Comparisons
Traeger Woodridge vs Ironwood 885
The Ironwood is insulated and drops lower; the Woodridge has more grate and the better cleanup system. Which wins depends on your climate.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Woodridge vs Ironwood
Traeger Ironwood 885
Traeger · score 9.2/10 · Cold-weather cooking and tight temperature holds
Double-wall insulation and the D2 controller. The right Traeger if you cook through winter; overkill if you do not.
Quick picks
Ranked by our value-weighted score. Prices are live from Amazon as of November 7, 2026 — tap a price to check it now, or tap a row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traeger Ironwood 885Double-wall insulation and the D2 controller. The right Traeger if you cook through winter; overkill if you do not. | Cold-weather cooking and tight temperature holds | 9.29.2 out of 10 | $1,299.95Amazon |
| 2 |  Traeger Woodridge860 sq in, 500°F and the EZ-Clean ash keg. The current Traeger mid-range, and the one that replaced the old Pro 575 in most buyers' shortlists. | Traeger buyers who want capacity and modern cleanup | 9.49.4 out of 10 | $899.99Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission on Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking — here is the method.
| Traeger Woodridge | Traeger Ironwood 885 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 860 sq in | 885 sq in, two tiers |
| Food capacity (Traeger's figures) | 6 chickens / 8 rib racks / 6 pork butts | 10 chickens / 7 rib racks / 9 pork butts |
| Temperature range | 180-500°F | 165-500°F |
| Hopper | 18 lb | 20 lb |
| Insulation | None stated | Double-wall throughout |
| Controller | Digital with WiFIRE | D2 controller, Super Smoke Mode |
| Cleanup | EZ-Clean grease + ash keg | Standard |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
What insulation actually does
Double-wall construction reduces heat loss, which has three effects in cold weather: the grill holds its set temperature more easily, the controller feeds fewer pellets to do so, and recovery after you open the lid is faster.
Below roughly 40°F those are substantial. Above about 60°F they are close to irrelevant — a non-insulated grill holds 225°F in summer without difficulty. So this is a climate decision, not a quality decision.
The 165°F minimum
The Ironwood drops to 165°F against the Woodridge’s 180°F. That extends what you can do with it towards jerky and gentler smoking, though neither reaches the 130°F that Pit Boss’s vertical cabinets manage.
Super Smoke and the D2 controller
Super Smoke increases smoke output at low temperatures at the push of a button. The D2 drivetrain spins up faster and holds tighter than the standard Pro-series board. Both are real improvements.
We have not measured Super Smoke’s effect on smoke output and are not going to put a number on it. Traeger states it adds wood-fired flavor; the mechanism — more smoldering at low temperature — is plausible, and that is as far as we will go.
What you give up on the Ironwood
The EZ-Clean grease and ash keg, which is on the Woodridge range and not the Ironwood. Given that the Ironwood is the more expensive grill, that is an odd gap in the line-up and worth knowing before you assume more money means more convenience.
Our call
Climate decides it. Cold winters: Ironwood. Warm season: Woodridge, and spend the difference on pellets and a thermometer. For a value-focused buyer wanting insulation, the Z Grills insulated 700 offers an insulated base for roughly half the Ironwood price.
The picks in full
#1 · Cold-weather cooking and tight temperature holds
Traeger Ironwood 885
Traeger · score 9.2/10
Double-wall insulation and the D2 controller. The right Traeger if you cook through winter; overkill if you do not.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 885 sq in, two tiers (10 chickens, 7 rib racks or 9 pork butts)
- Hopper
- 20 lb
- Temperature range
- 165-500°F
- Controller
- D2 controller, Super Smoke Mode
- Connectivity
- WiFIRE, Traeger app
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.2/10.
What it does well
- Double-wall insulation keeps it steady in winter, where thin-bodied grills struggle
- D2 drivetrain spins up faster and holds tighter than the Pro-series board
- Drops to 165°F for genuine low-and-slow
Where it falls short
- The most expensive grill per square inch on this site
- Insulation only pays off if you actually cook below about 40°F
- 885 sq in is less than a Woodridge Pro that costs less
#2 · Traeger buyers who want capacity and modern cleanup
Traeger Woodridge
Traeger · score 9.4/10
860 sq in, 500°F and the EZ-Clean ash keg. The current Traeger mid-range, and the one that replaced the old Pro 575 in most buyers' shortlists.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 860 sq in (6 chickens, 8 rib racks or 6 pork butts)
- Hopper
- 18 lb
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F
- Controller
- Digital with WiFIRE app control
- Connectivity
- WiFIRE, Traeger app
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.2/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.4/10.
What it does well
- EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg collects both in one place — the best cleanup system on any grill here
- 860 sq in with a genuine 500°F ceiling
- P.A.L. Pop-And-Lock and ModiFIRE compatibility for shelves and cooking surfaces
Where it falls short
- No Super Smoke mode or digital pellet sensor — those are Woodridge Pro features
- 18 lb hopper for 860 sq in is tight on an overnight cook
- Priced where a 1,329 sq in Pit Boss sits
Our recommendation
Top pick
Traeger Ironwood 885
Cold-weather cooking and tight temperature holds.
Runner-up
Traeger Woodridge
Traeger buyers who want capacity and modern cleanup.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Questions people actually ask
Is the Traeger Ironwood worth it over the Woodridge?
Only if you cook in genuinely cold weather. The double-wall insulation and D2 controller are real, but in summer a non-insulated grill holds temperature fine — and the Woodridge has the better cleanup system.
What is Traeger Super Smoke?
A mode that increases smoke output at low temperatures. It is on the Ironwood and the Woodridge Pro, not the standard Woodridge. We have not measured its effect and will not quote a figure.
Does the Ironwood have the EZ-Clean keg?
No — that is a Woodridge-range feature. It is a genuine oddity that the more expensive grill has the less convenient cleanup.
Sources
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