Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Which Is Better?

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Which Is Better?

If you’re in the market for a smoker, you may be wondering which brand to choose. Which pellet grill is the best for you? Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef? This is a question that has been hotly debated for years. Deciding whether to buy a Rec Tec grill or a Camp Chef grill can be tricky. Both brands are high quality and have loyal followings, so how do you decide?

So, this can be a hard question to answer, but we’re here to help. In this blog post, we will compare these two grills and give you our verdict on which one is better – Rec Tec vs Camp Chef. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is The Rec Tec?

The Rec Tec brand name also belongs to Trevor Breslin. It’s a pellet grill that uses wood pellets instead of propane gas or charcoal to cook food. The main difference with the Camp Chef is how it cooks, not who makes it.

Rec Tec grills are some of the best units on the market today for all-around cooking capability and ease of use. They feature an advanced digital sensor system, which automatically lowers or raises the heat in proportion to your food’s required temperature. This gives you more options for cooking under precise control than other brands on the market offer, among other features like smart speed controls, accurate digital thermometer displays, and rust-resistant coatings inside and out.

The History Of The Rec Tec?

Rec Tec debuted in the pellet grill market in 2009, with the goal of creating a low-cost smoker with advanced technology and high-quality material. And what began as a hobby shared by two friends has developed into a major corporation that has pushed the market to new heights in terms of quality, innovation, and price competitiveness.

Their former smokers aren’t cheap. However, their bull-horned drums have a lot of value.

Rec Tec’s design and functionality are on par with the finest in the industry, and its pricing is at the center of the pack. It’s what’s gotten them recognized, and it’s also what’s gained them high ratings and feature mentions.

Rec Tec shifted its name to Recteq in 2020. As a result, you’ll find them referred to as in our publications and elsewhere.

Where is Rec Tec made?

Some of Rec Tec’s components come from China. Their computers are built in the United States, and quality control is done at their Georgia plant.

What Is The Camp Chef?

The Camp Chef is a portable propane grill that can be used indoors or outdoors. It’s compact, easy to carry, and stores easily on the patio or in the garage. The Camp Chef uses an efficient burner system for fast heating with no flare-ups. A removable drip pan makes cleaning up quick and easy. All of our grills are manufactured with high-quality materials, are built for durability, are rust-resistant, have steel rods supporting the hoods, stay-cool handles, and adjustable air vents to control the heat output. Like all of our products, they come with some warranty against defects in workmanship or materials under normal use.

The History Of The Camp Chef?

The Camp Chef Company was founded in 1992 and has gone through two different phases. In 2007 the company changed ownership and shortly after filed for bankruptcy protection. The Camp Chef we know today began in 2009 with a young man named Trevor Breslin as an investor. With his assistance, they were able to move forward to where they are now – a firm footing, a well-equipped production facility, and a well-established market presence in Canada and the United States.

Camp Chef began by addressing a need in the market for high-quality outside cooking utensils. Their ranges, on the other hand, have expanded as they’ve grown. Today, they manufacture some of the greatest at-home pellet smokers on the market.

When you look at their products, you can see that quality and price are still at the core of their company concept. With their Slide n Grill plates and side attachments, they’ve also innovated, addressing the question of whether pellet smokers can actually grill.

Where does Camp Chef make their barbecues?

Camp Chef is headquartered in Utah, but its grills are now made in China.

Well, we have general knowledge about two types of grills – Rec Tec vs Camp Chef. So, the next part will show you how they differ. And, in the end, you will make a decision about what is better for your needs.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: The Comparison

You’ll be looking at a few important areas before you buy, regardless of whether you’re looking at Rec Tec or Camp Chef models. So, here’s a quick rundown of how these two companies perform and where they rank in the market.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Construction 

Camp Chef definitely has the edge here. Their pellet grills are of good quality, fit together smoothly, and continue to work even after repeated use for three or more years. They also have added features for conveniences like easily-removable ashtrays and self-cleaning burners.

Rec Tec has its own distinctive look made from stainless steel with a matte powder coating on top. It’s not unlike what you might see in an outdoor kitchen for homes or public venues, which is great if that’s your style or what you want to project to guests. But it can be harder to keep up with cleaning the grease off this exterior surface as opposed to smooth black enamel coatings on most other brands.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Cooking Area

Rec Tec has a 20-inch width per cooking surface, which is about 30% more than the standard 18 inches you might find on other pellet grills. It also allows you to cook up to 24 burgers at once, depending on their size. There are three main compartments in the Rec Tec for accessories like wood chip pans or water pans, one of which is stainless steel.

Camp Chef has an almost even distribution between smaller and larger models with approximately 10 additional square inches. The Signature Series provides 644 sq/in of primary cooking space, while the Tailgater series offers 846 sq/in of primary cooking space. Both have around 100 sq/in of secondary cooking area that includes removable upper racks that are useful for tray items like vegetables or meats.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Thermometer

No matter which brand you choose, you should be looking at accurate meat probe thermometers that are easy to read and use without getting too technical or trying to do it all manually after a long day at work or play. The Camp Chef has a compact digital display that’s easy to read during use. It also has an integrated meat probe with audible alerts when your food hits the appropriate temperature, which is much better than seeing how hot or cold your grill is. 

The Rec Tec has another nice touch: they attach their thermometers on the door of their grills under your cooking grate and near your food for better accuracy and dependability than you get from most other brands on the market today.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: WiFi Capabilities

Camp Chef recently released a new line of pellet grills that include WiFi capabilities. You can find them in the Elite and Pro series under their Camp Chef Smokepro label. These models include the same basic features as other pellet grills, but you can activate an app on your phone to control certain aspects of performance like cooking temperature and length, plus providing notifications when your food is ready or if there’s a problem with your unit like it’s running too hot or cold for example.

Rec Tec does not currently offer WiFi capabilities in any of its pellet grill models. According to their website, they are working on an update for 2017 Q4 which should provide this feature once it becomes available later this year.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Temperature Range

Pellet smokers from Camp Chef may be tuned to temperatures ranging from 160 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in 5-degree increments. That’s a really broad range for a pellet smoker, and it should allow you to cook pretty much whatever you desire.

However, the Slide and Grill technology raise the temperature to 650°F for direct flame cooking. It’s an extra benefit and one that’s well worth it if you plan to grill on it as well.

In 5-degree increments, Rec Tec will range from 200 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. For greater smoke at the start of your cook, choose the LO setting. There’s also a FULL option for high-heat grilling, which raises the temperature even further. But it’s still indirectly heating, so you won’t get the same taste, crusty, sear as you would with an open flame. 

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Temperature Control

Rec Tec uses a state-of-the-art Smart Grill Controller to allow temperature adjustment from 100°F to 500°F. You can also monitor the number of pellets inside your hopper and change how many you want to cook with based on their automatic feed system which delivers consistent amounts each time to help maintain even cooking temperatures.

Camp Chef offers Green Mountain Grills’ proprietary technology called Open Flame Technology, or OFT for short. This includes both inside and outside self-adjusting burners that will automatically turn down as oxygen levels decrease as well as one-touch cleanup so you don’t have to worry about ash buildup clogging up your burners. Temperature adjustments range from 180°F to 450°F via an electronic dial, and you can use their app to monitor pellet levels in real-time.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Materials 

Camp Chef uses mostly powder-coated steel, with their main body made of aluminum, which makes them sturdier than most other models. They also use stainless steel grates and cooking grids to improve durability and provide longevity.

Rec Tec’s entire pellet grill is built with solid 14 gauge brushed stainless steel wrapped around a three-inch tubular steel frame providing maximum strength and durability even when faced with heavy use over time. This material helps the Rec Tec run more efficiently since you won’t have to worry about the extra weight that heavier materials like cast iron would add over time. It can also withstand dents easier if something ever does happen to dent it during operation or shipping that might cause damage over time as well as rusting or environmental wear and tear.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Pellet Hopper Capacity

Camp Chef’s ash removal system allows you to empty the hopper without having to open up the unit first, which is great if you want to smoke something on your pellet grill last minute before it’s time for bed or if you’re grilling out in cold weather where opening up the door would cause everything inside to freeze slightly. Some users have also reported using this as a chip tray when cooking with their own hardwood chips for added flavor during grilling. The taste of wood chips can vary depending on your preference so that’s why making sure you have the option of adding them into your cook whenever necessary might come in handy.

Rec Tec’s pellet hopper capacity is slightly larger than most at 18 pounds, which means you can add more in between grill sessions in a shorter amount of time if need be. The hopper also runs off its own power adapter so you can use it even if your grill isn’t plugged in or activated to keep the hopper warm during cold weather conditions when opening up the lid might cause everything inside to freeze over.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Warranty 

Camp Chef offers a 3-year warranty on parts and 30 days of labor from the date of purchase for all products listed under their Smokepro label, with an overall warranty length of 1-year for both parts and labor from the original date of purchase when dealing with all other products.

Rec Tec offers a 3-year warranty on their grills and control boxes, as well as a 1-year warranty on the pellet hopper and climate control system which comes with real-time alerts so you can keep track of your grill at all times.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Aspects Of Technology

Camp Chef grills are available with smart features like Wi-Fi app control, which allows you to download recipes from the user community. This is great if you can’t think of what to cook for dinner yourself or always want to try new things no matter how much experience you have at cooking on other models that aren’t as tech-savvy. You can even set up your grill so it sends you push notifications when food is ready to help reduce how often you need to move the meat around since there won’t be any guessing about whether or not it has cooked all the way through. It also provides internal temperature sensor probes so you don’t have to, which eliminates the risk of your guests getting sick by undercooking their food if you’re not able to monitor it yourself.

Rec Tec uses smart capabilities of its own with its pellet grills, allowing you to download recipes and share them with other users – both locally and online – directly from the control panel of your grill. You can also use the Rec Tec app to make sure your grill is turned on and heating up correctly which is great if you want to keep track of everything in real-time without needing to constantly check up on it.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Portability

Camp Chef’s Smokepro series is portable and can be easily folded up for storage or to take on the go. It comes with a single side shelf and wheels so you can roll it around and store it in small spaces when necessary or transport it between locations, but the weight might make you want to leave it where it is since this unit weighs around 50 pounds as-is.

Rec Tec’s grills are also quite portable thanks to their folding legs that lock into place quickly and easily. They also come with built-in rollers so moving them from one location to another is as easy as rolling them along the ground without much effort – even if they weigh over 100 pounds – making these models great for camping trips or tailgating parties where you won’t have any control over what type of power source is available to use.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Size & Weight

Camp Chef’s Smokepro series is available in three different sizes and comes with either a 12, 18 or 22-inch diameter grill. These units also weigh between 45 and 50 pounds as-is depending on the size you choose. The pellet hopper capacity varies from model to model as well but can hold around 18 pounds of pellets which should be more than enough for an entire day of grilling if necessary.

Rec Tec sells two kinds of grills: its original line that’s 3 inches thick and weighs about 100 pounds and a new series made out of stainless steel that’s 2 inches thick and weighs closer to 140 pounds due to the extra metal used in construction. Just like Camp Chef’s grills, Rec Tec’s models also come with differing pellet hopper capacities, but they range from 7 pounds to 30 pounds depending on the size of your grill.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Additional Features

Camp Chef Smokepro series provides you with a lot of additional features that make grilling easier and more convenient, including:

• An ash cup is located on the bottom of the unit which makes it easy to clean out after every cookout. 
• A grease management system that channels fat into one easily removable drip tray so you don’t have to worry about burning your food or getting grease all over your hands. 
• All models are ETL certified for safety in case any issues arise during use which is required by most states when using any form of cooking equipment indoors. 
• Optional cast iron grates increase durability and heat retention. 

Rec Tec’s series also provides a lot of additional features, some more useful than others, which include:

• A built-in temperature sensor that lets you monitor internal meat temperature without having to open up your grill for every checkup since the probes are right inside your food as it cooks. 
• A pellet probe that can be inserted into any type of meat or fish on your grill so you don’t have to guess about how close it is to being done anymore, although this feature will cost a few extra dollars if you decide to include it with your purchase.
• A system that lets you override the cooking temperature and maintain it at a specific level for as long as necessary without having to constantly fiddle with your controls. 
• Optional stainless steel grates increase durability and make cleanup easier than ever since they won’t rust or leave debris on your food after being cleaned, just remember that these models cost a bit more than their original counterparts – though not nearly as much as some of Traeger’s new line of grills if that’s what you prefer instead.

Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef: Cost

Camp Chef has some of the lower price points on pellet grills in this category. You can find them online or in most major retailers for between $500 and $800. Deals are often available around the holidays, so if you’re looking to buy a new grill, keep your eyes open during November and December when companies offer special deals on their products.

Rec Tec is definitely pricier than Camp Chef, although not by much when you compare all of their available models together. The difference is about $150-$200 per unit, which may be worth it to you depending on how serious you are about food preparation and what kind of cooking experience you hope to get out of your unit.

So, Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef, Which Is Better?

Both Camp Chef and Rec Tec are terrific companies to investigate if you’re searching for a multi-function, high-quality pellet smoker with Wi-fi connectivity.

Camp Chef is often less expensive than Rec Tec, has a wider choice of sizes, performs well, and has the extra benefit of being able to double as grills owing to their Slide and Grill tech.

With additional stainless steel components, what seems to be an indestructible firepot, and an industry-leading guarantee to match, Rec Tec has positioned itself as a brand that gives that little bit extra quality. They don’t do as good a job grilling as Camp Chef does. However, if you’re primarily looking for a smoker and have the financial means to do so, their quality, longevity, and helpful features that make them our top choice among all these famous brands. Their higher consumer ratings have landed them on a number of best ones.

However, if cost is a major consideration, the Camp Chef is an excellent choice. You pay a lot of punch for your cash. They’re still one of our preferred pellet smokers without a question.

Conclusion On Rec Tec Vs Camp Chef

So, Rec Tec vs Camp Chef, which one is better? In summary, Camp Chef is a well-known and respected brand in the outdoor cooking industry, while Rec Tec has made a big name for itself in recent years with its pellet grills. 

Camp Chef’s grills are available in both propane and charcoal varieties, while Rec Tec only offers pellet grills. Camp Chef’s grills also come with features like side tables and warming racks, which are not offered on all models of Rec Tec grills. However, Rec Tec’s grills tend to be slightly more expensive than Camp Chef. 

Rec Tec vs Camp Chef – both brands offer high-quality products, but there are some key differences that may help you decide which one is right for you. We hope that this blog helps you partly to choose the best brand for your need.