When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

In keeping with the familiar, time-tested design of wood-pellet smokers, the Pit Boss Sportsman 850 is pretty traditional — it's even got a classic venting pipe and a hanging bucket to catch grease drips. But despite the traditional design, it has one unique feature: a pull lever, which will expose your food to direct heat and flames. It's a moderately priced grill, retailing for $749, that should have plenty of cooking space to feed a room full of people.

Over the last several years, I've tested nearly a dozen of the best BBQ smokers and best pellet grills, including the new Traeger Woodridge Elite, and the Sportsman 850 stacks up well in its raw performance. The heat is consistent, and there a

See Full Page