I Tested the Top Pit Boss Navigator, Here’s My Honest Take

This grill earned its ranking through sheer everyday reliability and a versatile design that fits most standard households. You get a generous 932-square-inch cook space paired with a dependable 30-pound hopper for steady, uninterrupted cooks.

I'd place this unit at the top of my list for families who want serious barbecue results without managing a massive footprint. You do miss out on the ultra-wide cooking area found on larger models, but that limitation keeps the physical size manageable for standard decks.

This vertical machine is tailored specifically for the dedicated pitmaster who prioritizes high-capacity rack cooking over traditional open-grate searing. The massive 2,224-square-inch interior handles huge quantities of ribs, pork shoulders, and sausages across five adjustable levels.

I consider this vertical powerhouse the ultimate tool for crowd-pleasing barbecue, though you should remember it lacks a direct-flame searing option. You trade away traditional grill marks for vertical smoking efficiency, which suits dedicated low-and-slow cooks perfectly.

The standout feature here is an advanced touchscreen controller that modernizes how you manage wood-fired cooking. Widen that out to the 1,593-square-inch cooking surface, and you have a machine built to feed massive neighborhood gatherings with minimal effort.

In my view, this is the absolute best overall pick for anyone who treats weekend entertaining as a competitive sport. You do have to accommodate a very wide physical footprint, meaning smaller patios might feel crowded.

The most common buyer complaint centers on its lower temperature ceiling compared to traditional pellet grills, yet the unit still delivers fantastic smoking performance. You get a solid 1,118-square-inch space spread across five racks, making it an efficient choice for mid-sized households.

I find this smaller vertical option appealing for anyone who wants authentic smoke flavor without committing to a giant machine. You sacrifice some upper-end heat range, but the trade-off brings faster startup times and efficient fuel consumption.

Stepping down slightly from my top overall pick, this model offers a trimmed-down 1,329-square-inch capacity while retaining the same smart controller technology. It bridges the gap for cooks who need serious outdoor cooking space but want something fractionally smaller than the flagship sixteen-hundred series.

I think this unit hits a sweet spot for large families who host frequent weekend cookouts. You still face the reality of a substantial metal footprint, but the smart feature set makes the size entirely worthwhile.