You only need three gadgets.

For 2025, I’d put my money on a good instant-read thermometer, a chimney starter, and a reliable pair of tongs. Everything else is either a toy or a solution in search of a problem.

Thermometers are the biggest return on investment. The Thermapen One is still king because it’s fast and accurate — no more guessing doneness or cutting into meat. Chimney starters are cheap, last forever, and light charcoal without lighter fluid taste. Tongs: just get a solid 16-inch pair with a good grip. You’ll use them every time.

What I’d skip: rotisserie kits (unless you cook whole chickens weekly), specialty pizza ovens (your grill already gets hot enough with a stone), and any “smart” grill thermometer that needs an app. The apps always suck. Also, skip pellet hopper covers and grill mats — they’re solving problems you don’t have.

If you really want to spend more cash, put it into fuel quality (lump charcoal or good wood chips), not gadgets. That’s where the flavor lives.