smokers grills
Camp Chef Woodwind Pro vs Camp Chef Woodwind
Mike Ross · How we research · Updated 2026-09-01 · 2 min read
The picks
Best for maximum hardwood smoke depth and real charcoal versatility
Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 36 with Smoke Box
High-capacity pellet grill featuring a dedicated Smoke Box for burning real hardwood chunks, splits, and charcoal alongside pellets.
- Smoke Box
- Patented Smoke Box accepts hardwood chunks, lump charcoal, or wood splits
- Cooking space
- 1,236 sq in total (663 sq in lower rack, 573 sq in upper rack)
- Controller
- WiFi PID controller with 4 meat probe ports and adjustable smoke numbers 1–10
Best for direct-flame burger searing and budget pellet grilling
Camp Chef Woodwind 24
Full-color WiFi PID controller, direct-flame Slide and Grill sear mode, and a patented ash cleanout cup.
- Controller
- Full-color WiFi PID controller with Camp Chef Connect App
- Direct flame mode
- Slide and Grill direct flame feature (up to 650°F flame direct)
- Cleanout
- Patented Ash Cleanout system with removable ash cup
Compared
| Spec | Camp ChefWoodwind Pro 36 with Smoke Box | Camp ChefWoodwind 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Price band | ||
| Smoke Box | Patented Smoke Box accepts hardwood chunks, lump charcoal, or wood splits | — |
| Cooking space | 1,236 sq in total (663 sq in lower rack, 573 sq in upper rack) | — |
| Controller | WiFi PID controller with 4 meat probe ports and adjustable smoke numbers 1–10 | Full-color WiFi PID controller with Camp Chef Connect App |
| Hopper capacity | 22 lb with pellet purge cleanout | — |
| Ash cleanout | Patented ash dump cleanout cup system | — |
| Direct flame mode | — | Slide and Grill direct flame feature (up to 650°F flame direct) |
| Cleanout | — | Patented Ash Cleanout system with removable ash cup |
| Where to buy | Check current price on Amazon | Check current price on Amazon |
Real wood smoke against direct flame searing
Camp Chef produces two of the most feature-packed pellet smokers available. Deciding between the Woodwind Pro and the standard Woodwind comes down to one primary trade-off: wood-chunk smoke flavor versus direct-flame searing:
- Camp Chef Woodwind Pro (The Smoke Box): Designed for pitmasters who want the convenience of automated pellet feeding but refuse to compromise on smoke intensity. Its cast-iron Smoke Box sits over the firepot, allowing you to smolder real hardwood chunks, splits, and lump charcoal throughout the cook.
- Camp Chef Woodwind (Slide and Grill Searing): Designed for versatile all-in-one grilling. Pulling the Slide and Grill louvre lever exposes open flames beneath the grates, turning the smoker into a 650°F direct sear station for burgers, chops, and steaks.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Woodwind Pro 36 | Standard Woodwind 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke Box (Hardwood Chunks) | Yes (Cast-iron butterfly valve) | No (Pellet-only firepot) |
| Direct Flame Searing | Indirect (Up to 500°F) | Slide & Grill (Up to 650°F flame) |
| Cooking Space | 1,236 sq in (36-inch width) | 811 sq in (24-inch width) |
| PID WiFi Controller | Full-color with 4 probe ports | Full-color with 4 probe ports |
| Ash Dump Cleanout Cup | Yes (External trapdoor) | Yes (External trapdoor) |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lb with pellet purge | 22 lb with pellet purge |
Which cooker fits your cooking style?
- Low-and-Slow Barbecue (Woodwind Pro): If your primary goal is smoking briskets, pork butts, and ribs with dark bark and authentic wood flavor, the Smoke Box delivers results that standard pellet firepots cannot match.
- Everyday Family Grilling (Standard Woodwind): If you frequently cook quick weeknight dinners (burgers, chicken breasts, hot dogs) and want to sear over open fire without buying a separate gas grill, the Slide and Grill lever is unmatched.
Check our smoking wood flavor chart to pick the best hardwood chunk varieties to load into the Woodwind Pro Smoke Box.
Who each one is for
Choose the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro if you are a serious barbecue enthusiast who wants the heavy smoke profile of real hardwood splits and charcoal with the convenience of a PID pellet auger.
Choose the standard Camp Chef Woodwind if you want an all-around backyard workhorse capable of direct flame searing steaks and smoking meats at a lower entry price.
Common questions
- Does the Woodwind Pro have direct flame searing?
- No. The Woodwind Pro replaces the sliding flame diffuser with a solid diffuser and the dedicated Smoke Box above the firepot. Searing on the Pro is done via high heat (up to 500°F) or the optional Sidekick gas sear box.
- Can you burn standard lump charcoal in the Smoke Box?
- Yes. The Smoke Box accommodates lump charcoal, briquettes, wood chunks, or small split logs. You can mix charcoal with hickory chunks for a classic Texas offset smoke profile.
- Do both models share the same WiFi PID controller?
- Both models use Camp Chef's full-color WiFi PID controller with adjustable smoke settings from 1 to 10 and support for four wired meat probes.
- How does ash cleanout work on both grills?
- Both feature Camp Chef's patented external ash dump cup under the firebox, allowing you to drop and dump firepot ash in seconds without removing grates.
Sources
Every figure on this page came from one of these. We have not tested these products ourselves — how we research.