Traeger Ironwood 885 vs Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24: Which One Should You Buy?

The pellet grill market has two dominant players: Traeger and Camp Chef. The Ironwood 885 is Traeger's premium offering. The Woodwind WiFi 24 is Camp Chef's best. One costs significantly more. The other gives you more for less. Let's sort this out. ## Quick Comparison | Feature | Traeger Ironwood 885 | Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 | |---------|---------------------|---------------------------| | **Price** | ~$1,800 | ~$900 | | **Cooking Area** | 885 sq in | 811 sq in | | **WiFi** | Yes (Wifire) | Yes (WiFi) | | **Sear Capability** | No direct sear | Sidekick compatible | | **Pellet Sensor** | Yes | No | | **Temp Range** | 165-500F | 160-500F | | **BBQ Experience Score** | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | ## Build Quality The Traeger Ironwood 885 is well-built with double-wall insulation and a sealed interior. The D2 drivetrain is smooth. The pellet sensor is a genuinely useful feature — never run out mid-cook. The Wifire app is polished. It feels like a premium product. The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 is also well-built. The ash cleanout system is the best in the pellet grill industry — pull a lever and it's done. The Sidekick attachment adds a propane burner for searing, something the Traeger simply cannot do. The build doesn't feel as premium as the Traeger, but it's solid. ## Performance Both maintain temperatures well for smoking. The Traeger's D2 drivetrain adjusts pellet feed more precisely, giving slightly tighter temperature swings. For pure smoking, the Traeger has a marginal edge. But the Camp Chef's Sidekick compatibility is a significant advantage. Attach a flat top griddle or a sear box and you have direct high-heat capability. The Traeger maxes out at 500F — not enough for a proper sear. The Camp Chef ecosystem gives you true versatility. The Wifire app is better than Camp Chef's app. More reliable connection, better interface, more recipe integration. If app-driven cooking matters to you, Traeger wins this round. ## Value for Money The Camp Chef costs half as much as the Traeger. Half. The score difference is 7.6 vs 7.4 — a gap of 0.2 points. You're paying $900 extra for a pellet sensor, slightly better WiFi, and marginally tighter temp control. The Camp Chef gives you better ash cleanup and sear capability for $900 less. This is the clearest value mismatch in the pellet grill category. ## Verdict **The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 wins on value.** At half the price with a 0.2-point score gap, the Camp Chef is the smarter buy for most people. The ash cleanout system and Sidekick compatibility give it practical advantages the Traeger can't match. **Buy the Traeger Ironwood 885 if:** you want the best app experience, the pellet sensor is important to you, and budget isn't a concern. It's the easier, more polished pellet grill — and that's the problem. Easier isn't worth $900. [Full Traeger Ironwood 885 Review](/en/reviews/traeger-ironwood-885-review/) | [Full Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Review](/en/reviews/camp-chef-woodwind-wifi-24-review/)