smokers grills
Camp Chef Woodwind 24 vs Pit Boss Carbon Series 700
Mike Ross · How we research · Updated 2026-08-31 · 3 min read
The picks
Operating range
Best convenience with WiFi PID and ash cleanout
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
Best budget pellet grill with direct flame
Pit Boss Carbon Series 700
More grate than a Traeger Ironwood for a fraction of the money. The hopper is where it pays for that.
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F
- Cooking area
- 718 sq in
- Hopper capacity
- 13.5 lb, with cleanout
Compared
| Spec | Camp ChefWoodwind 24 | Pit BossCarbon Series 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Price band | ||
| 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 | — |
| Temperature range | — | 180-500°F |
| Cooking area | — | 718 sq in |
| Hopper capacity | — | 13.5 lb, with cleanout |
| Cooking grate | — | Porcelain-coated steel |
| Warranty | — | 3 years |
| Where to buy | Find Camp Chef Woodwind 24 on Amazon | Check current price on Amazon |
Direct flame: shared feature, different executions
Most entry-level pellet grills cook strictly with indirect convection. Both Camp Chef and Pit Boss stand out by engineering direct-flame searing into their deflector plates:
- Camp Chef Slide and Grill: An external knob slides open slotted louvers over the fire pot, exposing meat directly to 650°F flame radiant heat.
- Pit Boss Flame Broiler: A slide lever shifts the curved heat deflector plate to open direct flame slots across the center of the porcelain grates.
For searing burgers, chops, and reverse-seared steaks, both grills solve the traditional pellet weakness without requiring a separate gas or charcoal grill.
The hopper difference: 22 lb vs 13.5 lb
Where the user experience diverges dramatically is fuel capacity.
| Cook Profile | Pellets Needed | Pit Boss (13.5 lb) | Camp Chef (22 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pork ribs, 275°F | 4.4–7.9 lb | One fill | One fill |
| Pork butt, 8 lb, 275°F | 10–17.5 lb | One or two | One fill |
| Brisket, 12 lb, 225°F | 13.5–30 lb | One to three | One fill |
| Brisket, 16 lb, 225°F | 18–40 lb | Two to four | One or two |
Figures are computed from published consumption rates in our fuel guide.
Because standard hardwood pellets are sold in 20 lb bags, Camp Chef's 22 lb hopper accepts a full bag in one pour. The Pit Boss hopper holds 13.5 lb, meaning a fresh 20 lb bag leaves an open sack sitting around, and long overnight smokes require an alarm for a middle-of-the-night top-up.
Maintenance and cleaning
Pellet combustion leaves fine ash in the burn chamber after every multi-hour cook:
- Camp Chef Ash Cleanout: Pulling an external knob opens the bottom of the fire pot, dropping accumulated ash directly into a removable cup underneath. You empty the cup in ten seconds without lifting a single grate.
- Pit Boss Fire Pot: Ash remains inside the lower barrel. Cleaning requires removing the grates and the heavy curved broiler plate to reach the fire pot with a shop vacuum.
For frequent weekend pitmasters, the ash cleanout cup saves substantial teardown time between cooks.
Controllers and temperature control
- Camp Chef Woodwind 24: Features a full-color WiFi PID controller. It maintains tight temperature control between 160°F and 500°F, includes variable smoke level settings from 1 to 10, and connects to the Camp Chef Connect app for remote temperature tracking.
- Pit Boss Carbon Series 700: Uses a standard dial controller operating between 180°F and 500°F with LED readout and probe inputs, prioritizing simple mechanical operation over wireless connectivity.
Use our smoker time calculator to estimate your cook windows and schedule target pull times before lighting either unit.
Who each one is for
Choose the Pit Boss Carbon Series 700 if you want maximum cooking grate (718 sq in) and direct-flame searing at the lowest possible price band, and do not mind manual ash vacuuming or daytime-focused smoking sessions.
Choose the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 if you want seamless overnight brisket cooking with a 22 lb hopper, full WiFi PID app monitoring, and the fastest ash cleanout mechanism in the pellet category.
Common questions
- Do both grills have direct-flame searing?
- Yes. Both models feature sliding heat diffuser plates that expose the fire pot flames directly to the cooking grates, allowing high-heat searing that standard indirect pellet grills cannot achieve.
- How does the hopper capacity affect overnight cooks?
- Camp Chef's 22 lb hopper holds an entire 20 lb bag with headroom, running overnight briskets without interruption. Pit Boss's 13.5 lb hopper requires monitoring and refills during long cooks.
- Does the Pit Boss Carbon 700 include WiFi?
- No. The Carbon Series 700 uses a standard digital control board. The Camp Chef Woodwind 24 includes a full-color WiFi PID controller with smartphone app connectivity.
- How do the cleanout systems compare?
- Camp Chef includes a patented pull-knob that drops fire pot ash into a removable cup beneath the grill. Pit Boss includes a hopper pellet cleanout chute, but fire pot ash must be vacuumed out manually.
Sources
Every figure on this page came from one of these. We have not tested these products ourselves — how we research.