Pit Boss Pellet Grill Brand Guide: Pro, Lockhart, Austin, Navigator

Updated October 2026. Pit Boss sits in the middle of the pellet-grill market — a step up from generic big-box units and a step below premium brands like Memphis and Yoder. The 2026 lineup is their deepest yet, with five product series covering everything from a $400 portable to a $1,500+ competition-grade horizontal grill.

We carry the full 2026 Pit Boss catalog on bbqs.com — 53 SKUs across the Pro Series, Lockhart Platinum, Austin XL, Navigator, and Competition lines. This guide walks through each series, where Pit Boss fits versus Traeger and the premium brands, and the honest sweet-spot pick for most shoppers.

The five Pit Boss product series

Pro Series Vertical — the beginner pick

The Pro Series Vertical Pellet Smoker is the one Pit Boss model we recommend most for first-time pellet-grill buyers. Vertical cabinet design packs 1,500 sq in of cook space (five racks) into a 24-inch-wide footprint — smaller than any horizontal pellet grill with similar capacity. The 2026 generation added a WiFi app, dual-probe meat thermometer, and a sealed glass door for monitoring without opening the cabinet.

Why it wins for beginners: small footprint fits on a 10×10 deck, the vertical design keeps meat juices in the chamber for better flavor retention, the WiFi app makes long cooks hands-off, and the $500–$600 price point doesn’t punish a mistake. First cook: smoked chicken wings at 225°F for 90 minutes.

Lockhart Platinum — the dual-mode pick

The Lockhart Platinum series is Pit Boss’s hero model. Horizontal pellet grill at the bottom (900 sq in main cook chamber), vertical warming cabinet on top (450 sq in). The warming cabinet is heated by the pellet grill’s convection system and doubles as a cold-smoker when the main grill is run at low temperature.

Why it wins: dual-mode operation. Run the bottom for direct grilling at 500°F while the top cold-smokes cheese at 90°F. Or run both at 225°F to double the smoking capacity for a party. The cold-smoke mode is unusual at this price point — most pellet grills can’t cold-smoke at all because their convection system runs the chamber too hot.

Austin XL — the cook-for-crowds pick

The Austin XL is the biggest horizontal in Pit Boss’s regular lineup — 1,000 sq in of cook space with 500 sq in main grate plus a 500 sq in upper warming rack. Big enough to fit two whole briskets side by side or a full rack of St. Louis ribs plus two pork shoulders. Pulls from a 32-lb pellet hopper for 24+ hour cooks without refilling.

Who it’s for: shoppers who regularly cook for 10+ people, backyard competition BBQ enthusiasts, holiday hosts who do whole turkey or multiple pork shoulders. If the cook rarely goes above four people, the Pro Series Vertical is probably the right pick instead.

Competition Series — the premium Pit Boss

The Competition Series sits at the top of Pit Boss’s lineup. Heavier gauge steel construction, faster temperature recovery after lid opens, PID controller with cook-profile presets, upgraded auger motor, insulated firebox. Priced $1,500–$2,200 depending on size.

The Competition Series is the honest answer when the shopper is considering stepping up to Memphis or Yoder. The build quality closes a lot of the gap at a $1,000+ price advantage. If the budget is firmly under $2,500 but the shopper wants premium-tier results, the Competition Series is the right pick instead of stretching to the Memphis Beale Street.

Pit Boss vs Traeger vs Memphis

Pit Boss wins on value — 5-year warranty is longer than Traeger’s 3-year, cook area is bigger per dollar, and the Lockhart’s warming cabinet is a unique feature at this price point.

Traeger wins on brand recognition and app polish — the Traeger WiFire app is the most refined pellet- grill app on the market, and the brand’s accessory ecosystem (grill grates, side shelves, drip trays, pellets) is deeper. Pay the premium for Traeger if the shopper values the ecosystem over raw spec per dollar.

Memphis wins on premium construction, temperature range (direct grilling to 650°F), and build longevity (stainless steel vs Pit Boss’s painted steel). Pay the Memphis premium when the install is permanent, the shopper will cook heavily, and the budget supports $3,000+. See the full Memphis brand catalog.

What we’d actually buy from Pit Boss right now

First pellet grill, under $600: Pit Boss Pro Series Vertical. The 2026 generation with WiFi makes this a no-brainer in the beginner band.

Dual-purpose grill + smoker, under $1,000: Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum. The warming cabinet is the hero feature; the horizontal main grill handles everything else.

Cooking for crowds: Austin XL. The 32-lb hopper and 1,000 sq in cook space earn their keep when the shopper is doing holiday cooks or backyard competition rounds.

Stepping up to premium construction: Competition Series. $1,500–$2,200 covers a build quality that closes most of the gap to Memphis at a meaningful price advantage.