Comparisons
Z Grills vs Camp Chef
These two brands sit at opposite ends of the market and barely overlap. The useful question is not which is better — it is which end you belong at.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Z Grills vs Camp Chef
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10 · Most kit included for the money
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
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 | Z Grills 7002C697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500. | Most kit included for the money | 9.89.8 out of 10 | Check price |
| 2 |  Camp Chef Woodwind Pro WiFi 24The only cooker here with a smoke box that burns real wood chunks alongside the pellet fire, which is the one hardware fix for thin pellet smoke. | Smoke flavor above all else | 8.78.7 out of 10 | Check price |
| 3 |  Z Grills 700 Series InsulatedDual-wall insulated base and PID 3.0 for mid-$600s — the cheapest insulated pellet grill we can find. | Winter smoking without Traeger money | 9.59.5 out of 10 | $649.00Amazon |
#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.
Why this comparison is unusual
Most brand comparisons on this site involve grills that genuinely compete. These do not. A Z Grills 7002C and a Camp Chef Woodwind Pro are not on the same shortlist for anyone — the price gap is roughly threefold and the design priorities are opposite.
So rather than pretend otherwise, here is the useful framing: what each brand is for.
| Z Grills | Camp Chef | |
|---|---|---|
| Core proposition | PID temperature control at the lowest price anyone sells it | Real wood-chunk smoke and modular attachments |
| Cooking area | 202-697 sq in, all documented | Not published on the listing |
| Hopper | 8-28 lb, documented | Not published |
| Controller | PID 3.0, accuracy figure published | WiFi/Bluetooth app, no accuracy figure |
| Connectivity | None in the range we cover | WiFi + Bluetooth |
| Build | Powder-coated steel, stainless lids on some | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | 3 years, stated | Not stated on the listing |
| Included accessories | Cover, probes, grease bucket, gloves | Grill only; Sidekick sold separately |
If flavor is why you are here, read this first
The Camp Chef’s smoke box is a real answer to a real problem. But before spending three times as much to solve it, spend a few dollars on a smoke tube and see whether that satisfies you. A tube on a Z Grills 7002C produces more smoke than a standard pellet grill does and costs almost nothing.
If it does satisfy you, you have saved a large amount of money. If it does not — if what you want is automatic, all-cook chunk-wood smoke — the Camp Chef is the only grill in our registry that delivers it, and nothing cheaper will substitute.
The one Camp Chef product we recommend to everyone
Their pellets. Camp Chef’s 20 lb bags are kiln-dried virgin hardwood with no oils, chemicals or binders, at prices that undercut Traeger’s 18 lb bags, and they work in any brand of grill. The low moisture content means a hotter, cleaner burn and less ash — which matters most on cheaper grills with small burn pots.
So the genuinely optimal setup for a value buyer might be: a Z Grills grill, Camp Chef pellets, and a smoke tube. See our pellet rankings.
The picks in full
#1 · Most kit included for the money
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 697 sq in
- Hopper
- 28 lb, tool-free cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- PID 3.0, LCD, two meat probes
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.6/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.8/10.
What it does well
- 28 lb hopper is close to Pit Boss territory and nearly double Traeger's 18 lb
- Rain cover, two probes, grease bucket and gloves included
- Two locking casters plus two wheels
- Pellet viewing window
Where it falls short
- No WiFi, so the app crowd should look elsewhere
- 450°F ceiling
- Z Grills calls it an 'electric' pellet grill in the listing, which confuses buyers — it burns wood pellets and needs a wall outlet, like every pellet grill here
#2 · Smoke flavor above all else
Camp Chef Woodwind Pro WiFi 24
Camp Chef · score 8.7/10
The only cooker here with a smoke box that burns real wood chunks alongside the pellet fire, which is the one hardware fix for thin pellet smoke.
No buyable offer at the last price check.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- Camp Chef does not publish a square-inch figure on this listing
- Hopper
- Not stated on this listing
- Temperature range
- Not stated on this listing
- Controller
- WiFi and Bluetooth digital controller
- Connectivity
- WiFi + Bluetooth, Camp Chef Connect app
- Warranty
- Not stated on this listing
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.4/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 8.7/10.
What it does well
- The smoke box burns actual wood chunks alongside the pellets — no other cooker here does this
- Down-and-out ventilation pulls smoke across the food rather than straight up the chimney
- Stainless construction, WiFi and Bluetooth
- Sidekick compatible, so a gas griddle or pizza oven bolts to the side
Where it falls short
- Camp Chef has discontinued the 24-inch model: it is gone from campchef.com and has no buyable Amazon offer as of 2026-11-06
- Camp Chef publishes almost no specifications for it — no cooking area, no hopper capacity, no temperature range
- The Woodwind Pro line continues only in the 36-inch size, at a higher price
#3 · Winter smoking without Traeger money
Z Grills 700 Series Insulated
Z Grills · score 9.5/10
Dual-wall insulated base and PID 3.0 for mid-$600s — the cheapest insulated pellet grill we can find.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 697 sq in
- Hopper
- 28 lb, rated up to 28 hours of cooking
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- Z-Ultra PID 3.0, two built-in probes, large LCD
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.3/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.5/10.
What it does well
- Dual-wall insulated base cuts pellet burn in cold weather — the Traeger Ironwood feature at half the money
- Two probes and a cover included
- Hopper cleanout with a twist
Where it falls short
- Insulated base only, not a fully insulated body like the Ironwood
- No WiFi at a price where Traeger gives you WiFIRE
- 450°F ceiling
The picks in full
#1 · More smoke flavor without changing grills
12 in Stainless Smoke Tube
Generic
Single-digit dollars to add real smoke at low temperatures — the cheapest way to make any pellet grill smokier.
- 12 in stainless tube
- Fills with pellets and smolders alongside the cook
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Good
- Fixes the one genuine weakness of pellet grills: thin smoke above 250°F
- Lets you run a second wood flavor
Trade-off
- Needs lighting with a torch
- Burns about four hours per fill
#2 · All-round use with minimal ash
Camp Chef Competition Blend
Camp Chef
Kiln-dried maple, hickory and cherry at an everyday price. Low ash because the moisture is low.
- Maple, hickory and cherry blend
- 20 lb bag
- 100% virgin hardwoods, no oils, chemicals or binders
- Kiln-dried for low moisture; made in the USA
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Good
- Kiln-drying means fewer pellets burned to hold temperature
- Safe in all pellet grills
Trade-off
- Nothing distinctive about the flavor versus other maple-hickory-cherry blends
Our recommendation
Top pick
Z Grills 7002C
Most kit included for the money.
Runner-up
Camp Chef Woodwind Pro WiFi 24
Smoke flavor above all else.
No buyable offer at the last price check.
Questions people actually ask
Should I buy Z Grills or Camp Chef?
Z Grills if value and documented specifications matter; Camp Chef if smoke flavor is your first priority and budget is not the constraint. They sit at opposite ends of the market and rarely appear on the same shortlist.
Are Camp Chef pellets worth buying for a Z Grills?
Yes. Camp Chef pellets work in any pellet grill, are kiln-dried for low moisture and low ash, and undercut Traeger’s bags on price per pound. Low ash matters more on cheaper grills with small burn pots.
Can I get Camp Chef smoke flavor on a cheap grill?
Partly. A smoke tube costs single-digit dollars and adds about four hours of real smoke to any grill. It is not as good as a dedicated chunk-wood smoke box and it needs lighting by hand, but it closes a meaningful part of the gap.
Sources
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