A Terrific Entry-Level Smoker Grill

Every smoker grill, not just the high-end ones, should have Wi-Fi connectivity to adjust the temp and monitor progress remotely. The entry-level Traeger Woodridge features wireless tech and other conveniences, making it a solid choice for well under $1,000.

Traeger Woodridge

Experience incredible wood-fired flavor with the all-new Traeger Woodridge. Cook everything from BBQ classics to grilled burgers and even baked pizza.

Pros & Cons

• Wi-Fi allows remote control
• Large cooking area
• Consistent cooking temperatures

• Assembly can take some time
• Base model doesn’t have four wheels

Price and Availability

The Traeger Woodridge became available on January 16, 2025, and retails for $799. It’s the base model of the three new grills announced by the company. The grill comes with a temperature probe in the box.

You Might Not Even Notice the New Design—and That’s Okay

The new line of Woodridge smokers from Traeger might not look dramatically different, but the new grills represent a significant leap forward for the company. As part of the range, there are three new models: Woodridge, Woodridge Pro, and Woodridge Elite.

I spent time with the $799 Woodridge model to get a sense of what customers can expect if they don’t want to splurge on the highest-end option.

The basic Woodridge includes a large pellet hopper, an 860-square-inch cooking area, and the company’s now-common EZ-Clean Grease and Ash Keg. It also features Wi-Fi and access to Trager’s mobile app, as well as side rails to accommodate Pop-And-Lock accessories.

For comparison, the Traeger Pro 575, with its much smaller 575-square-inch cooking area, cost $799 at the time of release. That one doesn’t have the better cleaning keg underneath or the more modern digital controller. The Woodridge base model is a stark upgrade over the Pro Series and a cost savings over some of the company’s other products.

Compared to the $999 Woodridge Pro, the base model doesn’t have a pellet sensor, a foldable side table, or more storage along the bottom. Those are understandable differentiators, but the thing I truly miss on the base unit is having four wheels to easily push the grill around. Instead, the Woodridge model only has two wheels and needs to be lifted on one side to roll it.

More than any specific addition, the big change to the Woodridge grills is how their design has been modernized. The model I tested doesn’t look dramatically different from the Ironwood line, but it feels different. On all the grills, the pellet hopper is lower and serves as the main place to set food or tools. Overall, the grill seems fresher and well-thought-out.

There are a bunch of these little changes around the unit, probably all in service of the grill’s updated construction. If you buy directly from Traeger, be prepared to spend some time assembling it.

Assembly Will Take Time, But It Isn’t Difficult

Of the grills I’ve tested—Brisk It Origin, Traeger Timberline, Traeger Ironwood—most have come more than 50% assembled. Usually, it’s just the legs and some of the smaller pieces that need to be bolted on. Typically, I’ve done it myself in under an hour.

The Woodridge took me around two hours to assemble solo. You might be able to avoid this by buying the grill from a third-party retailer or distributor, which, I’m told, will usually pre-assemble the unit.

I think the assembly process is worth noting because it seems like a big part of what makes the smoker affordable. The packaging is more compact, and I’m guessing the parts are more cost-effective to manufacture.

There’s the added benefit that I feel like I understand the inter-workings a little better and appreciate its mechanics. I might even try to troubleshoot the smoker myself too and save a support call if anything goes wrong in the future.

I didn’t mind having to assemble most of the grill because the whole thing was able to be done with a single screwdriver. The included paper instructions I used were clear too. There are video instructions available if you want to take that route.

It took me more time than I was expecting, but it’s about as easy as it could be. Don’t shy away from purchasing the Woodridge simply because of the assembly.

Wireless Connectivity Is a Must on a Smoker

One of the new additions to the Woodridge line is a new digital controller. This is the display that shows the temperature and lets you control it with a twist knob. Past models have ranged from using monochrome displays to color touchscreens.

I think the new blocky interface is a happy medium between all of the past iterations. Although the color touchscreen looked great and was nicer for navigating menus, I often found it sluggish to use. This new one always kept up with the commands.

The simplicity of this new display can make changing settings on the grill a little tricky. For example, you need to hold the ignition button for three seconds to turn the appliance off after a smoke. Some people might not know how to navigate the different menu options without constantly consulting the instruction booklet.

Still, I think the balance between the display’s functionality and its performance is struck just fine. You will need to use the Woodridge’s controller occasionally, but if you hate it, you can do most things through Traeger’s mobile app, available for iPhone and Android.

Coming from a food-first company, the app is a surprisingly well-designed conduit to the grill. You can control it or just monitor its progress. You can use the included probe to set a target temperature or use the regular timer built-in.

A lot of the app is dedicated to recipes and information. If nothing else, the content is a good jumping-off point for figuring out what to make or new ways to prepare it. And even though you can send cook commands for a recipe directly to the grill, I often just browse the recipe section for little tidbits or nuances of how other people smoke their meat.

Smoking Meat Was Smooth Sailing

I used the Woodridge to make burnt pork ends, burgers, and ribs, among other things. I wanted to try a range of shorter and longer items as well as simpler and more complex food.

The most important part of the Woodridge experience—the cooking—was the most boring. Everything I made came out without a hitch. Smoking burgers at a high heat and making ribs at a low heat worked equally well.

Even though the base model isn’t listed as having better insulation like the Elite model, I found the cooking temperature to remain steady—in 60-degree weather.

The large cooking area dwarfed two full racks of ribs. The base model’s relatively compact frame with a sizable interior should be suitable for all kinds of backyards. You can feed a party with the Woodridge, or use it for a casual family dinner.

Should You Buy the Traeger Woodridge Smoker?

Without reservation, the Traeger Woodridge grill is a terrific value and a great entry point into the world of smoking meat. If you’ve been dancing around buying a smoker and don’t want to over-commit to one, going whole hog, then I would recommend starting here, with the base model Woodridge.

If you have an older Traeger smoker and are looking to upgrade, this base model is still a fine consideration. It should feel much more modern in a lot of ways. But if you are coming from another unit, I would probably recommend at least considering one of the other Woodridge models first. The addition of a pellet sensor, lighting, four wheels, and more storage space will make it feel like an even more substantial upgrade in the long run.

Traeger Woodridge

Experience incredible wood-fired flavor with the all-new Traeger Woodridge. Cook everything from BBQ classics to grilled burgers and even baked pizza.