Rec Tec vs Camp Chef — Which Pellet Grill Brand Outweights the Other? (2022)

Rec Tec and Camp Chef offer grilling enthusiasts similar pellet grills. Hence, picking a brand can be tricky.

To help you decide between Rec Tec vs. Camp Chef, our team has reviewed the top pellet grills from both brands. By the end of this article, you'll understand what each pellet grill brand offers and which one is better.

Camp Chef

Ty Measom founded Camp Chef [1] in 1990. His goal was to make portable and powerful outdoor cooking equipment to satisfy the demand from campers and sportsmen.

The first product Ty Measom and his team made was a double-burner stove called the Pro 60. Subsequently, the brand continued to make camp stoves.

Camp Chef has now ventured into pellet grills just like other major brands such as Dyna Glo and Char Broil, and it has become a leading brand in its market. The company creates products in the US but makes them in China.

Rec Tec

Rec Tec was established in 2009 by two friends living in Augusta, Georgia. Their goal was to build top-quality, affordable grills that beginners and professionals could use.

Over a decade later, the company has set itself apart by providing optimal cooking performance and features in its products. The brand's wood pellet grills are some of the most sought after in the BBQ scene.

Rec Tec was recently renamed 'Recteq.' However, its operations, products, and offerings remain. It makes products in Georgie, USA but manufactures them in China.

(Want to expand your options? See the top pellet grills under 500 here.)

Top 5 Camp Chef Grills

1. Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Smoker

If you're keen on getting a powerful Camp Chef grill, consider the PG24MZG SmokePro smoker on this article. It's a slide smoker with features for hands-off cooking.

The PG24MZG SmokePro Smoker comes with a digital display and a menu dial. Like the Camp Chef Woodwind 36, it also features the versatility of the Slide and Grill Technology for you to switch between direct flame and indirect smoking. Camp Chef also includes its patented Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) for temperature settings.

Like other pellet grills in its line, the Camp Chef PG24MZG Smoker offers 811 square inches of cooking area. It has the capacity to hold up to 18 pounds of wood pellets at once.

Even though the body of this wood pellet grill is furnished with Teflon, the Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro smoker is made from full steel. On the other hand, its grates are nickel-plated, and you can attach a sear box to this unit.

Whether you're a beginner or pitmaster, you can use the Camp Chef PG24MZG smokers for grilling, roasting, braising, or baking your meals with temperature control between 160 and 500 degrees F.

Pros:

• Includes front folding shelf
• Easy to assemble, set, and control
• Effective cord and grease management systems
• Comes with two stainless steel meat probes
• Has pellet cleanout system
• Equipped with PID for consistent temperatures

Cons:

• No spot to hang tools
• Slightly heavy

2. Camp Chef SmokePro SE Pellet Grill

Cooking methods that produce smoke should be done outdoors, and you can use the Camp Chef SmokePro SE Pellet Grill for them. This small grill is packed with features for seamless cooking.

With a 429 square-inch cooking area, you can fit over full ten small-sized burgers on the SmokePro SE. There's an 18-pound hopper in this unit, and Camp Chef recommends you to first use its wood pellets for optimum performance.

Similar to other high quality brands, the Camp Chef SmokePro SE’s temperature ranges from 160 to 500 degrees F. You'll find an in-built gauge in these smokers instead of a PID regulator for its smoke and temperature settings. The SmokePro SE has a utility rack for hanging tools or utensils. Still, you can attach a warming rack or a folding front shelf to it. 

The Camp Chef pellet grills weigh a little above 100 pounds.

If you're on a budget and really want the best pellet grill your money can get in the market, check out the Camp Chef SmokePro SE Pellet Grill. It's a great grill for an affordable price.

Pros:

• Electric auto-igniter works well with this Camp Chef Pellet Grill 
• Auger dispenses pellets freely
• Warranty lasts for three years
• Effective grease bucket and cleanout system
• Has two wheels for maneuverability

Cons:

• Warming rack and folding shelf are sold separately
• Needs to be seasoned first before use

3. Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill

You should get a quality grill if you would like to grill in your backyard, and the Camp Chef SmokePro SG is one to check out in this Rec Tec vs. Camp Chef article. This grill is massive and offers 811 square inches of cooking area. Like the Camp Chef Woodwind 36, it also has a large hopper that can take 22 pounds of wood pellets.

The Camp Chef pellet grills come with several features for precision grilling, smoking, and cleaning up. For starters, it has Camp Chef's Ash-Cleanout System. Also, it offers the versatility of the Slide and Grill Technology for you to heat your food with indirect or direct flame to control the temperature.

On its side, the SmokePro SG Pellet Grill has dual-LED temperature readouts. Its temperature control is stable, and it works on a simple selection system.

Unlike with other brands, this Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill is designed for the everyday grillers who love making several meals at once.

Pros:

• Has two stainless steel meat probes for grilling
• Effective pellet hopper purge
• Automatic pellet dispensing 
• Sear-capable
• Warranty lasts for three years

Cons:

• Metal handle
• No shelf for hanging tools

4. Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36 Pellet Grill

Aside from budget pellet grills, Camp Chef makes high-end units like the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36. This grill is best for parties, large families, and cookouts. It has 1236 square inches of cooking space and also has a hopper that has the capacity to take 22 pounds of wood pellets.

The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36 is loaded with tech features for hands-off cooking. This Camp Chef Woodwind grills have the brand's Smart Smoke Technologies. Therefore, you can adjust the smoke settings going from 1 to 10. Alternatively, the Camp Chef Woodwind 36 allows you to have the full control of the unit from its Connect App.

Unlike other smokers in its Camp Chef Woodwind series, the Camp Chef Woodwind 36 has a 28,000 BTU sidekick. Even though this grill allows you more cooking space with its 231 square-inch area, you can replace the sidekick with a sear box.

In this Rec Tec vs. Camp Chef comparison, you might want to consider the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36 that has a full stainless steel firebox, heavy-duty legs, and rugged wheels.

Pros:

• Incudes four stainless steel meat probes, a bottle opener, and a PID temperature control panel
• A 3-year warranty backs the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36
• Protective controller cover
• Effective ash-kicking cleanout, grease management system
• Features bottom utility shelf
• Camp Chef Woodwind 36 has a massive grilling chamber

Cons:

• Bulky due to heavy-duty construction
• Requires two people to assemble the Camp Chef Woodwind 36

5. Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

The Camp Chef Woodwind Wifi 24 is one of the smallest pellet grills in its Camp Chef Woodwind series. However, this grill retains the smart features and versatility of the line.

Fully equipped with the Slide and Grill technologies, the versatility of the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 allows adjustable smoke and temperature settings. This grill has a temperature range of 160 to 500 degrees F and a PID controller to maintain consistent temperatures.

Compared with the Camp Chef Woodwind 36, the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 includes a cooking surface area of 800 square inches, and its hopper can take 22 lbs of pellets. Therefore, you can fit up to four chickens in it. Just below the firebox, there's a utility shelf to keep your utensils. Plus, the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 moves on two rugged wheels.

If you're going for a high-tech Camp Chef pellet grills to buy, check the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 grill out.

Pros:

• Heavy-duty construction
• Effective ash cleanout and pellet purge system
• Includes four stainless steel meat probes
• Compatible with Camp Chef Connect App
• Equipped with sear box and sidekick
• Camp Chef Woodwind 24 heats up nicely without hot spots

Cons:

• Customer service closes for questions about the Camp Chef Woodwind during weekends
• Side burner and sear box sold separately

Top 5 Rec Tec Grills

1. Rec Tec RT 700 Bull Grill

The Rec Tec RT 700 Bull is one of the top pellet grills in the market for its outdoor cooking features. Also known as the RT-700 Bull or RT-700, unlike with other brands, this grill is designed for grillers who value convenience, build quality, and versatility.

From its heat deflector to its drip pan, grates, and firepots, the RT 700 is made from 304 stainless steel. This RT 700 model also has an automated self-cleaning mode and a ceramic ignitor rod.

For temperature control, the RT 700 grill offers the brand's patent technology. There are 702 sq. inches of cooking surface area in it and set up to six rib racks. And the RT 700 gets to a temperature heat going from 200 degrees to 500 degrees F.

Of course, the RT 700 Bull works with wood pellets, and its hopper can take 40 pounds of them at once. Like with most pellet grills in this article, RT 700 Bull also has a WiFi connectivity.

If you're in for a quality Rec Tec pellet grills, the RT 700 Bull might just be the unit you've been looking for.

Pros:

• Impressive customer service with a 6-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
• RT 700 has a large cooking chamber
• WiFi capable
• Precision cooking with automatic RT 700 settings
• Equipped with two meat probes for grilling
• RT 700 has controller shelf and hooks for cooking utensils

Cons:

• The RT 700 is a bit bulky
• Only works with electricity

2. Rec Tec RT-590 Pellet Grill

If you would like one of the best Rec Tec pellet grills, consider the RT -590 pellet grills in this article. This product is in the same line as the RT 700 Bull, Rec Tec's premium grill. Therefore, it has a top-notch feature collection that makes grilling convenient.

The Rec Tec RT-590 weighs 100 pounds which is half of the RT 700 grill, and virtually everything (including the octagonal cooking chamber) is made from stainless steel. As its name implies, it has a cooking surface area of 590 sq. inches. However, you can extend this by going for the Rec Tec RT 590 that includes a shelf. Like the RT 700 Bull, this grill also has WiFi connectivity.

This grill gets to incredibly high temperatures, and you can set it to cook from 180 degrees to 500 degrees F. Still, you can maintain consistent heat using Rec Tec's patent temperature control.

Aside from other brands of quality grills, if you're searching for a durable and convenient grills, consider to check this RT 590 out.

Pros:

• Available risk-free with an outstanding customer support and a 4-year warranty
• WiFi capable
• Sturdy and durable construction
• Large hopper that can take 20 lbs. of wood pellets
• Equipped with an automatic lighting feature and two meat probes
• Effective pellet purge and cleanout system

Cons:

• Requires two people to assemble the grill
• Suitable for outdoor grilling only

3. Rec Tec RT 340 Pellet Grill

The Rec 340 is the budget grill in its brand series, behind the RT 590 and RT 700 Bull grills. This grill is durable, really portable, and built to last.

With a 340 square-inch cooking space in its chamber, you can fit three rib racks in this grill. There's a 20-lb section for wood pellets and cool technology for temperature control. Altogether, the RT-340 weighs shy of 100 pounds.

Like other impressive grills such as Yoder YS640, the RT-340 is equipped with an automatic shutdown feature. After you cook meals within its temperature range, you can push a button at its side to cool the grill. Both RT 700 Bull and RT 340 grills have an automatic lighting feature to start and set it in no time.

The RT-340 is fueled by wood pellets and powered by a 110-volt current. Its modular design allows you to attach things to it. But you can also use the top of the hopper to keep your utensils and platter.

For its reasonable price, the RT 370 is a great grill compared with other brands.

Pros:

• Light construction
• Has a 2-year warranty and impressive customer service
• Heats up properly and produces lots of smoke
• Easy to assemble in 10 to 15 minutes
• Cooking area heats up well without hot spots

Cons:

• Suitable for those who love little gatherings and hangouts only

4. Rec Tec RT-B380 Bullseye Wood Pellet Grill

This Rec Tec grill takes on a rather different shape of grills but offers just about the same performance as other units like the RT 700 Bull. Its cooking area measures 380 square inches, and the exterior hopper is for 15 pounds of wood pellets. Hence, you can share 25 burgers with this grill.

From its firebox to the grates, dome lid, and body, the Rec Tec RT-B380 is reinforced with stainless steel. However, the grates are porcelain-coated.

Similar to the RT 700 Bull, this grill also has the brand's patent technologies to handle ash and grease cleaning, temperature control as well as the automatic shutdown feature. The grill can cook meals between 225ºF - 500ºF and, also, there's a digital temperature display on it.

If you would like to buy a small yet powerful brand, consider the Rec Tec B-380 pellet grills.

Pros:

• Available risk-free for its two-year warranty 
• Equipped with a platinum-tipped meat probe for grilling
• Super light at only 54 pounds
• Rugged rubber wheels
• Dome lid and exhaust vent keep smoke in
• Has bottom support track for extra storage

Cons:

• Not sear-capable
• No smoke stack

5. Rec Tec BFG RT-2500 Pellet Grill

The RT-2500 pellet grill is really one of Rec Tec's top units when it comes to construction. This grill is built with quality stainless steel, and it is powerful.

The RT 2500 offers 2,535 sq. inches of cooking area. Therefore, pitmasters can make food for huge cookouts and parties with the grill. Unlike RT 700, you can fit 53 pounds of wood pellets in it. 

The RT 2500 has Rec Tec's cool grilling technology that allows you to control the temperature or set the time while you're away. The grill sports the brand's patent technology for the temperature control and has an automatic shutdown feature. RT 2500 is one of the grills that has a 6-year warranty along with the RT 700.

If you're ready to match its price and get a grilling powerhouse, consider the Rec Tec BFG RT-2500 grills.

Pros:

• Available risk-free with its six-year customer warranty services
• Comes with super-long meat probes
• Massive surface area
• Allows massive airflow through a double smokestack
• Heats nicely and burns cleanly

Cons:

• Bulky design
• Assembly could take time

Overall Winner: Camp Chef

For many grillers, the RT 700 Bull is the best grill in the market. However, when our experts compared Rec Tec vs. Camp Chef and not individual wood pellet grills, we found Camp Chef to be the better option.

First, we looked at the temperature range. Both brands can take their pellet grills to 500 degrees F. For example, the RT 700 Bull and Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 reach this temperature with ease. However, Camp Chef units do better by making grills go as low as 160 degrees F, compared to 180 degrees F of its competitor’s products.

Next, our experts checked the cooking surface and chamber capacity. Rec Tec and Camp Chef have one or two wood pellet grills with massive capacities (like the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 26 and RT 2500). However, Camp Chef grills generally offer larger cooking space than Rec Tec units.

We also compared Rec Tec vs. Camp Chef grill on their temperature precision and control. Both brands allow 5°F increments and have their patented versions of a PID. However, the Camp Chef temperature controls outshone Rec Tec's.

Finally, our experts found Camp Chef grills to be cheaper than Rec Tec units.

Check out how we compare Camp Chef against Traeger here. Read next!