The Weber Searwood XL meets
the Pit Boss 850DX
The do-it-all pellet cooker that smokes low-and-slow and sears like a gas grill. We tested it head-to-head against the Pit Boss 850DX across 6 key dimensions.
Weber Searwood XL
“The do-it-all pellet cooker that smokes low-and-slow and sears like a gas grill”
Pit Boss 850DX
“Overnight-capable pellet smoking with smart-probe convenience at an entry-level price”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Weber Searwood XL
- Reaches 600°F for real gas-grill-style searing, which most pellet grills cannot do (The Barbecue Lab, Smoked BBQ Source)
- Slide-out grease and ash tray makes cleanup the easiest in the group per The Barbecue Lab
- Griddle and rotisserie accessories let it replace several separate cookers on the patio
- Even heat from the flavorizer-bar heat tent produced gorgeous crispy chicken skin in The Barbecue Lab wing test
- Plastic wagon wheels feel cheap and flimsy for a premium cooker (Smoked BBQ Source called them a joke)
- High chamber airflow can dry out long low-and-slow cooks, so a water pan is recommended
- No dedicated smoke box for burning wood chunks like the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro offers
Pit Boss 850DX
- Programmable food probe drops the grill to a 180°F keep-warm mode automatically, a feature Smoked BBQ Source rarely sees at this price
- 21 lb hopper comfortably sustains an overnight brisket or chuck roast without refueling
- Locking rotating casters make it the easiest cooker in the group to roll into a garage (Smoked BBQ Source)
- Powder-coated finish and enamel grates give it a sturdier build than most budget pellet grills
- Initial WiFi app pairing took about 45 minutes to get working (Smoked BBQ Source)
- Fire-pot ash clean-out is awkward and means pulling the flame broiler handle and drip pan
- Direct-flame sear zone is small, so it grills fewer burgers or steaks at once than the Searwood
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Weber Searwood XL earned Best Overall because it solves the problem that holds back most pellet grills: it smokes low-and-slow and then sears like a real gas grill. The Barbecue Lab ran a five-minute burger test at its 600°F maximum and got much wider, more pronounced sear marks than any standard pellet cooker, describing it as cooking on a gas grill rather than a smoker. Smoked BBQ Source went further and called its searing the best they have ever tested, watching the internal components glow orange while it handled real smash burgers on a griddle.
Weber Searwood XL
The Weber Searwood XL earned Best Overall because it solves the problem that holds back most pellet grills: it smokes low-and-slow and then sears like a real gas grill. The Barbecue Lab ran a five-minute burger test at its 600°F maximum and got much wider, more pronounced sear marks than any standard pellet cooker, describing it as cooking on a gas grill rather than a smoker. Smoked BBQ Source went further and called its searing the best they have ever tested, watching the internal components glow orange while it handled real smash burgers on a griddle.
- Serious backyard cooks who want one machine that smokes, sears, and grills
- Anyone replacing a separate gas grill, griddle, and smoker with a single unit
- Cooks who value easy cleanup and a polished app and display
- Buyers with a dedicated patio spot who rarely need to move the grill
- People willing to add a water pan for long low-and-slow cooks
Pit Boss 850DX
The Pit Boss 850DX is Best Value because it delivers the parts of the experience that matter most for a fraction of the Searwood's price. Smoked BBQ Source ran an overnight chuck roast on it without trouble, helped by a 21 lb hopper big enough to sustain a long cook without a refuel. Everything came off with a decent smoke level, which is the core job.
- First-time pellet grill owners on an entry-level budget
- Cooks focused on overnight low-and-slow smoking over high-heat searing
- Anyone who needs to roll the grill into a garage or shed after each use
- Buyers who want smart-probe keep-warm convenience without spending four figures
- People who can tolerate a fiddly first-time app setup