Which Kestrel Wind Meter to Choose

[dreever]

Thinking about buying one....but which one?????
For shooting, what features do you really use and why?
I think I need more than just the basic 1000 model, but don't think I need all the bells and whistles of the 4000 and up series. However, I don't want to buy more than once so those of you that have them what features do you use the most and consider essential for recording pertinent data for long range shooting?

Danny

 

[dreever]

Since it seems the altitude and barometric pressure functions take frequent re-calibrations does anyone feel that these are totally necessary functions to have? They do significantly increase the price.
It's nice to know the altitude of different ranges but this information is usually readily available elsewhere.
Right now I think I've narrowed down my choices between the Kestrel 3000 and Skymate SM 19.

Danny

 

[Shelley]

Danny,

I have a Kestrel 4000. I have found that the only functions that I use are temp, humidity and wind speed.

I left the Kestrel in my loading box inside a hot SUV for months and it failed. Even though the meter was a couple of months past the two year warrantee, the company replaced the meter with a new one and gave me an additional 2 year warrantee. I learned two things, the meters should be kept in a reasonable storage condition and Kestrel is a stand up sort of company.

Shelley

 

[dreever]

Thanks Shelley,

That's definately what I need to know. Sometimes there can be too many bells and whistles.
It's also good to know that Kestrel took care of you after the sale. That's a biggie on anything electronic that is doomed to fail sooner or later. Too many times companys are your best friend till they have your money then they don't even know you exist. We all have our horror stories on that score.

Danny

 

[Kevin_Duckworth]

Danny

I have a Kestrel 4100, and agree with the earlier comments about the limited number of functions you use in practice. Two things I will say tho'. The battery life seems pretty good-I had a Davis windmeter that sucked the life out of batteries in no time whereas the Kestrel is a real Energiser bunny. And the memory feature is pretty useful. For example you can set it to record the temp every 10 minutes - or greater or lesser intervals -,or wind speed or humidity or whatever) and leave it for several hours, come back and see a graph of the variable plus the ability to pick out any of the individual readings and the time it was taken. So over a shooting day you can just set it up and 8am and come back later at 7pm and maybe discover why
such and such a thing happened when you were shooting around 2pm.

This feature is prolly totally useless to a bunch of folks but I like it.

FWIW

Kevin

 

[Rafael]

I chose a Kestrel 2500NV, alot cheaper than the others, only about $150.00.

I only wanted temp, barometric pressure,uncorrected) and wind.
It also has time, the night vision backlight and comes in an olive-drab case.

I don't feel the need to adjust for humidity.
Besides....this is a more complex and time consuming calibration.

Calibrating the barometer/altimiter is no big deal.