This is our review of the best portable smokers for the money.
The best portable smokers are easy to use and transport. They are durable and cook your food evenly.
If you’re looking for the best portable smoker, look no further!
With so many models available, it can be hard to know which one is the best option for you one.
I am a lifetime BBQ and grilling enthusiast who loves smoked and grilled foods.
I spent several days going through thousands of Amazon and manufacturer customer reviews to come up with a list of the best portable smokers on the market today.
And I found that the Traeger Grills Tailgater is the best overall portable smoker. It just happens to be a pellet smoker, so it is also the best portable pellet smoker you can buy.
Every person is different. So, I’ve included reviews of the best smokers across several categories.
Let’s get it started.
Our Best Portable Smokers
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Check Price | ||
Best Value  | Check Price | ||
Budget Pick  | Check Price | ||
Best Charcoal  | Check Price | ||
Best Electric  | Check Price | ||
Best Vertical  |
| Check Price | |
Best Kamado  |
| Check Price | |
Best Tabletop  |
| Check Price | |
Most Versatile  |
| Check Price |
9 Best Portable Smokers Reviewed
Take your BBQ game up a notch this year with one of these portable smokers. You’ll be able to cook tasty barbecue anywhere you want, whether it is at home or on the road!
- Manufacturer: Traeger
- Fuel Type: Wood pellet
- Cooking Area: 300 in2
- Outer Material: Powder Coated Steel
- Item Weight: 60 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 37″ W x 18″ D x 36″ H
When it comes to pellet grills, Traeger is one of the biggest names in the business.
The Traeger Grills Tailgater has all the features you want in a portable smoker. It is a good choice for anyone who wants to enjoy wood-fired flavor before the big game or while spending the weekend at the cabin.
It has enough space for 12 burgers, 2 whole chickens, or 3 racks of ribs.
With a good temperature range of 180°F to 450°F you can smoke or grill your favorite foods with ease.
The Traeger Tailgater is controlled by Trager’s Digital Arc Controller with Advanced Grilling Logic. It monitors and adjusts the rate that pellets are fed into the fire for precise, hands-off control.
The pellet hopper capacity is 8 lbs. This gives you 4 hours of grill time on high heat or 8 hours on medium heat. And if you are cooking low and slow, a full hopper will give you 16 hours of smoke time.
There is also a Keep Warm mode that maintains the temperature of your food when it is finished cooking. Your food can wait for you to finish what you were doing, not the other way around.
The legs are foldable. You can quickly place the grill in the bed of your truck, the back of your SUV, or the trunk of your car and be on your way.
Some owners felt like the quality of the legs could be better. Even so, the design of the Tailgater allows it to be placed on a sturdy flat surface when the legs are folded.
- Legs not the best
- Manufacturer: Ninja
- Fuel Type: Electric
- Cooking Area: 141 in2
- Outer Material: Metal/Plastic
- Item Weight: 31 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 24″ W x 18″ D x 13″ H
If you’re seeking that genuine smoky flavor in a compact package, we believe the Ninja OG701 is a solid choice.
We’ve experimented with different portable smokers, but the Ninja OG701 stands out. Its woodfire technology gives a beautiful smoky flavor using just half a cup of pellets, impressive for an electric grill. It’s spacious enough to consider for small family gatherings, yet compact to tote around for weekend getaways.
The beauty of this grill is you’re not just smoking meat; you’ve got the option to grill, air fry, and even bake. The versatility here is a standout, allowing us to craft an entire meal from appetizers to the main course without switching appliances. The convenience factor is through the roof.
Weather resistance is a real plus. We’ve found it stands strong against the elements, saving you the hassle of dragging it in and out. However, remember it does need a power source, so it’s not the tool for the most remote barbecue spots. Bottom line, when you taste the flavors the Ninja OG701 brings to the table, it’s easy to overlook its few limitations.
- Achieves authentic smoky taste with minimal wood pellets
- Versatile cooking with grill, smoke, and air fryer functions
- Hardy enough for outdoor storage and use year-round
- Requires electricity, limiting its portability to power sources
- Manufacturer: Weber
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Cooking Area: 286 in2
- Outer Material: Painted Steel
- Item Weight: 24 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 14.7″ W x 14.7″ D x 31.4″ H
Weber is well known for making quality charcoal grills and smokers.
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is an excellent choice for a portable smoker. No matter if you’re smoking ribs or pulled pork, this cooker will help you create delicious meals for your next camping trip cookout or home dinner.
The Smokey Mountain is made of steel and is coated with a durable black porcelain-enamel finish. It will last for years without peeling, rusting, and cracking.
It has a charcoal access door. You don’t have to remove grates or rearrange things to add charcoal or wood. And you can maintain temperature since the lid stays on.
This Smoker Mountain has a built-in thermometer. It monitors the internal temperature of your smoker. There is no need to continually worry about reaching the right temperature or opening the cooker to insert an external thermometer.
Some owners state that the position of the water pan made it more difficult to manage the charcoal. This can affect temperature maintenance and prolong cooking time.
This smoker is ideal for beginners and can hold 2 racks of ribs without a problem.
- Manufacturer: PK Grills
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Cooking Area: 300 in2
- Outer Material: Aluminum
- Item Weight: 60 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 43″ W x 16″ D x 37″ H
The PK Grills Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo was introduced in the 1950’s. It is a great choice as a portable electric smoker for camping, tailgating, fishing, and hunting.
It is made in the USA and it’s design is simple and efficient.
The PK Grill and Smoker is made out of aluminum. It conducts heat 4 times more efficiently than steel. This results in food that cooks evenly.
It is easy to clean and rust proof. Even if you live in humid environments it will last forever because weather conditions won’t affect it.
The design features a 4-point sliding vent system. This allows for easy temperature control for cooking hot and fast or low and slow.
Many owners say that this is the best charcoal grill you can buy. This doesn’t mean it is perfect though. Some said the lack of an ash catcher made cleanup a little harder.
The PK Grill and Smoker is large enough to hold 24 burgers or 2 whole chickens.
- Manufacturer: Smokin-It
- Fuel Type: Electric
- Cooking Area: 811 in2
- Outer Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Weight: 60 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 15″ W x 19″ D x 20.4″ H
The Smokin-It Model #1 Electric Smoker is an easy to use smoker that delivers authentic wood flavor to smoked foods. It is designed to be portable and comes fully assembled.
It has a temperature range of 100F-250F degrees. These low temperatures are perfect for smoking all sorts of foods.
The Model #1 is constructed with premium gauge stainless steel. It is durable enough to last for many years to come.
The smoker is fiberglass insulated.
This helps keep the heat inside the smoker while cooking. And the insulation ensures your food cooks evenly while keeping the outside of the smoker cool to the touch.
This smoker is also National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified. This means you can use it in restaurants and for other commercial applications.
It even has side handles. These are quite handy because they allow the smoker to be lifted and moved with ease.
Some owners mentioned that the Model#1 can have temperature swings in the beginning. However, once it reaches temperature the swings disappear.
- Manufacturer: Char-Broil
- Fuel Type: Charcoalt
- Cooking Area: 388 in2
- Outer Material: Alloy Steel
- Item Weight: 41 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 23″ W x 21″ D x 38″ H
We should consider grabbing the Char-Broil 16-inch Bullet Smoker for its superb value and quality performance.
We’ve found the Char-Broil Bullet to be a fantastic choice for its class. Its airflow system has given us steady temperatures, pivotal for perfect smoking. The porcelain coating on the steel body isn’t just for looks; it’s done a fine job at staving off rust.
The two-tiered cooking grates are remarkable, substantially expanding our smoking territory without eating up space. The water and ash pans have made our lives easier. The quick ash removal process keeps things neat and tidy, and the water pan maintains optimal humidity during long smoking sessions.
Transporting and storing the smoker is a breeze for us due to its compact size and dual-carry handles. Regarding mobility, it’s been a breeze to shift our smoking setup from the backyard to a campsite. However, we’re careful with the porcelain finish – it demands a gentle touch.
- Superior temperature control for consistent smoking
- Easy to clean with removable ash pan
- Portable with convenient handles for repositioning
- Porcelain-coated steel requires careful handling to avoid chips
- Manufacturer: Char-Griller
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Cooking Area: 155 in2
- Outer Material: Steel
- Item Weight: 33 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 20″ W x 20″ D x 26″ H
The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Kamado provides a second to none cooking experience. It’s a quality smoker that is affordable and portable. It is a mighty performer that’s perfect for camping, tailgating and beach days.
The AKORN Jr. is a great option to consider.
This grill features a fuel efficient triple-walled insulated design with a locking lid. It traps smoke, heat, and moisture for flavorful barbecue and allows you to use less charcoal.
It is constructed with heavy-gauge powder coated steel. This allows for maximum durability and heat retention.
The easy dump ash pan makes clean-up a breeze. You can spend more time enjoying your food and worry about cleanup later.
The AKORN Jr. is great little grill to explore Kamado cooking without spending a small fortune.
A few owners stated that the alignment of the main latch was a little off when they received their grills. Although easily corrected, it added a more time to assembly.
It has enough room for 8 burgers, 6 chicken breasts, or 14 hot dogs.
- Manufacturer: Traeger
- Fuel Type: Wood Pellet
- Cooking Area: 176 in2
- Outer Material: Powder coated steel
- Item Weight: 60 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 21″ W x 20″ D x 13″ H
The Traeger Ranger is a good option for those who love to cook outdoors. This smoker is easy to transport and has plenty of features that make it a great choice for any barbecue and grilling enthusiast.
It is the perfect RV accessory.
It features Advanced Grilling Logic. You get spot-on temperature performance resulting in perfectly cooked food.
The Ranger has a Keep Warm mode. This feature ensures your food is kept at a ready to eat temperature until you get ready for it.
It has a cast iron griddle. With it you can get that perfect sear on your steak, or cook some pancakes for breakfast.
The Ranger is equipped with porcelain-coated grill grates. They retain heat, allowing you to create great sear marks, And cleanup is super easy.
Owners raved about how well this smoker performs. For a portable smoker, some felt that it was a little heavy and hard to move from place to place.
It is large enough to fit 2 pork butts. The Ranger will keep you satisfied during your travel adventures.
- Manufacturer: ASMOKE
- Fuel Type: Wood Pellet
- Cooking Area: 256 in2
- Outer Material: Porcelain coated steel
- Item Weight: 55 lbs
- Item Dimensions: 25″ W x 18″ D x 16″ H
The ASMOKE AS350 Portable Wood Pellet Grill offers 8-in-1 versatility. You can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill your favorite foods to perfection.
It can operate on 110 V-120 V AC power. Power it up with a portable battery bank, RV outlet, or wall socket.
The ASMOKE AS350 features the ASCA System. This technology infuses moisture into your favorite foods to prevent them from drying out. And at the same time ash is disposed of for a cleaner, more efficient burn.
It is equipped with a side bucket to collect extra oil and grease for easy disposal.
The ASMOKE AS350 also features a precise PID temperature controller and LED readout. This makes it easy to monitor the temperature of your smoker.
This pellet grill is also easy to carry and maintain. It is built from stainless steel with a porcelain non-stick coating, making it durable and easy to clean.
Guide to Buying the Best Portable Smoker
When choosing a portable smoker, there are several factors to consider.
Fuel Type
First, decide what type of fuel (heat source) you want to use. Propane and electricity are the most common options, but charcoal and wood are also available.
Each type of fuel has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Weight
Portable Smokers come in different weights, with the most crucial factor being how much you want to move it around. A 200-pound smoker will be hard for one person to carry and even more difficult if there’s food on its grill!
But nowadays many manufacturers have created light weight options that can still do justice when cooking large quantities of meat or vegetables without sacrificing flavor at all
Size and Capacity
Next, consider the size of the smoker. If you plan on smoking large cuts of meat or multiple items at once, you’ll need a larger smoker.
Conversely, if you only plan on smoking smaller items or single portions, a smoker with a compact design is all you need.
Ease of Use
Finally, think about ease of use. Some smokers require frequent monitoring and adjustments, while others are much simpler to operate. Choose the one that best fits your lifestyle and cooking needs.
Portability
Portability is key when it comes to portable grills and smokers. Some have handles that unfold, others fold up for easy transport – whichever you prefer will depend on the type of BBQing adventure awaiting!
With these factors in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect portable smoker for your needs.
Types of Portable Smokers
Portable smokers come in a variety of fuel types. Each type of fuel has its own advantages and disadvantages.
These smokers offer the convenience of being able to smoke anywhere, whether it be at home or on the go.
Pellet Smokers
Pellet grill smokers use pellets made of compressed wood or other biomaterials as fuel. The pellets are fed into the smoker using an auger, and they smolder rather than burn, creating a convection current that circulates the smoking chamber.
This design creates a more even cooking temperature than other types of smokers, and it also allows pellet smokers to be used as conventional grills.
They are easier to operate than other types of smokers, making them a popular choice for beginner smokers. However, pellet smokers do require electricity to operate, so they are not ideal for use in remote locations.
Charcoal Smokers
Charcoal smokers are the most traditional type of smoker and use charcoal for fuel. However, they can be difficult to use, and they require regular maintenance.
They typically have two chambers: a firebox, where the charcoal is burned, and a main chamber, where the food is cooked.
One of the benefits of using a charcoal smoker is that it imparts a smoky flavor to the food. This flavor can be further enhanced by adding wood chips or chunks to the firebox.
Another advantage of charcoal smokers is that they can be very economical to operate.
Charcoal smokers are a popular choice for those who enjoy outdoor cooking.
Electric Smokers
Electric smokers use an electric heating element to generate heat and smoke (from heating wood chips). This makes it easy to control the temperature and produce consistent results in any weather condition.
They also tend to be more energy-efficient than other types, especially those that use wood or charcoal. Most come with a water pan, which helps to create steam and keep the meat moist during cooking.
They also often have built-in temperature probes, making it easy to monitor the internal temperature of the meat.
Propane Smokers
Propane gas smokers are very convenient because they can be attached to a standard propane tank. However, propane is more expensive than other fuel types, and it can be difficult to control the temperature with a propane smoker.
These smokers take the guesswork out of temperature control. A simple turn on a dial sets the perfect cooking temperature for your food.
FAQ About Portable Smokers
What is a portable smoker?
A portable smoker is a smaller, more lightweight alternative to a traditional smoker. It is easy to transport and set up, making it a great choice for those who love to cook outdoors.
What are the benefits of a portable smoker?
A portable smoker is easy to transport and sets up quickly, cooks food evenly, and is made from high-quality materials.
How do I choose the best portable smoker?
The best portable smoker for you depends on your needs and frequency of use, as well as your budget. You also need to consider the amount of cooking space you need to help decide between large and small models.
The Final Verdict
To get delicious wood smoked food on the road you need a good portable smoker.
So, if you are planning to spend a few days at the camping site or hold a tailgate party at the big you just can’t leave home without it.
Portable smokers come in different sizes and shapes. The fuel source can be electric, charcoal, gas, or wood.
No matter what your preference, you can find the best smoker for you based on the information in this article.
With that being said, we found that the Traeger Grills Tailgater is an excellent portable smoker to use when you are away from home.
