The catch
Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
It lacks the Navigator’s flame-broiler finishing mechanism.
Side by side
Traeger Woodridge Pro vs Pit Boss Navigator 850M: Only Navigator’s direct-flame route changes the finish when both are set to 500°F
Quick verdict
The Woodridge Pro is the one for a Traeger smoking routine with Super Smoke and the EZ-Clean grease-and-ash collection system. The Navigator 850M is the one if direct-flame finishing and a larger pellet hopper matter more. A 500°F setpoint is reachable on both, yet how they finish food differs more than that shared maximum suggests.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The same 500°F label does not mean the same steak finish
Navigator’s lever puts food in direct flame for a finishing step. Woodridge Pro cooks in its indirect chamber and has no equivalent flame-broiler feature. For a routine of smoking first and finishing over exposed flame, Navigator has the mechanism you need.
Where this comes from
The difference is in cooking method. It is not evidence of a faster sear or a better crust. The maximum chamber setting both share does not measure direct-flame surface heat.
The catch
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
Compared with low-temperature smoking, direct-flame cooking calls for a different routine for grease and attention.
Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- Super Smoke and Traeger’s grease-and-ash keg workflow are what you want.
- Your meals are planned around its documented 585 sq in lower rack and 385 sq in upper rack.
- The catch
- It lacks the Navigator’s flame-broiler finishing mechanism.
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- Opening the flame broiler for direct-flame finishing is what you want.
- You want a 30 lb hopper that takes a full 20 lb bag while more pellets are still in it.
- The catch
- Compared with low-temperature smoking, direct-flame cooking calls for a different routine for grease and attention.
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What this page compares
These connected pellet grills compared on indirect smoking, direct-flame finishing, cooking-rack layout and handling a fresh bag of pellets.
The Woodridge Pro is the one for a Traeger smoking routine with Super Smoke and the EZ-Clean grease-and-ash collection system. The Navigator 850M is the one if direct-flame finishing and a larger pellet hopper matter more. A 500°F setpoint is reachable on both, yet how they finish food differs more than that shared maximum suggests.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Smoke first, then finish over direct flame
For that finishing method, Navigator has a flame-broiler lever.
- Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- Caution
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Better fit
Pour a 20 lb bag in with 8 lb still left
That makes 28 lb, which is more than Traeger’s 24 lb hopper holds but within Navigator’s 30 lb rating.
- Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- Caution
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Better fit
Looking for Traeger Super Smoke
Super Smoke is explicitly included on Woodridge Pro.
- Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- Better fit
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Different system
One oversized or tall pan
The pan is not shown to fit by total multi-level cooking area.
- Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- Measure first
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Measure first
In practice
Differences you will notice
The same 500°F label does not mean the same steak finish
Navigator’s lever puts food in direct flame for a finishing step. Woodridge Pro cooks in its indirect chamber and has no equivalent flame-broiler feature. For a routine of smoking first and finishing over exposed flame, Navigator has the mechanism you need.
How we worked this out
The difference is in cooking method. It is not evidence of a faster sear or a better crust. The maximum chamber setting both share does not measure direct-flame surface heat.
A fresh pellet bag has to fit alongside what is already there
Add a new 20 lb bag to 8 lb remaining and you have 28 lb. That is 4 lb over what the Woodridge Pro hopper takes, and within the Navigator’s 30 lb rating. If keeping partial bags around is a regular annoyance, choose Navigator.
How we worked this out
8 + 20 = 28 lb. 28 - 24 = 4 lb left outside the Traeger hopper. It illustrates loading and does not predict unattended runtime.
Match your large pans to the lower rack
Of the Woodridge Pro’s 970 sq in, 385 sq in sits on the upper rack. Take that rack out for tall food and the lower level has 585 sq in. The 38 sq in total-area lead over Navigator is no proof that one large pan or tall roast fits better.
How we worked this out
970 - 385 = 585. 970 - 932 = 38, but reading that total correctly takes the rack breakdown and the real dimensions of the food.
Option A
Traeger, TFB97JLH
Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
Cooking area totals 970 square inches, and the pellet hopper holds 24 pounds.
- Best for
- Super Smoke and Traeger’s grease-and-ash keg workflow are what you want.
Facts we checked
- Cooking area as published: 970 sq in in total, split 585 lower and 385 upper
- Workflow at high heat: Chamber setting up to 500°F, cooking indirectly
- Hopper for pellets: 24 lb
- Control routine: Super Smoke and WiFIRE
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
- Opening the flame broiler for direct-flame finishing is what you want.
Facts we checked
- Cooking area as published: 932 sq in in total
- Workflow at high heat: Settings from 180 to 500°F, plus a Flame Broiler Lever
- Hopper for pellets: 30 lb
- Control routine: A controller using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill | Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published cooking area | 970 sq in total, 585 lower and 385 upper | 932 sq in total | The largest single-level arrangement is not something total area describes. |
| High-heat workflow | Up to 500°F chamber setting, indirect cooking | 180 to 500°F settings with Flame Broiler Lever | Food meets the heat differently once the broiler is opened. |
| Pellet hopper | 24 lb | 30 lb | Whether a new bag fits depends on how much is still in the hopper. |
| Control routine | WiFIRE and Super Smoke | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controller | Connected control is available on both, though their cooking features differ. |
| After-cook cleanup | EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg | Grease tray and removable components | After a greasy cook, you will use the maintenance access, so check it. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill
- The full 28 lb loading example is more than the 24 lb hopper can hold.
With Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- A bigger lower rack is not shown by the advertised total.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
I regularly finish my meals over direct flame
Go with Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill. That method is supported by its flame-broiler lever.
I want Traeger's smoke mode and its keg cleanup routine
Go with Traeger Woodridge Pro Pellet Grill. Super Smoke and EZ-Clean grease-and-ash collection come together on the Woodridge Pro.
Decision guide
How to decide
If you want a Traeger smoking routine with Super Smoke and the EZ-Clean grease-and-ash collection system, the Woodridge Pro fits. If direct-flame finishing and a larger pellet hopper matter more, go with the Navigator 850M. A 500°F setpoint is common to both, but the finishing workflow differs more than that shared maximum suggests.
Settle how the meal will finish
If you want exposed flame after a low-temperature phase, you have a concrete reason to choose Navigator. If your meals stay in indirect heat and you value Traeger’s smoke mode and app routine, Woodridge Pro is the closer fit. Neither feature list establishes a taste winner.
Map out your biggest meal
Measure the pan, ribs or tall roast you routinely cook, then decide whether the upper rack can stay installed. The Woodridge total spans two levels, so its advertised area cannot all serve as one uninterrupted lower surface. When single-level fit decides it for you, ask for the Navigator rack dimensions.
Pick an ownership routine you will stick to
Before you weigh extras, compare pellet loading, grease removal and ash access. In the stated example a 30 lb hopper can cut down on partial-bag handling, while Traeger consolidates grease and ash collection in its keg system. Each still calls for the manufacturer’s cleaning and shutdown procedures.
What this page can’t tell you
- Probe counts conflict on the Pit Boss page, so no included-probe advantage is claimed.
- Nothing is inferred about measured smoke intensity, searing quality, pellet consumption or unattended runtime.
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 Pro Pellet Grill |
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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 Pro Pellet Grill
Super Smoke and Traeger’s grease-and-ash keg workflow are what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonPit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
Opening the flame broiler for direct-flame finishing is what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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