The catch
Traeger Woodridge Elite
Navigator's hopper takes more than the 24 lb hopper does.
Side by side
Traeger Woodridge Elite vs Pit Boss Navigator 850M: Navigator finishes inside the grill, while Elite sears beside food still smoking
Quick verdict
The Woodridge Elite is the one if you want to simmer or sear next to food that stays in the smoking chamber. The Navigator 850M is the one for direct-flame finishing inside the main grill and a larger hopper. What the Elite’s side station changes in meal coordination counts for more than the small difference in advertised cooking area.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Do the sauce work right next to the smoking food
With the Elite side burner, a pan can simmer or sear next to the main grill. Navigator’s direct-flame feature exposes food to heat inside its main cooking area. For a low-temperature main cook and a separate pan job at the same time, Elite offers the documented separate station.
Where this comes from
This reasoning rests on where the Elite burner and Navigator flame broiler are located and what they are for. It does not claim two independently controlled pellet chambers.
The catch
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
The flame broiler sits inside the main cooking area and not at a separate side station.
Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Why pick it
- A separate side burner that works while the main chamber keeps cooking is what you want.
- The enclosed cabinet, pellet sensor and Traeger cleanup system matter to you.
- The catch
- Navigator's hopper takes more than the 24 lb hopper does.
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- Direct-flame finishing over the main firepot is your preference.
- A 30 lb hopper and preparation space at the front and side are what you want.
- The catch
- The flame broiler sits inside the main cooking area and not at a separate side station.
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What this page compares
A separate side cooking station or a shared flame broiler: the choice, along with practical pellet-loading and tall-food rack limits for family meals.
The Woodridge Elite is the one if you want to simmer or sear next to food that stays in the smoking chamber. The Navigator 850M is the one for direct-flame finishing inside the main grill and a larger hopper. What the Elite’s side station changes in meal coordination counts for more than the small difference in advertised cooking area.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Keep a pan simmering next to a low-temperature main cook
Elite has its own side burner, whereas Navigator’s direct flame is part of the main grill.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Better fit
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Caution
Do your finishing over direct flame in the main grill
The flame-broiler lever on Navigator suits this workflow.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Different method
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Better fit
Add a 20 lb bag to 10 lb that is left over
The 30 lb total is more than Elite’s 24 lb hopper holds and equals Navigator’s rating.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Caution
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Better fit
Want accessory storage that is enclosed
Navigator uses a bottom shelf, and Elite has a cabinet that closes.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Better fit
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Different layout
In practice
Differences you will notice
Do the sauce work right next to the smoking food
With the Elite side burner, a pan can simmer or sear next to the main grill. Navigator’s direct-flame feature exposes food to heat inside its main cooking area. For a low-temperature main cook and a separate pan job at the same time, Elite offers the documented separate station.
How we worked this out
This reasoning rests on where the Elite burner and Navigator flame broiler are located and what they are for. It does not claim two independently controlled pellet chambers.
A bigger hopper and a sensor guard against different mistakes
Add a fresh 20 lb bag to the 10 lb already inside and the total is 30 lb. Navigator can hold that nominal load, but 6 lb stays outside the Elite. Elite’s sensor lets you check the remaining pellets, yet it cannot add the missing capacity or guarantee a cook finishes unattended.
How we worked this out
10 + 20 = 30 lb. 30 - 24 = 6 lb. A sensor monitors, and the hopper rating is the physical limit on loading.
The side station sets these grills apart more than 38 square inches does
Elite’s total is only 38 sq in more than Navigator’s, and 385 sq in of it is on the upper rack. For a tall roast, check the layout of the remaining 585 sq in below. Buy the Elite for its separate pan station if that job matters to you, and do not assume its total will hold a much larger meal.
How we worked this out
970 - 932 = 38 and 970 - 385 = 585. On either grill, fit comes down to actual dimensions and food height.
Option A
Traeger, Woodridge Elite
Woodridge Elite
Body insulation, Super Smoke mode and a separate side sear station come with this 970-square-inch pellet grill. Its 221lb chassis is meant for a patio cooking area that is already established.
- Best for
- A separate side burner that works while the main chamber keeps cooking is what you want.
Facts we checked
- Second way to cook: A separate side burner for searing, sautéing and simmering
- Main cooking space: 585 lower and 385 upper, 970 sq in in total
- Main temperature range: Up to 500°F
- Hopper for pellets: 24 lb, with a digital pellet sensor
Option B
Pit Boss, PB850M
Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
Its 932 square inches of cooking area come with a pellet hopper that holds 30 pounds.
- Best for
- Direct-flame finishing over the main firepot is your preference.
Facts we checked
- Second way to cook: A Flame Broiler Lever opens up direct flame in the main grill
- Main cooking space: 932 sq in in total
- Main temperature range: 180 to 500°F
- Hopper for pellets: 30 lb, with a viewing window
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Traeger Woodridge Elite | Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second cooking method | Separate side burner for searing, sautéing and simmering | Flame Broiler Lever exposes direct flame in the main grill | A pan on the side can do its job without changing how the main chamber cooks. |
| Main cooking space | 970 sq in total, 585 lower and 385 upper | 932 sq in total | The total-area difference is small, and it does not show whether a pan fits. |
| Main temperature settings | Up to 500°F | 180 to 500°F | Sharing a chamber ceiling does not capture their separate finishing mechanisms. |
| Pellet hopper | 24 lb with digital pellet sensor | 30 lb with viewing window | Pick the loading capacity and the way of checking that fit your routine. |
| Storage and prep | Closing cabinet and side shelf | Folding front shelf, side shelf and bottom shelf | Closed storage and open staging each handle a different patio job. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Traeger Woodridge Elite
- A side station is worth having only if you regularly use a separate pan or finishing area.
With Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Elite’s closing cabinet is not part of its storage layout.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
I need a pan going on the side while the main chamber cooks
Go with Traeger Woodridge Elite. For that parallel job, Elite brings the side burner.
I'm after direct-flame finishing along with a 30 lb hopper
Go with Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill. The flame broiler and the larger hopper come together on Navigator.
Decision guide
How to decide
If you want to simmer or sear beside food that stays in the smoking chamber, choose the Woodridge Elite. If you want direct-flame finishing inside the main grill and a larger hopper, choose the Navigator 850M. The Elite’s side station affects meal coordination more than the small difference in advertised cooking area does.
Map out the cooking sequence
When a meal needs a sauce pan while the meat stays in indirect heat, Elite’s side station can keep both jobs on one appliance. When you mainly want to finish the meat over exposed flame after smoking, Navigator’s broiler may be enough. Even at a shared 500°F chamber setting, these are different workflows.
Fit the storage to your patio
Elite keeps tools and supplies behind cabinet doors, whereas Navigator offers open lower storage and additional preparation shelves. Check the usable space with the doors and shelves in their operating positions. Pellets still have to be stored dry and the grill’s outdoor clearance requirements followed with either arrangement.
Include fuel checks in your plan
Topping up a partly filled hopper with a full bag is where Navigator’s extra hopper capacity helps. Elite gives you a digital pellet indication so you aren't relying only on a visual check. On both, weather, temperature and cooking duration affect consumption, which is why this page does not turn capacity into an overnight promise.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing is inferred about a simultaneous electrical-load number, a separate burner temperature or a measured searing result.
- The official Pit Boss page contradicts itself on included probe count, so confirm the bundle that ships.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the pellet grills and smokers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Woodridge Elite |
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| Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Traeger Woodridge Elite
A separate side burner that works while the main chamber keeps cooking is what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonPit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
Direct-flame finishing over the main firepot is your preference.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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