Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22-inch
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22-inch is a best-in-class vertical water smoker known for refined engineering, durable porcelain-enameled steel and highly repeatable temperature stability that suits both beginners and competitive cooks. Against the more raw drum-style smokers in this list it sacrifices some bulk capacity for superior temp control and lower fuel consumption, making it a slightly higher upfront investment that pays off in consistent results and lower maintenance costs.
Steady temp
Water-pan magic
Steady temp
Water-pan magic
Review Summary
"Users praise its solid build, reliable temperature control, and consistent smoking results. Some mention limited capacity compared with larger smokers."
Kettle swagger
Classic vertical design provides even indirect heat and consistent smoke.
Kettle swagger
Classic vertical design provides even indirect heat and consistent smoke.
Recreational Enjoyment
Skill Development & Mastery
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22-inch is a best-in-class vertical water smoker known for refined engineering, durable porcelain-enameled steel and highly repeatable temperature stability that suits both beginners and competitive cooks. Against the more raw drum-style smokers in this list it sacrifices some bulk capacity for superior temp control and lower fuel consumption, making it a slightly higher upfront investment that pays off in consistent results and lower maintenance costs.
Steady temp
Water-pan magic
Kettle swagger
Classic vertical design provides even indirect heat and consistent smoke.
Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid retain heat and resist corrosion.
Steady temp
Water-pan magic
Kettle swagger
Classic vertical design provides even indirect heat and consistent smoke.
Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid retain heat and resist corrosion.
$500-700 CAD
Pit Barrel Cooker Classic
The Pit Barrel Cooker Classic is a market-leading hanging-style drum smoker prized for its simplicity, rapid heat-up and efficient fuel use, delivering great results with minimal setup thanks to its hook-and-hang design. Compared with more engineered units like the Weber or Hunsaker it offers exceptional value for cooks who prioritize ease of use and affordability over fine-grained temperature tuning.
Hook-and-hang
Fast setup
Hook-and-hang
Fast setup
Review Summary
"Owners love its ease of use, fast results and excellent flavor with minimal fuss. Criticisms include basic accessories, potential rusting over time, and limited precision for long low-and-slow cooks."
Juicy finish
Hanging-style cooking lets air circulate around meat for even cooking and excellent bark.
Juicy finish
Hanging-style cooking lets air circulate around meat for even cooking and excellent bark.
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
The Pit Barrel Cooker Classic is a market-leading hanging-style drum smoker prized for its simplicity, rapid heat-up and efficient fuel use, delivering great results with minimal setup thanks to its hook-and-hang design. Compared with more engineered units like the Weber or Hunsaker it offers exceptional value for cooks who prioritize ease of use and affordability over fine-grained temperature tuning.
Hook-and-hang
Fast setup
Juicy finish
Hanging-style cooking lets air circulate around meat for even cooking and excellent bark.
Simple charcoal basket and included hooks make setup and load management straightforward.
Hook-and-hang
Fast setup
Juicy finish
Hanging-style cooking lets air circulate around meat for even cooking and excellent bark.
Simple charcoal basket and included hooks make setup and load management straightforward.
Gateway Drum Smoker 55 Gallon
The Gateway Drum Smoker 55 Gallon is the economical heavyweight of the group, offering massive cooking capacity at a fraction of the price of branded drum smokers, which makes it a favorite for large gatherings and catering. It lacks the refined airflow engineering and finish of premium models but its simple, repairable construction and low replacement cost make it the smartest financial choice for high-volume cooks who need capacity over precision.
Massive capacity
Backyard beast
Massive capacity
Backyard beast
Review Summary
"Reviewers praise the Gateway's outstanding smoke flavor, huge capacity, and great value for the price. Newcomers may struggle with temperature control and lid fit, and many perform minor mods or upgrades."
Event-ready smoke
Large 55-gallon capacity supports cooking for big gatherings or catering.
Event-ready smoke
Large 55-gallon capacity supports cooking for big gatherings or catering.
Recreational Enjoyment
The Gateway Drum Smoker 55 Gallon is the economical heavyweight of the group, offering massive cooking capacity at a fraction of the price of branded drum smokers, which makes it a favorite for large gatherings and catering. It lacks the refined airflow engineering and finish of premium models but its simple, repairable construction and low replacement cost make it the smartest financial choice for high-volume cooks who need capacity over precision.
Massive capacity
Backyard beast
Event-ready smoke
Large 55-gallon capacity supports cooking for big gatherings or catering.
Heavy-gauge steel drum and adjustable intake vents enable steady low-and-slow temperature control.
Massive capacity
Backyard beast
Event-ready smoke
Large 55-gallon capacity supports cooking for big gatherings or catering.
Heavy-gauge steel drum and adjustable intake vents enable steady low-and-slow temperature control.
$350-550 CAD
Hunsaker Vortex 22-inch Drum Smoker
The Hunsaker Vortex 22-inch drum smoker is a premium option that emphasizes engineered airflow control and heavier-gauge steel to deliver tighter temperature swings and more consistent smoke distribution for serious enthusiasts. While it typically carries a higher price than bare-bones drums like Gateway or Oklahoma Joe's, that investment returns measurably better cook consistency and longer-term durability compared with lower-cost alternatives.
Vortex heat
Even bark
Vortex heat
Even bark
Review Summary
"Users rave about the Hunsaker Vortex's heavy-duty build, excellent heat retention, and consistent results across cooks. The higher price and substantial weight are common trade-offs but most say performance justifies the cost."
Smoke-ring wizardry
22-inch drum engineered for improved airflow and precise temperature control.
Smoke-ring wizardry
22-inch drum engineered for improved airflow and precise temperature control.
Optimized Work Efficiency
Skill Development & Mastery
The Hunsaker Vortex 22-inch drum smoker is a premium option that emphasizes engineered airflow control and heavier-gauge steel to deliver tighter temperature swings and more consistent smoke distribution for serious enthusiasts. While it typically carries a higher price than bare-bones drums like Gateway or Oklahoma Joe's, that investment returns measurably better cook consistency and longer-term durability compared with lower-cost alternatives.
Vortex heat
Even bark
Smoke-ring wizardry
22-inch drum engineered for improved airflow and precise temperature control.
Vortex-style baffle enhances smoke circulation for even flavor and crust formation.
Vortex heat
Even bark
Smoke-ring wizardry
22-inch drum engineered for improved airflow and precise temperature control.
Vortex-style baffle enhances smoke circulation for even flavor and crust formation.
$700-1,000 CAD
Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Drum Smoker
The Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Drum Smoker sits squarely in the value-plus segment, combining a more finished build and user-friendly features than DIY 55-gallon drums while remaining more affordable than boutique drum designs. It offers a pragmatic balance between the Gateway's raw capacity and the Hunsaker's precision—delivering solid out-of-the-box performance for the price, though many owners perform small mods to approach the temperature control of top-tier models.
Budget ruggedness
Solid-steel guts
Budget ruggedness
Solid-steel guts
Review Summary
"Buyers appreciate the Bronco for its low price and decent smoke output, but frequently report thin metal, paint and rust issues, and uneven temperature control. Good as an inexpensive starter, less so for long-term durability."
Cowboy-ready smoke
Compact drum footprint that still offers multiple cooking grates for versatile capacity.
Cowboy-ready smoke
Compact drum footprint that still offers multiple cooking grates for versatile capacity.
Aesthetic & Personal Appeal
Recreational Enjoyment
The Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Drum Smoker sits squarely in the value-plus segment, combining a more finished build and user-friendly features than DIY 55-gallon drums while remaining more affordable than boutique drum designs. It offers a pragmatic balance between the Gateway's raw capacity and the Hunsaker's precision—delivering solid out-of-the-box performance for the price, though many owners perform small mods to approach the temperature control of top-tier models.
Budget ruggedness
Solid-steel guts
Cowboy-ready smoke
Compact drum footprint that still offers multiple cooking grates for versatile capacity.
Vertical charcoal basket with adjustable damper provides reliable temp control for low-and-slow smoking.
Budget ruggedness
Solid-steel guts
Cowboy-ready smoke
Compact drum footprint that still offers multiple cooking grates for versatile capacity.
Vertical charcoal basket with adjustable damper provides reliable temp control for low-and-slow smoking.