers
What Reddit Says
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch
"My dad's Weber Kettle is from 1994 and still going strong. I bought my own last year. There's a reason everyone recommends this thing."
"If you're new to grilling, get a Kettle. Learn fire management. Everything else is just convenience tax."
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
"WSM 18 is the best smoker you can buy under $500. I've had mine for 7 years. Briskets, ribs, pulled pork - never let me down once."
"Sold my pellet grill and went back to the WSM. The smoke flavor isn't even comparable. Pellet grills are glorified ovens."
Verdict
These two are neck and neck. The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch edges ahead slightly with a PatioRank Score of 93 vs 90, but both are solid choices depending on your priorities.