hiking thermometer.

[walkerchris77]

Hello all
Sounds silly but im just after a accurate small thermometer to clip to my pack. Had a look at ebay and heaps of Chinese ones for $1. Anyone had experience with thermometers. happy to spend more money but if the cheap ones seem to work then I may as well get one.
Thanks

[Strider]

Coghlans do one quite cheaply from memory. Has been discussed here before in detail, try a search.

[walkerchris77]

Great thanks

[GPSGuided]

How curious! Guess it must be the cooling weather. I too looked into this and just picked up one such last weekend from Paddys Market, for exactly one buck. Out of the 5-6 on the table, they read across a range of +/- 2 deg C. The stall mama pointed at the two digital meters on the shelf and based on the identical readings from that, I picked one unit. Just last night, worked out a way to incorporate it with my gears. Don't expect it to be accurate down to the single degree but just as a general guide in 3-4 deg C steps and as a trend indicator would be fine. No, I don't expect it to be accurate down to -40 degrees but would have appreciated an upper range to +50 deg. Good enough to carry around and cheap enough to not hurt if lost.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1402044114.750888.jpg (120.33 KiB) Viewed 22328 times

To Chris' original question. I would not buy it from eBay/AliExpress/DX sites as you have no choice in the specific unit received. Best to find them in your local market or $1 shop and pick the one that correlates with a dependable reading.

[walkerchris77]

Thats exactly what im after a little one like that. Thanks gps. I know its not the most exciting post but I thought I get some opinions. Rays outdoors probably has them but they wack on 1000% .
The little round one looks good. Rather the old style than digital.

[Overlandman]

I use a Silva Wind Watch,
A bit more expensive than the $1 model

http://silva.se/node/86

[GPSGuided]

Thats exactly what im after a little one like that. Thanks gps. I know its not the most exciting post but I thought I get some opinions. Rays outdoors probably has them but they wack on 1000% .
The little round one looks good. Rather the old style than digital.

That's my take too. For something where I don't need lab precision but just as a guide, there's no justification for another battery powered device. $1 is fantastic value and will likely outlast cheap electronic gadgets by multiple folds. Mine has a diameter of 2.5cm and the circumferential groove was used to tightly wrap around a 1.5mm cord to secure its carriage. There are models out there with sequentially larger diameters. Good luck with your search.

[walkerchris77]

Thanks all

[DARRIN-G]

Had one of those $1 thermometer worked well but I broke it. Just got this one on ebay 15gms using it tomorrow to test my sleep system temperature range.

[GPSGuided]

That Silva looked pretty nice, even though the compass would have been redundant for me. Was looking for an alcohol thermometer but didn't find one of suitable size and construction. Good find!

[stry]

Lost mine many years ago. Must get another.

Correct terminology is "Toughometer"

[Walking_addict]

Wouldn't mind the Silva one with the small compass . . . fine to orientate a map if handy on a harness loop etc.

So too this one which also has a whistle (if it's a pea whistle, they are pretty audible over distance too).
http://www.gadgetsdirect.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=221&products_id=21788&zenid=ilgcohk3mip57qm6tmrq7rrmb0

Hardly Normal has a small zip puller type thermo for $3 . . . -20 to +50, with 2.5oC markings.
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/sports-camping-luggage/camping/accessories/munkees-zippuller-thermometer-keyring.html

All kinds of weird / useful looking ones with a quick Google . . .
http://www.miniinthebox.com/zw-t27-2-in-1-thermometer-compass-carabiner-black_p1254978.html?currency=AUD&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&gclid=CIr8itvK6b4CFYaVvQodZ4wAFw
http://www.buckmans.com/store/buckmans-carabiner-key-chain-and-thermometer-oscaritem_10527.aspx
http://suncompany.trustpass.alibaba.com ... r_411.html

[neilmny]

Hey Les, that pea whistle one is on eBay from China for $1.00 including postage.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/201069875755 ... 1438.l2649

There specs say 20-50C but when you see the dial it is -20 to 50C

[Walking_addict]

Cool Neil, $1 and free postage.
Hard to fathom how even the Chinese can make anything on that.

When I did that Google search before, that Alibaba site came up . . . think it's mostly Chinese factories.
Well, they had some of those designs for 0.05 - 0.40 (think that'd be US$) but you have to buy like 1000's.
5 cents, how on Earth ??!!

[walkerchris77]

I guess if your brought 1000s of them the one advantage is you would always know the temp..

[walkerchris77]

Just goes to show u how aussies get ripped off. $9:95 from aus or the same product $1 from china. And retailers wonder why they are not making money.

[walkerchris77]

How about this pocket size one.

[horsecat]

I've been using this lately. Has a minimum / maximum function which is handy to see what it gets down to during the night. I can vouch it can withstand at least -9.6 degrees for coldness as well. Cost me $10.

[Nuts]

I bought this Kestrel weather station some years back (perhaps that is a contender, they are apparently pretty accurate). Did take it with me to the Walls and set it up one night. Established that it was indeed $@&(*#$ cold and very windy, re-assured that we were camped up pretty high.

[walkerchris77]

Hey nuts, ive had a few other recommended the same. When u think about it we are lucky to have these gagets.

[walkerchris77]

How do they make money when the item is $1 and free postage. Wow if I could go to china for a dollar then wack a stamp on me. Im off.
can I bring my wife for another dollar?

[Strider]

How do they make money when the item is $1 and free postage.

It probably cost $0.10 to produce.

[walkerchris77]

Shoot.

[neilmny]

Just goes to show u how aussies get ripped off. $9:95 from aus or the same product $1 from china. And retailers wonder why they are not making money.

Glad I only paid $1.00 from China.
First impression......bargain it even has a bit of a lanyard........The pea whistle works....very loud.................BUT
The compass on one is not a compass and the compass on the other is approximately 45 degrees out........North points NE!
The thermometers.........the jury is out atleast they agree with one another and appear to be around the right temp............at $1.00 posted you gotta laugh

[GPSGuided]

I miss my 20c Paddle Pops of my high school years... I've now taken my $1 (Paddys Market in Sydney) dial gauge thermometer out for a few trips now and it really works quite well. The dial goes down when I feel cold and goes up when things start to warm up. I even think it's pretty accurate too in reference to published weather forecasts. It does develop an air bubble inside the chamber when its around 5-6°C, a bit like a cheap compass. No interference though.

[neilmny]

Good news???????? The thermometers are reasonably accurrate within 1 degree of each
other and basically "spot on" at around 19 or 20 degrees.

[Moondog55]

I've been using this lately. Has a minimum / maximum function which is handy to see what it gets down to during the night. I can vouch it can withstand at least -9.6 degrees for coldness as well. Cost me $10.

G'Day Horsecat Whereabouts did you get it?
Mobile phones [ not mine BTW] are getting so clever I'm surprised there isn't a temperature /pressure Max/Min data logging AP available for them.
Would be fun to take a thermometer up to Falls Creek but there's no way I'm getting gout of my warm pit to check the temperature at Dark O'Clock so I'd like the minimum recording function
Years ago-go I had a max-Min mercury unit but I lost it

[walkerchris77]

I brought one too. $1 . I found a $2 coin when I was cleaning out the car so im a dollar up. Horray

[walkerchris77]

I miss my 20c Paddle Pops of my high school years... I've now taken my $1 (Paddys Market in Sydney) dial gauge thermometer out for a few trips now and it really works quite well. The dial goes down when I feel cold and goes up when things start to warm up. I even think it's pretty accurate too in reference to published weather forecasts. It does develop an air bubble inside the chamber when its around 5-6°C, a bit like a cheap compass. No interference though.

Remember the paddle pop competition s. If you matched the sticks up and it drew a plane you won a trip. So many banana paddle pops that summer. Got all the pieces except the tail. Planes dont fly to good with out their tails.

[GPSGuided]

Those Paddle Pop stick competitions suck! And we were all suckers then. LOL