Weber Smokey Joe vs. Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill
Choosing a portable charcoal grill sounds easy until you start looking at all the options. Then things get interesting.
Two very different grills often catch people's attention: the Weber Smokey Joe and the Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill. Both are built for outdoor cooking. Both are portable. Both cook over charcoal and real fire.
But that is where many of the similarities end.
The Weber Smokey Joe is a classic kettle grill from one of the most recognized names in outdoor cooking. The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill takes a different path with a heavy-duty steel design that packs flat and focuses on rugged outdoor use.
This comparison looks at the facts from each company's product information and explains where each grill shines, where it falls short, and which type of cook will get the most value from it.
Important Disclaimer
This article is an independent comparison based on publicly available product information at the time of writing. Product specifications, pricing, warranties, and availability may change.
Chiasson Smoke is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Weber-Stephen Products LLC. Weber and Smokey Joe are trademarks of their respective owners. Any trademarks mentioned belong to their owners and are used only for identification and comparison purposes.
Always follow manufacturer instructions and safety guidelines when using charcoal grills or cooking equipment.
Quick Overview
Weber Smokey Joe
Product photo from Amazon.com
The Weber Smokey Joe is a 14-inch portable charcoal kettle grill designed for grilling on the go. It features a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, a plated steel cooking grate, an ash catcher, and a lid lock system. It offers 147 square inches of cooking space and is designed for cooking for about 2 to 4 people.
Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill is a collapsible carbon steel charcoal grill that packs flat for storage. It uses heavy steel construction, including a 1/8-inch carbon steel body and 10-gauge carbon steel grates and griddles. It can be ordered with griddle options and is designed for outdoor cooking, camping, and tailgating.
Design Philosophy
This is one of the biggest differences between these grills.
The Weber Smokey Joe follows the traditional kettle grill design. If you have ever seen a classic Weber charcoal grill, this portable version feels familiar right away. It has a round bowl, a domed lid, adjustable dampers, and a lightweight body.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill is designed more like camping equipment for someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. It uses thick steel panels and a flat-pack design. Instead of looking painted and refined, it looks rugged and ready for hard use.
Neither approach is wrong.
They simply aim at different types of grillers.
Portability
Portable grills should be easy to move around.
The Weber Smokey Joe is built specifically for that purpose. It is compact, lightweight, and includes a “Tuck-N-Carry” lid lock that helps secure the lid during transport. Weber specifically markets it for camping, tailgating, beach cookouts, picnics, and small outdoor spaces.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on low weight, it focuses on compact storage. The grill packs flat when not in use, making it easier to slide into a truck, camper, or storage area. The tradeoff is weight. The Hauler weighs about 25 pounds without a griddle and around 30 pounds with one.
If space and portability isn’t an issue, and you just want something easy to carry, the Weber may have an advantage.
If you want a grill that can fold flat and disappear into a storage compartment while still able to handle rough outdoor use, the Hauler becomes more appealing.
Materials and Construction
The construction methods could not be more different.
Weber Smokey Joe Construction
The Smokey Joe uses:
Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl
Rust-resistant plated steel cooking grate
Ash catching system
The porcelain enamel coating is designed to resist rust, scratches, cracking, and peeling while helping retain heat.
Chiasson Smoke Hauler Construction
The Hauler uses:
1/8-inch carbon steel body
10-gauge carbon steel grates
Carbon steel griddle options
No coatings on the cooking surfaces
Mill scale removed steel intended to be seasoned like cast iron
Chiasson Smoke recommends maintaining the grill similarly to cast iron cookware by occasionally oiling it (“seasoning” it) to help prevent rust.
The Weber focuses on convenience and corrosion resistance.
The Hauler focuses on thick steel and durability.
Cooking Surface
Cooking space matters.
The Weber Smokey Joe provides 147 square inches of grilling space and can fit about six burgers made with a Weber burger press.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler offers nearly 200 square inches of grilling space. The grill itself is 21 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches high. It can also be configured with a 12-inch griddle alongside a grill grate or with a full-length griddle option.
Because the cooking layouts differ, direct comparisons become difficult.
The Weber gives you a traditional round grilling surface.
The Hauler gives you a more modular setup that can include griddle cooking, with arguably more space.
Grilling Versatility
This category is where things get very interesting.
The Weber Smokey Joe is mainly a grill.
It does one thing very well. You load charcoal, adjust airflow, close the lid, and grill.
The kettle design also makes indirect cooking possible, which can help with larger cuts of meat. The adjustable dampers allow users to manage cooking temperatures.
The Hauler Grill expands beyond standard grilling.
Users can add a steel griddle with a built-in grease drain. Some package options include griddles, carry bags, and seasoning products. The system is designed to handle both traditional grilling and flat-top style cooking.
That means you can cook:
Burgers
Steaks
Bacon
Eggs
Vegetables
Pancakes
The Weber can cook many of those foods too, but the griddle options make them easier on the Hauler.
Temperature Control
The Weber uses a lid and bowl damper system.
Adjusting the dampers controls airflow, which affects charcoal burn rate and cooking temperature. This is a proven method that has been used on kettle grills for decades, and it’s similar to how Chiasson Smoke’s rocket stove damper system works.
The Hauler uses an open grill design.
Because it does not rely on a kettle-style lid system, temperature control is more direct and hands-on. Outdoor cooks who enjoy managing fire and coal placement may appreciate this style. Those who prefer a more enclosed cooking environment may lean toward the Weber.
Neither system is automatically better.
They simply create different cooking experiences.
Cleanup
Nobody buys a grill because they love cleaning it.
The Weber includes an ash catcher designed to help keep ash off surfaces and make cleanup easier. The porcelain-enamel surfaces also help simplify maintenance.
The Hauler requires a bit more attention.
Since it uses raw carbon steel construction, owners are encouraged to oil and maintain the grill similarly to cast iron.
People who enjoy cast iron cookware may see this as normal maintenance.
Others may prefer the lower-maintenance nature of the Weber.
Durability
Both grills are designed for long-term use, but they approach durability differently.
Weber relies on porcelain enamel and corrosion resistance. The company also offers a 10-year limited warranty on the Smokey Joe.
Chiasson Smoke relies on thick steel construction. With proper care, the Hauler Grill can potentially last decades.
The challenge is that durability means different things to different people.
The Weber aims to resist rust and weather exposure.
The Hauler aims to withstand hard use through material thickness and simplicity.
Weight Comparison
Weight affects how portable a grill feels.
The Weber Smokey Joe is widely described as compact and lightweight. Various retailers list the grill around 9 pounds.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler weighs:
25 pounds without griddle
30 pounds with griddle
Camping and Tailgating
Both grills target outdoor adventures.
Weber specifically mentions:
Camping
Tailgating
Picnics
Beach cookouts
Small patios
Chiasson Smoke promotes the Hauler for:
Camping
Tailgating
Fishing trips
Hunting trips
Backyard cooking
The uses are really up to your imagination.
But if weight is the most important factor, the Weber is easier to bring along.
If space matters more to you, and heavy-duty design is important, the Hauler starts looking attractive.
Value
Value is not just about price.
The Weber Smokey Joe is generally positioned as an affordable portable charcoal grill. Product listings commonly place it in the roughly $50 to $65 range depending on seller and version.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill is listed at $99.95 before optional upgrades.
That means buyers need to ask what they want from their grill.
Do you want a lightweight, proven charcoal kettle?
Or do you want a heavier-duty steel cooking system with griddle options and a flat-pack design?
The answer depends more on your cooking style than your budget.
Who Should Buy the Weber Smokey Joe?
The Weber Smokey Joe makes sense for people who:
Want a lightweight portable grill
Prefer a traditional kettle design
Want simple temperature control through dampers
Appreciate lower maintenance
For many casual grillers, campers, and tailgaters, the Smokey Joe checks all the right boxes.
Who Should Buy the Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill?
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill makes sense for people who:
Prefer heavy-duty steel construction
Like cooking over open fire
Want griddle options
Need a grill that packs flat
Enjoy maintaining seasoned steel cookware
Spend lots of time camping, hunting, fishing, or cooking outdoors
It is aimed less at casual users and more at people who enjoy hands-on outdoor cooking.
Final Verdict
The Weber Smokey Joe and the Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill are both portable charcoal grills, but they solve different problems.
The Weber Smokey Joe focuses on convenience, portability, and proven kettle-grill performance. It is lightweight, easy to transport, simple to clean, and backed by a long warranty. For many people, it is the easier grill to own.
The Chiasson Smoke Hauler Grill focuses on rugged construction, modular cooking options, and outdoor adventure. Its thick carbon steel build, griddle compatibility, and flat-pack design create a cooking platform that feels purpose-built for campers and outdoor enthusiasts who want more than a basic portable grill.
Neither grill wins every category.
The better choice depends on the kind of outdoor cook you are.
