Traeger Westwood Review

Who this is for

Beginners who want the grill to do the thinking and the app to tell them when to look. The combination of set-and-forget control and reliable alerts makes this the most hands-off pellet grill at its price, and hands-off is what a first-time owner actually needs.

Who it is not for

Anyone who wants grate area. At this price a Z Grills 7002C gives you 697 square inches, a 28 lb hopper, a PID controller and a cover — and a Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series gives you 1,118 square inches and a 50 lb hopper. You are paying for the app.

The 450°F ceiling

Traeger’s more expensive grills reach 500°F; the Westwood stops at 450°F, all of it indirect. Searing is therefore the weakest thing this grill does, and sear grates are close to mandatory if steak matters to you.

On the plus side, 180°F at the bottom end covers all normal low-and-slow cooking.

What you are actually buying

Three things, in order of importance:

1. WiFIRE. The only pellet app with a reliability reputation worth paying for.
2. The accessory ecosystem. P.A.L. rails take shelves, hooks and bins without tools.
3. Resale. A used Traeger sells; a used budget grill often does not.

WiFIRE’s reputation is widely and consistently reported by owners, and we pass that owner consensus on as consensus.

Westwood or Woodridge?

The Woodridge adds 207 square inches, a 500°F ceiling and the EZ-Clean grease and ash keg. If the budget stretches, it is the better grill. If it does not, the Westwood has the thing that matters most — the app — and 653 square inches is genuinely enough for a family of four. Side by side: Westwood vs Woodridge.