By Jay Mathiesen, Backyard Bash Owner

“I never met a smoker I didn’t like.” That’s my usual reply when customers ask which of the brands of cookers we carry here at Backyard Bash is my favorite. In reality, my personal smoker is a Good-One Rodeo or “42” for you older Good-One fans. It’s ten years old, still looks great, and cooks like the day my wife bought it for me. Manufactured in the small town (population less than 300) of Burns, Kansas, The Good-One is one of the best charcoal smokers on the market today.

The benefits of The Good-One are many:

Back Off Set Design

The Good-One features a firebox that runs the entire width of the smoking chamber. This all but eliminates the problem that side off-sets often have with hot spots next to the firebox. A full range of temperatures can be achieved with little effort by using the full damper control between the firebox and smoking chamber.

Stair Step Design

Provides a convection type heat circulation for optimal smoke penetration and fuel efficiency. The smoker reuses its heat and smoke rather than releasing it through a stack. The top spinners are opened only slightly as a vent, rather than straight exhaust. The larger models have a cold air return back to the firebox. This design also requires very little wood to reach the desired level of smoke. Generally, on my Rodeo, this means using four chunks of wood a little bigger than my fist when the smoker if full of meat.

Recovery Time

We’ve all fought the battle of recovering temperature after opening the smoker for any number of reasons. What I have found with my Good-One is that the recovery time is around 10 minutes. This is a great benefit when cooking large cuts like butts and briskets.

Variable Temperature

How many charcoal smokers can smoke at 200 degrees and bake at 450 degrees? With the adjustable damper I can smoke as usual or bake at any temperature.

Capacity

I have cooked on a lot of smokers over the years, and I’ve found that The Good-One makes the best use of space with its pull out shelves. I have had 12 whole briskets in my Rodeo with room for more. With rib racks, I can put 30 slabs of ribs in with no problem.

Extra Benefit

A great deal of smokers are made of pipe in one form or another, because it is cheaper than using a press break to form lids, like those found on The Good-One. The lid design of The Good-One creates the convection heat flow, but it also has an added benefit. The firebox lid gives me the perfect spot to heat sauces or keep things warm.

So whether you’re looking for a back yard smoker, a competition cooker, or a catering rig, you can’t go wrong with The Good-One. I consider it like investing in cast iron cookware. Not only will you create barbecue so good your neighbors will try to sneak in to your private parties, you’ll have it long enough to pass down to the next generation.

Get a coupon for The Good-One by clicking here!

Want to read and view more information about The Good-One? Check out these links:

The Good-One Marshall Performance Test–PDF File
The Good-One Training Video