Traeger Ironwood 885 vs Pit Boss Navigator 850: Which One Should You Buy?

The Traeger Ironwood 885 at $1,800 and the Pit Boss Navigator 850 at $500 represent the premium and budget ends of the pellet grill market. The score gap is 7.6 vs 6.8 — meaningful but not massive. The price gap is $1,300 — massive. Let's find out what that money buys. ## Quick Comparison | Feature | Traeger Ironwood 885 | Pit Boss Navigator 850 | |---------|---------------------|----------------------| | **Price** | ~$1,800 | ~$500 | | **Cooking Area** | 885 sq in | 879 sq in | | **Insulation** | Double-wall | Single-wall | | **WiFi** | Yes (Wifire) | Basic WiFi | | **Pellet Sensor** | Yes | No | | **Steel Quality** | 16 gauge | Standard | | **BBQ Experience Score** | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | ## Build Quality The Traeger is noticeably better built. Double-wall insulation keeps heat in and improves cold-weather performance. The steel is heavier. The welds are cleaner. The paint is more durable. The D2 drivetrain is quieter and more precise. It feels like a $1,800 product. The Pit Boss feels like a $500 product. Lighter steel, basic construction, functional but uninspiring. The controller works. The hopper feeds. Everything does its job. Nothing exceeds expectations. ## Performance The Traeger maintains tighter temperature swings — typically within 10F of target versus the Pit Boss's 25F swings. Over a 12-hour brisket cook, that consistency matters. The Wifire app is genuinely useful for monitoring and adjusting remotely. The pellet sensor prevents mid-cook flameouts. The Pit Boss produces good results — pulled pork, ribs, and chicken come out well. But the wider temperature swings create inconsistency. Some cooks are great, some are mediocre. You're at the mercy of the basic controller. ## Value for Money The 0.8-point gap costs $1,300. That's $1,625 per point of improvement. In the pellet grill category, that's poor value. Compare: the Yoder YS640s costs $400 more than the Traeger and delivers 0.9 points of improvement — $444 per point. The Pit Boss is the better value play. The Traeger is the better product. Neither is the best in class (that's the Yoder at 8.5). ## Verdict **The Pit Boss Navigator 850 wins on value.** For casual pellet smoking, the $500 Pit Boss delivers 90% of the experience at 28% of the price. The 0.8-point score gap doesn't justify a 3.6x price difference. **Buy the Traeger Ironwood 885 if:** you smoke multiple times per week, WiFi monitoring is important, and you need consistent results in all weather conditions. Honest advice: if you can afford $1,800, spend $2,200 on the Yoder YS640s instead. If you can't, the Pit Boss at $500 is the smart buy. [Full Traeger Ironwood 885 Review](/en/reviews/traeger-ironwood-885-review/) | [Full Pit Boss Navigator 850 Review](/en/reviews/pit-boss-navigator-850-review/)