I haven't used the Z Grills thermal blanket yet, but it is a must have for a "sheet metal" grill if consistent temperature is to be maintained. I have a pork shoulder that I will experiment with before progressing to more demanding (and expensive) adventures. I like the excellent fit and the way the hinges are accounted for. The only drawback is that the overhang in the front seems to preclude adding a shelf, though a fold down design might work. I suspect the cover would tend to minimize any advantage except when first loading the grill. That mentioned, I still think this is necessary and very competitively priced. Good jog.