Don't buy a cheap offset to learn on. It will be nothing but frustration city and just wasted $. With that said, I own two offsets: a backyard Jambo and a KBQ. I like them both, but they are different.
Jambo
Large 1/4" rolled steel with an insulated fire box. It is a beast at over 600 lbs, even if the title is "backyard". It has 8 square feet of cooking space and someday (BBQ bucket list) I'm going to do a hog on it. It really only gets used 2-3 times a year now when I do turkeys for a homeless shelter or a big cook. I can get 5 -14 lb. turkeys in my Jambo. So that is nice to have. And yes, you have to keep a close eye on her, but when the Jambo hits its sweet spot (275*), she just purrs along.
KBQ
A very small footprint, but I can still get 10-12 racks of ribs in it (which I have), 4 butts and probably 2 briskets (but not all at the same time). It has a temperature controller with a range between 30*. It also is a convection oven so it cooks the meat faster. You can dial up or down on how much smoke you want (adjusting the poppets). The firebox is on the outside, so you can see the fire. So when the fire gets low, just toss in another small split since the controller is moderating the temp. All you have to do is keep a good coal bed in it (just like you need to do in a big offset like the Jambo) but you don't have to open a firebox door and get a face full of smoke. I probably use the KBQ around 20 times a year. Personally, I think the KBQ is the best offset on the market.
I, like you, started my BBQ chops on an 18" and 22" WSM. Those units were fun and I customized them, bought the rib hangers, BBQ guru fans, etc. But once I stepped up to the offsets, I never used them again and just loan them out to those who want to try their hand at smoking meat.
Jambo
Large 1/4" rolled steel with an insulated fire box. It is a beast at over 600 lbs, even if the title is "backyard". It has 8 square feet of cooking space and someday (BBQ bucket list) I'm going to do a hog on it. It really only gets used 2-3 times a year now when I do turkeys for a homeless shelter or a big cook. I can get 5 -14 lb. turkeys in my Jambo. So that is nice to have. And yes, you have to keep a close eye on her, but when the Jambo hits its sweet spot (275*), she just purrs along.
KBQ
A very small footprint, but I can still get 10-12 racks of ribs in it (which I have), 4 butts and probably 2 briskets (but not all at the same time). It has a temperature controller with a range between 30*. It also is a convection oven so it cooks the meat faster. You can dial up or down on how much smoke you want (adjusting the poppets). The firebox is on the outside, so you can see the fire. So when the fire gets low, just toss in another small split since the controller is moderating the temp. All you have to do is keep a good coal bed in it (just like you need to do in a big offset like the Jambo) but you don't have to open a firebox door and get a face full of smoke. I probably use the KBQ around 20 times a year. Personally, I think the KBQ is the best offset on the market.
I, like you, started my BBQ chops on an 18" and 22" WSM. Those units were fun and I customized them, bought the rib hangers, BBQ guru fans, etc. But once I stepped up to the offsets, I never used them again and just loan them out to those who want to try their hand at smoking meat.
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