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Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado, compared side by side using critic reviews, Reddit opinions, and Amazon data.
Quick answer: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch wins (90 vs 79). The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
8 critics · 55 Reddit · 5,495 Amazon
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
5 critics · 30 Reddit · 3,808 Amazon
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Weber Smokey | Char-Griller AKORN |
|---|---|---|
| PatioRank Score | 90/100 | 79/100 |
| Critic Score | 88/100 | 72/100 |
| Reddit Score | 90/100 | 80/100 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7★ | 4.6★ |
| Reviews | 5,495 | 3,808 |
| Price | $419 | $399 |
Pros & Cons
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
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
- + Best budget kamado by far - real kamado results at $400
- + Surprisingly good heat retention despite steel construction
- + Way lighter than ceramic kamados - actually moveable
- + Great for both high-heat searing and low-and-slow
- − Steel rusts over time, especially in humid climates
- − Paint chips within 1-2 years for many users
- − Gaskets need more frequent replacement than ceramic
What Reddit Says
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."
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
"The Akorn is 80% of a Kamado Joe for 20% of the price. If you're not sure kamado cooking is for you, this is how you find out without dropping $2K."
"Year 3 with my Akorn. Some rust on the bottom, paint is rough, but it still holds 225 for 10 hours. At $400 I've already gotten my money's worth twice over."
Verdict
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch takes this comparison with a PatioRank Score of 90/100. The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.