Know How Fast The Wind Really Is - Kestrel 1000
Written: Apr 09 '04 (Updated Jun 18 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: small, easy to carry, fairly precise, simple to use
Cons: not designed for more rigorous conditions encountered by man outdoors-type people
The Bottom Line: The Kestrel 1000 is an accurate and ruggedly constructed anemometer
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| jps246's Full Review: Neilsen Kellerman Kestrel 1000 |
How many of us have ever stood outside with the wind going by and wondered exactly how fast that wind was really blowing?
The Kestrel 1000 is an accurate and ruggedly constructed anemometer (we’ll just say it’s a wind meter from now on) that’s a great addition to any backpacker or climber’s pack, and even makes a great gift for those weather-heads out there that need to know everything about the weather. Basically the Kestrel 1000 can answer some of those questions that you think about while you are out in the elements.
The Kestrel 1000’s Details
Weighing in at only a few ounces and small enough to fit in the palm of an average adult’s hand, the Kestrel 1000 will not be overloading the pack of a hiker anytime soon. The Kestrel 1000 features a string lanyard and a hard plastic case that fits over the Kestrel itself to protect it when you aren’t using it. When you have the case off, it’s connected to the lanyard so you won’t lose it.
Operation of the Kestrel 1000 is very simple, turn on the Kestrel by holding the power button, hold it up perpendicular to the wind direction for a few moments to let it get an accurate reading and then you will have the wind speed readout on the LCD panel.
The wind speed can be displayed in miles per hour (mph), kilometers per hour (kph), meters per second (mps) and knots. The Kestrel 1000 can display an average wind speed (basically by smoothing out the gusts and the windless periods while you are standing there in the elements for a length of time, or by averaging the wind speed over several different measurements) and can display and store a maximum wind speed (to catch those big gusts).
There is no memory or data storage on the Kestrel 1000 other than the average and maximum wind speed functions.
The Kestrel is both waterproof and weatherproof. Therefore you do not need to worry about holding it up to measure the wind in a storm. The battering rain or snow will not harm it. The only thing you need to worry about in colder temperatures is if rain or snow builds up on the impeller that measures the wind – this would affect their accuracy, so make sure that they stay as clean as possible.
The Kestrel uses a CR2032 cell type battery to power itself. This battery lasts for a long time (the instruction manual states it should last for 400 hours). I have had my Kestrel 1000 for several years and have used it quite regularly on hikes and climbs and I have yet to have to replace the battery. I think that this is because the Kestrel 1000 is only powered on for a few minutes here and there and you are not constantly keeping it on.
Limitations?
One major limitation of the Kestrel 1000 for users in more extreme areas and environments is that it is accurate to wind speeds of only 85 miles per hour. If you regularly measure wind speeds near that speed or higher, the bearings supporting the impeller that measures the wind can wear out very quickly. Thus it’s not suggested in the owner’s manual that you use the Kestrel in the extreme conditions of high winds for long periods of time.
Another major limitation of the Kestrel 1000 is its temperature range. It is accurate from about 5 degrees F to about 120 degrees F. The upper limit isn’t generally a problem for anyone (unless you’re hiking in the summer in the Southwest), but on winter ski trips or climbs, I’m often out in temperatures well below 5 degrees and noticed that: a) unless you keep the unit warm, the batteries freeze (as they do in all electronics); b) unless you keep the unit warm, the impeller itself will stiffen up and freeze; and c) under about 0 degrees, the unit is not worth trying to use as either the battery will almost immediately freeze or the impeller will stiffen up so much that the accuracy is out the window.
Do I want to have the Kestrel 1000?
In general, yes. I would prefer to have a unit with higher tolerances for more extreme conditions, but in general, the Kestrel 1000 is easy to use, operates accurately, and is a neat gadget to have along on any hike or climb. With the Kestrel 1000, whenever I’m standing on the summit of a mountain holding onto something with one hand, I can have the other hand holding the Kestrel into the wind and can yell to my fellow climbers “can you believe that the wind is blowing at ___!” Call me a nerd or a geek, but it’s cool to have something like this with you. Before the Kestrel 1000 I would have to estimate and pretty much guess on wind speed.
Plus for those of you who watch the weather channel more than anything else and are interested in the weather, Kestrel 1000 is a for making more precise weather observations. This is why my partner likes it, but I of course sit there and go into my “why do you get so excited about the weather” mood when he is running around with the Kestrel measuring wind speed (he did go to college for meteorology, so I give him a break there).
Final Thoughts
So if you have ever wanted to know how strong that wind speed really is, then the Kestrel 1000 is a useful, fun, and easy to use tool to measure wind speeds.
You probably won’t be disappointed with the capabilities of the 1000, but if you are frequently in more extreme conditions than it can handle, you might consider getting the next model up just to make sure that it will operate in all conditions you might be in.
Outdoor Magazines and Books
Backpacker Magazine / Outside Magazine / National Geographic Adventure / Hiker's Guide to the Mountains of Vermont / Hiking Guide to Mount Washington and Presidential Range / GPS Made Easy / AMC White Mountain Guide / Wilderness First Aid / Rescue from the Backcountry / Maine Mountain Guide / Day Hikes in Yosemite NP / Southern NH Trail Guide
Outdoor Retailers and Products
REI.com - Outdoor Gear / Dermatone Lip Pomade / Carmex Lip Balm / Magellan GPS 315 / MSR WhisperLite Backpacking Stove / CamelBak StoAway Hydration Bladder / Petzl Tikka Headlamp / Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight Tent / EMS Waterslide Daypack / Garmin Personal Navigator GPS 12 / Sherpa Atmosphere Data Center / EMS 2800 Daypack / REI Undergrad Daypack / EMS Crash Pad / MSR Superfly Stove / MSR IsoPro Blended Fuel / MSR 11-Ounce Fuel Bottle / GPS Carrying Case
Recommended:
Yes
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