Proper forecasting relies largely on collecting and analyzing immediate data as well as on established knowledge of regular weather patterns
about a location and its season. For meteorologists to make accurate predictions of imminent weather patterns, accurate readings of wind speeds are very important.
“But I’m not a meteorologist, so what gives? Why do I need to be concerned about moving air?”
Well, here goes. Any air flow between zero and twenty-seven knots (31 meters per hour) is nice and friendly; we call it a breeze. When it starts moving towards 27 to 60 knots, you have a gale force wind. And then the mother of all winds, the hurricane, clocks at 62 knots (72mph)—you don’t want to mess with that!
“So what? How does this affect me?”
In aviation, for instance, the knowledge of air currents, speed, and frequency of wind plays a huge role in planning flights, take offs, landings, and even managing planes that are in the air.
A wind meter is also a great tool for hobbyists to own; this is true whether you’re a beach lover who loves to surf or boat, or maybe like to play with your model planes and drones
without having them go mayday on you.
“Ok, I’ll just watch the weather channel. Why do I need a wind meter?”
So, let’s say on a certain weekend, you and the squad are playing some outdoor basketball
(actual basketball, not PlayStation). You have been on fire all game long and now you have a chance to shoot for the championship; a four-piece medium chicken pizza with a neat spread of cheese and even sauce, coupled with a bottle of cold dripping soda you don’t have to share.
Your choice shot, a three-pointer from just inside the opposing half, a little to the left. You line it up, tuck your shoulders, and shoot… well the wind catches the ball and makes you look like a complete idiot. Really, were you even aiming for the basket? If only you had a wind meter, my friend.
For prices between $15 to $300+, you can get wind meters with a myriad of different features and parameters adaptable to different users and their needs. So, the choice really lies with you. You probably won’t need a $300 wind meter if you only need to decide whether you and your buddies should chill or go out. But if you’re an Oceanography professor trying to understand how wind patterns affect formation of waves in the Atlantic, you’ll need something a bit… okay a lot more complicated than a $50 wind meter. Get it?
And yes, there are cheap wind meters out there, but they certainly don’t have the features you’ll see within the products featured here—and even if they are, we cannot vouch for the integrity of the readings you’ll get from such devices.
There are quite a few features of wind meters that must, of the essence, be checked before purchasing a wind meter. We have kindly listed and explained the basic ones below:
- Results interpretation
- Adaptability to modern tech
- Parameters covered
Let’s get into the details already!
Construction and Design
Wind meters are really sensitive devices. So, what happens when you use a device which hasn’t been properly constructed? Well, imagine you walk out of your house and it’s still dark outside, pitch black, and yet your wrist watch smack in the middle of the summer is saying it’s noon. Err… and the thing still has the audacity to keep on ticking. That’s how nonsensical it would be for your wind meter to come without proper calibration. Like it’s a measuring device duh... proper calibration please!
The construction of whatever wind meter you choose must be one that lets you take your readings where you want it, how you want it. Whether on the move, as a firefighter tries to determine the direction of the wind supporting a fire—or stationary, as an archer attempts to compensate for wind shifts as he targets from 200 yards. Your wind meter should be able to keep up with you.
Weight and Portability
Imagine having a wind meter you cannot move around with (some would call that a throwback to the wind vane of old). A wind meter only serves its core purpose of mobile wind data if it’s mobile! Admittedly, that doesn’t mean the device has to be in perpetual motion before you can use it, but it definitely shouldn’t weigh a ton either. You need to study the wind, not train your muscles. So a good design must make your wind meter easy to handle and transport.
Most people naturally assume that a wind meter is only useful for measuring wind speed. A wind meter can actually be a little broader than that. It certainly should cover a wide speed range; some go from as low as 0.8 to around 89 meters per hour (that’s good enough to measure hurricane winds). Beyond wind speeds, modern wind meters have become adaptable to even broader parameters including calculation of cross winds, head/tail winds, current relative humidity, and even pressure.
Some even give you your measurements in different units. This feature we really like because it eliminates the rigor of having to convert values to different units acceptable for your particular need. It just brings back the nightmares of endless math classes. So, wind speeds can be reported in knots, mph, feet/minute, Beaufort, etc., on many devices.
Performance and Ease of Use
Storage and Interpreting Data
Also, modern wind meters tend to partner with smartphone apps for easy storage, distribution, and interpretation of results. These apps often times make the wind meter more user-friendly, hence the need for whatever wind meter you choose to allow you the key into the versatility of modern technology.
Calibration and Readings
Also, as with all little devices, wind meters do require calibration. While the calibration shouldn’t be prone to changes, slight deviations from set standard values may be unavoidable over time. Hence, your device should be easy to recalibrate.
There are as many features as there are wind meters, and you certainly don’t want to buy a wind meter only to discover you need a Ph.D. just to measure the wind chill before going out during a snow fall. In essence, make sure it’s easy to use. Not too much razzmatazz. Finally, it makes no sense if your wind meter offers you all these features but takes forever to serve them to you. Certainly, the best wind meter must have a low response time which allows you almost instantaneous access to the data you require.
Also, the device should be designed in such a way that it can easily be stowed away without any disruptions to pre-entered calibrations or damage to the device. It should certainly be durable. No one likes a cash funnel.
Most wind meters use batteries. Therefore, your wind meter should not be one that runs down easily or needs replacement too often.
Another thing you may consider is the availability of accessories for use with your wind meter. For example, some wind meters come with wind tunnels for accurate directional measurements. Some may be tripod-mounted aside from the usual handheld mode we’re all used to.
Now that you’ve read the preceding guide, we’re confident that you can make a selection of a wind meter that gives you the bang for your buck! You can now go on to our reviews and pick just the one!
With about 20 years’ experience in the business of weather stations and environmental monitoring instruments, Ambient Weather has managed to merge customer service and support with fairly-priced, quality products. It provides customized solutions and software tools for the home and office, industry, schools, government, and the media. Named one of America’s 500 largest e-retailers based on annual sales on the web in 2008, it has also partnered with WeatherUnderground.com to create the largest weather station network in the world. So, what do you really want? A floating pool spa and lake thermometers, weather cams, or wind meters? Ambient Weather gives you what you need!
Boy! When they call the Ambient Weather WM-4 Handheld Weather Station a weather station, they mean no jokes! It’s that comprehensive. It not only measures wind (of course); it also functions as a directional compass, a comfort index monitor, and a psychrometer! Of course, you already know what a compass does, but with a device that also boasts a comfort index monitor, you get to know when the temperature is just right for your outdoor activity, such as a hike; and with a psychrometer you can also measure relative humidity (for those that are so interested).
Also with this amazing device, you can be a super hero! Its wind speed range of 0.8 to 89mpH informs you in time when that gentle breeze is turning into gale force wind or even a tornado, and you know that this could be that thin line between life and death that people are always talking about.
Snow or sun, this device keeps delivering with a wind chill range of -50 to +50 degrees Fahrenheit—and a relative humidity of 5% to 95%. Now you have no excuse to get frost-bitten by Jack Frost or be unprepared for extreme humidity conditions. You practically own a weather station now!
Unlike traditional compasses, the WM-4 takes readings vertically without leveling and can also take bearings on a distant reference location thanks to its USA fluxgate compass design. No bending or stretching to breaking point anymore. We can leave that to the gymnasts; they do a better and far more eye-appealing job. Thank you.
And of course, its unique jack knife case: it not only protects the unit, but also helps to ensure the integrity of temperature readings which it covers in the -200 to +1580 F range.
PS: This device is water-resistant too!
Because Zhuhai JiDa Huapu Instrument Co. Limited, mother brand of Holdpeak, cares so much about every consumer, it tries to ensure progressive research and development, manufacturing, sales, and service. Through years of development, its specialized wind meters have become an important part in the global measurement industry, and it continues to concentrate on providing more accurate, more convenient, and more secure digital measurement instrument meters and service for global users. At present, the company has a number of exterior and invention patents including infra-red thermometers, wind meters, oscilloscopes, and so much more, all from humble beginnings.
The Holdpeak HP-856 Digital Anemometer is a specialized device which enables you to measure wind speed, temperature, and air volume without all the clutter of unnecessary parameters. In essence, you need not get through the whole Game of Thrones series if all you need to know is how Ned Stark died. Get it?
But beyond being a simple, easy-to-use device, it still incorporates some sophistication by allowing you to measure current, average, and max wind speed all on-the-go. It also comes with data hold, logging, and recall functions, so you can conveniently work in chunks while trusting that your data is easily accessible and useable in a moment’s notice.
With a wind speed range of 0.3-45m/s, it works great for everyday use, because any wind that reads higher than the max speed probably isn’t really safe for you anyways. But then, it allows you an almost all-terrain use, hence its value in environmental, ocean, and flying industries.
In terms of handling, it is a dream! The device is extremely compact and lightweight and comes with a plastic carrying case. The bottom line is that your hand will love it! And it might interest you to know that this superb gadget also comes with a USB port and cable so you can easily connect it to your PC or portable charging station without a hitch! Check out this device if all you need is just a simple, “give me my result and shut up”, “just the way you like it” system, but don’t forget to add please, just to be polite.
For more than 30 years, Nielsen-Kellerman Company, parent company of Kestrel amongst other brands, has focused relentlessly on meeting the specialized measurement needs of demanding outdoor customers including Olympic athletes, firefighters, and military professionals; customers who have come to rely on the brand for accuracy and durability. It designs, manufactures, and distributes rugged, waterproof environmental and sports performance instruments for active lifestyles and technical applications, including Kestrel Weather & Environmental Meters, NK Electronics for Rowing and Paddling, and Blue Ocean Rugged Megaphones & PA Systems. The brand conducts business in a sustainable manner and minimizes harm to the environment by actively implementing company-wide plans to conserve energy, reduce waste, and recycle. Such sweethearts, huh!
So, you want a wind meter that does your bidding, no questions asked? Then you’re referring to the Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter. This wind meter is designed to be distinct and adapted to the individual user. Basically, this brand recognizes you are the boss! First you choose your color; yellow, olive drab, or desert tan. And you also have the option of mounting your wind meter on a tripod or not. And as if that’s not enough, Kestrel recognizes that if all the world spoke only English, it will be heavily tipped to one side; so, what did it do? It has made this device able to read data values in multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, and German! Amazing, yeah! So you can worry less; now your French ami will totally dig it.
Also, with its intuitive user interface, you can get right down to using your device even before reading the manual. But please don’t tell the manufacturers we said that. Actually, do read the manual though; it always helps, and at least you won’t appear ungrateful for the time and resources spent putting it together. This device is capable of measuring over 14 total meteorological parameters! And you know what? All parameters are calculated and displayed in real-time, and still stored in the memory! Some of the advanced measurable parameters you’d be getting include: dew point temperature, wet bulb temperature, density altitude, and lots more.
Under the brightest sunlight, the values are readable, plus it also comes backlit for night-time use.
This device even floats! What a guy!
Weatherflow Inc., is a leader in the private sector of weather industry, with experience spanning two decades of applying the latest in observational, modeling, and forecasting technology to its clients’ most challenging needs. With its proprietary observing network at the heart of the company, it has brought a steady stream of innovative value-added products and services to the market, filling highly specific needs in many sectors, including emergency management, hazardous weather alerting, hurricane measurements, insurance and financial products, maritime operations, wind energy, the National Mesonet, and so on. It continues to maintain and improve these offerings going forward, with emphasis on the National Mesonet, wind energy, and the development of applications for mobile devices.
Since many of us cannot do without our phones for even one minute, we see you bonding with the Weatherflow Weather Meter in no time! It’s designed to interface with your smartphone while still presenting reliable environmental monitoring data with regards to wind, temperature, humidity, and pressure. From a distance of up to a staggering 100 feet, the wireless function still works to give you a wide space to roam and play freely without worrying about getting disconnected. And because every single one of us has multiple citizenship (yep we do. Remember Facebook, Instagram, and co? Yep), this guy allows you to share onsite reports quite easily with your fellow citizens of Zuckerville and the rest.
So, if you think this is a really cool device that you should own (and we agree) but you’re worried that it might not be compatible with your smartphone, then you might want to read this. It’s compatible with Apple and Android devices with an operating system of at least 4.3; of course your device comes with that.
And omg, this device is so so portable! Like it fits sweetly in your pocket when not in use, and you won’t even know it’s there. When you need it, all you need to do is simply whip it out, hook it up to your smartphone, and resume taking detailed measurements on almost all parameters including wind speed (average, gust, apparent, true), wind direction (magnetic, true), crosswind, headwind, tailwind, temperature & relative humidity, pressure & dew point, heat index, wind chill, and more, easy!
And in case you aren’t quite fluent in “weatherese”, there are many applications out there, waiting to help you decode your results, so you are covered.
Proster is well-committed to keeping the market saturated with ingenious products that help its customers stay on top of all things digital from HDMI wires to camera tripods. It’s highly commendable that this brand is big on quality, and as such ensures that all its products are manufactured under the strictest quality assurance conditions. This brand is also a big fan of its customers and goes a long way to ensure that they’re kept comfortable and satisfied with its diverse product lines plus a five-star customer support that’s fit for royalty. You’ll definitely love shopping with this brand!
The Proster Handheld Anemometer Wind Speed Meter Scale Gauge is an amazingly simple device which stands out exceptionally and can even work for educational purposes. Why not get your kids involved in your love for the wind and its scientific implications by merging outdoor experiences with hands-on fun?! With its rugged and durable parts, you never have to worry about them spoiling the device while “playing” with it. It may never replace PlayStation but hey, it’s worth a try.
Although its wind speed range of 0-30m/s might be a slight issue for the weather junkies in our midst, it could kinda still work. Since the lower boundary of the wind speed range is zero, you can well measure a wind speed of close-to-zero. Sounds good to us. Speaking of which, it measures wind speeds (current, max, average, the whole works) in several inter-convertible units including meter per second, kilometer per hour, foot per minute, Knots, and meter per hour. Everyone knows it’s been a long time since you had to do such conversions, so all hands were on deck to get you something that doesn’t bother you with all that.
With its large, easy-to-read LCD display, neither you nor your kids ever have to strain your eyes trying to read values. And for increased efficiency, it comes with a data hold function so you don’t have to write everything down. Readings stay for as long as you want and there’s also data recall, so you can even go back to old readings.
Its quick-response external thermistor is… big language we need to break down first. So, a thermistor is a resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature, even more than in standard resistors. So keywords here: response, quick response! No waiting for ages to get a reading; the whole world has moved past that stage, and this device has moved with it!
Order a wind meter today and mother nature will need your permission to surprise you! In case you didn’t find what you wanted from our featured products, go ahead and check out what else these brands have on offer—you won’t be disappointed!