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Owner Review - Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker
Review Date: June 20, 2005
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| Biographical Information |
| Name: |
Phillip Engle |
| Age: |
40 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Height: |
6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Weight: |
180 lb (82 kg) |
| Email: |
pjengle@hotmail.com |
| City, State, Country: |
Austin, Texas, USA |
| Backpacking Background: |
I've been backpacking since about 1975. Since 1995, I've made at least one long (7-14 days) trip every year - two when I can manage it - and at least two shorter trips (3-5 days). I've spent a lot of time in Maine, the New Hampshire Whites, Colorado, New Mexico, California, a little time in Washington and Texas. I've section hiked the Northern 400ish miles (640 km) of the Appalachian Trail (AT) (North-South). I'm planning to alternate my annual long trip each year between section hikes of the AT, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT). |
| Product Information |
| Manufacturer: |
Kestrel Meters |
| Year Model: |
2002 |
| Date Purchased: |
October 2002 |
| Price: |
$279.99 MSRP |
| Website: |
http://www.KestrelMeters.com |
| Listed Weight: |
3.6 oz (102 g) |
| Delivered Weight: |
3.6 oz (102 g) |
| Product Description: |
From the Manufacturer's Website: A hand-held environmental condition monitor and recorder with functions for altimeter, barometer, barometric trend, density altitude, dew point, heat index, humidity, temperature, time/date, wet bulb, wind chill and wind speed. This device calculates the minimum, maximum and average values for each function. Data is stored automatically on a user-definable time interval. From this data, the device can plot a graph of trends and data can be exported to a PC. |
| Field Information |
| I'm pretty strict about only taking items I will use or those I cannot safely travel without. I'm also not very inclined to take technology with me on the trail. However, I carry this device as religiously as I carry my compass. I have taken this device on every trip and most day hikes since I purchased it. It has seen everything from alpine environments in New Hampshire, Colorado and New Mexico to desert in California and Texas, to coastal regions in Texas and Florida. I use this device for 4 things: orienteering, current conditions, historical conditions and weather forecasting. Orienteering
I carry this device either on a pack strap or in my pack lid. Throughout the day, I use the altimeter to assist me in determining my position on the map. When I cross a point on the map with a known altitude (a summit, for example), I re-calibrate the barometer. Current Conditions
I have been in few (thankfully) situations where marginal conditions and a late hour made it difficult to determine the risk of a decision. A few years ago I was with a group that was divided on whether or not to continue along an exposed ridge in New Hampshire. We recorded 60-70 mph (97-113 kph) winds earlier in the day and temperatures were near freezing, making the wind chill extreme. After making a brief attempt to climb up on the ridge, we decided to retreat, based in part on the temperature, wind speed and barometric pressure data we had gathered with the Kestrel Meter. We determined that it would be best to turn around given the falling barometric pressure and the current extreme conditions. Historical Conditions
In my efforts to constantly justify the gear I carry, I will commonly review the historical data collected during a trip to assist in gear performance. For example, if I was not warm enough in my bag when temperatures dropped to 10°F (-12°C) in my tent, then next time I anticipate these conditions I should take my liner. Or if condensation was a problem in my single wall tent at a relative humidity of 65% and a temperature of 54°F (12°C) then I need to carry the heavier two wall tent. Weather Forecasting
I use the weather forecasting abilities of my Kestrel Meter for safety and comfort. With some basic meteorology skills and a little field experience, I have been able to increase the accuracy of my weather reports each day - particularly for severe weather. It has helped me make big decisions such as taking a rest day on the lee-ward side of a peak instead of pushing to a camp on the exposed wind-ward side before a rainstorm, as well as small decision like not bothering to pull the crackers out for lunch and lash the rain pants to the back of the pack. |
| Summary |
| Overall, I'm very happy with this product but I do have some suggestions. The device is small, light and very power-efficient (I've yet to change the batteries on a trip of any length). There is a wealth of information that, in the hands of someone with the knowledge to use it, is extremely valuable. My suggestions for improvement focus on the volume of information the device can provide. In preparation for each trip, I pull out the old college physics book and freshen up on the relationship between barometric pressure vs. altitude, as well as temperature vs. humidity and dew point. I'm not suggesting that NK load my college physics text into their device, but some basic definitions concerning the nature of the measured data would be extremely helpful. Also helpful would be some basic meteorological interpretations (i.e., falling pressure, high humidity and high temperatures indicate unstable air and could preclude inclement weather). I have a $30 electronic weather station at home that has three readings: a rain cloud icon, a partly-cloudy icon, and a sunny icon. These readings combined with an arrow indicating a trend toward a rise or drop in pressure is valuable data in less than two seconds. If the Kestrel 4000 provided similar interpretation along with the ability to access the detailed data, it could broaden the audience for this device (not to mention saving me from nightmares about cramming for a college physics exam). This is a very sophisticated scientific instrument and there is a good deal of additional data collected or calculated that I have never used, such as wet bulb (a measure of how close the surrounding air is to saturation) and density altitude (pressure altitude that has been corrected given current temperature and humidity readings). These measurements are primarily used in sensitive laboratories or manufacturing facilities, or in aviation. As such, the thought has occurred to me that I may not be the intended consumer for this product since my use of it is intermittent and I must routinely re-orient myself to the functions available that I do use. Even still, I will continue to brush up on my physics and to carry this device with me on every trip I take. |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Lots of data to use for assessment/decision making in the backcountry
- Buttons are intuitive
- Light
- Durable
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- Data is difficult to interpret without additional reference information
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Read more reviews of Nielsen-Kellerman Company gear
Read more gear reviews by Phillip Engle
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