Background:
As a volunteer mountain bike patrol officer for my local Regional Park system, I encounter winds of such force that they sometimes will literally blow me off my bike. Recently with the high winds and heat in Northern California, I mentioned to my wife, that I wish I had one of those wind meters so that I could find out how fast the winds are really blowing over the local mountains. And on Father's Day, my darling wife gave me the Kestrel 1000 for Father's Day. So here is my experiences using the Kestrel daily since Father's Day.
Actual Use:
The Kestrel comes with detailed instructions on how to properly use the unit. Also included is a certificate of conformity on how well the unit tested and what tests were performed on the unit. The Kestrel has a protective cover that fully protects the unit and easily slides off to reveal the Kestrel. There is a lanyard attached to the unit so that you can easily hang it around your neck or a loop on your backpack. Total weight of the Kestrel on my digital scale says it weighs a very light 3.4 ozs or 94 grams! No wonder I don't feel it in my jersey pocket during my climbs up the mountain. Take off the cover and the unit loses 1.1 ozs. or 34 grams. The unit is approximately 4.8 x 1.7 x .06 inches so that it is small and compact and easily fits in the palm of your hand. There are a few ridges at the base of the unit to help you pull the unit out of its protective cover.
Unfortunately, by the time I received the Kestrel, the high winds were gone but at least I could tell me local hang glider club the wind speeds at their launch point. According to the Kestrel web site, this unit can read speeds as little as .8 mph and as high as 135 mph. I can at least attest to speeds as low as .8 mph so far. I hope I never have to see or feel wind speeds at 135 mph! The slightest of breezes so far gets the Kestrel to read. The maximum speed I have registered so far is a mild 20 mph. When the high winds return, I hope to see readings past the 50-60 mph mark. It has been great fun to use. Knowing the current wind speeds let's me know how much cooling effects I will experience out on the trails. Also, it is a lot of fun to do the readings and actually know the wind speeds! The Kestrel has a large LCD display that is very easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The Kestrel 1000 is their basic unit and only measures current wind speed, average wind speed and maximum wind speed to within +/- 3% accuracy. It can measure the wind speed in units of: Beaufort Wind Scale, Knots, Miles Per Hour, Kilometers Per Hour, and Feet Per Minute. There are only three buttons on the face of the unit. The middle button which is round is the on/off switch. The unit can automatically shut itself off if you forget after 45 minutes being idle. The other two buttons which are a left and right arrow button scroll through the MAX and AVG wind speed measurements. These are nice to have so that my local hang glider club knows if it is safe for them to fly. Pressing the middle and left arrow button at the same time, will hold the current wind speed reading. Pressing the middle and right arrow button at the same time will scroll through the various wind speed units.
This unit like all the Kestrel wind meters are waterproof and can float. So you do not have to baby this unit in the rain or worry it might sink when you are out on the water in a boat. The battery that this unit uses is a common watch battery the CR2032 which is accessed in the back of the unit and is user-replaceable. No trips to the jeweler for battery replacement with this one. The manufacturer's website mentions the battery should last approximately 300 hours of use. That should take a long time to go through since you probably won't have the unit on for more than a minute at a time. The manufacturer suggests not to use the Kestrel too long to measure or you can run the risk of an inaccurate reading and worn out impeller(fan) that is used to measure the wind in the unit. Functionally, the Kestrel is easy to use, doesn't take an engineering degree in order to operate and scroll through the functions. Out on the trail, it also proved to be a great conversation piece. People seem to be very interested in what the Kestrel is reading at the time and the trail users also are interested in purchasing one as well. On-line this Kestrel sells from between $65-$75. Though I have only owned it a short period of time, it has proven to be very easy to use, reliable, and a great conversation piece out on the trail. The outer protective covering seems durable and none the worse for wear being in my jersey pocket everyday. Lastly, the manufacturer's website also mentions that if the impeller in this unit needs replacing, you only need to purchase another one and again it is user-replaceable.
Conclusions:
Overall, I have been pleased with the unit's capabilities and ease of use. The LCD display is very easy to read out on the trail in bright sunlight. I would highly recommend this unit for those looking for a basic unit and wanted a wind meter that was easy to operate and didn't cost a lot.
Features:
Comes with protective cover and lanyard.
User-replaceable battery and impeller.
It is waterproof and can float.
The manufacturer sells accessories for the Kestrel which are: a tripod, replacement impeller, calibration kit and notepad and pen set.
Specifications
Size in inches- 4.8 x 1.7 x .06
Weight (Actual)- 3.4 ozs including lanyard and protective case.
Operational range- 14-131 degrees F.
Uses one user-replaceable CR2032 battery rated for 300 hours of use.
KESTREL POCKET WEATHER METERS:Extremely sensitive units for accurate weather readings. All are water resistant to 1 m, float, and include 1 yr warrant...More at CampSaver.com
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