smoker vs kettle

[ad2tude]

Ok guys,I just switched recently from gas to charcoal and won't ever go back! I love my new performer platinum. My curiosity has me looking at a weber smoker. Is there a big difference?

[Bman]

For me ---- I *like* my kettles, but I *love* my 22.5" WSM
What are you looking for as far as big difference goes?
I have had 65 pounds of pork butt on my smoker at once.  Not so much on a kettle. 

[landgraftj]

I currently have an 18.5 and will look into the new 14.5 soon. I use my smoker quite a bit. I would recommend getting one if you have the cash.

[Duke]

It depends on how much you plan to smoke. You could also save a little and get the Cajun Bandit stacker for your kettle. It also saves space and can be used on any 22.5.

[MartyG]

It depends on how much you plan to smoke.

Sounds like something a member of team Cali would say...

[HankB]

You can do anything on a kettle that you would do on a smoker, but it will likely take more work and/or skill.

The Smokey Mountain is purpose built for smoking and does it with ease and aplomb. It holds a lot of charcoal, uses daisy wheels for precise temperature control and has space for a water bowl (or other heat diffuser/moderator) between the fire and two grates. the lid has a tall dome for large pieces of meat.

Gauge by how many you see on Craigslist. They don't sell as many as kettles, nevertheless, they almost never show up in the Chicago market which always has a good selection of kettles and gassers.

[Craig]

I smoke on kettles since they are all I've got. I hope to find a WSM down the road. Closest thing I have now is the mini WSM and it gets the job done..

[MaxBobcat]

If you cook a lot of brisket (like most of us down in Texas do), then get a WSM, they are great for smoking a couple large packer briskets to feed a bunch of people.  I also prefer spare ribs done on my WSM than my kettle.  I can do 6+ slabs of ribs on my WSM.  Would be hard to squeeze that into a kettle to do indirect, unless you've got a Ranch kettle.

[ad2tude]

Thanks for all the info guys.

[jamesnomore]

It depends on how much you plan to smoke.

Sounds like something a member of team Cali would say...

Ha! I resemble that remark  . But seriously if you want to smoke a lot of anything you need the right equipment. The kettle is perfect for my small family of 3. A mini wsm may be in my future but I'll probably waffle for years before I spend the $$$.