Weber 2820 Smokey Mountain Cooker/Smoker

I did a fair amount of research prior to buying this smoker. The information on the virtual Weber bullet site convinced me to give this smoker a try. I've never done true barbecue (low temp and slow cooking), so can't compare to other cookers, but this one works great. Out of the box, assembly went quickly.Since assembly, over the past month and a half, I've had three cooking sessions in the smoker. The first was three chickens that took about four hours and were fantastic! Second session was on the fourth of July, when I did four chickens and two racks of ribs. Again, fantastic! Most recent cooking session was an eighteen hour slow cook of pork butts and the Weber smoker handled the entire cooking time with the original (very full) load of charcoal. How'd they taste? What comes after fantastic? Out of this world, I guess, because they were beyond fantastic.If you're going to buy a smoker, skip the cheap ones and get this one. Holds temperature very well over long times, which is required for low and slow cooking. A great smoker I expect I'll be using for many years to come.Update: After some two and a half months, it now totals nineteen whole chickens, eight racks of ribs, eight pork butts totaling around sixty pounds, and six meatloaves of 2.5 pounds each. I tend to barbecue in abundance and freeze so that we can make use if it in the busier times of the week. Great smoker, turns out great food, you won't be sorry.Second update: Was wandering around the site and, since I'm using it today, decided to add a new update to this one. I've had this now for about a year and a half, currently doing three racks of ribs for "finger food" later today. I've done 36lbs of pork shoulder at one time, on another time I smoked eight whole chickens at one time (over 31lbs), but both of those extended the cook time a fair amount, so I do less and do it more often now. Still a great little smoker!

You cannot go wrong with this. It is THE ultimate water smoker. Even someone like me who had absolutely no expertise in smoking became an expert in this venerable art after a few tries on this wondrous device.This smoker is solidly built. Retains heat very well. The 'controls' (we are not talking about electronic gizmos) are very basic and well designed. Here are the controls: water bowl, charcoal canister, vents (three at the bottom, one at the top), and the lid. With these and a little bit of patience (you will need it to slow cook for 12 to 18 hours), you can control the temperature and moisture inside the cooker to you desire. The only thing missing is a thermometer built into the lid. However, a bit of ingenuity can solve this easily.The Users Manual is one of the worst I have seen. You might as well toss it and search the net for good information on how to use and customize this smoker. Here is a very good website: [.....].I waited more than a year to complete this review. Yes, I still think it is that good.

I purchased this Weber Smokey Mountain aka: Weber Bullet, over two years ago and I love it. This smoker is engineered to smoke meats at 200 - 300 degrees which is perfect for low and slow barbecue cooking. Great for ribs in particular. Trying to get a regular Weber Kettle to cook at that low of temperature is almost impossible. Weber came out with the newer version of the Weber Smokey Mountain (721001) soon after I purchased this model(2820). The improvements include a thermometer which you really need to smoke, an ash/drip pan on the bottom and a side door with an improved handle and the ability to lean it open when you need to induct some additional air.If you are looking for a smoker and don't want to spend a huge amount of money the Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker is the answer. As with most Weber products, it is designed and engineered well, fairly priced and parts are always available through Weber. And it is made in the USA !

The smoker came with the procelain coating flaking off on the middle section. Although the customer service people promised to send a replacement part; they forgot to mention that the part is on back order. Also, while the lid and the bottom part of the smoker feel solid, the middle section, the front door and the legs on this smoker are flimsy - very flimsy. The front door does not fit too well either. It looks like I'll have to wait quite a bit before I can even try this thing out. This smoker cost about 3 time more then the competitors and I expect better then this.A follow-up:The replacement part came after a week. The procelain is chipped as well, although at a different place.At least Weber seems to stand behind their product. I was told another replacement will be send. Then again I was told two days later that the part is on back order.I would give this product less then one star if it is an option.