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Pit Barrel Cooker Classic vs Weber Smokey Mountain 22"
Short answer: the Pit Barrel Cooker Classic is a medium charcoal smoker (some tending, mid price tier); the Weber Smokey Mountain 22" is a large charcoal smoker (some tending, premium price tier). Both need some tending, so the biggest difference is capacity: the Weber Smokey Mountain 22" is large, the Pit Barrel Cooker Classic medium. Pick the Weber Smokey Mountain 22" if you regularly cook for more people.
| Property | Pit Barrel Cooker Classic | Weber Smokey Mountain 22" |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Charcoal / drum | Charcoal / drum |
| Size class | Medium | Large |
| Operation | Semi (some tending) | Semi (some tending) |
| Price tier | Mid | Premium |
| Best for | Beginners, Authentic wood/charcoal flavor | Competition / serious, Authentic wood/charcoal flavor, Large gatherings |
Choose the Pit Barrel Cooker Classic if…
- Hang-the-meat drum cooking — almost nothing to adjust, and famously forgiving for first-timers.
- Semi (some tending) operation fits how involved you want to be.
- Medium capacity matches your table.
Choose the Weber Smokey Mountain 22" if…
- The big WSM — the same legendary design with capacity for full packer briskets.
- Semi (some tending) operation fits how involved you want to be.
- Large capacity matches your table.
Both need some tending. Match the smoker to how much fire-tending you actually want to do.
Common questions
Pit Barrel Cooker Classic or Weber Smokey Mountain 22" for a first smoker?
They take similar effort (both need some tending), so pick on fuel and size: Pit Barrel Cooker Classic is charcoal / drum/medium, Weber Smokey Mountain 22" is charcoal / drum/large.
Which gives more authentic smoke flavor?
Same fuel (charcoal / drum), so flavor potential is comparable — build quality and airflow decide the rest.
What's the price difference?
Pit Barrel Cooker Classic sits in the mid tier; Weber Smokey Mountain 22" in the premium tier. We never store live prices — check both listings.
Still deciding?
If neither of these is quite right, here are the same two smokers against the rest of the field.
Pit Barrel Cooker Classic vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18"
Weber Smokey Mountain 22" vs Weber Smokey Mountain 18" Weber Smokey Mountain 22" vs Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050
Full profiles: Pit Barrel Cooker Classic · Weber Smokey Mountain 22" · best smoker by purpose · every head-to-head