Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Review

Camp Chef’s Woodwind Pro is a significant upgrade from the Woodwind and the Woodwind WIFI, the latter an already great pellet grill that changed the game with its WIFI controllers and smart yet compact build. The Pro version, though, is around thirty percent more expensive than the basic Woodwind model. The question is, is it worth it? Let’s find out!

I’ve had the opportunity to use the Woodwind Pro for a few months now and here are my thoughts on this seemingly game changing pellet grill. Read on and learn more about this remarkable grill and its smoke box — everyone’s talking about it! And with good reason. Let me remind you that all opinions are my own, and I’m not paid by Camp Chef in any way to provide a good review. 

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Main Features

The Woodwind Pro comes in two sizes: 24 inches and 32 inches. The Pro versions connect to a mobile app that lets you control everything from the temperature to the level of smoke it generates. They also come with a very handy smoke box, which is perhaps their most exciting feature — more on that later. 

This is a high-end smoker that caters to both professional smokers and grilling enthusiasts. Of course, it has its pros and cons, which I’ll discuss in the following sections. Here are the specs straight from Camp Chef’s website. I’ve personally used the 36 inch model, but this review is geared towards the overall functionality and not features related to a specific size.

Woodwind Pro 24

• Lower rack area: 429 SQ IN
• Upper rack area: 382 SQ IN
• Total rack area: 811 SQ IN
• Side shelf dimensions: 16 IN x 12 IN
• Chamber capacity: 4,850 CU IN
• Hopper capacity: 22 LBS
• Overall weight: 44.5 IN
• Overall width: 26 IN
• Overall weight: 152 LBS
• Temp range: 160 – 500°F

Woodwind Pro 32

• Lower rack area: 663 SQ IN
• Upper rack area: 573 SQ IN
• Total rack area: 1236 SQ IN
• Side shelf dimensions: 16 IN x 12 IN
• Chamber capacity: 7000 CU IN
• Hopper capacity: 22 LBS
• Overall height: 44.5 IN
• Overall length: 62 IN
• Overall width: 26 IN
• Temp range: 160 – 500°F

The Looks

The Woodwind Pro is definitely a looker. It looks sturdier and more polished than the original Woodwind grills. It also retains some of their best features, including the very handy 22 pound pellet hopper on one side and a somewhat small but still useful 16″ x 12″ side shelf. Unfortunately, due to the positioning of the newly added smoke box, you cannot purchase a front folding shelf for the Woodwind Pro like you can for their other grills. I personally like using this accessory to expand my cooking prep area, so it is a bit of a bummer for me.

The grill’s barrel lid, side shelf, hopper, and legs are all metallic black, contrasting nicely with the body’s raw stainless steel. And although the wheels are a bit small and jiggly compared to those on the other Woodwind models, most of us don’t move our grill all that much, so it’s no biggie. 

All-in-all, the Woodwind Pro is a beautiful grill; it looks and feels more professional than a lot of other pellet grills in its arena. Just know, it can take up quite a bit of space depending on the model chosen. The length can get even longer if you decide to add one of the sidekick accessories — I highly recommend you do, though. I’ve always been a big fan of how the original Woodwind looks, and I think the Pro version is even more attractive.

The Build

This pellet grill is built to last. All the components are made with 430 and 304 grade stainless steel, which you don’t see on many other grills. They are heat and corrosion resistant, which is huge benefit as I’ve seen the paint on many pellet grills bubble and peel off. The two dampers on the back of the grill that let you adjust the grill’s air flow are easy to reach and adjust, and so is the beautiful, full color display attached to the hopper. 

And then there’s the smoke box. This one-of-a-kind addition to the Woodwind Pro allows you to increase the smoke output by adding wood chunks and/or charcoal into the mix. The smoke box is positioned front and center in the 24-inch model and a few inches to your left on the 36. I have found it to be a little hard to open and close at times; especially, when it gets hot.

As for the unboxing and assembly, all the bolts and screws are labeled, and anyone should manage to put the grill together without much help. I did find assembling the Woodwind Pro a bit more tedious than other pellet grills, but with the help of their step-by-step videos I had it up and running fairly quickly. 

There is still no cover for the Woodwind Pro pellet grills, but I use the Camp Chef Apex cover as it’s similar in shape and size. Camp Chef recommends using the covers made for their similar sized Woodwinds, but they have a smoke stack section that looks weird on the Pro models.

Smoking on the Woodwind Pro

The Woodwind Pro is designed for effortless, high-tech assisted smoking, and it does so very well. The grill’s smoke box gives the grill an extra dimension while the pellet hopper offers a hands-off approach – you can do it all. 

The smoke box is independent of the pellet feed, but the Woodwind Pro still manages to hold the temperature regardless of what type of additional fuel you add. It is the most significant feature in the Pro models, and what sets them apart from any other pellet grill I’ve seen or used. The amazing amount of smoke you can add to your meat with the tiny box is a game-changer. I’ve honestly yet to see another pellet grill capable of building bark on meat the way this does.

You can also cold smoke with the Woodwind Pro by using the “fan only” mode along with some wood chunks in the smoke box. I did find it to be a bit tricky, though, depending on the outside weather conditions. To be fair, this is not something I usually do, so it could definitely be a user error.

Cleaning the Unit

The discrete ash clean out knob on the side of the Woodwind Pro proved to be much handier than I expected, as the ash from the smoke pot is deposited into a small cup for easy cleaning. While this does help, you will still need to periodically vacuum out the ash that gets blown around during your cooks.

Removing unused pellets is also a breeze thanks to a chute mounted on the side of the hopper. This is a pretty standard feature found on most pellet grills nowadays, though.

Overall, the Woodwind Pro is easy to clean and maintain, as the lid opens wide, and the grates and internal parts are easy to remove. Camp Chef recommends deep cleaning the grill every 50 hours of use.

Final Thoughts

The Woodwind Pro is a outstanding pellet grill; it’s been my go to for quite some time now. The smoke box and pellet hopper give you versatility, and the grill’s built-in technology will let you spend more time with your guests without having to micromanage your cooks. You have more control over the intensity of the smoke and the flavor of your food, whether you leave it working on pellets or make good use of the smoke box for a hands-on experience. 

Amateur smoking enthusiasts and seasoned pros will enjoy using the Woodwind Pro. Of course, if you’re really into the craft, the Woodwind Pro 36 might suit you best, but the 24 inch is as good as pellet grills get. The Woodwind Pro is well made, nice looking, smart, and easy to clean. I’d be shocked if other companies didn’t follow suit by adding a smoke box – they really need to. Camp Chef seems to be doing everything right, and the Woodwind Pro series is proof of this.

Don’t forget to check out my article on my favorite pellet grills. I’ll definitely be adding this one to the list!

As always, please let me know what you thought of my Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Review, as well as what else you’d like to see in future reviews.

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