The Timberline XL brings the versatility and precision of indoor cooking to the outdoors. With temperature control from 165 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the first certified outdoor induction cooktop in the United States, the most elaborate meals can be fully prepared outside with wood fired flavor. The Timberline features a full color TFT touchscreen display and an array of sensors, including flame, fuel, and lid sensors to ensure precise cooking in any environment, and streamlines troubleshooting for any issues. The redesigned cooking cavity and grease and ash collection system make this the easiest wood pellet grill to maintain. New technology was leveraged to improve the customer experience and allow any potential errors to be detectable by the grill itself with its array of smart combustion sensors, and to self-correct for environmental factors. Wood pellet grills have traditionally looked like smokers, which many consumers find intimidating. In designing the Timberline XL, aesthetic cues were instead taken from consumer products to elevate approachability. For example, the pellet hopper was integrated into the body of the grill rather than hanging off the product for a cohesive unibody design. Straight lines and framing around the cabinet allow for the Timberline XL to be built into an outdoor kitchen and the more dynamic framing elements more typical of consumer tech further communicate high-quality.

With the Timberline XL we set out to develop the most advanced outdoor cooking experience possible by drawing on a wealth of experience from over 30 years as the leader in wood pellet grilling and listening to extensive user feedback. Our goal was to simultaneously solve common problems associated with wood pellet grills currently in the market and unlock new versatility in the world of outdoor cooking. The project began with both qualitative and quantitative research across a variety of markets (west coast, mountain west, midwest, south/east coast) and specifically focused on a number of different consumer types (current consumers, gas grillers, convenience cookers, bbq specialists,etc) of all age and income ranges. Some of the key learnings from the research process that drove design decisions were:

1. Pellet grilling is a complete mystery to most grill consumers.

Pellet grilling is still a fairly niche segment of the outdoor cooking space, so lowering the barrier to entry was a key component of the design of the Timberline. The team accomplished this by simplifying the cleanup of the product to one user touchpoint, the grease and ash keg, that can be easily accessed without removing any internal components of the grill. We also added new firmware and wifi-enabled technology that streamlines cooking on the product --- like a pellet sensor that can remotely communicate fuel level so you never run out of fuel again and lid and flame sensors that auto-adjust firmware to keep temperature consistent no matter the ambient weather conditions. The Timberline also includes both wired and wireless meat probes, making cooking to an internal temperature easier than ever and allowing for remote monitoring via the Traeger App. We wanted to take as much guesswork as possible out of outdoor cooking so that our users could create the perfect cook every time.

2. Product needs to be approachable, "smokers" are intimidating.

Wood pellet grills have traditionally looked like smokers, which many consumers don't consider when purchasing a new grill. The traditional smoker design includes chimney, offset hopper, and tube legs, which communicate a very labor-intensive, low and slow type of cooking to consumers. To remove the association to only smoking and draw in new customers, we elevated the design by removing the smoke stack chimney and leaning in to more modern cabinets, partially rounded lids, and unibody construction seen in appliances. In designing the Timberline XL, we took aesthetic cues from familiar consumer products to elevate approachability. For example, the pellet hopper was integrated into the body of the grill rather than hanging off the product. Straight lines and framing around the cabinet not only allow for the Timberline XL to be built into an outdoor kitchen, but these elements are also more typical of consumer tech further communicating high-quality. Key touchpoints are anodized aluminum for a premium feel and aesthetic and also communicate ergonomic cues. The body of the Timberline is made from deep drawn steel, which allowed for a more refined aesthetic and dynamic form compared to the cut and fold and off-the-shelf components common in cheaper products in the industry.

3. In general, gas grill owners don't love their grills, they value the convenience and speed of gas.

While gas grills make up most of the grill market in the US one thing we consistently heard in focus groups and ethnographies was that consumers weren't passionate about the gas grills they had. What they valued most was the convenience of gas for hot and fast cooking. To elevate performance during hot and fast cooking, the Timberline's cooking cavity was redesigned to deliver higher temperatures faster. Additionally, we chose to use heavy duty stainless steel for grill grates to provide the thermal mass to hold heat and deliver great grill marks. We also included the industry's first outdoor-rated induction side burner for precision cooking and further expanded the culinary possibilities to include searing, frying, simmering, and sauteing styles of cooking.

4. Outdoor cooking requires trips between the grill and the kitchen and more functional surfaces and storage than indoor cooking.

Outdoor cooking doesn't happen in a vacuum, so a robust customizability strategy was important to support Timberline. In addition to a top-of-the-line cooking platform we wanted to provide consumers with the ultimate outdoor cooking ecosystem of supporting cooking accessories. The Timberline's Pop-And-Lock accessory rail interfaces with additional storage bins, tool hooks, and paper towel holder while the Modifire grates allow users to customize their the inside grates, swapping in fish and veggie trays or cast iron planchas. Timberline is also designed with the ability to be built into an outdoor kitchen. The attention to detail on the accessory line has led to a much higher attachment rate for the Timberline than previous grill lines, with attachment rates going from under 10% to in excess of 40%.

Testing:

To make sure the Timberline met performance expectations, extensive product testing was conducted with multiple rounds of hand fabricated prototypes reviewed for build quality and craftsmanship. Over 200 grills were included in Alpha and Beta testing cycles and users cooked on the grills in real world conditions. Countless hours were spent by our internal testing and culinary development teams to stress test the product to it's limits and dial in consistent performance.

Sustainability:

The body of the Timberline XL is steel that can be reclaimed for reuse, and the grill has been designed to RoHS and REACH standards. The cutting board and shelves are made of sustainable bamboo. As a durable good, we expect replacement rates to be roughly 5 years, and there's a robust resale market for Traeger products that further helps to expand its usable lifecycle. The packaging for the Timberline XL is Styrofoam free, and interior packaging features graphic printing that can be turned inside out to double as a playhouse for consumers' children and extend the packaging's life. The fuel source for the grill is wood pellets, which are made of existing lumber industry by-product.