However, there are some great vertical smokers on the market, and their unusual shape does have its advantages (more on this soon!)
So, if you’d like to know why you should consider a vertical smoker and learn more about the best vertical smokers we have cooked with across various fuel types, read on!
Vertical smokers are great for beginners, owing to their quick learning curve and space-efficient design. Offset smokers can offer larger real estate and better control over the cooking process and final product.
Another Solid Gas Option – Camp Chef Smoke Vault
Read our full Camp Chef Smoke Vault review.
The propane-powered Camp Chef Smoke Vault combines the reliability and ease of use of a propane smoker with the looks of an old-timey bank vault. Two adjustable smoking racks sit above an 18,000 BTU burner and a heavy-gauge steel wood chip tray. A removable porcelain base tray makes cleaning up much easier.
The temperature is controlled by three adjustable damper valves and monitored by an easy-to-read door thermometer. Cooking temperatures range from 60°F to 350°F and the Smoke Vault even comes with a book of cooking tips, ideas, and recipes.
You can choose either the 18″ or 24″ model. Personally, I would always go for the wider 24″ because I find that a full rack of ribs or large brisket can struggle to fit in the narrower model.
Overall, the Camp Chef Smoke Vault is simple to use and produces reliably great results without much in the way of oversight.
Best vertical charcoal smoker – Weber Smokey Mountain
Read our full Weber Smokey Mountain review.
The Weber Smokey Mountain, also known as the Bullet for its iconic shape, is a vertical smoker that has developed a great reputation amongst pitmasters.
The benefit of the Smokey Mountain is that it’s simple to use, incredibly well built, and comes in three sizes, to suit your space requirements.
Charcoal water smokers, like the Bullet, are split into three sections. The fuel pan in the bottom provides heat and smoke using charcoal and wood chunks.
The central smoke chamber contains food being smoked and the water pan that keeps a stable smoking temperature and adds humidity.
The top of the bullet houses the temperature gauge and an exhaust damper that, along with the intake damper in the base, controls the airflow.
This simple three-part system makes the Bullet very user-friendly and ideal for newer pitmasters.
- Simple and easy to use – The Weber Smokey Mountain is a great choice for someone new to smoking, but is just as useful for seasoned pitmasters.
- Great tasting – The combination of charcoal and wood gives food smoked in a Weber Smokey Mountain a fantastic authentic flavor. Different wood chunks can be used to adjust the flavor profile of the smoke to suit the food you’re smoking.
- Multiple sizes – The Smokey Mountain comes in three different sizes, so it’s easier to find one to suit the space you have available.
- Takes some effort to control – The WSM performs much better than some cheap charcoal smokers, but it still requires some effort to keep your temperature dialled in throughout a long cook.
The Smokey Mountain lives up to its reputation for great quality and ease of use. A great choice for a new pitmaster, it remains an excellent smoker no matter how experienced you are.
- Beginner friendly
- Excellent smoke flavor
- Small footprint
- Reloading charcoal awkward
- Water pan can be a pain
Vertical Smoker vs Horizontal Pellet Smoker Grill – Which To Buy
FAQ
What are the cons of a vertical smoker?
Are vertical smokers any good?
Can you grill with a vertical smoker?
Can I use my vertical smoker in the rain?
How does a vertical Smoker work?
A vertical smoker comes in three separate sections which are as follows: The firebox is the heating source that provides heat to the entire smoker. The smoker works by drawing up heat and smoke directly to the cooking chamber. However, heat and smoke first go through the water pan, heating it up in the process.
What are the benefits of a vertical smoker?
Here are some of the main benefits of cooking with a vertical smoker: Great for smoking large amounts of meat. The tall, multi-rack design of vertical smokers allows you to smoke a lot of food at once. You can smoke multiple racks of ribs, briskets, pork shoulders, and more.
Is a vertical smoker a good choice?
A vertical smoker is perfect for fast-cooking foods but not necessarily great for slow-cooking foods such as pork shoulders. In short, vertical smokers are ideal for high-heat grilling and searing. Generally, vertical smokers are designed to use charcoal and wood, but other models can use gas or electricity.
Can a vertical smoker run dry?
If you want to dry smoke, which we often prefer, you don’t have to use water in this vertical smoker either. It has no problem running dry. And, it’s cold weather performance is spot on too. There’s actually 1″ thick insulation between those steel walls which does a really good job of holding in the heat.