Built in Kaufman, Texas
Direct Heat Smokers
Slingshot, Mini and Full Size. Smoke low and slow, run it like an offset or reverse flow, or grill over live fire, all on one pit.
New to direct heat? See how direct heat smokers work, or compare direct heat cookers side by side: the Slingshot, Mini and Full Size against the same checklist.
Which direct heat smoker fits you?
All three are built in Kaufman, Texas with tuning plates, an air-gap insulated lid and a standard 8-week build time. Here's how they differ.
Slingshot
$1,995
- Grate: 528 sq in per level, 1,057 with a second grate
- Steel: ⅛″ hot-rolled USA steel
- Fire: Movable square charcoal basket
- Cooking modes: 5 out of the box
- Weight: About 275 lb
The lightest, lowest-cost way into direct heat cooking. A movable basket puts the fire where you want it.
See the SlingshotMini Smokeslinger
$2,699
- Grate: 1,246 sq in across two levels
- Steel: ¼″ laser-cut steel
- Fire: Center fire drawer on rails with insert
- Cooking modes: 7 out of the box, including high-heat searing
- Weight: About 420 lb
Full Smokeslinger fire management in a pit that fits a patio.
See the MiniFull Size Smokeslinger
$3,295
- Grate: 2,114 sq in across two levels
- Steel: ¼″ laser-cut steel
- Fire: Two fire drawers, one at each end
- Cooking modes: 7 out of the box, including high-heat searing
- Weight: About 700 lb
Run one drawer for a small cook or both for a full load. The most room and the most control.
See the Full SizeWant the full side-by-side? Read the Direct Heat Cooker Buying Guide.
What is a direct heat smoker?
A direct heat smoker cooks over a live charcoal or wood fire under the cooking grate. Tuning plates between the fire and the food let you choose how much heat reaches the meat, so the same pit smokes low and slow like an offset, runs reverse flow, or works as a direct heat grill when you pull the plates.
Compared with a traditional offset, direct heat cooking gives you faster cooks, higher heat when you want it, and deeper smoke flavor from drippings hitting the coals.
How direct heat smokers workWhat is a direct heat smoker? Frank explains
Why Smokeslinger
Texas Tough, BBQ Ready. Every Smokeslinger is built in Kaufman, Texas with a standard 8-week build time.
Air-gap insulated lids with an oven-seal gasket hold steady temperatures, removable tuning plates change how the heat reaches the meat, and round-bar grates come standard.
Join the Smokeslinger Pit Owners Group to see real cooks and swap techniques with other owners.
Let customers speak for us
Very nice experience purchasing the smoker
Very nice experience purchasing the smoke slinger.
Quick and non pressured responses from their sales team. Fast and safe shipping once smoker was built.
They hit the completion date they stated and the quality of the unit is very good. I would purchase from them again.
Thx
Stephen Bumb
The forever basket is awesome
The forever basket is awesome. I’ve used it several times since getting it and each time it impresses me more.
Cory Apfelbeck
It's great! I'm still working out the kinks in my BBQ game
It's great! I'm still working out the kinks in my BBQ game, but I'm loving it!
Kyle Cotter
Very good grill smoker
Cooks wonderfully
Gregory
Very
Very satisfying
Anonymous
The Smokeslinger Full Size is HANDS DOWN one of the Best investments I've made along my BBQ journey
The Smokeslinger Full Size is HANDS DOWN one of the Best investments I've made along my BBQ journey. It's incredibly versatile and I've only scratched the surface of the things I'm going to Grill/Smoke on her. If you're reading this comment and you're on the fence...DO IT!!! You Won't be sorry. And for the difference in price and cooking space GO BIG or Go Home 😁🔥
Michael Lebu
Awesome construction that will be around well after anyone reading this!
Awesome construction that will be around well after anyone reading this (i.e, built to last forever!). I bought it to replace the charcoal basket that originally came with my Smokeslinger. The original warped rather badly so that it was always tipping to one side or the other based on where coals were. It made for shifting fires when splits were dropped in. The Forever basket fixes that and more. It hasn't warped, it hasn't shifted due to additions of splits (i.e. more weight on one side). I highly recommend the Forever Basket!
Jason Oliver
made perfectly as usual
made perfectly as usual. Should work even better with my Mini on order
William S McEwen Lucy Lu BBQ
Killer fit and finish as with all Smokeslinger products
Killer fit and finish as with all Smokeslinger products. Hooked up to my Fireboard fan just like Frank demonstrated in his video
Kevin Hall
Coolest looking chimney ever!! Matches Full size Smoke Slinger perfectly.
Coolest looking chimney ever!! Matches Full size Smoke Slinger perfectly. Craftsmanship is second to none. Functions perfectly as designed
Chad Hunstiger
Smoke Slinger experience
Everyone has been polite and professional also very helpful with all of my questions. I’m starting week 5 since I placed my order occupying free time with reading posts, comments and watching videos. I am also preparing for delivery purchasing on sale supplies and proteins. Organizing my patio space.
I’m working on my project list so I will have more time to use my new Full size SmokeSlinger.
Roger Conley
A well designed and thought out product
It is well designed and thought out, helps with fire management in the Slinger and the Liberty 94. This thing is built like a tank and well worth the investment.
Kevin Hall
Awesome new way to cool on the Slinger!!
Don
Absolutly Amazing!!!
The forever basket is built to last forever !!! Heavy and amazing quality !!
It makes offset mode run like a swiss watch !!
Don't hesitate to add it to your BBQ Arsenal .
Don Applegarth
everything that Smokeslinger makes is built to
everything that Smokeslinger makes is built to last forever!
Fred Umble
Direct Heat Smoker FAQs
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A pit that cooks over a live charcoal or wood fire directly under the cooking grate. Removable tuning plates control how much heat reaches the food, so you can smoke low and slow or grill over open fire on the same pit. See how direct heat smokers work.
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An offset burns its fire in a separate firebox and pulls the heat across the cook chamber. A direct heat smoker keeps the fire under the food. That means faster cooks, higher heat when you want it, and deeper smoke flavor from drippings hitting the coals. With the tuning plates set, a Smokeslinger can also run offset and reverse flow style cooks.
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Yes. Pull the tuning plates and you're cooking right over the coals like a direct heat grill. The Mini and Full Size also have a Super High Heat Searing mode with the fire drawer insert.
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The Slingshot is the lightest and lowest-cost way in, with 5 cooking modes. The Mini gives you all 7 modes, including high-heat searing, in a patio-size pit. The Full Size has two fire drawers and the most grate space for big cooks. Compare all three in the buying guide.
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Every Smokeslinger is built in Kaufman, Texas.
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Standard build time is 8 weeks from your down payment until your pit is ready to ship or be picked up.
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LTL freight with liftgate service to residential addresses in the lower 48 states, typically $350 to $1,050 depending on location. You can also pick up at our shop in Kaufman, TX by appointment.
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The best way is to request a quote. We'll run your address through our freight quoting system, which can save you money on shipping, and you can pay in 2 payments: a 50% down payment and the balance when your pit is ready. You can also order directly on each product page and use Affirm financing.
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See our refund policy.
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Absolutely. Call or text us 7 days a week, 8am to 6pm Central, at (762) 772-2727, or use the chat in the lower right corner of this page.
Direct Heat Basics
Ordering and Shipping
