Each editor leads specific categories — one covers pellet, charcoal, kamado and smokers, the other gas, portable, electric and flat-top grills — and fact-checks the other’s articles.
Table of contents8 sections
Our model
Who researches the grills at SmokyHQ?
Two people: Marcus Reilly (KCBS Certified Judge · 15 years competition BBQ) and Tom Bricker (10+ years grilling across every fuel type). They research the grills, write the reviews and guides, and fact-check each other. Nobody else writes for SmokyHQ. Reviews are built from verified specs, manuals, warranties and documented owner feedback.
Most review sites list a long masthead of writers. We went the other way. Every review, guide and best-of list on SmokyHQ comes from one of two people who know barbecue, with 25 years of grilling and barbecue experience between them.
A small team means the same standards on every page. The person who reviews the grill is the person who writes about it, and the only other person who checks it knows the review methodology just as well.
Why only two? The split is by expertise. One editor is a KCBS Certified Judge and leads the low-and-slow categories; the other has spent years on every fuel type and leads the everyday grilling categories. Each checks the other’s work, so every article gets a second pair of expert eyes.
Marcus Reilly
Senior Editor & Researcher
KCBS Certified Judge · 15 years competition BBQ
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- written
- 45
- fact-checked
Marcus has cooked competition barbecue for 15 years and judges sanctioned KCBS contests, where entries are scored on tenderness, taste and appearance. That background shapes how he researches low-and-slow cookers for SmokyHQ: pellet grills, charcoal kettles, offsets, kamados and dedicated smokers.
His research focuses on the questions owners raise after the first month: what controller type a grill uses and how owners report it holding temperature, what the manufacturer says about hopper size and fuel use, how the build and warranty compare with rivals, and what problems show up repeatedly in owner feedback. SmokyHQ does not test grills hands-on; reviews are built from verified specs and documented owner experience.
Marcus also writes our smoking and cooking guides (brisket, ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, reverse sear and the meat temperature chart) and fact-checks every review and guide Tom Bricker publishes.
SmokersPellet GrillsCharcoal & KamadoLow-and-Slow BBQTemperature Control
What Marcus researches
- Pellet Grills: Controller type, hopper capacity, app features and owner reports on temperature stability and reliability.
- Charcoal Grills: Vent and ash-system design, steel gauge, capacity and owner reports on low-and-slow stability.
- Kamado Grills: Ceramic or steel build, gasket and hinge design, included accessories and warranty coverage.
Recently updated by Marcus
- Weber Original Kettle 22" review (4.7/5)
- Kamado Joe Classic Joe II 18" review (4.6/5)
- Kamado Joe Classic Joe I review (4.5/5)
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill (PB850M) review (4.5/5)
- Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18" review (4.5/5)
Tom Bricker
Consumer Research Analyst & Editor
10+ years grilling across every fuel type
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- written
- 42
- fact-checked
Tom has grilled on gas, charcoal, pellet, electric and flat-top cookers for more than 10 years, and comes to grill reviews from consumer research: comparing what a product costs with what it delivers over years of ownership. At SmokyHQ he researches gas grills, portable and tabletop units, electric and indoor grills, and griddles.
His research answers the questions you’ll have on a weeknight and five summers later: What is the cookbox and burner made of? What does the warranty cover, and for how long? What do owners consistently report about ignition, heat evenness and assembly? What tends to wear out first at each price tier?
Tom also builds our budget and price-tier buying guides, writes our maintenance and troubleshooting guides, and fact-checks every review and guide Marcus Reilly publishes.
Gas GrillsPortable GrillsElectric & Indoor GrillsGriddlesValue & Durability
What Tom researches
- Gas Grills: Burner and cookbox materials, sear-zone design, ignition type, warranty terms and owner reports on heat evenness.
- Flat Top Grills & Griddles: Plate size and thickness, burner count, grease management and owner reports on hot and cold zones.
- Portable Grills: Listed weight, fuel type, folding design and owner reports on use away from home.
- Electric Grills: Wattage, plate material, temperature controls and owner reports on smoke and cleanup.
Recently updated by Tom
- Weber Genesis EX-325W Smart Gas Grill review (4.6/5)
- Broil King Regal S 420 Pro review (4.5/5)
- Napoleon TravelQ PRO285X review (4.5/5)
- Weber Smokey Joe 14" review (4.5/5)
- Weber Spirit E-325 review (4.5/5)
Division of work
Who leads each grill type?
Each category has a lead editor; the other fact-checks. Both follow the same review methodology and editorial standards.
| Category | Lead editor |
|---|---|
| Gas Grills | Tom Bricker |
| Pellet Grills | Marcus Reilly |
| Charcoal Grills | Marcus Reilly |
| Flat Top Grills & Griddles | Tom Bricker |
| Portable Grills | Tom Bricker |
| Kamado Grills | Marcus Reilly |
| Electric Grills | Tom Bricker |
Process
How do the two editors work together?
- 1
The lead researches. The category lead gathers the manufacturer specs, manual, warranty terms and documented owner feedback, and notes every source.
- 2
The lead writes. The same person writes the review or guide from those sources, including the Review Score, the cons and who should skip it.
- 3
The partner checks. The other editor checks every figure against the cited sources and the manufacturer’s documentation, and challenges any conclusion that doesn’t follow from the evidence.
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Both agree. Disagreements on a score or ranking are settled by going back to the sources before anything is published.
Accountability
What does a byline mean?
Every article shows two names, and each means something specific:
- Written by is the person who did the research and wrote the article. They’re responsible for the verdict.
- Fact-checked by is the second editor, who confirmed the numbers and conclusions before publishing.
Questions about a specific review go straight to the person who wrote it. Use our contact page. How we stay independent is on why trust us, and the site’s background is on about SmokyHQ.
FAQ
Common questions
01How is the work split between the editors?
02Can I ask an editor a question about a review?
Yes. Use our contact page and name the article. Your message goes to the person who wrote it.
03Do the editors receive free grills from brands?
No. We don’t accept free samples, loaners or review units, so no brand can expect anything in return. Our reviews are based on verified specs and owner feedback, not on products sent to us.
Transparency
More about how SmokyHQ works
- About SmokyHQWho we are, what we cover and why the site exists.
- How we scoreThe sources and scorecard behind every Review Score.
- Why trust usThe safeguards that keep our verdicts independent.
- Editorial standardsAccuracy, sourcing, updates and our corrections policy.
- How we’re fundedHow affiliate links work and why they never change a score.
- Contact & correctionsEmail the editors, report an error or suggest a grill.
- Privacy policyWhat data the site collects and how it is used.
- Terms of useThe rules for using SmokyHQ content.