big green egg knock off

gdawgs24

a while back someone posted on a big green egg knock off at lowes. i my self have the xl. but a friends wife was wondering if it was worth the 300 dollars they were asking for it. i know this is really a question regarding the egg but any feedback would help. she is going to buy it for him for his birthday and cant afford the egg.

odie91

I'd buy one at $200, but probably not $300 (maybe look for a coupon?).  Surprisingly, people on other forums have said their customer service has been good.  Make sure she gets the new version that has a cast iron upper vent, instead of the cheap sheet metal vent.

BOWHUNR

I looked at one this weekend.  Not an egg, but not bad.  I have seen worse knock offs.

Mike

smokeyj

Also if you go to your local post office I think they have 10% off cpupons for Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Coupon+Registration_253641591_

OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO.

I recently saw one at lowes that was metal not ceramic. The ceramic is what makes "an egg an egg". I wouldn't waste $300 bucks on a significantly inferior product.

OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO.

Sorry, duplicate post. iPad issues.

NightwingXP

Got an excellent link to a very extensive youtube video review of this cooker. I don't think you could go wrong with it if you are trying to save some cash and want a Kamado style cooker. This guy was on our blog for awhile and I haven't heard from him in about a month so not sure where he went. He was saving up for an Egg but in the end just couldn't afford it. He has a 3 part video review for this cooker and he is VERY detailed about its use and has great video and demonstration. Check it out. Very informative ! I liked his approach.

He has now added numerous reviews from baking bread to pizza and smoking butts so this appears to be a good kamado style cooker.
It's not a BGE but hey....the economy sucks right now

http://www.youtube.com/user/ManCaveMeals?ob=0&feature=results_main

egger ave

I looked at the BGE clone Louisiana Bayou Cooker (ceramic) at Lowes last Saturday. It was $699.They got the geometry wrong on the hinge. The top is too heavy for the first 30 degrees. The cap does not have a shutter assembly and it pivots on the front not the back which so it closes every time the top is opened. The shutter on the bottom does not fit flush so it would leak air unless you sealed with something like high temp gasket silicone. It did come with a water pan, extra grills, a nest with table. No lifetime warranty.Wait a couple of years and pick one up cheap at a yard sale.

Hillbilly-Hightech

OK, so I watched that video regarding the char-griller "kamado" and it's got some interesting features.  I like that the bottom comes apart to allow you to dump your ashes. 

However, all-in-all, I've got to agree w/ OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO.

The guy doing the review never said what the actual material the thing was made out of, but from the looks of it, it looks like maybe some sort of powder-coated metal?  And maybe there's 2 layers (inside & outside) - if they were smart, Char-Griller should put some sort of insulation between the 2 layers of metal.

W/out the ceramic, it won't cook like an Egg, it most certainly won't hold heat like an Egg, and unless there's some sort of insulation between the inner & outer layer, it just won't allow you to be able to do a 24-hr burn on ONE lump of coal. 

Ain't gonna happen...  

To the OP (gdawgs) - my opinion is that your friend's wife would be better off watching Craigslist & eventually she'll find someone selling a used Egg (or used Kamado Joe, etc).  If budget is an issue, that's the way I'd go - because the thing is, she might save some $$ up front due to NOT buying an Egg, but in the end, I think that the Char-griller (and other knockoffs that aren't ceramic) will end up using MORE lump, and you'll end up fussing w/ it MORE often trying to get it to maintain temp. 

As I said, I don't know how well these things are insulated - maybe they're VERY well insulated, I dunno - but that's the KEY... w/out the ability to retain the heat, it will escape (just like it does in a traditional metal / stainless steel grill) & you'll have to keep shoveling lump into it, and the additional air flow required to keep it up to temp might affect the food...

Just my $0.02...

NightwingXP

Good point HH. It is insulated but to what degree I don't know. In the videos he mentioned he smoked a pork butt and I believe that he mentioned he only used one load of charcoal. Here is a link to grills direct.com that states that it is insulated, but like I said, to what degree it's insulated I'm not sure.

http://www.grillsdirect.com/kamado-and-pellet-grills/kamado-grills/chargrillerkamadokooker.cfm

NightwingXP

Here too is a link to its manual in pdf format


http://ftp.chargriller.com/manuals/6719OM.pdf