The Right Smoker for Your Budget 

BRAZOS 00:41 PECOS 1:50 OVER/UNDER 3:30 ALL AMERICAN ANGUS 5:03 PELLET SMOKER TALK 7:38

I decided several years ago to buy a Lang smoker. I really like it though it would have been nice to have seen your video back then. The tips you give on what to look for and consider before purchasing a smoker are helpful. And your tutorial on cooking brisket made my Christmas dinner a great success. Thank you for the work you do.

Hey Jeremy, great video 👍 I recommend the same thing to a lot of people who want to get into bbq with an electric smoker....I always try to steal them towards pellet cookers because it’s the same easy to use but with real wood fire cooking and not just an oven with smoke. Have a good one

Thanks for the advice. Not only did I not know how to do the fire box when I got mine- therefore it's mostly been used as a grill- but I didn't know how to care for it. So now, after 5 years, mine has rusted through where the box and the chamber meet and is beginning to rust through in the bottom of the chamber. So soon, I'll be in the market for a good smoker on my budget ($300 or less). Showing me kinda what to look for is a big help. Thanks for all you help videos. I'm learning a lot. I managed to offset smoke a leg of lamb successfully for new years in large part due to your teaching.

Love this video. You covered all of the questions I needed answered! Thanks!

I’m building a smoker and you are giving me some great ideas! Thank you and God Bless you and Yours.

Great video you did a great job explaining the different smokers

Welcome to Texas! I’m in the market for an upgrade to my Ok Joe longhorn and was looking at this Brazos. Very informative and I think what my next pit is going to be!

Jeremy, great walk through! I have the Pecos and have had it for 2 years and the fire box is already starting to have problems of the metal thinking out. We use it multiple times a week. We should have gone with the Brazos. However when shopping nthe other day we saw the Angus as well and loved the vertical box too. I did not catch that it was only 3/16" though. That makes a difference. Thanks for the video!

I love this guys videos he holds nothing back no secrets he tells all I’ve learned so much from his videos thanks for sharing

love your videos! your honesty is very genuine!

Been watching a lot of your videos about smoking. Wasn't sure if I'de have the patients to wait so I built a mini WSM to see if I can handle it, I'm hooked! Thought about moving up to a larger WSM or a pellet smoker. Since I still use my mini WSM maybe I'll give an offset smoker a try. Keep up the great work! Thanks for posting reviews for us newbies!

I like how you kept it simple. Great video!

Love this video and thank you so much for your input.

I have had the old country over and under for almost 5 years now. I absolutely love it. Holds up great. Every spring/summer I just give it a cost or two of paint.

Hey Jeremy, love the videos. They're always full of information. I'm new to stick burners and trying to decide between the traditional offset like the Pecos or the Over and under. I like the cook capacity of the over and under, but in a previous video you mentioned you enjoyed the flavor slightly better from your Brazos. My main concerns are how much more fuel it takes to run the over and under and the difference in cook capacity. My dilemma is I'm an extreme perfectionist and want the BEST tasting food🤷🏾‍♂️. I know it's all subjective but in your opinion, would the flavor profile from a traditional offset like the Pecos (budget range is about 600 tops) be worth the difference in the amount of cooking real estate the over and under has?

Thanks Jeremy for your recommendations.

very good video, one thing I like to do is in the last hour of cooking, I throw in a full bulb of garlic and a large yellow onion cut in half on to my coals to add a great smoke flavor to my BBQ.

Great subject and delivery!

I'm finally going into BBQ! Thanks for the video!

I have a Brazos smoker and it performs great. No complaints in the least. I highly recommend it.

This definitely helped me on a decision, thanks.

Thanks brother for the great recommendations and tips.

Been a sub since your video of how to use a chimney and you were in a driveway. Love your vids, keep up the great work.

Thanks! I live in Texas and will soon be shopping for a smoker

Great video! Love your content. Keep up the good work!

Jeremy, awesome review on the stick burners! I have had several, but I'm getting on up in age and decided that long cooks were just too much work with stick burners trying to maintain fire and heat. I went with a high quality pellet grill/smoker. The Yoder YS640s and WOW! I have been getting as good if not better results on the long cooks as I did with the stick burners but with a fraction of the work. That means I can enjoy my finished cooks a lot more. A plus with the Yoder pellet smokers is that you can actually grill on them with grill grates over the open fire from the pellets. You should do a pellet smoker comparison for us old guys too tired to maintain the stick burners. Also, Weber is going to release their Smoke Fire series of pellet smokers in the very near future. Early reviews are very good! Keep on smok'en man! Love your presentations!

A Texas boy! God bless you! I'm learning tons from your channel man. Can't wait to impress the family!

Awesome video and helped me a lot toward deciding my 1st smoker! Now If I could just find one. They will come back in stock someday, I'm just impatient.

Nice review. Wish they had that many smokers to drool over in a store here in CA!

Thanks for your advice on all these units!

Thank you. It was very helpful.

Great info. Happy New year to you and the family.

I've got a $100 Brinkman smoker. Just cooked a 12 lb pork butt last weekend. Turned out amazing. No need to spend a freaking grand on a smoker unless you're doing it for a living.

Jeremy I am so glad you did this video. I wish you would do more on the pellet smokers. I would like to know which is the best.

Thanks for the video, I actually smoked my first Brisket New Years eve. using some of your tips and it came out great, I lost some tenderness but cooking it in my Camp Chef propane smoker that hates wind and it was sustained winds of 12mph. so it was tough to keep it at 250F. I wish we had a place to buy decent smokers at, about the best I can do locally is Lowes that sells a Oklahoma Joe Longhorn for 300 bucks.

I like how the video is on picking the right Smoker but then he doesn't know what the hanging rods are for at 5:55. Lol. Like they say, no matter your experience, there is always something to learn. I learned a lot from this video. Keep up the great work.

The best one I have is the 2 Char-broil American Gourmet 40” offset smokers i got for 20yr anniversary gift where I work.😎

Awesome video. My 2 chamber was a nightmare to keep at 125° to 150°. I'd blink and it was 400°. So I'd close the oxygen slide and it would be around 75°. I don't have that kind of patience. I just got a pellet smoker and the only draw back is the smoke flavor. Granted it has 5 to 7 huge holes in the back that can't help the situation.

I really enjoyed this video. Thanks.

Thank you, good review ✨❗️

Dude, this video nailed it. Great job. I've got to find a cool apron now.

Very good review, Thanks a lot.

I have used some off set smokers and other types as well. If you don’t want to babysit a smoker, check out a pit barrel smoker. Very easy to use , food turns out great. Those barrel smokers have helped people win at Memphis in May national bbq championships. Then it all depends on what people like, each person is different.

I started with a $100 Char Broil trashcan smoker. It was a lot of fun after a few modifications.

I really appreciate your videos. I finally got my Old Country Pecos today. It has been seasoning for four hours getting ready for tomorrow.

Good video! I would love to buy a Brazos in the future if I needed to cook that much.

Thanks Jeremy for doing this video, I'm trying to decide between the Pecos & Brazos, I have a WSM but also want an offset as I enjoy the art of BBQing. :)

I prefer Brazzers

Hey Jeremy, I'm on the other side of "G" town of Greenville, TX. I too was looking at the Over and Under. But man, after seeing reviews on Academy and seeing how thin the metal was, I'll probably stick with an Off-set Smoker. I hope with Summer being over and Fall around the corner (Well, whenever Summer & Fall finish battling it out lol) these will be on a clearance to get better pricing. 👍

I love the videos. Keep up the good work! Do you have any comments/have you ever used a UDS (ugly drum smoker)?

Thanks for all the videos Jeremy! Great video. I have a traeger and I’ve been experimenting with the tube smoker. I noticed a slight bitter taste when using the tube. Do you know if there is a way to add clean smoke flavor to pellet grills?

Very helpful! Thank you!

Hey what's up bro whatever happened to this cabinet insulated smoker that they were having you test out enjoy your videos very informational Happy New year

What a selection! Never seen so many styles here in Utah.

I have an old cheap Brinkman and I am, looking to upgrade, this has been really helpful. Have you ever tried the Orion? I am now considering either the Orion or the Pecos. Thank you for all of your videos.

Nice video man! A lot of nice grills at that store.

I bought a OKJ offset from Lowe's couple years ago. I'm currently upgrading it as the welds are poor and air it has horrible air gaps. I'm welding it all up and I'll repaint it. I'm in the market looking for a propane or air tank to build my own.

I couldn't afford an expensive smoker so I got a oklahoma joe's smoker and it's been awesome. If I had plenty of money I'd probably buy it again because it's heavy duty and the food comes out great and that's all I need.

Hello Jeremy. Was up late and saw your video. You did a great job going through AS Old Country Pits line up with helpful information for those looking. If I had known about the Brazos before buying the one I have I prolly would've bought it. Our AS doesn't have that model in the store. I have a great pit heavy built but $1600 vs $1k for almost the same thing. Hope you are doing good. Need more Mad Scientist vids. LOL HAPPY NEW YEAR. Your OLD pal. PHIL N FLORENCE

love your so didactic video. Keep up the good job

The person holding the camera is short, or he is just tall. Great Videos. I learned a lot just watching your videos. Thank you for making them.

I really enjoy your videos, you kind of remind me of an Alton Brown of the BBQ world (I mean that as a compliment). I do have a question. Have you ever used the OC Smokehouse vertical? I am looking to purchase either the Pecos, over and under or the smokehouse. I've seen good reviews from both the Pecos and over and under from yourself and others but there is virtually no quality reviews of the smokehouse. Your thoughts?

I’m just getting started. I bought a Oklahoma Joe as a starter and I already regret it. Thank God I bought used for cheap. The fire box is bolted on and is two pieces which has a seam around it, most people use a high temperature silicone to seal it. There is a huge gap around the smoke stack also. I guess they’re mad to be shipped in a box. Thanks for the review. I need something with thicker metal and wielded opposed to bolted. I’m going to look at the old country for a better start.

I got a bbq from walmart for $23 been using that to smoke. I just place the coal to the side maybe occupying 25-30% of the grill is hot coal, i throw the wood chips on top. Works GREAT

I have gone from fiddling with the fire offset smokers for years to now, just a couple pellet smokers. Set it up, and enjoy Saturday fishing and come back to some good smoky meats.

VERY HELPFUL REVIEW 👍

Very good advice

Thanks for the video!

I just got my Brazos today!

This was an excellent video topic, Jeremy.

Hey Jeremy! Been watching your videos for a few days now and am making the switch from an electric smoker to an offset. The Old country looks great, my problem is that there is no academy sports within 8 hours of me and the reviews that I see for the ones that people have had shipped seem to have lots of problems. Any recommendations?

I bought an old country and love it.

Brilliant video. Just a shame we can't get any of those BBQs here in the UK. I've had to get a Char-Griller that I am in the process on modding. Even half modded (chimney stack at Grate level, thermometers are grate level) still cooks really nice meats though, not that I have tried doing something like a Brisket (yet!). Looking to try to make it a bit more leak proof next. That's the issue with these half barrel ones without a proper lid I guess.

I went from offset to pellet smoker about 5 years ago. It was initially disappointing. I got to where i liked the food off of it. It cooked beautiful food, but the flavor was never there. Finally got rid of it. Going back to offset. Way more work and much more room for error, but flavor is far superior.

I'm glad that you talked some about that spectrum of barbecuers. I'm on the end that loves to be out all day managing the fire. It kind of forms of special connection with the meat for me. (Not like a romantic connection or anything although at this stage in life, I might not rule that out... just kidding!) I always mess something up but it still tastes amazing. It's like I can taste the work that went into it. Also, I can't think of a better way to spend a day than to just sit around with friend and family and just enjoy time together. Of course, you can spend time inside with friends and family with a pellet smoker...

thanks, great info

Very informative..! Thanks..!

Great Video! Thanks!

You should’ve mentioned the welded smoke box and welded smoke stacks vs the cheaper big box store smokers

I would love to see you do some more cooks with the over under model in the future. Getting one of them this coming year.

I purchased the All American Angus the weekend before xmas 2018. "Out of the box" the temp diff between the middle of horizontal and bottom of the vertical is about 100~150°F (Digitally checked on the grates). With a 3/16"x14.5"x26" tuning plate in the horizontal, using progressively larger holes up to 1.25", I was able to shave that down to approx 25~50°F diff. The dual stacks is not just for looks! I found that by closing one off your horizontal will maintain a much higher temp, while the vertical stays cooler, with both stacks opened all the way, the temp will equalize between the horizontal and the vertical much more. The hot box side *VENT* does not leak! I've ran so many leaking smokers in the past, I could shut off the side vent and still have good enough airflow to maintain a good smoldering fire. The vents on the Angus will straight up extinguish the fire if you close it off completely. I found that the hot box vent, on the Angus, at about 25% was more than adequate to maintain a temperature around 250°F. Over 1600sq" of cooking surface (not including the hot box grate)! Without adding a 4th grate to the vertical, you're looking at least 6 large pork shoulders and 2 large briskets all at once, with room to spare. The horizontal alone was able to smoke 6 loin (baby back) ribs with good spacing between. Now, here's some not to awesome news: everything other than the hot-box vent is a leaky S.O.B.; I highly recommend anyone looking to get the Angus to also buy some sort of gasket (LavaLock or something similar). The hot box lid (although it's design appears that it would prevent leaking) leaks, the horizontal lid leaks and the vertical door leaks. Get some high-temp food safe gasket and prepare to put it on just about every door or lid. Also, unfortunately, Old Country BBQ Pit "support" is practically non-existent. Their website is stuck in the 90's, one of their phone #'s is invalid, the other goes to a voicemail blackhole and if you email them about parts, good luck getting a response in under a week and the response won't be very helpful when you do. If you want to add a 4th grate to the vertical or if you want to add a tuning plate or a charcoal grate to the horizontal, prepare to contact your local metal or welding shop to have it made for you, or if you already have the tools and talent to weld, DIY. Overall, I'm very happy with the Angus. None of the cons above came as a surprise, because I had done the research prior to purchasing. With some DIY I was able to correct some of the issues I had with it "out of the box". I needed something with a lot of cooking surface for the giant family BBQs that I have on occasion, if it were just me and the wife I would have picked up the Brazos instead.

I respect the fact that you have no problem recommending smokers that many other "pros" would call cheap. A lot of folks new to bbqing will get a lot of sticker shock at the price of pits. When watching all these other channels, some of these guys have thousands of dollars worth of pits, with many costing thousands each. Jambo pits anyone? Chances are if your pit is to blame for all your culinary disasters, news flash, the problem probably isn't the pit...it's you. I'm not an offset guy (too lazy) but would have no problem buying one of these you recommend if I was.

Great vid, thanks man! I’ll stick to pellet....

Just to clear somethings up, Academy still sells the Smokehouse and Wrangler, eventhough neither are still on the website (God forbid they discontinued these products!!!). The Wrangler they have now is just like the original version and very thick and durable. The smokehouse, although thinner, is a great choice.

New subscriber here (saw your brisket vid). What’s your take on other styles of smokers such as the Weber Smokey Mountain?

Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco it’s also amazing and a decent price

Love my charcoal smoker. Small and great for ribs and chicken. But I really want to get a pellet smoker or an electric smoker for brisket. I can do it on my smoker, but watching it for 12 to 18 hours is not for me. Love the video, thanks for it.

Was looking forward to picking up the Pecos, but Academy doesn’t ship to CA... looks like I may be stuck with the Char Griller Grand Champ... wish me luck!!

BEST BBQ CHANNEL 2018 Great content excelent delivery Keep up the good work!

I picked up a Pacos for $200 managers special! Just had to knock off some rust! It’s a great smoker...if you add the tuning plates.

Very good. Helpful

Love your videos, very informative. I had a pecos smoker liked a lot but got rid of it and got me a Horizon 16 classic. I enjoyed more than the pecos. I’m thinking of upgrading to the Horizon 24 Marshal . Anyway thanks for this video. Is there any chance of me watching you cooking on the smoker you’ve got from Fatstaks?

hey man i really enjoy u r channel alot. i was thinking of actually opening texas style restaurant here in Egypt just need an advice on best smoker for mass producing like the ones in Franklin for example which u might advice me to look into thanks alot in advance

Jeremy. I'd like for you to do review on the Char-Griller Grand Champ XD 8250. It's only been out a few months and so far, has rave reviews. It comes new Pre seasoned with vegetable oil (not grease), Lava lock gaskets, fire basket, 2 greats, 5 inch chimney, baffle, 2 pre drilled holes at grate level for thermometers, 10 inch steel wheels and is 1/8 inch thick. I bought this smoker and it is amazing for $500. Char-Griller has nailed it with this smoker. Please give it a review.

I've got my eye on the pecos. Seems like a great deal for the price

I haven’t had luck with a Pit Boss Copperhead smoker. There were times it would just shut off. I miss the stick burner that I had before.

Hi jeremy, love your videos. Have you or do you plan to do a review video on a reverse flow smoker? Would love to hear your opinion on them. Keep up the good work.

Whoa, I live about 15 minutes away from there! Hope you enjoyed your time in Texas!

Great video man. Hey what do you think of Kamado style grills/ smokers. Ever tried one of those? In the market for a new grill but I want to smoke briskets, ribs etc and am debating which is the best option