The Camp Chef Woodwind pellet grill is a top-rated product and among the most preferred pellet grills available in 2022.
Today, there is a second-generation available with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth PID controller for the tech-savvy pitmasters who don’t want to babysit their grill during use and who want to set both the temperature and the smoke level of the grill easily and remotely to a consistent level.
Here is a detailed review of the Camp Chef Woodwind in all its variations and sizes, including its pros, cons, and best alternatives.
Camp Chef Woodwind review
The Woodwind pellet grill by Camp Chef is sold in two size options. There is a mid-sized 24-inch model and a larger 36-inch model with a whopping 1,236 square inches of cooking space available.
We selected the 24-inch Woodwind for this particular review as it is a more popular choice.
Key specifications of the Camp Chef Woodwind Wi-Fi 24-inch pellet grill
Lower rack cooking area – 429 square inches (19.5 x 22 inches)
Upper rack cooking area – 382 square inches
Total cooking area – 811 square inches
The capacity of the chamber – 4850 cubic inches
The capacity of the pellet hopper – 22 lbs.
Storage and shelves – bottom utility shelf, front shelf, and two side shelves
Temperature range – 160 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 650 degrees when grilling on the Slide and Grill direct flame
Temperature probes – 4 stainless steel meat probes
Controller type – PID controller for consistent temperatures of plus-minus 5 degrees with a color display
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and Camp Chef Connect app compatible
Smart Smoke technology – the smoke level can be adjusted from levels 1 to 10 via the digital controller
Grease management system
Easy to use Ash Kickin’ cleanout system
A system for cable management
Made of stainless steel
Overall height – 42 inches
Total weight 150 lbs.
Warranty – 3 years
Pros of the Camp Chef Woodwind 24
- An easy and mess-free ash cleanout technology – one of the best on the market
- The adjustability of the smoke level – you can adjust the smoke level from 1 to 10 without any guesswork and without having to adjust and play with the air vents and temperature
- There are some superb accessories available for this smoker, including a front shelf, a sidekick, a BBQ sear box grill attachment and a jerky rack, and more
- It comes with four stainless steel temperature probes to monitor different parts of the meat or separate pieces of meat
- The direct flame slider rod can be used for direct flame searing at temperatures up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit
- The grill and smoker is compatible with the Camp Chef Connect app via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can set and monitor the temperatures, smoke level and cook time remotely and can get alerts when needed
Cons of the Camp Chef Woodwind 24
- There is no cabinet door for the storage shelf to protect your tools and stuff from the weather elements
- The Wi-Fi connectivity to the dedicated app can be glitch according to some users
Packaging and assembly
The grill is sold very well packaged with Styrofoam, clear plastic, and cardboard. There are detailed assembly instructions, and the setup can easily be done by one or two people using some basic hand tools.
The grill also comes with a nifty recipe guide and a booklet for use.
Construction quality
The Woodwind is made of sturdy stainless steel, which has been powder painted. The legs of the smoker are made of 50mm stainless steel for added stability and durability. There are large rubberized wheels that make the smoker easy to move even on uneven terrains.
The lid of the pellet hopper is made of thin steel and has a front window to keep an eye on the level of pellets without opening it.
Ease of use
Since ease of use is one of the main reasons why people choose to buy pellet grills, this is the first aspect we will review.
Overall, the Woodwind is very easy to set and use. All you need to do is to set the dial to the desired temperature and then adjust the smoke level on the controller, and the grill will take care of the rest.
The probes are simple to use and set up, preventing any heat or smoke from the smoker from escaping. This implies that during the whole cooking procedure, you may check the meat’s internal temperature without opening the cover.
You can quickly link the grill to the smartphone app by downloading it to your phone. You’ll be able to control the smoke and temperature, as well as get alerts when the grill reaches the appropriate temperature.
The wood and pellets may be simply removed from the pellet chute for storage or replacement thanks to a slider rod that can be opened from the hopper’s bottom.
This grill’s revolutionary, patented Ash Kickin’ Cleanout mechanism is one of its best features. It functions by lowering the slider rod so you may empty the ashes into a cleanout cup after burning. Locking plates are present to stop unintentional sliding and opening while in use.
Another feature worth noting is the upper rack system of the Woodwind smoker. Its two half racks can be aligned side by side or one over the other when you need more cooking space.
The controller has a nifty feeder function that will allow you to add pellets without activating the igniter, which can be used for feeding new pellets and cleaning the remaining ones.
Grilling with the Camp Chef Woodwind
The temperature of the grill can be set with a simple turn of the knob. Then you can select whether you want direct or indirect flame by pulling a handle.
The slide system is highly efficient for searing and for achieving those beautiful sear marks on the steaks.
Smoking with the Camp Chef Woodwind
The fact that you can adjust the smoke level from 1 to 10 reasons enough for anyone looking for an excellent smoker to pick the Camp Chef Woodwind.
You can select the smoke level via the detailed PID controller.
You can also independently control the smoke and temperature levels using the Camp Chef Connect app installed on your phone.
Storage and food prep space
There is a side prep shelf and another space on top of the pellet hopper, which you can use to prepare the food or other storage needs.
There is a large storage shelf under the grill for condiments, tools, pellet bags, or others, but unfortunately, there are no hangers for the grill utensils.
You can buy an additional front shelf, a sidekick, a BBQ sear box grill attachment, or a jerky rack and more accessories if you want to upgrade the grill and increase its storage and prep space and grilling option.
Smoke and temperature consistency and accuracy
Users claim that the low and slow smoking temperatures remain consistent and are accurate throughout the cooking, but the Woodwind seems to have issues with the temperature accuracy when increased to high grilling temperatures. But once the grilling temperature is reached, the grill will hold it consistently throughout the cooking.
The Camp Chef Connect app
The compatible mobile app which you can use to set and monitor the grill from your phone is quite helpful and easy to navigate.
You can use the app to name the temperature probes, so you can monitor each one without trying to remember which one is inserted in which piece of meat.
The app will display all of the temperatures and the current temperature and smoke level of the grill, and you can set it to receive notifications when the desired temperature is reached.
It is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible, but some users complain that the connectivity can be a bit unreliable.
Still, the app is available for iOS and for Android, and is regularly updated, and well-rated by users of both operating systems.
The ease of cleaning
As we mentioned earlier, this is one of the highest appreciated features of the Woodwind, thanks to the easy and quick cleanout technology. The Ash Kickin’ cleanout system works by pulling a single knob which leads to the ashes dropping into a removable cup.
This makes the Woodwind among the easiest pellet grills to clean out without the need for a shop vac.
The quality of the grill grate
The cast iron grill grate is porcelain coated so that the food doesn’t stick and so that they are easier to clean after use.
Accessories
You can add quite a lot of useful accessories to the Woodwind 24, including:
The Sidekick grill attachment will increase the grilling power by 30,000 BTUs and can be used for griddle cooking.
A BBQ sear box grill attachment that has 180 inches of cooking space, a 16,000 BTU propane burner which can reach searing temperatures of up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and enameled cast iron heat diffuser plates, so you can get the best of the pellet and gas grills all in one.
You can also get a 24-inch front shelf to increase the storage and prep space of your grill or a Pellet grill jerky rack.
There is also a sturdy protective cover that you can buy to protect the Woodwind smoker from the elements when not in use.
Pellet consumption
The average consumption of the Camp Chef hardwood pellets is about ¾ lbs. per hour at 225 degrees Fahrenheit and about 1 ¾ to 2 lbs. per hour at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the consumption when grilling at ambient temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Price
The current price of the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 is about $900.
Alternatives to the Camp Chef Woodwind
If you want to look at some of the alternatives to the Woodwind 24, here are our suggestions for the top-recommended pellet smokers and grills in the price range with similar features to this one.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Smoker Grill
This top-rated pellet grill and smoker by Traeger is among the best alternatives to the Woodwind.
It is another high-end grill and smoker with a perfectly accurate temperature setup and control.
It has integrated Wi-Fi and is compatible with the useful Traeger mobile app, so you can set and monitor the temperature levels and cooking time via your phone or via voice commands and an Alexa-compatible device. The app also includes tips and recipes.
The Pro Series 575 pellet grill has a D2 drivetrain for quick starting, fast preheating, and a better smoke flavor.
You can use the versatile outdoor Traeger Pro Series 575 for grilling, smoking, braising, barbecuing, and baking, and it is among the most popular options for slow and low cooking too.
It has a motorized auger for feeding the pellets automatically, so you don’t need to do it manually while cooking.
The temperature setting and adjustment can be made via the control panel’s push buttons or the mobile app. It is accurate and holds the temperature consistently.
The pellet grill comes with one meat probe and has a total cooking area of 575 square inches.
It is among the most suitable options if you are looking for a high-quality set and forget grill or smoker.
Related content: Best Traeger Grill Reviews: Are Traeger Still King in 2022?
Grilla Grills Silverbac Alpha Model Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill
The Grilla Grills Silverbac Alpha is another excellent alternative to the Camp Chef Woodwind grill.
It is, in fact, one of the most popular and top-rated grills in 2022.
You can use this superb pellet grill for low and slow smoking, as well as for hot and fast grilling and searing.
Its main cooking grate is 507 square inches, which can easily be increased up to 692 square inches, thanks to the additional upper rack.
Thanks to the removable upper rack, you can fit a whole turkey in the roomy cooking area when you are using only the main cooking grate.
This is another versatile pellet grill that you can use for grilling, barbecuing, smoking, searing, roasting, and baking.
Its temperature can easily be adjusted to as low as 180 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for making jerky or holding a brisket. The temperature can be increased to up to 500 degrees.
The construction of this premium grill is very sturdy, as it is welded, caulked and powder coated, and it has double walls, which help improve the insulation, and keep the heat and smoke inside the grill. It has a stainless still sturdy lid and a 20 lbs. pellet hopper.
Like the Woodwind, this grill has adjustable smoke levels, which can be done via the built-in precise PID controls.
The only downside is that the Silverbac Alpha does not offer Wi-Fi connectivity, unlike the Woodwind.
PIT BOSS PG1150G Wood Pellet Grill
If you like the Woodwind, but you wish it had even more cooking space for cooking large batches of food, then you should check out the Pit Boss PG1150G.
This wood pellet grill has a total cooking area of 1,158 square inches. The grid is made of porcelain-coated cast iron.
Plus, it has an extra-large hopper for pellets so that you can add up to 32 lbs. of pellets at a time. The hopper has an easy clean system for ashes. There is a large window on the hopper to monitor the level of pellets as well.
This pellet grill has a temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and a large LED display, which you can use to keep an eye on the temperature. The grill also comes with two meat temperature probes to monitor the internal temperature of two pieces or parts of the meat without opening the lid.
The grill is also fitted with a side-plate broiler which you can use for searing and for switching from indirect to direct heat when needed.
It has a shelf that can be converted to a front or bottom one and convenient hooks for your grilling tools. The grill is portable, with lockable casters.
It is backed by a 5-year warranty.
Is the Woodwind the best pellet grill for you?
Overall, the Woodwind 24 is among the best pellet grills you can buy if you are willing to spend around $900 for a grill.
It is a premium quality grill and smoker, which is very easy to set, and even easier to clean.
The temperature and smoke level can be adjusted via dials, and it comes with four included meat probes, which are more than other grills offer.
The Woodwind is an excellent option for grilling and smoking all kinds of food.
It has built-in Wi-Fi and comes with a useful mobile app to monitor the cooking from your phone instead of having to babysit it.
So, if it is within your budget, the Woodwind is definitely an investment worth making if you want the finest pellet grill and smoker.