In brief: First place in our editorial ranking of fuel and smoking wood is the proFagus Grillis Sommerhit briquettes 10 kg (9.4/10). Below it are the 8 highest-rated fuels and smoking woods from our individual reviews that were in stock on 21 October 2026.
This page lists eight products for grills and smokers: charcoal briquettes, pellets, smoking chips, a chimney starter and an electric lighter. They do not replace one another. Pellets are meant as the main fuel for pellet grills, chips are not a fuel, and a lighter is not one either. The ranking follows our editorial rating based on manufacturer information and price. We have not lit or smoked anything. The buying guide helps you settle the type of fuel first and then choose the product.
The recommendations at a glance
- proFagus Grillis Sommerhit briquettes 10 kg (9.4/10): GRiLLiS are barbecue charcoal briquettes from proFagus in Bodenfelde: pieces of charcoal under 2 cm, bound with food-grade starch and, according to the manufacturer, intended for long barbecue evenings, Dutch ovens, kettle grills and smokers.
- Weber Rapidfire chimney starter, large (9.1/10): The large Rapidfire (Weber item 7416) is a cylinder of aluminised steel with a cone-shaped grate.
- Axtschlag hickory smoking chips 1000 g (8.9/10): One kilo of single-variety hickory chips from Axtschlag, made in Germany according to the manufacturer.
- Greek Fire Premium barbecue charcoal 10 kg (8.9/10): For its 10 kg charcoal briquettes, Greek Fire states an ember temperature of up to 400 °C and approx. 6% ash content, without naming a measuring method.
- Traeger Signature Blend 9 kg (8.9/10): Traeger Signature Blend pellets mix hickory, maple and cherry; Traeger describes the blend as versatile and names beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood, baked goods and vegetables as especially suitable.
- Looftlighter Original (8.8/10): The Looftlighter Original lights charcoal with electrically heated air instead of a flame.
- Traeger Hickory 9 kg (8.8/10): The Traeger Hickory bag is intended for Traeger pellet grills; Traeger describes the flavour as robust and full-bodied and names beef, poultry, pork and vegetables as especially suitable.
- Pit Boss Competition Blend 9 kg (8.7/10): The Pit Boss Competition Blend is a hardwood pellet mix in a 20 lb bag (approx. 9.07 kg), on Amazon on 12 October 2026 only from marketplace sellers from approx. €31; according to the US site it suits all wood pellet grills, smoke level medium.
proFagus Grillis Sommerhit briquettes 10 kg: beech charcoal briquettes 10 kg
GRiLLiS are barbecue charcoal briquettes from proFagus in Bodenfelde: pieces of charcoal under 2 cm, bound with food-grade starch and, according to the manufacturer, intended for long barbecue evenings, Dutch ovens, kettle grills and smokers. The 10 kg bag costs approx. €30 on Amazon (as of September 2026). In the online shop at shop.profagus.de the kilo is €2.50, plus shipping.
Our assessment: In our fuel comparison, the GRiLLiS carry the highest overall rating. In our view, what speaks for them is the disclosed information on raw material, plant, wood radius and production, and an Amazon price of around €3 per kilo. If you only grill briefly and in small amounts, proFagus’s own recommendation is that the lump charcoal DER SOMMER HIT suits you better.
Strengths according to our review:
- Manufacturer information on binder, burning step, plant and wood radius disclosed
- According to the manufacturer, no tropical wood but beech wood from Germany
- DINplus and PEFC according to the manufacturer, and TÜV Rheinland additionally on the new bag illustration
Weaknesses according to our review:
- No GRiLLiS-specific number of minutes to full glow and no number of hours for burn time, either from proFagus or in the Amazon catalogue
- Bound with starch: if you want briquettes without a binder, you need a different product
Editorial rating 9.4/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the proFagus Grillis Sommerhit briquettes 10 kg.
Weber Rapidfire chimney starter, large: chimney starter, large (32 cm)
The large Rapidfire (Weber item 7416) is a cylinder of aluminised steel with a cone-shaped grate. According to Weber it holds 6 litres, around 2.5 kg of briquettes; charcoal glows through in it in approx. 20 minutes and briquettes in approx. 40, without electricity and without liquid lighter fluid. It costs approx. €24 (as of September 2026).
Our assessment: Our assessment: for a 57 cm kettle grill the large Rapidfire is the right size, because Weber equates the charcoal for that grill with one full load. If you do not want to wait at the chimney and have power at your grilling spot, take a look at the electric Looftlighter. For table grills and small, portable charcoal grills, Weber’s instructions rule out the chimney.
Strengths according to our review:
- A firelighter cube costs around 10 cents in the Weber shop (pack of 48, as of 1 October 2026)
- According to the support centre, it can also be combined with the gas ignition of the Weber Performer
- On long barbecue evenings, according to the Weber guide, you can light new charcoal in it at any time and add it
Weaknesses according to our review:
- The glow time varies between 10 and 40 minutes in Weber’s own sources; you can only plan reliably with the longest figure
- According to the instructions, do not use in strong wind (point 6)
Editorial rating 9.1/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Weber Rapidfire chimney starter, large.
Axtschlag hickory smoking chips 1000 g: hickory smoking chips 1000 g
One kilo of single-variety hickory chips from Axtschlag, made in Germany according to the manufacturer. Axtschlag describes the smoke as strongly aromatic and sharply spicy and recommends hickory for lamb, pork, beef and chicken. A smoker box is not included. On Amazon approx. €10.49 (as of 5 October 2026).
Our assessment: Our assessment: if you occasionally want to smoke meat with hickory on a gas, charcoal or electric grill, you get a kilo of single-variety wood; the Weber chips cost roughly the same per kilo. On a gas or electric grill a smoker box is an extra, and for spare ribs Axtschlag itself recommends its hickory chunks.
Strengths according to our review:
- According to the pack print, 100% hickory wood, single variety
- According to the manufacturer, natural, with no chemical additives, made in Germany
- According to the manufacturer, usable with all grilling appliances
Weaknesses according to our review:
- No smoker box in the bag; Axtschlag’s own Smoker Cup costs extra
- For the chips, Axtschlag gives neither a soaking recommendation nor a quantity per load or a smoking time
Editorial rating 8.9/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Axtschlag hickory smoking chips 1000 g.
Greek Fire Premium barbecue charcoal 10 kg: 10 kg, ember temperature up to 400 °C according to the manufacturer
For its 10 kg charcoal briquettes, Greek Fire states an ember temperature of up to 400 °C and approx. 6% ash content, without naming a measuring method. Kilo prices compared: Greek Fire approx. €4.91 at approx. €49.10 for 10 kg, proFagus Grillis €3.00, McBrikett €3.13, Weber €3.75. We have not lit anything; the figures are manufacturer information.
Our assessment: Greek Fire suits you if briquettes without a starch binder matter to you and you accept the highest kilo price in the table (approx. €4.91). If you mainly want to grill cheaply and predictably, then in our assessment you are better served by the proFagus briquette (approx. €30, rating 9.4). Heat and smoke figures come from the manufacturer and have not been measured.
Strengths according to our review:
- The manufacturer states an ember temperature of up to 400 °C (embers, not grate)
- Ash content approx. 6% according to the manufacturer (arithmetically around 600 g per 10 kg carton, if it refers to mass)
- No starch binder: according to the manufacturer, pressed without chemical and natural binders
Weaknesses according to our review:
- At approx. €49.10 for 10 kg (€4.91 per kilo), the highest kilo price in the table: proFagus Grillis is at €3.00, McBrikett at €3.13, Weber at €3.75
- Burn time of 4 to more than 6 hours depending on the manufacturer’s page, with no reference quantity; the 400 °C refers to the embers, not the grate
Editorial rating 8.9/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Greek Fire Premium barbecue charcoal 10 kg.
Traeger Signature Blend 9 kg: 9 kg, hickory/maple/cherry, 100% natural hardwoods
Traeger Signature Blend pellets mix hickory, maple and cherry; Traeger describes the blend as versatile and names beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood, baked goods and vegetables as especially suitable. At approx. €27 per 9 kg bag it suits Traeger pellet grills if you do not want to switch varieties for each food.
Our assessment: Traeger describes the Signature Blend as a versatile mix that suits almost anything. It makes sense as a first bag for a Traeger pellet grill if you do not want to switch varieties for each food. If you want a recognisable single wood, choose single-variety pellets, such as hickory, which Traeger describes as a strong flavour.
Strengths according to our review:
- A mix of three woods that Traeger describes as versatile and full-bodied
- 100% natural hardwoods, no binders according to Traeger Germany
- Compatible with all Traeger pellet grills and the StayDRY pellet container according to Traeger
Weaknesses according to our review:
- According to the catalogue, the Amazon listing carries the US item PEL331, not the FSC version from Traeger Germany (PEL346, PEL425); the listing data does not show whether the bag you receive carries FSC
- At high temperatures a bag is empty after about 6 hours according to Traeger, arithmetically approx. €4.50 per grilling hour
Editorial rating 8.9/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Traeger Signature Blend 9 kg.
Looftlighter Original: electric barbecue lighter
The Looftlighter Original lights charcoal with electrically heated air instead of a flame. For the EU version, Looft states 1800 watts, 650 to 700 °C, a start in 60 seconds and grilling after about 5 minutes. It needs a power socket and on 6 October 2026 cost from approx. €99 from marketplace sellers on Amazon. Which voltage the Amazon listing has remains open.
Our assessment: In our comparison, the Looftlighter Original is worthwhile for anyone with a power socket at the grilling spot who does not want to wait 15 to 25 minutes for the chimney starter (Looft’s figures). Without a socket, on a small budget, or as long as the voltage of the Amazon listing is open, the chimney starter remains the safer choice.
Strengths according to our review:
- Start in 60 seconds according to Looft, grilling after about 5 minutes
- No lighter fluid and no gas needed, hot air instead of a flame
- Can also be used to light firewood and fire bowls
Weaknesses according to our review:
- Considerably more expensive to buy than a classic chimney starter
- Usable only with the mains cable (3 m): a socket near the grill is needed, and for the Classic Looft gives no battery or power bank operation
Editorial rating 8.8/10, purchase route via Amazon only through marketplace sellers. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Looftlighter Original.
Traeger Hickory 9 kg: 9 kg (20 lb), hickory, robust flavour according to Traeger
The Traeger Hickory bag is intended for Traeger pellet grills; Traeger describes the flavour as robust and full-bodied and names beef, poultry, pork and vegetables as especially suitable. At approx. €29 per 9 kg bag (20 lb) it is the choice if you want a strong hickory flavour; on the product page Traeger speaks of a blend of hardwoods.
Our assessment: The Hickory bag suits you if you have a Traeger pellet grill and want a strong, robust flavour. If you want to smoke more mildly, then according to Traeger’s advice you mix with oak or apple; for fish Traeger names oak. For pellet grills of other brands, Pit Boss lists an explicit approval, while Traeger names only its own grills.
Strengths according to our review:
- Traeger describes the flavour as robust and full-bodied
- No binders according to Traeger Germany
- Recommended by Traeger in its guides for brisket and for 3-2-1 ribs
Weaknesses according to our review:
- Traeger gives no hickory share and speaks of a blend of hardwoods on the product page
- The Amazon listing carries the US item PEL319 and not the FSC version from Traeger Germany (PEL345)
Editorial rating 8.8/10, purchase route via Amazon. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Traeger Hickory 9 kg.
Pit Boss Competition Blend 9 kg: 9 kg (20 lb), hardwood blend, shares unknown
The Pit Boss Competition Blend is a hardwood pellet mix in a 20 lb bag (approx. 9.07 kg), on Amazon on 12 October 2026 only from marketplace sellers from approx. €31; according to the US site it suits all wood pellet grills, smoke level medium. The woods appear only as a line of text on the photo of the bag, without shares.
Our assessment: Our assessment: the Competition Blend suits you if, according to Pit Boss, smoke level medium is enough for you and you do not need fixed woods. Traeger names hickory, maple and cherry for the Signature Blend, but that is stated as compatible only with Traeger pellet grills. If you have no pellet grill, you generally need a different main fuel.
Strengths according to our review:
- 100% natural hardwood pellets without artificial flavours, adhesives or chemicals according to Pit Boss Germany
- According to the US product page, little to no ash and smoke level medium (each without a measured value)
- According to the US site, compatible with all wood pellet grills and smokers, and also usable in charcoal grills, smoke tubes and fire bowls
Weaknesses according to our review:
- The flavour cannot be reliably repeated: the 20 lb line names apple, the 40 lb line names cherry, and the back of the bag reserves changes to the blend
- No data sheet: pellet diameter, calorific value, burn time per bag and ash content in percent are missing
Editorial rating 8.7/10, purchase route via Amazon only through marketplace sellers. All data, sources and the FAQ are in the individual review of the Pit Boss Competition Blend 9 kg.
Buying guide: fuel and lighting aids to suit your grill
Which grill do you have?
This decides things before any product comparison. For charcoal and kettle grills, charcoal is the fuel, here the briquettes proFagus GRiLLiS and Greek Fire Premium barbecue charcoal. proFagus names Dutch ovens, kettle grills and smokers as uses, while Greek Fire names no grill types. For a pellet grill you need pellets: the Traeger Signature Blend, the Traeger Hickory or the Pit Boss Competition Blend. Traeger states its bags are compatible with all Traeger pellet grills and gives no information on grills of other brands. Pit Boss lists all wood pellet grills on its US site, while the German manufacturer page says nothing on this.
If you only have a gas grill, you do not need a chimney starter: Weber’s instructions limit it to charcoal grills. Charcoal belongs outdoors, because glowing charcoal produces carbon monoxide, a gas with no colour or smell. proFagus prohibits use in enclosed spaces, and Weber specifies the Rapidfire for outdoor use only.
Briquettes with starch or without a binder?
According to proFagus, the GRiLLiS consist of beech charcoal pieces under 2 cm that are bound with food-grade starch. The shop page names DINplus and PEFC as seals. Greek Fire, by contrast, states that it presses its briquettes from hardwood sawdust without chemical and natural binders. Greek Fire names ember temperatures up to 400 °C, referring to the embers and not the grate, without a measuring method.
On burn time, both manufacturers are vague. Greek Fire gives 4 to 6 hours or more than 6 hours depending on the page, without a reference quantity. proFagus gives no number of hours at all for the GRiLLiS, but ties the start of grilling to the white ash layer on the briquettes. Our assessment: of the two, Greek Fire has the higher kilo price and the lower rating. If going without starch is not important to you, proFagus is the better choice.
How do you light it?
The Weber Rapidfire is a sheet-metal cylinder with no cable. According to Weber it holds 6 litres, around 2.5 kg of briquettes. On the product page Weber gives about 20 minutes of glow time for charcoal and about 40 for briquettes, while other Weber pages give 10 to 30 minutes. You need firelighter cubes, or newspaper if you have to. According to the instructions, you must not use it in strong wind or with table grills and small, portable charcoal grills.
The Looftlighter Original lights with hot air. For the EU version Looft gives 1800 watts, a start in 60 seconds and grilling after about 5 minutes, but 15 to 25 minutes for the charcoal chimney. It needs a power socket, because the Classic has a 3 m cable and no battery. On Amazon only marketplace sellers offered it, and the catalogue does not state which voltage the listing has. It is the most expensive product on the list, while the Rapidfire costs considerably less. With proFagus briquettes, the lighting instructions on the pack take precedence.
Chips or pellets for smoking?
According to the pack print, the Axtschlag hickory smoking chips are 100% hickory. Axtschlag gives the chip size as 4 to 16 mm, the Amazon catalogue as 8 to 12 mm. Axtschlag calls the smoke strongly aromatic and sharply spicy and recommends hickory for lamb, pork, beef and chicken. For long cooking times, Axtschlag itself advises wood chunks, because they last longer.
In a pellet grill, the pellets provide heat and smoke at once. The Signature Blend mixes hickory, maple and cherry and, according to Traeger, suits beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood, baked goods and vegetables. According to Traeger, the Hickory bag is robust and full-bodied. The Pit Boss Competition Blend names hickory, apple, maple and oak without shares, and the smoke level is medium according to the US site. For fish and vegetables Traeger names oak, which according to the hardwood guide is somewhat lighter than hickory.
What does it cost to run?
Never compare the price per bag alone, but per use. The Axtschlag chips are the cheapest product on the list, but they are only a smoke source and do not replace embers. Among the briquettes, Greek Fire has the highest kilo price, and the GRiLLiS are below it. Among the pellets, the Pit Boss Competition Blend cost more than the Traeger Signature Blend according to guide prices. How far a bag goes depends on the temperature: Traeger gives 6 to 20 hours per bag. For Pit Boss there is no such figure, so you cannot compare the two brands cleanly on consumption. The Rapidfire incurs only the cost of the firelighter cubes, while the Looftlighter uses electricity.
How this list came about
We have not handled any of these products ourselves. The basis is our individual reviews, which rest on manufacturer information, instruction manuals and retailer pages; where we make our own assessment, it says so there. The rating is our editorial rating based on build quality, performance, handling and value for money, as described in the rating methodology.
This list includes only fuels and smoking woods whose review we have newly revised and which were in stock at at least one of our shops on 21 October 2026. Of these, we show the 8 with the highest overall rating, in that order. We earn a commission on purchases made through our links, and it varies in amount depending on the shop; it has no influence on the order.
The comparison winners side by side
| Grill | Type | Rating | Guide price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| proFagus Grillis Sommerhit Briketts 10 kg | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★★ 4.7 | approx. €29.85 | To the shop → |
| Weber Rapidfire Anzündkamin groß | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★★ 4.5 | approx. €24.00 | To the shop → |
| Axtschlag Räucherchips Hickory 1000 g | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | approx. €10.49 | To the shop → |
| Greek Fire Premium Grillkohle 10 kg | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | approx. €49.10 | To the shop → |
| Traeger Signature Blend 9 kg | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | approx. €26.98 | To the shop → |
| Looftlighter Original | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | approx. €99.00 | To the shop → |
| Traeger Hickory 9 kg | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | approx. €28.56 | To the shop → |
| Pit Boss Competition Blend 9 kg | Fuel and smoking wood | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | approx. €30.96 | To the shop → |
Prices are guide values and change with the shop and promotions. The retailer page shows the current price; our guide prices and ratings are on the linked review pages or in the full comparison. Prices are in euros from Amazon.de and may differ in your country.