After shaking up the griddle game last year with its innovative three-zone Flatrock, Traeger is back—this time going smaller instead of bigger.

The newly announced Flatrock 2 Zone takes the DNA of its larger sibling and packs it into a more compact, two-burner setup. But is this really what backyard cooks are asking for?

We were on the ground in Utah at Traeger’s product announcement, where we got to see the Flatrock 2 Zone up close. While we haven’t had a chance to cook on it yet, we’ve got early impressions—and some questions. As always, we’ll update this once we’ve run it through our full testing process.

Why Go Smaller?

With 594 square inches of cook space and three distinct burners, the original Flatrock positioned itself as a premium, full-featured alternative to the likes of Blackstone and Camp Chef.

But instead of doubling down with a larger, four-burner model to compete with top-end offerings like the Camp Chef Gridiron or Weber Slate, Traeger’s chosen to scale down.

The 2 Zone offers fewer burners and less cooking real estate—but retains a premium $699.99 price tag.

That made us raise our eyebrows, considering Camp Chef’s 4-burner griddle comes in at just $499, and you can snag a 2-burner Blackstone for under $350.

Are customers going to pay the Traeger premium this time?

Is This a Response to Weber x Blackstone?

Traeger’s move comes just a few months after the bombshell announcement of the Weber and Blackstone merger—a partnership that promises to bring an overwhelming number of griddle SKUs to market across all sizes and budgets. In that context, it makes sense that Traeger is looking to expand its footprint in the griddle category.

But instead of trying to match Weber and Blackstone with a larger flagship offering, Traeger seems to be shifting focus toward the casual backyard crowd, folks who might be limited on space or only cooking for two.

What’s New (and What’s Not)

According to Traeger, the Flatrock 2 Zone keeps many of the same features that made the original model a success:

• Wind-blocking cook chamber that keeps the heat consistent across the entire surface.
• U-shaped burners for even heating and better searing performance.
• EZ-Clean™ grease management that made cleanup a breeze in our original Flatrock review.
• Pop-And-Lock™ accessory system for customizing your setup.

From what we saw in Utah, the build quality and materials appear just as solid as the original. The lid, shelves, and control panel all feel premium, and the compact size could be a real win for folks tight on space.

But That Price…

It’s hard to ignore the elephant in the backyard: $699.99 for a 2-burner griddle is steep, especially in a market where competitors offer more burners for less money.

Sure, Traeger’s betting on build quality, brand loyalty, and premium positioning—but are backyard cooks ready to pay a couple hundred bucks more just to have a griddle that says “Traeger” on the lid?

Final Thoughts: A Smart Expansion, But a Hard Sell?

We get what Traeger’s trying to do here. The Flatrock 2 Zone fills a gap in their lineup, catering to folks who want Traeger-quality gear in a smaller footprint. And to be fair, not everyone needs four burners.

But for price-conscious griddle buyers, especially in a market increasingly dominated by feature-rich value options, this might be a tough sell.

We’ll reserve final judgment until we’ve had time to cook on it ourselves and put it through the same rigorous tests we used in our full Flatrock review. If it performs like the original, that could help justify the price—but it’s going to need to seriously impress.

You can get full specs at the Traeger website.