Best Gifts for the Pitmaster Under $200

Shopping for someone who smokes meat is harder than it looks. They have opinions about wood. They have a favorite rub. They have at least one gadget they bought on a whim and never used. The goal is a gift they'll actually put to work this weekend.

Everything below is something we sell, use and would happily unwrap ourselves. Pick by person, or jump to your budget.

How to pick a gift for a pitmaster

Three quick questions will save you from buying a fourth set of tongs:

• How long have they been smoking? New smoker owners need the basics: a thermometer, gloves, a place to prep and a way to rest meat. Veterans already own those, so give them something to cook with instead.
• What do they cook most? Brisket people go through butcher paper and tallow. Rib people burn through rub and sauce. Steak people live by their thermometer.
• Do they like surprises? If yes, a subscription or themed box. If they are particular, a gift card.

Best for a new smoker owner: Smoker Essentials Bundle

This is the gift we'd give anyone who just unboxed a smoker. It covers the parts of a cook the smoker can't: prep, handling and resting. Inside: the Drip EZ XL Prep Tub with a locking lid and built-in cutting board, the Rest EZ BBQ Blanket, our 850°F-rated grilling gloves, silicone tongs, and a free Lane's rub. Add an instant-read thermometer and they have the full starter kit from our guide to the 5 tools every new smoker owner needs.

Best for the brisket obsessive: Baller Brisket Bundle

If their weekends revolve around a 14-hour cook, this is the one. It has everything a brisket needs from trim to slice: the Drip EZ XL Prep Tub V2, The Meat Swadl resting blanket, a 200 foot roll of GMC pink butcher paper, a GMC spray bottle, Wagyu beef tallow for the wrap, Lane's 50/50 salt and pepper, a GMC instant-read thermometer and 850°F-rated gloves. It's every item on our brisket day checklist except the wood and the meat.

Want to round it out? Add a box of oak or hickory smoking chunks ($34.95) and the gift is ready for brisket day.

Best gift that keeps showing up: a BBQ gift subscription

The one thing a pitmaster can't buy himself is a surprise. A Grill Masters Club gift subscription sends a themed box of full-size sauces, rubs and a grilling tool, plus a printed recipe booklet, every 2 or 3 months. No theme repeats. The 3-box plan is $134.97 $115.18, shipping is free in the US, and they never enter a card.

Under $50: stocking stuffers and add-ons

Small gifts that still get used every cook. Everything in this section also takes code HOLIDAY10 at checkout for an extra 10% off.

Even smaller: our GMC spray bottle ($14.99 $7.99), high pressure marinade injector ($14.99 $9.99), meat claws ($24.99 $16.00) and Wagyu beef tallow ($19.99) all fit in a stocking.

$50 to $100: for the rib and beef rib crowd

The Beef Rib Pro BBQ Smoking Bundle ($119.99 $99.99) brings butcher paper, beef tallow, rubs and BBQ gloves together for dino ribs. Pair any themed box with our 3-2-1 ribs method and they have a weekend plan. Browse every option in our BBQ bundles and gift sets.

Last minute: a digital gift card

A Grill Masters Club digital gift card arrives by email, from $50 to $250, and works across the store, from rubs and gear to a BBQ box subscription. It's the right call when you're not sure what they already own.

Holiday timing

Every order can include a free digital gift note. Choose when it sends: right after checkout, on a date and time you pick, or when the order is delivered. For gift subscriptions, the first box ships within 72 hours, usually the same or next business day. For the holidays, we can also hold that first box to ship on December 17, to land right before Christmas, or on December 28, to land right after. Checkout doesn't have a ship-date option, so after you order, email support@grillmastersclub.com or start a live chat with your order number and the date you want.

Tuck in a guide

Print one of these and put it in the box. It's the difference between a gift and a plan for Saturday:

• Ultimate Beginner's Guide: How to Smoke Meat at Home
• How to Grill the Perfect Steak Every Time
• Guide: How to Smoke a Brisket

FAQ

What is a good gift for someone who just bought a smoker?

Gear that makes the first cooks easier. The Smoker Essentials Bundle covers prep, handling and resting, and an instant-read thermometer covers the most important part, knowing when it's done.

What do you get a pitmaster who has everything?

Flavor and discovery. A gift subscription sends a themed box of sauces, rubs and a tool with recipes every 2 or 3 months, and no theme repeats. If you're not sure, a digital gift card lets them choose.

Can I hold a gift subscription to ship closer to the holidays?

Yes. The first box normally ships within 72 hours. We can also hold it to ship on December 17, to land right before Christmas, or on December 28, to land right after. After you order, email support@grillmastersclub.com or start a live chat with your order number and the date you want.

Can I add a gift message?

Yes. Add a free digital gift note at checkout and choose when it goes out: right away, on a date and time you pick, or when the order is delivered.