Top 10 Smokers under $400 for 2008

Of the vertical water smokers this is the one. Simply put this is the only smoker of its type, under $250, that will smoke perfectly well without making modifications. There are entire websites devoted to this smoker. With enough space to prepare a wide range of foods, great temperature control and solid construction, this smoker is not only a great unit for beginners but is used by many barbecue masters. You'll find this Weber at some of the top barbecue competitions.

There always seems to be someone trying to make the better smoker. From computer controls to advanced materials, the "better BBQ" is just around the corner, right? Well Rocky Richmond has proven that simplicity is always the best bet. The Big Drum Smoker (or BDS) is a big steel drum with a fire in the bottom and food on top. This unit has a single 23.5 inch grate and will hold up to 4 large pork butts (there are other sized units). Grease and drippings from the food fall on the fire and give foods a more authentic flavor. Plugs in the bottom control the fire so there is no flare-ups, water pan, barrier, or drip pan.

Another of the classic style offset smokers, this is a heavy duty unit that will last for many years and make great barbecue. Heavy gauge steel with great airflow controlled by a series of vents this unit works like most of this type for a good price. Many people swear by this unit and have never had to buy a replacement. A few years back users of this unit helped improve the design by including a series of popular modifications.

Of all the electric smoker appliances this is the best. This refrigerator style smoker is thermostatically controlled and can hot and cold smoke. You truly get a wide range of smoking abilities out of this unit. Smoke is created by burning wood disks that are added to the unit by a controlled mechanism. You get as much or as little smoke as you want and you don't have to tend to any fire. In fact once it's set you can leave it until you are ready to eat.

This great little unit will do most anything for a great price. Not only will this gas powered smoker make some great, authentic barbecue but you can also use it as a grill or a propane burner for fried turkey.

Simple, basic, but a great smoker for around $100. This electric will give you authentic barbecue without lots of work and without worrying about maintaining temperatures like you do with many of the vertical water smokers. This is a great smoker if you're not sure how serious you are about barbecue, or if you just want a little "Q" once in a while.

The Char-Griller is another classic offset firebox smoker. This design is so popular because it works. The Char-Griller is easy to use and you can even get a rotisserie kit for it. Like all units of this type it also doubles as a charcoal grill. It is also one of the least expensive of this type of smoker.

When it comes to Lazy-Q, this is about the most basic, easy to use and cheapest unit on the market. If you want good barbecue, but don't want invest a whole lot of time or money in the process then this is probably a good unit for you to look at. It is also a good unit if you are just starting out in barbecue and don't know how far you'll be going with it. The electric heat element in this unit produces the heat that cooks the food and provides smoke. All you have to do is adjust the dial to get the heat you want. This is a "water" smoker so there is a large water pan to even out the heat and produce steam.

This is the most popular of the gas smokers. At a decent price you can get a smoker that doesn't require a lot of attention as long as your propane tank doesn't run out. This is a good smoker that does a great job with the convenience of gas. This unit can also be used as a gas grill, but it doesn't have a lot of space for that. If you are looking for a smoker that isn't difficult to use and doesn't cost a lot then this is a great unit.

Of course this is just a charcoal grill. But then again this unit made the Weber company the most powerful player in outdoor cooking. The circular design and multiple vents give you the ability to turn out some good barbecue on this unit. While it doesn't give you a lot of space to work with you can make "Q" in small batches. The secret to smoking on a Weber Kettle is to actually grill indirectly at a low temperature. You will have to add coals every 2 to 3 hours.