Traeger vs Rec Teq – 2023 Comparison

Avatar photo

By

James

Updated on

When it comes to grilling machines, Traeger Grills is one of the most popular brands. However, the market keeps getting competitive and better grills with new features frequently pop up.

The Rec Teq is one of those competitors, and they have a lot in common. This article will compare the Traeger vs. Rec teq and look at some of their key features. 

RT-700 vs Traeger Timberline 850

Before diving into the comparison of Traeger and Rec Teg, it is worth looking at some of the other popular grills in demand and why people love them. Here are three of the most popular grills.

The RT-700

The RT-700 is a top-quality grill and worth every penny you spend on it. As advertised, these grills stand out true to their features and specs and deliver top-quality grilling results. 

  1. The RT-700 focuses on top-quality materials like stainless steel that make them robust and stand the test of time.
  2. The components of the RT-700 are robust and built with easy accessibility, such as drip pans, smoke cap, self-cleaning mode, etc.
  3. You will not find a better deal than the RT-700 when it comes to warranty. The company offers a whopping six years warranty which is unmatchable.  

Traeger Timberline 850

The Traeger Timberline 850 is another premium quality grill loved by many people. It comes with fully loaded modern tech features, and the built quality is top quality. Here is what makes them stand out.

  1. The Traeger Timberline 850 comes with fully stainless steel built along with three grates and enough room for any cooking.
  2. It comes with WiFi technology and an app to control the grill.
  3. The best feature is using a sensor that monitors the pellets, which you can control remotely.

Traeger brand overview

Traeger is a world-class brand that sells some of the best grill machines. The brand is named after its founder Joe Traeger who patented it in 1986. He revolutionized the grilling industry with his 100% wood-smoked barbecue idea and has been a top brand ever since. 

Things, however, took a turn in 2006 when their patent expired and the fierce competition from other brands took off. Despite the competition, the Traeger brand continues to be one of the most sought-after premium grilling machines. 

Where are Traeger grilling machines manufactured?

Initially, the manufacturing base for Traeger grills was in the US. But after going international, the manufacturing shifted to China.

Types of smokers they make 

Traeger makes wood pellet grills for natural taste and flavor. 

What is the Traeger brand known for?

Traeger is famously known for their wood pellet grills

Rec Teg brand overview 

Rec Teg is a brand started and founded by two friends, Ron Cundy and Ray Carnes, in 2009. Initially, they started making single grills with wood pellets. But they eventually started exploring other ideas, and today, they have nine different grills that you can choose. Along with the RECTEQ ICER brand, they also have a string of other products, including sauces, merchandise, accessories, etc. 

Where are Rec Teg grilling machines manufactured?

Like most other companies, once they went international, Rec Teq shifted their manufacturing to China. But everything else, including the design, is sent from the headquarters in the USA. 

Types of smokers they make 

Rec Teg makes wood pellet grills as well as gas-powered grills.

What is the Rec Teq brand known for?

Rec Teg is famous for its premium quality wood pellet grills that stand the test of time.

Comparison between the Traeger and Rec Teg grills

These two brands are no doubt the best you can find in the market. But what are the differences, and is one better than the other? These are some of the things discussed below by taking a look at some key factors. 

Price 

First, if you look at the price of these two, you can see a big difference. For example, the Traeger 850 pellet grills are close to about 1800 USD compared to the Rec Teq RT-700 wood pellet grills that can cost you about 1200 USD. 

Construction 

Built-wise, you can expect the best from these two brands. The grills are robust, and you can use them for a long time. The only difference when it comes to construction is the type of materials they use. 

Traeger brand uses coated steel and porcelain coating on the grates. On the other hand, the Rec Teq grills use high-quality stainless steel on every component. 

Temperature control 

Both Traeger and Rec Teq perform well when it comes to temperature control.  However, the Rec Teq grills come with advanced PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) technology to maintain a steady temperature. 

Temperature range 

The Traeger grills have a 150-450 Fahrenheit temperature range, while the Rec Teq grills have a 200-500 Fahrenheit range. The difference is not much, but it gives the Rec Teq a light edge over Traeger when it comes to grilling performance.  

Cooking space

For cooking space, both these brands have a wide selection of grills that can suit your needs. You can find everything from small, medium, to large grills. 

Pellet hopper size

The Rec Teq grills don’t come with a pellet purge system compared to the Traeger grills. But the Rec Teq grills have a bigger hopper which offers a longer smoking time. 

Warranty 

There is a big difference in terms of the warranty. The Rec Teq wins with their six years warranty compared to Traeger’s three years. 

Extra features

The Traeger and the Rec Teq grill come with all the modern features such as Bluetooth connectivity, remote control for WiFi, and mobile apps through which you can control the grill.

About The Author


Avatar photo

Reviewed by

James

James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.