What we dislike: Smoker is extremely large and heavy. Assembly can be challenging. Best bang for your buck: Cuisinart’s Vertical 36″ Propane Smoker Our take: An excellent smoker for beginners ...

Our top picks are both under $400. Propane smokers are a great option for short smoking sessions. Our favorite is the Cuisinart Vertical Propane Smoker, which has a separate door for adding fuel ...