Smoke by Thermoworks

[ecowper]

What am I missing? I don't see anything about this that makes it worth a $40 premium over the Mav ET-732.

[Histrix]

Well...it's got the Thermoworks name on the label.

I'm betting the probes are of better longer lasting quality.

[David Parrish]

What am I missing? I don't see anything about this that makes it worth a $40 premium over the Mav ET-732.

The Mav ET-732 is still a great thermometer if your budget is $60, but Smoke is a much better thermometer and it trounces the Maverick ET-732 on everything but price (Smoke is $99 plus shipping). Smoke comes with Pro-Series probes. They are thermistor technology, similar to the Maverick, but Thermoworks is MUCH better at making a thermistor probe than Mav. The bundled Thermoworks penetration probes can read a temp in 7 seconds, and the optional waterproof needle probe can read a temp as fast as a Thermopop. That saves $30 right there as the Smoke can be used as an instant read.

The Thermoworks probes also have 4 foot wires compared to the 3 foot wires that come with the Mav, making it easier to sit Smoke on a table beside your cooker and run the probes to the pit and the meat. A set of Maverick replacement probes with longer 6 foot wires costs $30.

The Thermoworks probes also have protective springs and silicone surrounds where the wire meets the probe and the connector. The springs help protect the cable from breaking and the silicone makes them IP65 rated for "No ingress of dust, Protection from water ingress caused by low pressure jets of water". A set of replacement probes for the Mav when you break the wire or get the probe wet will set you back $30

The Smoke base unit works much like the Thermoworks ChefAlarm. The alarms are dead simple to set. I don't know about you but I gave up setting my Maverick alarms years ago. The Smoke receiver unit gives audible, visual, and vibration signals when an alarm goes off. It's hard to miss!

Smoke is WELL MADE. Feels like a brick in your hand. Trust me. You want one.

[Henrik]

I agree. The Mav setup is just horrible. And I'm a computer wiz. I haven't ever used the alarms with it.

[Huskee]

PaulstheRibList Henrik Maybe I'm in the minority here, but while I find Mav's alarm setting to be less than ideal, I don't find it hard by any means. I rarely use them unless I plan to nap while cooking, but I've never found it too hard. Long press which value (hi or lo) you want to adjust. Yes, to lower a value you must cycle up and loop back through. Sometimes it takes a couple tries if you're slow on the draw. To select a value, press the light bulb button. Not too bad really.

[PaulstheRibList]

Huskee, I admit, I didn't try very hard before I just was satisfied with what I had. I notice as I type this pathetic response that that was so dumb of me...

[ecowper]

David Parrish and Jerod Broussard .... okay, got it on quality of design and probes. I need a second smoker thermometer setup anyhow .... was going to get another Maverick. Or else get a DigiQ with 4 probes and scrap the Maverick. But this may just be what I want .... man, I've been harder to satisfy on a new thermometer setup than a new smoker. Probably because I'm perfectly happy with the Maverick. Especially once I had the 3 foot probes break and bought the 6 foot probes

[RonB]

I hate 6' wires - they are always too long and to kinky. They are especially hard to corral when putting them away. For that reason alone, I'm considering a set of Meaters.

[David Parrish]

David Parrish and Jerod Broussard .... okay, got it on quality of design and probes. I need a second smoker thermometer setup anyhow .... was going to get another Maverick. Or else get a DigiQ with 4 probes and scrap the Maverick. But this may just be what I want .... man, I've been harder to satisfy on a new thermometer setup than a new smoker. Probably because I'm perfectly happy with the Maverick. Especially once I had the 3 foot probes break and bought the 6 foot probes

If 4 foot wires will do you the Smoke is an even better value when you consider the Maverick has T-Rex like 3 foot probe wires unless you spend the $30 on the 6 footers.

[ecowper]

Even if those probes on the Maverick weren't so short, they really break easy. Their 6 foot probes are high quality, though. 4 feet will be perfectly fine.

[DWCowles]

I have never had a Maverick cable break on me in the two plus years that I've been using them

[Huskee]

I really like the 4' wire idea. I personally find 3' adequate in some applications, but a bit short in others. In ALL applications I happen to find 6' a bit too long. DWCowles I too have never had them break, and I shut them (gently) under the heavy door of my Yoder. One probe & wire is proudly going on 4 1/2 years old with my abuse and still running strong.

[fuzzydaddy]

When there is rain forecasted, I slide my ChefAlarms / DOTs into a ziplock bag, and one goes over my PartyQ. It may not be needed but that's what I do for an extra insurance.

[DWCowles]

That's what I'm talking bout fuzzydaddy it's not rocket science just a little common sense

[RonB]

Whenever I have any type of battery operated thermometers outside, I put them in a ziploc bag and seal the bag as much as possible. That may be over cautious, but I've never had a problem either.

[fuzzydaddy]

On a really hot and sunny day my units will get too hot and not be readable so now I put a welder / heavy glove over them. The first time this happened I brought the unit inside and all was well after it cooled down.

[Jlock]

I got the email announcement from Thermoworks over the weekend and see it as divine intervention since my Maverick just went Tango Uniform a couple weeks ago. I was going to pull the trigger on another 733 but now have a Smoke on order!

Praise be the BBQ Gods!

[Atalanta]

So if anyone has a dual probe w/ remote they're looking to pass on so they can get a smoke, let me know!

[kingdarb]

I ordered one. Hope that it turns out to be a good product. My thermapen is awesome. I had a Maverick that crapped out after two months and I currently run an igrill2 that seems to be garbage (constantly have to re-install the program to get it to "find" the device and the bluetooth range is terrible). Fingers crossed!

[Butterman]

For me I will get one for the coming WiFi capability. That's what I've been waiting for. Still seems superior than the 732 but the true remote viewing of temp is what makes the difference.

[fzxdoc]

I'll keep using my Mavs, although if one of them dies, I'd certainly get the Smoke. The extra $30 is worth not having to walk on eggshells every time I wash the Maverick probes and fear getting water in the junction where wire meets probe.

As long as my Mavs hold out, I'm hanging in there for ThermoWorks to come out with a Smoke that has wifi capability, supports 4 probes, and sports temperature/time recording capabilities to boot. THEN I will think I've died and gone to 'Q Heaven.

Kathryn

[RonB]

Your trip to heaven may not be to far off:

fzxdoc https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/m...d-technology#/

[Huskee]

I'm with you on the 4-probe unit. One of those & a regular, or maybe 2 of those, and I'd be a happy camper. I bet when the WiFi comes out in '17 it'll have an app with graphing or at least recording.

[fzxdoc]

Yeah, RonB , but my dream remote thermometer also has ThermoWorks quality built in and the ThermoWorks label slapped on.

[RonB]

fzxdoc - I can't argue with that...

[Histrix]

Where is the Smoke made - China? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[PaulstheRibList]

I'm worried about its claim of "water resistant" for $99. Did I miss something? I need to operate a waterproof transmitter. My Mavericks held up like champs yesterday in the pouring. rain. all. day.

It's like that time on, say, Thursday, you walk outside and see the Maverick still hanging on the smoker since the weekend...and the reason you didn't notice it before it the constant rainstorm all week. You walk over, expecting the worst, and see the pretty LED display letting you know everything is OK!

[Henrik]

I just love this product (haven't bought one yet). I have 100% trust in the existing Thermapen and the company, so this is just brilliant. Used to have the Mav 732, utterly disappointed with it. Configuring it was a complete mess, and the probes where lousy. I replaced I don't know how many probes during the last 6-8 months, at a considerable cost.
I finally threw it in the trash. Since then the iGrill 2 has been my trusted companion, and it has delivered.

The two things that are a bit annoying with the iGrill 2 is that even though the Bluetooth connection works, it drops connection every now and then, and it doesn't support wifi.

Getting the Smoke devices will be great, and I can't wait to buy the Wifi gateway next year. That means I get the ability to check temp while going for a walk with my dog, or going grocery shopping.

Also, I know there are existing thermometer+fan units (CyberQ et.c.) available that have Wifi connectivity, but I really don't need the fan, so for me Smoke is an obvious choice.