Pit Boss 850 Navigator Review

What changes on cook day

The big change is the leash: with the WiFi app you start the brisket at dawn, go back to bed and check the pit from your phone.

Steak night stops being the weak spot: the direct-flame option lets the fire reach the meat, so you get a crust and not just smoke.

The 30 lb hopper means an overnight cook without a 3 a.m. refill.

Weeknights or the whole crew?

Weekends with friends, eight people without stress. 932 sq in gives you room for two pork butts or several racks of ribs at once, enough for a backyard full of friends.

The 30 lb hopper covers an overnight cook.

Best for you if

• You cook for a crowd, or for the whole street
• You want one grill for low-and-slow and hot grilling: 500°F is the stated top end
• You want steaks with a crust, not just smoked meat

Skip it if

• Your patio is tight: 932 sq in of grate makes for a big grill
• You simply want our top pick: that's the Traeger Pro 780 (9.3/10)

Better fit elsewhere?

Feeding more people? The Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series Vertical lists 2,224 sq in of cooking space (9.2/10).

Need one for the campsite? The Traeger Ranger is built to travel (9.3/10).

On a tighter budget? The Traeger Pro 780 was listed at $599.99 on Sep 30, 2026 (9.3/10).

The verdict

What we'd buy the Pit Boss 850 Navigator for is 932 sq in of cooking space, with a stated 180–500°F range as a bonus. Only 67 buyers have rated it so far (4.6/5), so treat the score as an early read. The one thing that bugs us: the Traeger Pro 780 sitting above it at 9.3/10. We'd pick it if you cook for a crowd, or for the whole street; otherwise, put it next to the Traeger Woodridge first.