OC vs BGE,
KJ & Monolith.
No dealer spin. No inflated bundle prices. Real specs, real UK prices, and an honest look at what you actually get for your money.
How Much Are You
Really Paying?
UK retail inc. VAT for a comparable mid-size kamado. The Big Green Egg price does not include a stand — add £300–£600 on top.
Choosing OriginalCaveman Prime over a Big Green Egg Large all-in setup saves you £500–£1,000. Over a Kamado Joe Classic III, you're saving over £1,149. Spend that on premium charcoal, great food, and more cooks — not a badge.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Every factor that matters when choosing a mid-size kamado in the UK.
| Feature | OriginalCaveman Prime 23" |
Big Green Egg Large 18" |
Kamado Joe Classic III |
Monolith Avantgarde.55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Price (inc. VAT) | £1,000 | £1,499+ (egg only) | £2,149+ | £2,195+ |
| Cooking Surface | 19.5" surface23" overall dia. | 18" | 18" | 21" |
| Stand Included | ✓ | ✗ Extra cost | ✓ Yes | Model dependent |
| 3-Tier Cooking System | ✓ Included | ✗ EGGspander extra | ✓ D&C included | ✓ Smart Grid |
| Balanced Hinge | ✓ | ✗ No | ✓ Air Lift hinge | ✗ No |
| Lifetime Ceramic Warranty | +£500 optionaltransparent add-on | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. |
| Spare Parts Online 24/7 | ✓ | ✗ Dealer only | ✗ Dealer only | ✗ Dealer only |
| Spare Parts Cost | Fairly priced | Dealer only | Dealer only | Dealer dependent |
| 1–2 Day UK Delivery | ✓ | Via dealers | Via dealers | Via dealers |
| Transparent Fixed Pricing | ✓ | ✗ Dealer varies | ✗ Dealer varies | ✗ Dealer varies |
OriginalCaveman vs
The Big Three
Our honest take on each brand — what they do well, and where you're paying more than you need to.
The Original — But at What Price?
Big Green Egg put kamado BBQs on the UK map. The ceramics are exceptional, the community is huge, and the brand is unmistakable. You're not buying a bad product — you're paying a large premium for the badge.
The Large BGE starts at £1,499 for the egg alone — no stand. Add a table and you're at £2,000+ before charcoal. Their "lifetime warranty" only covers ceramic parts, for the original purchaser, through an authorised dealer.
Our Prime has a 19.5" cooking surface (vs BGE Large's 18"), includes a 3-tier cooking system and balanced hinge as standard, costs £500–£1,000 less all-in, with spare parts available 24/7.
Genuinely Innovative — But So Are We
Kamado Joe has pushed the category forward with the Divide & Conquer cooking system and Air Lift hinge. What's worth knowing: OriginalCaveman shares the same ceramic heritage — the core cooking performance is built from the same foundation.
The Classic III starts at £2,149 and most retailers push bundles from £2,200–£2,500+. The 3-Tier system and balanced hinge are already included with us at a fraction of the price.
Our heat deflectors deliver the same outstanding low-and-slow results.
Quality German Engineering — But Hard to Find
Monolith is the most underrated of the three — German-engineered ceramics, a Smart Grid system, and a wood chip feeder that adds smoke without lifting the lid. A genuinely good product.
The challenge is availability. Monolith sells through a small UK specialist dealer network, making comparison shopping harder and after-sales support dealer-dependent. Parts can be difficult to source quickly.
Pricing sits closest to ours at £2,195+ — but you still save hundreds, with simpler buying, better parts access, and transparent pricing.
Your Choice. Their's is
Baked Into the Price.
Every OriginalCaveman comes with a full 2-year warranty covering everything — ceramics, metal, gaskets, grates — no exclusions. The Lifetime Ceramic upgrade is an optional, transparent add-on. Not hidden inside a £2,149 price tag.
Standard 2-Year
- Everything covered — ceramics, metal, gaskets, grates
- No exclusions, no fine print
- Claims direct to us — no dealer required
- Parts shipped in 1–2 working days
Lifetime Ceramic
- Ceramic dome, base, firebox & fire ring — covered for life of ownership
- Metal parts, gaskets — 2 years as standard
- Claims direct to us — no dealer, no middleman
- Original owner only — not transferable
Spare Parts
- Fire Ring set — Under £40
- Ceramic Petals (×5) — Under £45
- Heat Deflectors (pair) — Under £25
- Gasket Kit — Under £25
28" Barbarian vs BGE XL,
Big Joe III & LeChef
The same honest comparison — for those who cook at scale. The Barbarian's 24" cooking surface matches or beats everything in this tier, at a fraction of the price.
Cooking for a Crowd?
Don't Pay a Premium for It.
UK retail inc. VAT for XL-class kamados. BGE XL price is egg only — no stand included.
The Barbarian saves you £350–£1,000 vs the BGE XL all-in setup, and £900–£1,250 vs the Kamado Joe Big Joe III — with the same or larger cooking surface and everything included.
Side by Side —
The XL Numbers
How the Barbarian stacks up against the big-ticket XL kamados in the UK market.
| Feature | Barbarian 28" / 24" surface |
BGE XL 24" grid |
Big Joe III 24" surface |
Monolith Avantgarde.66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Price (inc. VAT) | £1,600 | £1,950+ (egg only) | £2,499–£2,849 | £3,195+ |
| Stand Included | ✓ | ✗ Extra cost | ✓ Yes | ✓ With cart version |
| Cooking Surface | 24" (611 sq in) | 24" (452 sq in grid) | 24" (461 sq in) | 21.5" (55cm) |
| 3-Tier Cooking System | ✓ | EGGspander (extra) | ✓ D&C included | ✓ Smart Grid |
| Balanced Hinge | ✓ | ✗ No | ✓ Air Lift hinge | ✗ No |
| Smoke Wood Feeder | ✗ Use heat deflectors | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Built-in chip feeder |
| Ltd. Lifetime Ceramic Warranty | +£500 optionaltransparent add-on | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. | Ltd. Lifetimeceramic only · dealer reg. |
| Spare Parts Online 24/7 | ✓ | ✗ Dealer only | ✗ Dealer only | ✗ Dealer only |
| 1–2 Day UK Delivery | ✓ | Via dealers | Via dealers | Via dealers |
| Transparent Fixed Pricing | ✓ | ✗ Dealer varies | ✗ Dealer varies | ✗ Dealer varies |
Barbarian vs The XL Tier
How the Barbarian stacks up against the three XL-class kamados you're most likely to be comparing it against.
The Biggest Egg — The Biggest Premium
The BGE XL is serious kit. A 24" cooking grid, exceptional heat retention, and the BGE community behind it. But the XL egg alone starts at £1,950 without a stand. Add a proper IntEGGrated Nest with shelves and you're at £2,400–£2,600 before charcoal.
The Barbarian gives you a larger 24" cooking surface with a 28" overall diameter, 3-tier cooking system, and balanced hinge all included at £1,600 all-in with delivery. That's a saving of £800–£1,000 on a comparable setup.
Big Joe's Big Price — Is It Justified?
The Big Joe III is genuinely impressive — Divide & Conquer cooking system and Air Lift hinge. A premium product at a premium price starting at £2,499 and up to £2,849 depending on retailer.
The Barbarian shares the same ceramic heritage and delivers the same core cooking performance. You get a 3-tier cooking system and balanced hinge included as standard.
You're paying £900–£1,250 more for the Big Joe III.
Impressive Engineering — But Smaller and Harder to Find
Monolith is the most underrated in this tier — German-engineered ceramics, Smart Grid system, and a built-in wood chip feeder that adds smoke without lifting the lid. A genuine contender for serious pitmasters.
The LeChef has a 21.5" cooking surface — 2.5" smaller than the Barbarian's 24". With a cart it starts around £3,195+ and availability varies by UK specialist dealer. Parts support is dealer-dependent.
The Barbarian beats it on cooking surface, with transparent fixed pricing and 24/7 spare parts access — no dealer required.