Wind Meters, Wind Gauges, Anemometers… Let’s talk about shooting.
Article last updated: April 2021
Long range shooting is a widely loved sport. Some of us are long-term shooting fans, while others might have been inspired by the surging popularity of FPS games like PUBG and Fortnite. Given that it’s both fun, challenging, and unique… it’s no wonder why the sport is gaining popularity. In this article, we have some wind meters for long range shooting to help you on your way to becoming a sniper so good you’ll make Hawkeye jealous!
At A Glance: Best Wind Meters For Long Range Shooting
Here’s the thing. You’ve probably already realised by now that, no matter how well you focus your shot, there are other climatic conditions like the speed of the wind, air pressure, and direction of wind flow that come into play.
For short ranges, these factors are much less important. The longer the range that you’re shooting, the wind speeds and general weather conditions become more and more impactful. In order to assist with this problem, “Wind meters” are used. You may also see these referred to as anemometers for shooting.
So clearly, wind meters are beneficial for use in long-range shooting. They are ideal for estimating shot placement and to help reduce shooting errors due to crosswind conditions. There’s a wide selection of wind meters for long range shooting in the market today, and it helps to know their differences so you can pick what fits your budget and needs.
Below, we’ve laid out a selection of the best wind meters for long-range shooting in 2021.
This comparison is short and straightforward. I hope you find it useful!
The Proster digital anemometer has a multi-unit switching function, including reading hold, maximum, minimum, etc. It can be used for handheld or fixed measurements.
We love that it has a large LCD screen with a backlight that’s easy to read at arm’s length even with less-than-perfect vision. This wind meter also has a low battery indicator.
Specifications:
m/s(meter per second):
0.40~30.0 ±(2.0% reading+50)
ft/m (feet per minute):
80~5900 ±(2.0% reading+50)
km/h (kilometer per hour):
1.4~108.0 ±(2.0% reading+50)
mile/h(mile per hour):
0.9~67.0 ±(2.0% reading+50)
Knots(nautical miles per hour):
0.8~58.0 ±(2.0% reading+50)
CFM:
0 to 99990 0 to 9.999ft2
CMM:
0 to 99990 0 to 9.999ft2
CMS:
0 to 9999 0 – 9.999 m2
Pros & Cons
Pros
Portable and therefore easy to use while shooting
Large display screen
Handheld or Fixed measurements.
Very easy to use
CFM ranges between 0 and 99,999
Display is backlit so you can see it in the dark
Cons
Poor manual and Instructions are unclear
Doesn’t measure in MPH
Issues with durability
This little device is worth every dollar and is great for long range shooting. It’s portability and easy to use functions as well as its large screen makes it perfect to use in any outdoor setting. This wind meter reads speeds of up to 30 m/s which works out to be about 108 miles per hour, within an accuracy of about two percent. This highly reliable and easy to use wind meter is perfect for long range shootin.
Its device control has labels of the function it performs, which makes it very simple and intuitive.
This ergonomically-designed handy wind meter comes with rubber inserts on the sides that provide a better grip. Plus, it has a screw hole at the bottom so you can mount it on a tripod.
It also has a big screen, but the digits are a bit smaller compared to Proster.
Specifications:
m/s(meter per second):
0 ~ 30.0 0.1 Resolution
ft/m (feet per minute):
0 ~ 5860 19 Resolution
km/h (kilometer per hour):
0 ~ 90.0 0.3 Resolution
mile/h(mile per hour):
0 ~ 65.0 0.2 Resolution
Knots(nautical miles per hour):
0 ~ 55.0 0.2 Resolution
Accuracy
±5%
Pros & Cons
Pros
It provides fast measurement for analysis of critical weather conditions
Multifunctional anemometer – measures wind speed, temperature and wind chill
C/F temperature can be adjusted easily.
Max/Min/Average/Current function can be recorded.
Presence of low battery indicator
Good After-sales service
Cons
Come-along Instructions are unclear
Backlight timer goes off every 15 seconds which can be irritating
Doesn’t work effectively with freezing or below freezing
We loved the part of after-sales support; if your anemometer gets damaged within a short time frame, you can quickly contact and get it replaced or repaired. The seller takes full responsibility for the product, which is rare. The temperature function is a +1, and the built is sturdy and high quality. The only minus that we figured out was that the instructions were very unclear and ambiguous, which can be tough at the start, but you can always refer YouTube for a better understanding of the product. The Backlight Timer has the default setting of 15 seconds, which could be irritating, but it’s pretty accurate and highly sensitive and hence serves the ultimate purpose without any doubt.
The Kestrel 1000 wind meter is the most basic and extremely easy to use wind meter by Kestrel. Unlike the first two, this one can be slipped inside your pocket because it’s very compact.
It’s been in the market for about 20 years, and yet still one of the most popular today. It comes with a protective cover, neck lanyard, and it’s waterproof IP67 (floats). An easy-to-read, large high-contrast monochrome LCD make it perfect for any light conditions.
Specifications:
m/s(meter per second):
0.6 ~ 60.0
ft/m (feet per minute):
118 ~ 11,811
km/h (kilometer per hour):
2.2 ~ 144.0
mile/h(mile per hour):
0.3 ~ 134.2
Knots(nautical miles per hour):
1.2 ~ 116.6
Beaufort Scale
0 to 12 B
Pros & Cons
Pros
Highly accurate
Rugged handheld air flow meter
Large and clear display
Replaceable impeller
All kinds of wind flow measurement units are available
Highly waterproof (IP-67)
Floats in water
Drop tested to military standards (MIL-STD-810G)
Includes a slip-on protective cover
Includes neck lanyard
CR02032 coin cell battery
Five-year warranty
Can be used in all kinds of adventures and weather conditions
Shock-mounted impeller
Cons
Less legible from side angles
Even after strong research, we couldn’t find many negatives on this product, and it totally worth every Penny it costs. It is highly durable, and it has protective sheaths to protect itself from all kinds of potential dangers. It’s the safest and smartest investment you can make if you are engaged in Long Range Shooting.
The Weatherflow WEATHERmeter is a small but very capable handheld smartphone weather meter that’s designed for precision shooting.
Using the BallisticsARC mobile app, it provides a complete on-site atmospheric profile for long-range shooters. Measurements will show on your smartphone through the app.
It can be paired instantly to your iPhone or Android phone through Bluetooth Smart technology.
Specifications:
m/s(meter per second):
0.2 ~ 55
km/h (kilometer per hour):
0.8 ~ 200
mile/h(mile per hour):
0.5 ~ 125
Knots(nautical miles per hour):
0.4 ~ 110
Beaufort Scale
0 ~ 12 B
Bluetooth range
up to 100 ft
Pros & Cons
Pros
Comes with an attractive apple-like case
Solid and well built
The associate app is helpful and easy to use
A new feature of pressure and dew point
Feature of the heat index
Cons
Less accurate
Temperature fluctuation when exposed in sunlight
No warranty
This wind meter has a supporting app that is big +1, but there a number of issues reported for its low accuracy. It is one of the best-sellers with tons of positive reviews, but we won’t personally recommend you to buy this one because the fundamental purpose is not served and it doesn’t even come with a warranty or after-sale service.
Kestrel 3000 pocket wind meter is not only good for long-range shooting, but it’s become necessarily required for wildland firefighters.
It provides accurate weather data, relative humidity readings, calculates the dew point heat stress index and of course, wind speed. The device holds an IP67 waterproof rating, and it’s drop-tested to meet military standards.
This all-in-one equipment is portable and can fit inside your pocket.
Specifications:
m/s(meter per second):
0.6 ~ 60.0
ft/m (feet per minute):
118 ~ 11,811
km/h (kilometer per hour):
2.2 ~ 144.0
mile/h(mile per hour):
0.3 ~ 134.2
Knots(nautical miles per hour):
1.2 ~ 116.6
Beaufort Scale
0 to 12 B
Relative Humidity
15 ~ 95% RH
Pros & Cons
Pros
Highly Accurate
Rugged handheld air flow meter
Large and clear display
Replaceable impeller
All kinds of wind flow measurement units are available
Highly waterproof (IP-67)
Floats in water
Drop tested to military standards (MIL-STD-810G)
Includes a slip-on protective cover
Includes neck lanyard
CR02032 coin cell battery
Five-year warranty
Can be used in all kinds of adventures and weather conditions
If you are okay with spending a high amount of money on digital anemometers, this is the perfect one indeed. We highly recommend this not just because of accuracy, but also longevity. It comes with an assurance of long term support promise, and the manufacturers have provided almost everything that an anemometer might need. We are genuinely impressed with the design, features, and customer reviews. Until or unless there’s a software or circuit defect by default, this one goes perfect. It’s expensive, but it’s a one-time investment. The extra small size of icons is also manageable and does not seem to be a big issue to compromise with.
When it comes to a technical gadget like a digital anemometer, it can be very tricky to decide which one to buy. But we dearly suggest not to rely solely on the descriptions given beside the product but also to read and interpret the genuine customer reviews to track the common problems that you should be ready for.
Although we make it easy for you by doing the tough part and release a soft summary of products that you should take into consideration. We understand that everyone has their own budget and specific needs. Therefore, we always put options for the readers.
Our personal best choice and recommendation is Kestrel 3000 pocket wind meter because we couldn’t find any many reasons not to buy it except for its price tag. Also, if you cannot invest that much amount of money into it, our second personal best choice and recommendation would be Kestrel 1000, which is just an outdated version of Kestrel 3000, but it’s less expensive and worth it.
And, if you are looking for a digital anemometer under 40$ or under 30$, Proster Handheld Anemometer and HoldPeak 866B can be a good choice although we don’t really recommend the Weather meter.
There’s nothing quite like stepping out onto a perfect lawn on a warm spring morning. The dew still clings to the grass, and the sun is just starting to peek over the horizon. If you’re lucky, you might even hear the birds chirping in the distance.
At first appearance, the lush lawn surrounding a suburban home would seem like a simple decorative affectation. However, the practice of keeping the perfect lawn as low-cut vegetation around a dwelling has a very practical origin.
Of course, achieving that perfect lawn takes some work – but it’s definitely worth it! Here are the perfect lawn care tips and tools to help you get started.
The Perfect Modern Lawn
Hopefully, you do not have to worry about enemy forces laying siege to your suburban bungalow, but there are still some very good reasons to maintain a healthy lawn around the house.
Not only does it drive up the curb appeal of your property, but a lush, cool and perfect lawn can also help keep the house cooler during the hot summer months. It gives the kids a safe place to play outside of the house, and can provide the homeowner a refreshing extra room. What could be nicer after a busy day than relaxing outside on a cool lawn?
Many neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations require residents to maintain an attractive lawn so as to protect everyone’s property values. These requirements are more often relaxed during times of drought and water rationing. However, a healthy and well-watered lawn has the added benefit of contributing to fire safety.
Lawns are more likely to thrive in the wet conditions which are common in the Old World, but, keeping a perfect lawn in North America usually requires some additional irrigation. For decades, this has meant simply turning on the sprinkler and hoping that you remember to turn it off after an hour or so. In fact, it is not uncommon to see sprinkler systems running in the middle of a rain storm!
Grass is a remarkably resilient plant, which means that your lawn will likely survive if conditions are less than perfect. You don’t have to mow your lawn if you don’t water it, but if the grass is healthy, it will crowd out weeds. Kidding aside, mowing the grass can be a healthy and relaxing activity, and it contributes to the perfect modern lawn.
Your Lawn and the Weather
Over-irrigation can be as stressful for your lawn as not watering enough. Experts generally agree that the grass varieties which make up most lawns in North America will thrive if they are given between one and two inches of water each week.
To find out how long you should run your sprinklers, you have to know how much water the lawn is getting from natural rainfall. And, the best way to find your local rainfall amount is to take a reading from your personal Weather Station. If you need a simpler and cheaper solution, invest in a rain gauge.
This is one of the most popular weather stations on the market and comes with an easy to read and programme HD display. It helps you to determine precise weather conditions, indoor comfort and daily record dashboards. You can easily mount the sensor outside and plugin the display to get accurate readings and weather updates.
If you are looking forward to getting periodic rainfall updates for a perfect lawn, this can be a really good option for you. Also, this comes with a sleep mode that can be turned on for while you go to sleep.
The Barometer depicts highly reliable future forecasts so that you can easily plan your tours and upcoming events. It even keeps a record of outdoor temperature and humidity up to 1 year of weekly high and low records. A digital clock automatically updates itself according to daylight saving features and it includes an alarm clock. You can set customizable alarms for temperature, wind speed, humidity, rainfall, etc.
Features:
Size: 0.6 x 7.6 x 5.5 inches
Wind Direction: 16 points
Temperature Accuracy: +/-2 degree F
Humidity Accuracy: +/-3 %
Transmission Frequency: 18-36 seconds depends on the measurement
Lightning Detector Range: 25 miles(40 km)
Wireless range: 330 feet
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to setup
Bright, colorful and clear display
Wide Range
Accurate outdoor reading
Has a Night mode
Customizable alarms
Cons
Less accurate indoor reading
No battery backup for power cuts
This can be a great companion for your beautiful home if you often want to keep track of outdoor weather conditions. Although, it’s indoor readings aren’t so accurate to comprehend with the price range. It’s built quality and durability is impeccable and it’s highly recommended for tracking outdoor weather conditions.
It’s completely weather resistant, has a quality rain gauge as well as our favourite feature – it is self emptying. One of the most accurate rain guages on the market with its accuracy up to 0.4 inch increments, it also records temperature and humidity.
The transmission range of this rain guage is fantastic. It can transmit data from 300 feet away meaning you have more choices as to where you place your gauge.
Think thats all the amazing features this machine has? Think again! This amazing rain gauge has a 10 day data history record ability making it one of the longer storage systems.
Finally, it can track the amount of water you use to water your lawn which gives you the edge when trying to grow the perfect lawn. When you combine the 10 day data record with your personal watering you can easily achieve the perfect lawn!
Features:
Size: 3.54 x 5.59 x 0.98 inches
Accuracy: Up to 0.4 inches
Wireless Transmission: Up to 300 feet
Data Collection: 10 Days
Power Source: 4 AA Batteries
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to setup
Bright and clear display
Wide Range
Accurate outdoor reading
Easy to read
Wireless
Cons
Change batteries regulalry
Poor technical support
This is a great rain guage for the home gardener that is easy to use without breaking the bank. Its features make it perfect for measuring both rain and sprinkler water so that you can water your lawn to perfection.
Now that you have a handle on how much water nature is providing your lawn, you can determine how much you need to add with your sprinkler system.
We can find the efficiency of your sprinkler system with this simple experiment. If you are using a sprinkler attached to a garden hose, find an empty tuna can and place it on the ground, open side up, near the center of the sprinkler’s spray pattern. Turn on the sprinkler and monitor the amount of time it takes for half an inch of water to collect in the can.
You can use a similar procedure with an installed sprinkler system, but you may want to test in several places in your yard to ensure that your system is watering evenly.
What Is The Best Time To Water Your Lawn
Watering during the heat of the day leads to water loss from evaporation. In fact, it is also thought that sunlight shining through the lens created by a water droplet on a flower blossom can lead to sunburn damage in your flowerbeds.
Watering at night or just before, or after, sundown means that your lawn will be wet all night! This may encourage fungus and disease growth. We recommend to turn your sprinklers on as early in the morning as you can. It will be cooler with less wind early in the morning. This means less evaporation and the full day’s sunlight will discourage fungus and disease.
Turning the sprinklers on once or twice a week for a decent time is thought to be more beneficial than watering daily for a short amount of time. Frequent watering, even frequent deep watering, will encourage shallow root growth.
A longer watering period allows the water to soak in more effectively, but there is a danger of watering too long in a session. Our experts recommend trying different time periods and monitor the health of your grass. If having a perfect lawn is what you are looking for, some data collection may just be required.
Understand that each season will require different levels of water. Grass grows very little during winter, and, if you live in an area that is affected by frost or snow, adding moisture is a major no-no! Once spring arrives, watch for signs of wilting as the weather warms and ensure to add some fertiliser as the grass comes back to life. Then, in the summer months, keep moisture levels even with some deep watering to create the perfect lawn and be the envy of your neighbourhood.
Water Your Lawn Early In The Morning
Remember when we mentioned rainfall rates during our discussion of rain gauges? A summer thunderstorm can dump several inches of rain in a small area in a very short amount of time.
However, not all of that rain will soak into the soil where the roots of your lawn can use it. The same thing may occur if you run your sprinklers for too long. If puddles begin to form in your lawn, you may encounter runoff.
Sprinkler water running down the street and not soaking into the soil is wasted and costing you money! It may be more beneficial to turn on the sprinkler for ten or twenty minutes, turn it off for a bit to allow the water to soak into the soil, and then turn on the sprinkler again.
The “screwdriver test” is a good way to judge whether or not you are getting a sufficient soak. If you can easily push a six-inch screwdriver into the soil, then when you remove it there’s soil coating the screwdriver shaft, your lawn is getting a good soak. If the screwdriver comes out dry, you need to give your lawn more water.
The Proper Way Of Mowing For A Perfect Lawn Care
We recommend that you set your mower to a higher setting. Mowing to 2 1/2 to 3 inches has several advantages when looking to create the perfect lawn.
The longer grass blades will have more leaf area, so the lawn will absorb more energy from the sun.
That taller grass will shade the soil, helping it to hold on to the moisture and keeping weeds from getting enough sun to become established.
Frequent mowing will keep the lawn looking great, and leave the short clippings so that they can return their nutrients to the soil.
Using a hand mower also has all of the benefits of jogging while beautifying your home!
Keep These Concepts In Mind To Create The Perfect Lawn Care
Measure how much water your sprinkler system delivers in a set period of time versus how much rain has fallen on your lawn over the past week. Use an empty tuna can and a rain gauge for this experiment.
Occasional deep watering is more beneficial to your grass’s root system than frequent watering.
Monitor the sprinkler rate to avoid a runoff. Turn off the water before puddles form and allow it to soak in.
A healthy perfect lawn with thick, grass will naturally drive out weeds.
Grass mowed to 2 1/2” to 3” while shading the soil, will help to retain moisture and retard weed growth.
Remember that your lawn lives outside, in the weather, and that a healthy, inviting and perfect lawn will encourage your family to spend more time out there, too.
Taking care of your lawn is easy and enjoyable when you are armed with these simple tips and the rainfall and weather information gleaned from your home weather station.
Living conveniently means having the right temperature at home and a home smart thermostat will help. Being busy at work and with family, we don’t have time to regularly adjust the temperature which is the main culprit of high electricity bills. The good news is, with today’s technology heating or cooling can be controlled automatically by incorporating a smart thermostat.
What Is A Smart Home?
A smart home is an intelligent and convenient home setup where all devices are connected to one network. These can be controlled either remotely or by voice commands. Devices you can connect include lighting, appliances, security, window shades and shutters, and even heating and cooling.
Most smart home devices use a smartphone app that allows you to access and control them remotely. However, the definition of a smart home applies to even the most simple of products, such as a connected speaker.
How Can A Home Smart Thermostat Save You Money?
Heating and cooling are one of the biggest energy consumers in any home. Invest in a home smart thermostat that can be connected to a weather station to save money.
Indeed, the thermostat can receive real-time weather data to monitor the weather and adjust your home’s temperature automatically. You don’t have to wait until you get home to have to crank up the temperature. A smart thermostat can keep your internal temperature and humidity within a set range.
Smart homes will save money by powering down appliances that are not in use. Some are capable of switching lights off if they are left on for extended periods. You can really pocket the savings and reduce your energy consumption with a cleverly set up smart home.
What Is A Home Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat allows you to control the internal temperature and humidity of your home via your heating and cooling system remotely, using a smartphone or tablet. When you’re about to leave the house, you can quickly turn it off and when you’re about to get home, you can turn it on beforehand. No more walking into a freezing house and waiting an age for it to warm up.
This is also true during the hotter months when your home can be cooled down before the family arrives. Moreover, these clever devices offer the convenience of turning your system on and off, as long as you’re connected to the internet.
Some of the best smart thermostats like the programmable thermostatcan actually remember your routine and automatically switch it on and off for you. Some work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Homekit which works through voice assistant or voice command.
A home smart thermostat ensures that you keep the temperature in your house within a certain range. Fully adjustable for every season, you can set a program to keep the temperature inside the house above a certain level.
This means that when you want to fully heat the house in winter, say for when you get home, the heating system isn’t having to work as hard. Moreover, this will save money by maintaining a constant low temperature and only heating when necessary.
Of course, this also applies during the hotter months!
2. Remote Access With A Home Smart Thermostat
Your smartphone or tablet serves as the remote control for your heating or cooling system. All you need do is install the corresponding app for your smart thermostat and you’re all set. Wi-fi thermostats are the ones that allow users to connect via Wi-Fi and be controlled through their built-in remote sensors.
So, when you’re on vacation and have forgotten to turn off your HVAC systems, there is no stress. Easily turn it off or adjust the temperature by simply logging on to the internet and making the adjustments.
3. Protect the Environment
Optimizing and adjusting the temperature of your home will save you money on your heating and cooling bills. Furthermore, you can also help protect the environment and reduce your energy footprint.
Home Smart thermostats, like the Nest learning thermostat, include nifty features such as maintenance reminders. The sensor can detect a dirty filter and notify you when it’s time to change your air filter.
Other features allow you to monitor energy consumption and keep track of how much you use each week. By tracking this data, you can adjust the settings of your home smart thermostat for better efficiency of your heating and cooling.
4. Convenience Of A Smart Thermostat
With all the above benefits, comfort is the very reason you should have a smart thermostat at home. If you want a thermostat that will work independently but also efficiently, connects it to a weather station for constant monitoring and updating.
The Google Nest smart thermostat can make it happen for you. Home/Away Assist with an Eco setting will automatically adjust the temperature when you leave the house. This fully programmable device can learn your schedule and adjust settings to save you money. An Energy History function shows your consumption of when during the day and on what. A green Nest Leaf appears on the display when you choose a setting that saves energy.
Best of all, connect your Google Nest smart thermostat to a weather station and have instant updates on the weather outside. Your smart device can then adjust the settings within the house for keeping the temperature inside constant.
One of the best weather stations to connect to a home smart thermostat is the Ambient Weather WS2000. Using WiFi technology, and compatible with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT, program the weather station to update outside conditions. Your smart thermostat can track the readings and adjust the internal temperature.
Our favorite, however, is the Netatmo Personal Weather Station which comes with both outdoor and indoor units. These communicate with each other to monitor temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity. This amazing device can also track noise levels indoors as well as air quality inside and outside. Connect your Netatmo Smart Weather Station to a home smart thermostat and adjust the indoor temperature based on local climate conditions.
Select either the local weather forecast or your Weather Station as your source.
Conclusion
Using a home smart thermostat can save you money on your energy bills by keeping the internal temperature of your home constant. To improve usability and save even more money, connect it to a weather station for better accuracy of data.
Also, many smart thermostats connect with other devices such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Homekit.
Whatever your reason for looking at the best dehumidifier for garage, this article is for you.
Have you ever thought of the risk of fungus, mold, and mildew growth in your garage? Left untreated, this leads to an accelerated rusting process of metal. So, this can be harmful to a vehicle, if your cars are kept in your garage.
For this reason, we’ve compiled 5 of the best garage dehumidifiers for you to keep your vehicle in mint condition. Not only your car, think of all the tools and other gadgets you have stored in your garage.
For those of you in a rush, here’s our #1 recommendation right now, for a large-ish area. The TOSOT 4,500 sq ft dehumidifier is affordable, energy-saving and provides exceptional performance!
TOSOT is one of the leading & top-notch manufacturers of air conditioners and dehumidifiers. It is a trusted, reliable brand that ensures quality performance in its products.
With a 4,500 sq ft coverage area, the TOSOT dehumidifier tops our list of the best garage dehumidifiers for larger spaces. With the 50-pint extraction rate it provides this unit is ideal for drawing moisture from a large area.
However, we would’ve preferred that TOSOT kept its original rating of 70 pints in its previous model for an even larger capacity and extraction rate.
Drawback aside, we love the continuous drain option, Energy Star rating, and quiet operation it provides. The unit operates at a peak level of 50 decibels so is perfect for the bathroom, bedroom, or basement.
To use other dehumidifiers in your garage, you may need to empty the water out of the bucket regularly. However, with an internal pump, you can set the machine to automatically kick in when the bucket is almost full. This means there is no downtime when using the machine due to the bucket being full. Just spend a little extra for a hose and assign an area where the hose will run into.
If you buy the model under this one, there is no pump included and you will have to manually drain the bucket. We recommend you keep a reminder if using this method to prevent damaging your dehumidifier long term.
Thanks to its Energy Star rating, not only is it efficient, but it also helps save on electricity costs. Think about it. With garage dehumidifiers often running 24 hours a day it can add a hefty cost to your utility bill.
Design
Design-wise, the TOSOT garage dehumidifiers come with easy to set and operate electronic controls. Choose a target humidity level and the unit will switch off once that level is reached.
For continuous use regardless of the humidity level, that is also easy to set. The machine will run until the bucket collecting the water is full – which is never if you have the unit with an internal pump.
TOSOT dehumidifiers for garages and homes include easy-to-clean filters and a light indicator to signify when they need cleaning.
With 250 hours of continuous use, before cleaning is recommended, they truly are efficient dehumidifiers. Furthermore, its power outage restart feature is a lifesaver in the event of any electrical interruption or blackout.
Once the power comes back, your humidity settings will remain the same.
You’ll have to pay a little extra to get your hands on one of the Ivation 4,500 square feet garage dehumidifiers. However, we promise the most value in return for your money.
With a performance of 70 pints per day, it deserves to be on our list of garage dehumidifiers for the largest areas. The lowest measure a dehumidifier can store is 30 pints, while 70 pints are rated as the highest performance. (Note here that the Department of Energy standards means this is classified as a 50-pint, even though it holds 70 pints – go figure!!)
You might think that high-performing dehumidifiers would also spell trouble for utility costs. However, this 70-pint dehumidifier comes with an Energy Star rating for practical and energy-saving operations.
The Ivation 4,500 sq ft garage dehumidifiers come with a filtration system. Not only does this boost air quality by enhancing the filtration of mildew & allergens, it is also very effective at removing moisture.
Design
Just like the TOSOT dehumidifier, Ivation also provides a continuous drain option. This nifty machine includes a pump so you don’t have to spend extra, and can remove moisture easily out of your garage.
Even if you wanted to drain the water bucket manually, Ivation made sure to include a 2.25-gallon water tank. This means you don’t have to drain the water frequently.
Last but not least, the variety of features offered is truly where Ivation shines. It comes with an auto-defrost feature and LED display for controlling fan speed and humidity levels. It will even let you know when the filter needs to be changed.
At under $300, you get high-quality performance, a large coverage area and a wide range of features. We consider the Ivation 4,500 square foot garage dehumidifiers to be a steal for the price.
For a smaller garage, the Pro Breeze would suit you perfectly.
The Pro Breeze Electric garage dehumidifiers are ideal for covering areas between 220 to 250 square feet. A compact unit is ideal for your workshop, small garage, caravan, bathroom, or basement!
Despite its compact frame, the Pro Breeze comes with an 18 oz water tank, meaning it efficiently reduces moisture by one pint per day. Not bad for a mini dehumidifier. As the unit can draw 9 oz/day this means only emptying the water tank every 2-3 days.
This efficiency is also ideal if you want to remove fungus, and mold and prevent mildew growth. Even better, you can leave the Pro Breeze Electric dehumidifier to run for three days without having to drain the water tank.
Combine this with Pro Breeze’s Thermo-Electric Cooling technology, and you get a quiet operation that won’t disturb you or your guests while it’s running.
Design
The Pro Breeze is simple and straightforward to use. There are no complicated features to worry about, although it doesn’t come with a continuous drain option.
As much as manually draining your water tank might seem like a chore, the Pro Breeze doesn’t make that an issue. The tank is situated at the base of the unit and pulls out for easy emptying.
It also comes with an auto-shutoff feature to prevent overfilling or leaking issues.
The only drawback is it requires heavy maintenance if your garage has high humidity levels. It’s also not ideal for areas with temperatures below 59 oF.
Nevertheless, the excellent energy efficiency, affordable price tag, and dehumidification performance make the Pro Breeze ideal for any small space.
Compared to Frigidaire and TOSOT, hOmeLabs is a newcomer to the market in garage dehumidifiers. So, how does it compare in quality to the top brands? Let’s find out!
HOmeLabs can extract up to 35 pints of moisture per day and come in a range of sizes. With 4 models to choose from, the hOmeLabs 3,000 sq ft is ideal for areas up to 4,000 square feet. Above this space, we recommend using the 4,500 sq ft model which is also available with a built-in pump for continuous use.
These sleek and compact garage dehumidifiers work perfectly in spaces between 2,500 to 4,000 square feet. Using it in any smaller area may cause too much heat and they won’t work with evaporative cooling.
We love the customizable humidity settings and its easy operation feature. Super quiet when in operation they are perfect garage dehumidifiers but also terrific in cellars, basements, or large rooms.
Despite its large capacity and high power, it’s highly efficient, hence the Energy Star rating. No need to worry about huge utility bills!
Expect this 70-pint dehumidifier to run for a full 24-hour timeframe. It will automatically shut off when the tank is full to avoid overflow.
Furthermore, it also features a continuous drain option with a hose outlet included. However, you have to buy the hose separately, sad to say.
This allows you to increase the fan speed from 165 CFM (cubic feet/minute) to 188 CFM for maximum odor and moisture removal.
We also like how hOmeLabs added wheels and handles for improved portability should you decide to use it in a room apart from your garage.
However, hOmeLabs’ water tank capacity is relatively small. For high-humidity areas, this may require frequent draining of the water tank. That being said, just purchase a hose and connect it to the unit for continuous drain operation.
This newcomer in garage dehumidifiers will give some of the more established brands a run for their money.
If you’re looking for garage dehumidifiers ideal for medium-sized spaces around 1,500 sq ft, Yaufey fits this description perfectly.
Capable of removing up to 4 gallons or 32 pints of moisture per day, it’s excellent for both performance and price.
In fact, the Yaufey dehumidifier is just as budget-friendly as the Pro Breeze and provides a larger capacity.
A 1.8L water tank isn’t that great, however, Yaufey made sure to include a continuous drain option and a 2-meter hose. By setting this up you don’t have to worry about manually draining the water tank.
It’s also worth mentioning the high number of positive reviews Yaufey has received. This is despite being less renowned or popular as leading dehumidifier brands such as TOSOT or Frigidaire.
This compact and sleek unit is ideal for the bedroom, bathroom, basement or a dehumidifier for your garage.
Design
Like the hOmeLabs dehumidifier, Yaufey also has customizable fan settings for efficient and effective removal of moisture, mold and mildew.
Additionally, it features an auto-defrost function, power outage restart ability and low-fan noise for a quiet operation.
Finally, the Yaufey dehumidifier also comes with a handle and built-in wheels for improved portability. If you think about it, this unit has a fair combination of features from most of the garage dehumidifiers mentioned in our list.
At under $200, the Yaufey dehumidifier is perfect for the budget conscious.
Even with 5 of the best garage dehumidifier models available, it can be confusing to choose the ideal dehumidifier for your garage.
For this reason, we’ve used this section to talk about crucial elements in the design and performance of dehumidifiers. This will allow you to gauge which of these elements suit your needs best.
Choosing the best garage dehumidifiers will depend on 5 elements:
We’ll discuss each element in-depth and provide you with the best recommendations per element.
Performance of Garage Dehumidifiers
The performance of each dehumidifier varies depending on its extraction rate. The extraction rate pertains to the ability of your dehumidifier to pull moisture from the air.
A good quality dehumidifier should remove moisture from the air sufficiently along with regulating the humidity levels.
One way to measure the performance of dehumidifiers is through pints. Throughout the review, we mentioned a handful of pint measurements, such as 50 pints, 70 pints, 30 pints, etc.
You’ll find various garage dehumidifiers that offer either 30 pints, 40 pints, 50 pints or 70-pint ratings. The number also indicates the amount of moisture from the air it can remove in a 24-hour timeframe.
For example, a 50-pint dehumidifier can remove up to 50 pints of moisture from the air per day. On the other hand, a 70-pint dehumidifier can remove up to 70 pints per day.
How to Choose a Dehumidifier Based on Performance
Go for a 30-pint dehumidifier if you have a smaller garage, while a 50 or 70-pint dehumidifier works for a larger garage.
It’s worth noting that the pint rating influences the efficiency of your dehumidifier. This means that if you use a 30-pint dehumidifier for a large garage, it wouldn’t efficiently regulate the humidity.
Likewise, a 70-pint dehumidifier wouldn’t work best for a smaller garage since this may lead to causing too much heat or waste a lot of energy.
Make sure you are aware of the size before researching the best garage dehumidifiers for you.
Capacity & Drainage
The capacity of your garage dehumidifiers goes hand-in-hand with drainage capability and dehumidification performance.
Dehumidifiers will typically show the square footage on the product label or manufacturer’s website. It’s absolutely vital you make sure to check the square footage or capacity before choosing the best dehumidifier for your garage.
The capacity tells you how much space your dehumidifier can cover. To effectively regulate humidity and pull moisture from the air, your dehumidifier should be able to cover the square footage of your garage adequately.
For example, a 3,000 or 4,000 sq ft dehumidifier works best for a larger garage, while a 1,500 sq ft dehumidifier works best for a medium-sized garage.
As for the drainage capabilities, this refers to the option of having a continuous drain hose or automatic shutoff features. Mostly, these relate to your convenience and ease of maintenance.
How to Choose a Dehumidifier Based on Capacity & Drainage
We recommend getting an accurate measurement or square footage of your garage and match this with the dehumidifier. This will provide the appropriate coverage area.
A 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft dehumidifier should be adequate for a 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft garage. Smaller garage dehumidifiers can cover up to 200 feet only, so make sure your garage measures around the same dimensions.
We don’t recommend “eye-balling” the square footage of your garage. If your garage measures 1,500 sq ft and you get a 3,000 sq ft unit, it will be less efficient and costly on your part.
This is what makes choosing dehumidifiers tricky. However, for optimal humidity regulation and pulling moisture from the air, it helps to select the right measurements.
As for drainage capabilities, it’s always best to choose a unit with a continuous drain hose and automatic shutoff features.
Without it, your unit could experience overfilling or leaking. Apart from that, you have to manually drain your water reservoir. This is time-consuming and can be challenging if you’re out on a trip and want to keep your vehicle well-protected.
Extra Features (Adjustable Settings, Portability, & Warranty)
Extra features are all about convenience, usability, and user-friendliness. Adjustable settings pertain mostly to changing the humidity or setting the preferred humidity in your garage.
Not only will this save you energy, but it also helps you achieve optimal regulation and effectively pulling moisture in the air.
Portability and warranty coverage are features that are preferred but not as necessary.
Garage dehumidifiers you can easily move around are useful, especially if you buy a large unit. Some units may also come defective, which means that warranty coverage can be beneficial for cases like these.
How to Choose Garage Dehumidifiers Based on Extra Features
A dehumidifier that provides adjustable settings for fan speed and humidity is an excellent pick. If the unit doesn’t have any, try to get a unit that accurately matches the appropriate capacity and dehumidification performance.
Nowadays, most dehumidifiers will come with adjustable settings and are also quite affordable.
We recommend choosing a unit with built-in wheels and handles if you have plans to use this dehumidifier for other areas in your home. Suppose you plan to buy a large or heavy unit, opting for built-in wheels and handles that suit you better.
On the other hand, trusted brands such as Frigidaire, TOSOT, hOmeLabs, Ivation, and Yaufey all come with warranty coverage.
When choosing the best dehumidifier for the garage, it’s always best to go for trusted, quality brands. Not only will this ensure good warranty coverage but also reliable quality overall.
Sound Level of Dehumidifier for Garage
Even though your dehumidifier will mostly be stored in your garage, considering the sound level or noise operation of your unit is a vital element.
Some dehumidifiers operate too loud that it can be irritating after continuous use. This is especially true for dehumidifiers with a higher pint rating.
Since dehumidifiers operate through compressors, this is usually the source of the noise. However, not all dehumidifiers with a large pint size mean a noisy operation.
Some manufacturers will consider different factors and use different components leading to a quiet operation.
One example would be the Pro Breeze Electric dehumidifier, which runs on a Thermo-Electric Cooling technology instead of a compressor.
How to Choose a Dehumidifier Based on Sound Level
It’s best to always ask for the dB or decibel rating of the unit before buying one, which you can find on the manufacturer’s label or website.
Don’t expect to find a unit that’s ultra-quiet, either. Any machine will always produce some audible noise, and it’s nearly impossible to find a completely quiet unit.
Dehumidifiers with a rating between 40 to 70 dB should be pretty quiet and more than adequate for satisfying adequate noise levels.
Temperature
Furthermore, it would help if you considered the temperature of your garage. Garages with temperatures of 59 oF shouldn’t pose a problem.
However, if the temperature of your garage drops below 59 oF, you should consider a dehumidifier with an auto-defrost feature.
How to Choose a Dehumidifier Based on Temperature
Getting a unit with an auto-defrost feature will remove any frost build-up, which is essential to your compressor’s health and effectiveness in reducing moisture in the air.
The Best Dehumidifier For Garage
The best garage dehumidifier should prioritize dehumidification performance and capacity above all.
Choosing the appropriate pint size and capacity significantly affects how effective your dehumidifier will be able to pull moisture in the air and regulate humidity.
To get the best results for effectively removing mold, fungus, and mildew, along with protecting your vehicle at all costs, these two elements, pint-size and capacity, should be essential elements to look out for first.
For example, if your garage measures 3,500 sq ft, an ideal dehumidifier would be a unit with 50 pints at the very least, 4,000 sq ft coverage, and preferably with adjustable settings and an Energy Star rating to save on energy costs.
A more concrete example would be our top three picks mentioned in this review:
The TOSOT 4,500 sq ft is the best of the garage dehumidifiers as it covers all the essential elements discussed in the previous section.
It’s also worth mentioning that the TOSOT dehumidifier is quite affordable considering the features it comes with. However, we also understand that the TOSOT may not be for everyone.
For this reason, we recommend this dehumidifier if you’re looking for a price-friendly unit with excellent dehumidification performance, energy-saving & quiet operation, and a fairly large garage.
The Ivation 4,500 sq ft dehumidifier is another one of our best dehumidifiers for garage spaces.
You might have to spend a little more compared to the TOSOT but it comes with some outstanding features. You get an auto-defrost feature, a 70-pint size for the largest garage space, an Energy Star rating, and a hose for continuous drain operation.
Unlike the TOSOT 4,500 sq ft dehumidifier, you’ll have to buy a separate hose, and it has quite a short power cord.
We highly recommend the Ivation 4,500 sq ft as one of the best garage dehumidifiers for spaces up to 4,500 sq ft. A large water tank and top-notch filtration system will reduce mildew and mold in any room.
The Pro Breeze Electric is the best garage dehumidifier for those with smaller garage spaces. Even though the Pro Breeze can only cover 220 to 250 square feet, its efficiency is also the highest on our list.
Compared to a 50-pint dehumidifier, the Pro Breeze provides higher energy-saving costs and quieter operation.
The best part? It’s a lot cheaper than buying a 70 or 50-pint dehumidifier.
The hOmeLabs brand is fairly new to the market of garage dehumidifiers but with an Energy Star, its efficiency is undeniable.
With only a 1.8-gallon water tank capacity you will have to keep your eye on the machine unless you connect a hose. You will have to purchase the hose separately and attach it yourself but then you can run this machine 24/7.
A “turbo mode” setting allows for faster drying if required which most other models don’t have.
The hOmeLabs Energy Star garage dehumidifiers are worth looking into if you have a large space to dry out.
With a price comparable to the Pro Breeze, and much greater capacity, the Yaufey garage dehumidifiers are worth the investment.
A smaller capacity water tank is not ideal however, the unit comes with a 2-metre hose. Hook this up to the unit and make the most of the continuous drain option.
This is the only unit in our review of garage dehumidifiers that includes a hose, although most have an in-built outlet.
Worth looking further into, the only negative we could find was some reviews where the units were defective.
Conclusion
We hope this review was able to help you choose the best dehumidifier for your garage! As far as premium quality and performance go, always be sure to choose a dehumidifier that suits your needs.
Don’t choose a dehumidifier simply based on what the label says or because all your friends have the same one. Ultimately, as the end-user, the best garage dehumidifiers are those that satisfy most, if not all, of your needs.
At Weather Stationary we love all things “weather” so, if you enjoyed this article why not leave a comment?
For weather enthusiasts, farmers, and amateur gardeners, the best rain gauges can be an essential piece of equipment. Not only can you keep track of the conditions around you, but they also allow you to compare data from previous months or years.
Whether your aim is to plan seasonal farming patterns or save on your household water bill. Maybe you just want to keep tabs on the local environment! There are literally hundreds of different rain gauges to choose from online.
So, how do you know which is the best rain gauge for you? What will you be looking for in a rain gauge?
Use these links to quickly scroll & find what you’re looking for!
So, before you jump into our review below, it’s worth considering a few key specifications and how they can fit your needs:
Accuracy – Consider how precise your rain gauge needs to be. If your livelihood depends on accurate tracking make sure it’s very precise. However. for hobbyists or gardeners, some variance may not be a problem.
Capacity – You’ll likely already have a bit of knowledge of the local climate so consider the capacity your rain gauge needs to handle. The wetter your location, the greater your capacity, especially if you want to measure over longer periods.
Durability – An extension of the above point, ensure you get the best rain gauges to survive the elements in your climate. For example, if you’re measuring somewhere that’s exposed to strong winds, sleet or hail make sure you invest in a robust enough gauge to keep your tracking up and running.
Technology – Modern rain gauges now vary in their use of technology. Many offer the ability to track water levels remotely from the comfort of your home or office. If you want something with remote monitoring built-in, a wireless rain gauge may be best for you.
Combining durability, flexibility, simple design, and good use of technology. The AcuRite 02446M Wireless Rain Gauge takes our vote as the best all-rounder on the market.
This handy device measures rainfall and wirelessly transmits readings to its indoor display. You can also set up a customizable alarm to notify you when your set rainfall total has been reached.
Plus, you can view rainfall totals for the current day, yesterday, last week, by month, or year. And because the rain collector is self-emptying, there’s no daily maintenance required – just connect the collector to the display and start measuring! The perfect gift for any gardener or casual weather-watcher!
Look to the AcuRite 02446M for the overall best rain gauge – in our opinion!
No matter your interest level in weather, you may just need something simple and cheap to keep track of the rainfall in your area. If so, the AcuRite 00850A2 is an ideal, quick, and easy solution and our value best rain gauges.
Its basic design means it can simply be placed into your garden or plot and begin capturing water straight away. Pre-drilled holes make it easy to hang and the tapered end makes for easy staking into the ground.
With a capacity of up to 4″ / 100mm, it is more than adequate for the majority of climates. The magnified reader makes taking measurements a breeze without needing your reading glasses. In fact, the number size increased by 35%.
Whilst this isn’t a specialized rain gauge for durability, it is built from hardened acrylic. It will stand up to the elements for a long period of time.
However, you need to be careful of it underfoot once planted. How can you go wrong at this price?
The AcuRite 00850A2 will give you rain measurements for many years. With no bells & whistles, its budget price puts it on our list of best rain gauges.
If you’re operating a large agricultural or plantation farm, keeping an eye on the weather is crucial. To ensure a smooth operation all year round it is vital to know the moisture levels.
The Outback Blue Large rain gauges are made in Australia to withstand the tough Aussie conditions making them great for most climates. A high-grade UV-resistant polycarbonate won’t crack with frost or discolor in the scorching sun, however, it will not withstand snow conditions. Set up and usage are simple and straightforward, so you don’t need high-tech skills for this line of best rain gauges.
Farmers often need to track rainfall over a long period of time especially if operating in vast open spaces. With a large overall capacity of 280mm (one of the largest on the market), these rain gauges may only need to be read, and emptied, weekly or monthly. This will, of course, depend on the amount of rainfall. In fact, for truly vast areas an automatic emptying rain gauge may be best.
The large capacity comes from its dual tube design. The inner tube is designed to measure the overflow in the outer tube. Simply total each of the 1″ measurements to know the amount of water in the outer tube and add the inner tube volume.
The Outback Blue 250mm can be easily mounted in a range of locations and its simple markings help you track down to 0.5mm increments. Its large capacity, durability, and great price put it fairly on our list of best rain gauges.
For those looking to measure local rainfall for gardening cycles, you’ll need a compact and simple gauge to keep track of the conditions. The TFA 47.100 gauge mixes durability and simplicity to give gardeners exactly what they need.
No assembly or complex mounting is required. The TFA 47.100 comes with a simple holder that can be easily mounted on fence posts/panels to fit in with the aesthetics of your garden.
With a maximum capacity of 40mm and clear indications to assist reading, it embraces its German-made durability and simplicity.
It even comes with the added bonus of a secondary tracking ring. This allows you to manually track rainfall over a longer period of time if you can’t get to empty it regularly.
The TFA 47.100 looks great, is simple to use and install, and has decent capacity. We think these features put it in our list of best rain gauges and specifically for home gardeners.
If you want to dig deep into local climate monitoring, you’ll likely be aware of the Netatmo weather station range. Netatmo is a trusted brand in amateur weather monitoring. Within their complete collection, monitors are available for rain, wind, temperature, and humidity.
The NRG01-WW model is an accessory to the Netatmo Weather Station and a great solo monitor.
With a capacity of 150mm and accuracy down to 1mm, it will help you crunch the precise numbers for rainfall in your local area. Place it on your balcony or stake it in your garden.
It’s also extremely well-connected, offering a mobile app, smart home support, and custom notifications so you can keep track anywhere.
Start your weather journey with the best rain gauges to build your weather station. The Netatmo NRG01-WW is a great stand-alone rain gauge but you can purchase further products from the range to integrate and build your custom weather station.
For light farming, gardening, or monitoring weather in a highly exposed environment, you’ll need a rain gauge with high capacity and easy reading.
Whilst we’ve seen the Outback Blue and TFA above, we wanted to call out the OutdoorHome as the perfect hybrid between the two.
Made to withstand harsh elements with heavy-duty and UV-resistant plastic that won’t crack or go yellow, there is an added bonus. The outdoor home team offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if it can’t match up to your local elements.
Couple this with large, easy-to-read indicators and a simple screw-on mount, and it’s perfect for any extreme situation.
No need for any tech knowledge, this manual rain gauge even comes with a cleaning brush!
The OutdoorHome 150mm is a tough, Aussie-made manual rain gauge designed for any conditions. Easy to mount and read with excellent durability we know it is one of the best rain gauges.
Some Honourable Mentions In Our Best Rain Gauges For 2010
There was stiff competition for the many rain gauges to make it into our ‘best range so we wanted to call out some models that deserve a mention in their own right:
Similar to our best all-around gauge from AcuRite, the AMTAST Digital Wireless Rain Gauge utilizes a bucket-like design for capturing precipitation. It then sends live results back to a separate monitor via a wireless connection.
If you’re after slightly more range, this is the model for you with distances up to 100m.
It includes many of the features we’ve seen with our other models such as bucket design, digital monitoring, and level alerts, and has a variety of mounting options.
We’ve already seen Outback Blue in our best-of roundup. However, there really is no other competitor on the general rain gauge market that shapes up to the whopping 250mm capacity.
If you’re looking for something bigger, we suggest reaching out to industrial meteorologist organizations, but if 250mm is enough for you, check out the Outback Blue below.
We hope you found something suitable for your needs in our review of the best rain gauges on the market today. From small to huge and super easy to fully automated, we have covered them all.
Leave us a comment below on which is your favorite and read some more reviews by clicking below.
If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably a drone pilot who has experienced the frustration of having the wind ruin your plans. Read on to find the most accurate and best wind meters for drone flying to keep your machine in the air!
Obviously, if it’s far too windy, you can probably tell just by looking out of the window and seeing the trees shake. But if it’s kinda borderline, having a wind meter to tell you exactly whether you should or shouldn’t fly the drone can be super helpful.
… so let’s get into it, starting with the product recommendations of the best wind meters for drone flying!
At A Glance: The Best Wind Meters For Drone Flying
Here are three top choices at a glance, depending on what you need. 9.9 times out of 10, the Holdpeak product is a solid purchase for almost any purpose that requires a portable / easy-to-use handheld anemometer.
Please note: if you’re looking for a smartphone wind meter, this one by Vaavud needs a headphone jack to work, which might be a problem e.g. with the newest iPhones.
So let’s talk about these, plus a couple of other options.
Okay, so… mentioned above, this handheld wind meter from Holdpeak is a really safe bet for the majority of users. This includes the best wind meter for drone flying.
Some boxes that are ticked include:
Good detection range. Detects wind from as little as 0.3m/s. And goes all the way up to 69mph.
Indicates wind chill & temperature as well as speed (maybe not needed, but can’t hurt to have)
Small (6.5-inches tall) and lightweight (0.2kg) makes it easy to pack and carry around
Can be screwed onto a tripod
There are some features missing here that a slightly more expensive anemometer might have like humidity readings and USB connection. However, for this particular purpose, I don’t think most people will require that. You’ll likely do just fine with this for getting and keeping your drone safely in the air.
And, if it makes you feel reassured (it should!), there are thousands of reviews on Amazon too.
If you’re strictly looking for a product that will plug into your smartphone, then this meter from Vaavud could be a good choice for you.
Again I feel it’s worth pointing out that you’ll need a headphone jack for this, and that may be problematic for some phones, e.g. newest iPhones.
With this wind speed meter, you’ll download an app that comes along with the purchase. Plugin the anemometer to your headphone jack and read wind speed within the app.
If I’m being honest, I’d personally go with a handheld one such as the Holdpeak every time. That being said, this option is smaller, and it doesn’t require a battery. Both of those things could be useful so, bear in mind that:
It isn’t compatible with some phones
The range is weaker (picking up only between 2m/s and 25m/s)
In case, for any reason, one of those three options doesn’t do it for you — here are a few other noteworthy inclusions to the wind meters for drone flying:
Good question! The answer (shockingly) is: it depends. And it mostly depends on the model you’re flying.
There are some really cheap drones out there that will be easily knocked off-course by a slight breeze, or someone coughing nearby. Okay, maybe not that easy. But if you care enough about your drone to be reading this article, then you probably have something halfway decent.
Mario from TipsForDrones.com suggests that a good rule of thumb is to never fly in winds that are more than two-thirds of your drone’s max speed. So if your drone goes up to 18mph, steer clear of winds being 12mph+.
Of course the less wind the better, and you should check your own instruction manual or any other guidance provided by the manufacturer, but this rule of thumb should serve well. More than two-thirds = don’t risk it.
What To Look For In A Wind Meter For Drone Flying?
These are probably all fairly obvious things to think about, but just in case they’re helpful. When shopping for your wind meter, do consider:
Are you looking for something that is handheld/battery-operated, or something that plugs into a smartphone
What are the minimum & maximum detectable speeds
How long is the battery life
Is there a backlight
Does it only measure wind speed, or also wind chill & other factors
How big & heavy is it
Will it mount to a tripod, or attach to a lanyard
Will it fit in your pocket? Your camera bag?
How expensive is it
In which units will it measure wind speed
Conclusion
That’s a wrap! You’ll notice that these products & tips aren’t all exclusively related to drone flying. But, for your purposes, a general anemometer for measuring wind speed should do the job.
The same tool will work well for you, compared to those who are looking for something for shooting, kitesurfing, or any other purpose.
Good luck, and if you found this helpful but want to know more read about our Best Anemometers in 2021!
Barometric pressure headaches are usually caused by a change in pressure. Most of the migraines associated with barometric pressure happen when air pressure drops. That often occurs when:
You travel by airplane
When the weather changes from “nice weather” to “bad weather”.
“Nice weather” is associated with clear skies and calm conditions. “Bad weather” is associated with cloudy skies, windy conditions, wet weather, and colder temperatures.
What Can You Do To Alleviate Barometric Pressure Headaches?
Stay hydrated; also avoid diuretics.
Use OTC (over-the-counter) medicine.
Keep a one-month journal of your symptoms to present to your doctor so he can better asses your condition.
These are just a few common sense recommendations. Read on to learn more detail about barometric pressure headaches.
As we roll into 2023, here at WeatherStationary we’re back again with another expert weather instrument comparison. Find the best anemometers for you whether for kids, shooting, HVAC, or to link to your smartphone.
You’ll know that we regularly take a look at the best weather tools on the market. Indeed, we compare their accuracy, price and durability to ensure you find the best products for you!
As we write this, it’s the height of winter, so what better time to take a look at anemometers. Whether you’re looking for a wind tracking accessory, a handy tool for outdoor recreation or are requiring the best anemometers for commercial use. Let’s look at some of the top models on the market!
In a hurry? Skip right to what you’re looking for ?:
Before you jump into our review below, it’s worth having a think about what you may need from your next Anemometer. Here’s some key areas to consider:
Accuracy – Consider how precise your Anemometer needs to be. If your livelihood or reputation depends on super accurate readings make sure it’s very precise. If you’re just a hobbyist or weather enthusiast, super accurate readings may not be a priority.
Functionality – Whilst most Anemometer’s are fairly standard, think about any additional features you may need. These will compliment your weather station setup or make carrying out your inspections easier. Whether that be specific measurement scales or connectivity to your other weather instruments. Ensure that you get the best Anemometers with the specs you need.
Durability – Any weather-related instrument is an investment, so you want to ensure you make the most of it! Anemometer’s are no different, so getting a product that can provide long-term reliability is a must! As an example, if you’re measuring somewhere that’s exposed to harsh conditions make sure you invest in a robust instrument. This will ensure you keep your tracking up and running for years to come.
Technology – Modern Anemometers now vary in their use of technology, with many offering the ability to track the elements remotely. If you want something with remote monitoring built in, then look to a wireless-enabled device. Potential connectivity to a smartphone is a must have when making your buying decision.
If you’re looking for the best all round anemometer on the market for general use, look no further than the BT-100APP model from BTMETER.
It combines all the features most people will need. With wind speed tracking across 0.3~30m/s, temperature tracking across -10~45℃ and a backlit LCD screen for ease of reading. Add the app connectivity via bluetooth all within a small and sturdy package and you can see how it tops our list of best anemometers.
Reviewers especially love the versatility of this device, with tracking in m/s, km/h, ft/min, knots, mph for speed and ℃/℉ for tempartaure. Add this to the ability to export the data results in a variety of different formats, including CSV. You’ll find this is the perfect Anemometer for both work and play.
Whilst all of the anemometers we’ll cover in this roundup are handheld, this device is truly pocket-sized. For absolute “take anywhere”, we’d recommend the Proster Handheld Wind Speed Meter Anemometer.
At just 105mm x 40mm, this anemometer by Proster doesn’t add to your load in any way. In fact, it will fit easily into a pocket without you knowing it’s there.
But don’t be fooled, despite the size, this is still a great bit of kit. With the ability to measure speeds between 0-30m/s and temparatures between -10 – 45 Centigrade. Alongside a handy LCD screen and mode control buttons, it’s the perfect best compact anemometer!
If connecting your anemometer readings into your smartphone is a must-have, then look to the YF-866APP from INFURIDER. It is, in our opinion, the best digital anemometer on the market today!
It combines super-accurate tracking of 0.67~67 mph speed range and 14℉-113℉ temperature range. Furthermore, this is packed into a lightweight, compact and multifunctional design that’s sure to match any need.
But the real selling point here is the Bluetooth connectivity! This allows you to pair any iOS or Android smartphone for even greater tracking through their mobile app. Meaning, you can store all your readings on the go!
If you’re working professionally and are looking for highly accurate wind readings, look no further. In fact, the 410-2 Vane Anemometer from Testo is highly regarded as one of the most reliable instruments on the market.
Whilst the range only covers 0.4 – 20 m/s, it’s 0.1m/s resolution means that accuracy is assured with every reading. Throw in further features for measuring air temperature, humidity, windchill, dewpoint, and wet bulb temperature and you have a device with functionality at it’s core.
Naturally, something this precise comes at a greater cost. However, reviewers commonly remark on the high build quality and fantastic customer service from Testo’s support team. This, of course, is in the unlikely event that anything goes wrong.
If you’re working in the HVAC industry, you’ll know how important it is to get accurate readings. It is essential to ensure equipment is functioning correctly. Because of this, we’ve picked out another model from BTMETER, this time the HVAC specific BT-866A model.
Indeed, with the importance of the specific tasks at hand, this device focuses on the key measurements that matter to you. Wind speed, wind temperature, wind flow, relative humidity (%RH) and dew point are all accurately measured.
For those ‘slow draw’ systems, the device also uses 8 hyper-sensitive vanes to pick up slow winds down to 0.01m/s resolution.
Reviewers commonly use this device for duct measurements or dust intake assessments. In fact, this device is tried and tested for the tasks you need to complete in the HVAC industry.
If you’ve got a young wind enthusiast on your hands, the ANNMETER AN-816B could be the perfect gift for hours of fun!
As an anemometer, this is fairly standard in it’s functionality and measurements. However, some of it’s supplementary features make it absolutely great for kids.
Combine the small size (perfect for small hands) and the landyard (wear this device to stop it getting lost) and you can see why it’s perfect for kids. Add to this a bright screen (for easy reading) and you have a device that’s designed for young users.
When shooting over a long distance, knowing the direction and strength of the wind is vital to get the perfect shot! And, there’s no better Anemometer on the market than the HOLDPEAK HP-866B for doing just that!
Specs-wise, it tracks speed across 0.3-30m/s and temperature across 10℃-45℃. Real-time measurement updates provide up-to-date analysis of environmental conditions. This ensures you always have the best intel for your next shot.
However, what is most significant is this device comes pre-packed with a sturdy tripod ensuring the perfect positioning. Having the device set where you need it means no interference when stalking your next long-range target.
That’s it for our roundup of the best anemometers on the market. Whether you’re looking to simply track the weather or monitor the conditions for outdoor sports. Maybe you need a device to aid your commercial work in HVAC? There are plenty of great devices out there perfect for each and every need! We hope our round-up of best anemometers helps you find the one that is right for you!
Looking for a weather station with an anemometer? Try our popular article on the best weather stations available to buy right now.
A weather predicting storm glass is fascinating, and, nice to look at. What more could you want in a fancy looking weather-predicting ornament?
A storm glass (also known as a ‘chemical weather glass’, and a ‘weather predicting glass’) is an instrument for predicting the weather that has been around since the 19th century. The liquid inside the glass may vary between manufacturers, but is usually a combination of distilled water, ethanol & chemicals.
The instrument was popularized around the 1860’s by Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy, although the original inventor is, to the best of my (and Wikipedia’s) knowledge, unknown.
In this article you’ll find everything you would ever want to know about storm glasses. But first, in case you’re in a hurry or just want some quick product/gift recommendations, here’s a glance at some top picks for different shapes/types/prices of storm glass:
Wonderful! Now, for the attentive readers who have continued this far, let’s get into the meat of the subject. If you’re looking for something specific, feel free to click on these quick links to scroll down to your desired section. Let’s get into it!
Let’s get things straight right off the bat. To provide a quick answer to this question without making you read the full article, the answer is: well, not really.
Honestly, in this day and age, storm glasses are more of a curiosity piece, an ornament, and a conversation starter. A handful of small-scale experiments such as this one didn’t find a prediction success rate of greater than 50%.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s get into more storm glass info!
How To Read A Storm Glass
In most cases, whichever storm glass you buy will come with instructions on how to read it. There isn’t really a whole lot of variance.
Here’s a picture to see some common storm glass meanings:
How to read a storm glass
As mentioned throughout this article, when you’re trying to read your storm glass, try to place it in such a way that it will avoid temperature swings. That means not in direct sunlight, not near a radiator or AC unit, etc.
There are more possible meanings than just those shown in the image above. For example: small suspended spots = frosty, large flakes = overcast/cloudy, snow in winter, cloudy with small spots/stars = stormy, and so on.
Again, my best advice to you would be to simply check the instructions of whichever storm glass you purchase. Which brings me onto the next point in this storm glass buying guide…
How Much Is A Weather Predicting Storm Glass?
The short answer? A storm glass will usually cost anywhere between $10 and $50.
On the lower end, you’ll find models such as the Kikkerland that I previously mentioned in the table above. It’s a great low-cost choice, with over 400 reviews on Amazon at the time of writing.
Crystals in chamber respond to changes in atmospheric pressure
Markings of glass indicate forecast
Solid Beech wood base
Makes a great decorative piece
Crystals are contained in glass tube
Last update on 2024-10-10
On the higher end, you’ll find some fancier and more unique storm glasses. One example of that could be this beautiful globe-shaped storm glass from Yosoooo, which makes a great decoration or gift.
???Carefully Seleceted High-Quality Material??Hand-made from high borosilicate glass materials, the...
???Mysterious Storm Glass Ball??these liquids can predict whether the weather is sunny, cloudy or...
? ?? Family and Friends??Windproof glass bottles are administrative gifts for Christmas, Valentine's...
Last update on 2024-10-10
Like with anything, price depends on a ton of factors. Materials, brand, general build quality, and more. So instead of going into all the specifics of what impacts the price of a storm glass, let’s look at some real examples, with up-to-date prices where possible ?
Best Weather Predicting Storm Glass To Buy: Top Picks
This first one is my personal favorite. A beautiful globe with colorful liquid on an 8-inch long wooden base with the world map etched into the glass.
From a very well-known & reputable brand, no-less. I’ve recommended AcuRite products on this blog countless times, and they don’t disappoint here either.
Not only do you get a top quality storm glass with this product, but you also get a funky thermometer too. The temperature can be measured by each of the bulbs floating inside.
The AcuRite 00795A2 is a beautiful storm glass that paredicts the weather with some accuracy!
Cylindrical thermometer and barometer set; inspired by Galileo’s instruments
Interprets temp and weather based on principles of buoyancy and air pressure
Colorful, liquid filled spheres descend and ascend with atmospheric changes
Barometer features the world globe etched in the glass
Mounted on a wood base; approximately 8 inches long and 8 inches high
Last update on 2024-10-10
This weather glass piece by Stanley London is just superb, and sure to be a conversation starter with any visitor!
The glass is hand-blown, and the spout is left open to the atmosphere. As a result, the water level in the spout will rise & fall compared to the level in the body according to air pressure. Nifty!
Perfect as a gift for a weather enthusiast. In fact, it’s great if you’re looking for something different to the standard globe/teardrop shapes of weather predicting storm glasses.
This next storm glass is another beautiful globe shape on a wooden base, 9cm wide and 12cm tall. The base has a cool built-in LED light, and the product comes with a USB cable & on-off switch.
While this one looks cool, reviewers do comment that it’s a little on the fragile side. So, maybe look for something more sturdy if you’ve got children or pets! It’s also worth noting that some negative reviews here mention functionality. So a reminder… if your reason for buying a storm glass is to actually predict the weather, you may be disappointed.
Predict the weather will be clear, cloudy, snow or thunderstorm.
The appearance of the liquid transform from clear to cloudy to crystal flake.
Glass contain liquid repeat the crystallization of various expressions, depending on the weather changes.
Decoration for living room, bedroom and table which is very beautiful and fashion.
Come with stylish built-in LED wood stand, on/off switch and USB cable.
Last update on 2024-10-10
If you’re looking to buy a storm glass online, I hope one of the several mentioned in this article takes your fancy!
Storm Glass Buying FAQs
For things that either didn’t fit in the article above, or things that you might want to get a super quick answer to, I’ve included some short FAQs about weather predicting storm glasses here.
Does A Storm Glass Work Indoors?
Absolutely! They are totally intended for indoor use. You should keep your storm glass indoors, ideally on a level surface.
It’s also worth noting that, if left in direct sunlight, the crystals could be affected leading to inaccuracy. In general, just avoid placing it anywhere it’s likely to get temperature swings. Not near a radiator, fireplace, air conditioning unit, and so on.
Where Can I Buy A Weather Predicting Storm Glass?
Keep it simple! I’d recommend sticking with Amazon. With Prime delivery, a bunch of reviews, one-click ordering and all the rest… I find it’s always the safe bet. Find the best weather predicting storm glasses on Amazon.
Can I Make My Own Storm Glass?
In case you’re more of a DIY kinda person… Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ll direct you to this great YouTube video by the creator NightHawkInLight.
What Can I Do If My Storm Glass Isn’t Working?
Well, it depends what you mean by ‘working’. If you mean it’s not accurately predicting the weather then, I’ve got some bad news for you…
As I mentioned above, storm glasses do not appear to have any greater than 50/50 chance of getting the weather right.
If, however, you mean that your storm glass isn’t changing at all, then perhaps you need to make sure that all of the crystals have properly dissolved. To start, you should have completely clear liquid. If that is not the case, you’ll need to find a way to gently heat it up until all the crystals dissolve. Try gently heating the tube evenly with a hairdryer however, not too hot, the glass can crack!
We hope you have found this article both interesting and helpful. You may be interested in more weather gadget articles.
Have someone in your life who loves the weather, we want to help you pick out the perfect weather gifts for their next big occasion. Whatever the event, we’ve selected some of the best gift options for all types of weather fanatics. So if you’re looking for gifts for weather lovers and meteorology nerds, check them out below!
It features a stunning, high-resolution 3D design, making it perfect for leisure wear. It comes in a range of sizes making it a great gift for weather lovers!
Next up is this quirky and funny hat with a cautionary warning to those around that the wearer!
We all know someone who loves talking about the weather, so this is a great gift for them. With the added bonus of warning those around that they’re in for a climate-based chat!
Switching it up slightly, we really like this spiritual sun/moon style necklace. It would make a really cute gift for those who love the weather but want to wear something a little more subtle!
The gold-plated piece comes on an adjustable 18/16″ gold-plated chain with a guarantee from the manufacturer. It will fill the wearer with hope, joy, and happiness.
The magic of the weather is enchanting for children (and adults in some cases) and as such, there are some great gifts on the market to help kids get educated.
First of all, this SmartLab Weather Kit, allows any child to begin accurately tracking and learning about the weather.
The kit includes a thermometer, rain gauge, weathervane, compass, anemometer, and a glow-in-the-dark speed indicator. These are all supported by step-by-step experiments to help train those budding meteorologists.
It includes tons of experiments, observations, and activities. These are perfect for children aged seven to thirteen. Kids will learn how to predict the weather by first understanding the science behind it.
For those a little further along in their weather knowledge, there’s a range of cool gifts to stimulate the mind of an amateur Meteorologist.
This Ambient Weather WS-2902A WiFi weather station is an all-in-one toy for real weather fans. It has sensor arrays to track wind speed/direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall, UV, and solar radiation. it has all you need whilst allowing you to stay connected over WiFi with connections to Alexa and Google.
As with the best kid’s gifts, there’s some great reading out there for all levels of weather interest and knowledge. We think every Meteorologist needs the Meteorology Manual by their side.
Including easy-to-read but detailed explanations and guides to weather system formations and cloud sequences. This is a great book to read but also very useful to keep as a reference long into the future.
Being a weather and technology fan go hand-in-hand given the vast array of gadgets on the market to make tracking and monitoring the weather a breeze – here are our favorite two!
It has a simple and easy bucket design, can track rain levels in both inches and millimeters, and is supported by a wireless display for monitoring rainfall up to 75m away. This would make a great gift for any budding weather fan!
Operating primarily as a standard alarm clock, this forecast station also tracks indoor/outdoor temperature and sunrise/set times. And best of all, it features a quirky central graphic to give forecast predictions. This is a really handy gift with the central forecast picture unique when compared to other products of this type!
Some people out there might just be fascinated with the weather without wanting to get out there and measure or predict it. Here are some gifts for those who love the weather and want some entertainment!
First, we come to this absolute classic from legendary storm chaser Reed Timmer. Reed is famous for his role in the documentary series, Stormchasers. ‘Into the Storm’ details some of his closest encounters with some stories that are guaranteed to frighten and amaze in equal measure!
For something a little more lighthearted and fun, you can never go wrong with a simple mug!
This is the perfect gift for any amateur weather fans as well as your more professional weather lovers. It’s super high quality too, able to withstand the elements of your dishwasher, microwave, and of course, your strongest coffee!
Whilst we all want to keep the elements on the outside of our homes, those who are mad about the weather live and breathe it both inside and outside! Here are some lovely additions you can gift to someone’s home with a personal touch.
It also has the functionality to track the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity. This means you can easily predict the weather changes from the comfort of your sitting room. Engrave it with a custom message to really make it a special gift for your loved one.
If you’re looking for something a little more retro to gift for someone’s home or office space, why not check out this Patent Earth Barometer print?
A real nod to older times of weather measurement. This print is available in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The sizes range from 5″x 7″ all the way up to 24″x 36″. So if your gift recipient needs something weather-themed to finish off a space in their home, then this is perfect!
Best Weather Gifts for the Garden
We’ve already taken a look at some technical weather-measuring gifts for the garden, but there’s a wide range of decorative and ornamental pieces you can line a garden with whilst showing a passion for the weather.
First up, we’ve picked out our favorite wind chime, the BlessedBird 4 Tube Wind Chime. As we all know, wind chimes are fantastic additions to the garden and make being outside, enjoying the weather, that little bit more special. We like the bird theme of this one, which can really help your recipient get in touch with nature!
Staying on the wind vein, another classic weather-related gift is a weathervane. These make a lovely addition to a garden either atop your house or an outbuilding such as a shed. However, it can be mounted pretty much anywhere.
This particular model from SWEN is made of highly durable stainless steel. It has a tasteful sun-shaped design and a nice copper-coloured coating. You can also find many different design styles such as airplanes or a range of different animals.
Lastly, we’ve found a great gift to let every guest in your garden know you’re a real weather/meteorology fan!
This Meteorologist Street sign would be a perfect addition to any picket fence, gate, shed, or wall around your garden. It’s perfect for letting all the recipient’s friends know about their passion. It’s made of weatherproof plastic and comes with 4 holes already drilled, so you can easily install it.
That brings us to the end of our look at some of the best weather gifts found online. We hope you’ve found the perfect gift for your recipient and can thoroughly surprise them on their next big occasion!
In this article, we’ll take a look at some useful gadgets & weather instruments for small boat sailors to measure the weather, as might be required for a sailboat.
At A Glance: Recommended Weather Instruments For Small Boat Sailors
You could easily spend a lot more on this equipment depending on your needs. However, for most people sailing for pleasure, these will do the job.
If you’re an experienced sailor, you’ll know that the weather is no joke. It’s something that you need to take seriously and be equipped with the right tools to weather any storms (literally) that come your way.
Professional seafarers have depended on various types of weather-related technology for centuries, but they’ve perhaps only become more prominent in the recreational market in the past few decades. Modern electronics have made various weather instruments for smaller boats that are reliable and compact enough to be mounted on a sailboat or sailing yacht.
Sailboat Weather Stations
As we get into these product recommendations, I should start by saying that although I know a thing or two about weather stations, I am not an expert sailor by any means. So, these are solid, highly recommended portable products researched as best as possible, but do take a minute to do your own research & read reviews on Amazon too.
Let’s start with the top choice. If you’re not on a tight budget, I’d highly recommend picking up a Davis Vantage Vue. I’ll explain why as concisely as possible. This product:
Is corrosion tested, to simulate wear & tear in extreme marine environments
Has sealed electronics/sensors, protecting them from the elements
Updates incredibly quickly (every 2.5 seconds)
Is solar-powered with stored energy backup
Has thousands of reviews worldwide
Overall, it seems like a safe choice. I should point out that a mounting pole isn’t included with this product usually.
The first step in avoiding the dangers of heavy weather is being aware of what is going on locally in the atmosphere. Accurate weather instruments allow the skipper to track weather conditions and quantify when and how fast they change.
Many crafts will have both a wind vane to read wind direction and an anemometer for wind speed. & other metrics.
For an anemometer, this handheld wireless option from BTMETER is our top choice. It covers the basics very well at an affordable price. Wind speed can be measured in your choice of unit, including knots. Highly accurate, connects to your phone via bluetooth, and solid power-saving features.
As well as the basics, full-featured portable wind meters like this one can include important data to display wind chill, which is critical for avoiding hypothermia.
For a wind vane, the Windex 10 (or 15, depending on the boat size) is a popular choice.
It can be easily mounted on small boats.
The simplest way to determine wind direction is to face directly into the wind until you feel the same amount of wind on both cheeks, then if you can, identify a landmark directly in front of you. Use your compass to determine the bearing of the landmark, or take a compass reading of the wind direction. Most portable wind meters will not have a wind vane, but some of the more sophisticated models will include an internal compass which can be used in a similar fashion to the “wind on both cheeks” method.
Accurate temperature readings may not seem critical to a recreational sailor. If it gets chilly, personal comfort dictates putting on a jacket or foul weather gear. In actual practice, with the fun of being on the water and the excitement of new sensations, some crew members may ignore the need for donning weather protective clothing until it is too late. Given the wet and windy conditions of sailing, hypothermia, an uncontrolled drop in body temperature is a constant danger.
A sudden drop in air temperature may precede a sudden change in atmospheric conditions, signalling a quickly developing storm.
Thermometers are generally small and rugged enough to be mounted in a small cockpit, but if the instrument is mounted improperly the readings could be false due to direct sun.
Full-featured portable wind meters like the WeatherHawk SM-19 or the WM-350 will include sensors and software to display wind chill data, which is critical for avoiding hypothermia.
The barometer is considered the single most valuable weather prediction instrument carried on board. Current barometric readings will provide a picture of what the atmosphere is doing, but the change and rate of change in pressure readings are even more informative.
A quickly falling barometer indicates an imminent storm. A bulkhead mounted mechanical aneroid barometer requires no power, although a salty marine environment may negatively affect the internal gear mechanism. Handheld barometers are often too fragile to be practical. An electronic barometer such as the one featured in a handheld weather station is again the most favorable solution for the small boat sailor. Portable wind meters such as WeatherHawk WM-350 and SM-28 include the option for barometric readings.
Maintenance free, ultra-hard protective coating; Guaranteed not to tarnish or scratch; Weather resistant
$225.00
Last update on 2024-10-10
A quickly falling barometer indicates an imminent storm. A bulkhead mounted mechanical aneroid barometer requires no power, although a salty marine environment may negatively affect the internal gear mechanism. Handheld barometers are often too fragile to be practical. An electronic barometer such as the one featured in a handheld weather station is again the most favorable solution for the small boat sailor. Portable wind meters such as WeatherHawk WM-350 and SM-28 include the option for barometric readings.
Load Up and Set Sail
Life On The Water
The basics of sailing, learning how to launch your boat, raise and lower the sails, and make it go where you want it to go can pretty much be learned over the space of a weekend, but you will spend the rest of your life perfecting those skills. There are sailing clubs just about everywhere you can find enough water to sail on, and most factory-built boats will have a class organization where you will find plenty of friends willing to teach you the basics of sailing.
It always feels great to have the faster boat while it can be humbling to wring all the performance you can out of your boat and still come up short, but racing, no matter how informal, is a great way to boost your boat handling skills. It is important for the skipper to share those skills with his crew, as well. With the limited space aboard a trailer sailor, it is good if everyone can pull their weight, and it is great fun to watch your kids learning how to handle the boat. Many skippers will tell you that the proudest moment of their sailing career was the first time they sat back with a drink while their kids took the helm and navigated across the bay.
With modern weather services both broadcast and over the Internet, a trailer sailor can usually choose the best conditions to go sailing in. If the skipper knows that it is going to be a stormy day, better to leave the boat on the trailer and take in a ball game. Keep in mind that broadcast or Internet forecasts are going to cover a wide area, and what the small boat sailor needs to know is the conditions where his boat is sailing right now.
A larger craft will have plenty of room for full-function weather instrumentation, but a trailer sailor usually will not have the dashboard space for all the weather gizmos that a skipper desires. While there is no replacement for the Mk1Mod0 Human Eyeball, there are a number of portable electronic devices that can fill the void.
Introducing the Trailer Sailor
There is a saying in the boating world that the fun of boat ownership is inversely proportional to the size of the vessel. In other words, people who own small or very small boats tend to enjoy them a lot more than owners of big boats. A sailboat that is small enough to live on a trailer in your driveway represents an exceptional value.
The advantages of a small boat are almost too many to number. Maintaining a large boat is a lot of work. A small boat still needs maintenance, of course, but since it is a lot smaller, the work can be done in an hour or two instead of being a day-long or multi-day project. A big boat needs to be kept in the water, but a small boat skipper is likely to use his boat more often because it is so much simpler (and cheaper) for him to get it out on the water.
If a small sailboat does have an engine, it will be a very small and simple one that sips fuel. A larger yacht is often totally dependent upon firing up the “stinkpot” to get in and out of the harbor, not to mention relying on it to get home on schedule. It is easier to learn to operate a small boat than a large one (however, almost everything that you will learn on a small craft will be directly transferable to a larger vessel if you do decide to move up).
The most obvious advantage to a larger boat over a tiny one is safety and crew comfort, but even this can be an illusion. Nautical literature is filled with tales of very small vessels surviving very large storms (including hurricanes) if the crew is able to simply button-down and ride it out. It is rarely comfortable to ride out a storm in a small craft, but your boat will be a lot tougher than you suspect.
There are a few basic conditions that every skipper will need to keep track of. These will include wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. These conditions are recorded and reported by commercial and government agencies around the world, so a means of receiving these reports can be helpful to supplement local observation.
Limitations of Trailer Sailors?
Some people refuse to consider a small boat because they are afraid it will be of limited use. Remember, the smaller the boat, the more fun it is to own! Some very tiny boats, including many which fit our definition of trailer sailors, have made incredible voyages, including several circumnavigations and exploring everywhere from the fjords of Greenland to the bays of Antarctica and everywhere in between.
A mooring kept yacht would seem to have a greater range, but in fact, the bigger boat is more or less trapped in a single body of water. Trailer sailors have the option of going “55 mph to windward” any time they want to on their trailer.
Even if your home waters are an inland reservoir, with a little planning and a well-timed vacation, your family could be cruising the Gulf Coast, the many islands of Puget Sound, the rocky headlands of New England, the sunny shores of the Sea of Cortez, the Great Lakes, or the Florida Keys.
As long as the water is deep enough for your keel and there is a road leading to it, you can sail your trailer sailor there!
The Life You Save May Be Your Own…
Although it is fun to dream and great to know that your boat would be up to an epic adventure, most of our trailer sailor adventures will be more limited in scope. Whether you are braving “the Roaring Forties” around Cape Horn or spending a lazy afternoon tacking back and forth across your local reservoir, things going wrong can be just as deadly for you and your crew. Small craft safety comes down to the same three elements:
Maintaining your vessel and its equipment.
Knowing how to operate it in a prudent manner.
Be aware of the conditions you are sailing in by having instruments for small boats on board.
As we mentioned earlier, taking care of a trailer sailor is a much simpler proposition than living with a larger yacht. Since the boat lives in your driveway, you are able to take care of things yourself and at your own pace. Even if you are not very mechanically inclined there are plenty of tutorials and forums on the Internet where you can learn everything you need to know about taking care of your boat.
The trailer sailor is small enough that learning its systems is very simple. In fact, building a small sailboat yourself is not that hard. It is a time-consuming project, and over the span of the project, most builders find that they haven’t really saved any money over buying a factory-built boat.
However, by spending a few hours a week on the project, spaced over several months, the amateur builder finds that he has a better built and more beautiful craft (since he is working for himself, the amateur builder usually does not take shortcuts and can afford to use the best materials). If something goes wrong during the life of the boat, the builder knows that he will be able to fix it because he built it!
Probably the greatest small boat sailors of all time were the ancient Polynesians. Although their craft was not really what we would think of as trailer sailors, the boats did live on the beach when they were not being sailed.
These same boats (which were among the fastest non-engine powered watercraft of all time) were constructed by hand from all-natural materials with no written plans, fiberglass, epoxy, or metal fittings. The navigators who sailed them had no weather instrumentation other than their own eyes and knowledge passed down from father to son for generations. Using this stone-age technology, they became the dominant culture over nearly a fifth of the Earth’s surface.
We may never become as intimate with the sea and the weather as the ancient Polynesians, but we face the same dangers and experience the same joys every time we go to sea in our small boats. It is an attainable adventure that is within reach of almost everyone, and one that can be shared and enjoyed by the entire family. Keep the following principles in mind:
Smaller vessels are incredibly capable, versatile, and much cheaper to own and operate than large yachts. The smaller the boat, the more fun it is to own!
Although a trailer sailor may not have enough space to carry a suite of full-function weather instruments, the skipper can use handheld electronic devices to keep track of the weather and communicate with other vessels.
There are several types of radio sets and receivers that can monitor NOAA Weather alerts and can be set up with an alarm for emergency conditions. Tracking wind conditions is vital for sailing vessels for both the safety and performance of the craft. A simple portable wind meter gives the skipper up-to-the-moment readouts of wind speed and changing conditions.
Hypothermia can be deadly on the water. Keep track of air temperature and wind-chill conditions.
Use a barometer to track and predict changes in local weather conditions.
This article discusses why any shooter should consider long-range marksmanship and rifle training. It also explores how to affordably practice the discipline using equipment you already own.
However, the experience can be enhanced with some low-cost accessories and weather instruments – such as portable wind meters.
Reading Time: 15 min
“One Shot, One Kill”
This somewhat bloodthirsty epithet has become the ultimate expression of the rifleman’s art. The expression is most closely associated with battlefield sniper and long-range marksmanship. However, it is not hard to appreciate that this mentality can, and should, apply throughout all shooting sports.
Every time you pull the trigger, a ballistic event is initiated which can be predicted, described, and measured. Ultimately, the most important measurement is “did the round hit the target, and were the results what the shooter intended?”
Ballistics is the science that measures and observes the factors that influence that result. The cold science of ballistics does not care if the weapon is a high-tech sniper rifle, which costs as much as your car, or the deer rifle in your closet. For that matter, ballistics apply to many things. Think shotguns, rifles, and handguns, but also slingshots, compound and traditional bows, medieval trebuchets, catapults, even baseball pitchers and football quarterbacks.
Do you need to have an intimate knowledge of ballistics to become a good long-range shooter? No, you do not. All that is really required to consistently hit your target is a firm grounding in basic long-range marksmanship. This emphasizes safety, sight picture, shooter’s position, and trigger control.
By learning and consistently practicing these elements, you and your rifle (or pistol, shotgun, bow, slingshot, or trebuchet) should be able to hit the target almost every time. Understanding the science of ballistics will make that practice more meaningful and profitable.
Focus on safety, sight picture, shooting stance and trigger control.
There is no replacement for practice. The “professional shooter”, whether military, law enforcement, a hunting guide, or a competitive target shooter, will get plenty of practice during training. Even if they are never called upon to fire their weapon in an actual tactical situation they spend hours at the practice range.
This guide is written for the “non-professional shooter”. Someone who keeps their rifle in the closet most of the year and only takes it out to fire a few sight-in rounds every fall.
It will also apply to a homeowner who keeps an assault rifle for home defense or the armed citizen who carries a handgun for personal security. It may even be relevant to the family wanting to introduce their kids to firearms.
Studying ballistics will make you a better overall shooter. Experts agree that there is no better way to study ballistics than by practicing long-range shooting. While “realistic” practice of the shots you may take in real life is important, long-range precision shooting enforces the basics of marksmanship. This is because every tiny, seemingly insignificant mistake is magnified by extreme range.
How to Get Into Long Range Shooting
A sniper, with his ability to engage and eliminate targets from a half-mile away and further, has been called the “King of the Battlefield”. Military leaders once considered snipers undesirable and even dishonorable, the modern-day sniper is often the best of the best. Before being selected for sniper training, a soldier is required to demonstrate superior discipline, leadership, and superb long-range marksmanship.
A military or police sniper will have access to the most advanced tools and technologies. Technology alone, however, will not make a shooter into Carlos Hathcock. A state-of-the-art sniper rifle can cost thousands of dollars, and the rifle itself will not make you a better shooter.
An accurate shot of a quarter-mile is well within the capability of most off-the-shelf bolt action hunting rifles with little or no modification. Of course, building a dedicated long-range rifle can be a lot of fun, and much less expensive than a full-on, customized tactical sniper rifle.
As a beginner, you won’t be a better shooter only by owning a state-of-the-art rifle.
Long-range rifle accuracy is more dependent on understanding the local conditions than the rifle used to take the shot. How these conditions affect the shot will be covered in greater detail as we discuss external ballistics. For now, simply recognize that wind and the atmosphere will have a huge impact on how the projectile flies toward a target.
The basic equipment to get started practicing long-range marksmanship is as follows:
Rifle For Long Range Shooting
Obviously, a precision shot will require a precision rifle. However, as mentioned previously, most rifles on the market (or in your closet) are more precise than the shooter who uses them. Theoretically, a customized sniper rifle will shoot more accurately than the 30.06 passed down from your granddad. But, unless you are already a superior marksman, there is little to be gained by spending the extra money.
A good long-range rifle requires a precision sighting system. It is theoretically possible to hit distant targets with iron sights, but, long-range marksmanship will be better served using a telescopic sight. This will simply make a distant target visible to the shooter.
The scope for long-distance marksmanship is usually more powerful than a hunter’s scope. This is because the shot will be taken from a resting position.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of a sniper rifle is the installed bipod. While the bipod makes a readily available rest in a tactical situation, it will add weight and complication to the rifle. Cross-sticks, a shooter’s staff, or even sandbags make very stable and effective rests, and since they are not attached to the rifle, the piece can still be carried for hunting.
Ammunition
“Hand-loaded” and “match-grade” are ammunition terms that are thrown about in the long-range shooting community. All they really mean is ammo which will perform consistently from round to round to ensure consistent results. Usually, a hand load “recipe” will be developed to get optimal results from each rifle/ammunition combination.
Again, the beginner will be faced with the question of how good is good enough? A hunting rifle with factory ammo should be able to print a group on less than half an inch at 100 yards. The custom rifle/match ammo combo may have a theoretical performance of a quarter inch at the same range. If the shooter himself is only able to shoot a three-inch group on his best day, how much potential is wasted?
A Place To Practice Long Range Shooting
A quick search of the Internet can put you in touch with long-range precision shooters in your area to help you find a place to shoot. They are probably more than willing to provide coaching and instruction to help you get started in this fascinating pastime. However, shooting with a club or organization often means adopting the style of shooting they are interested in.
The minimum requirements for a place to practice long-range marksmanship are:
A place where it is legal to operate a firearm
A safe area behind the target for bullet impact
A clear range between the shooter and the target
Naturally, these places will rarely be found in suburban or even rural areas, but they can usually be accessed without the need for extended wilderness travel.
Shooting Aids
When a shooter takes a long-range shot, the more information he has, the more likely he is to actually hit the target. Many of these aids will be part of the tactical rifle system, but a casual or competitive shooter may be better served with dedicated instruments.
This is an advantage of learning from a more experienced shooter or club, as they will already have the equipment. However, the novice is more likely to absorb their preferences rather than make his own decisions about which purchase best meets his needs.
Spotting scope and spotter. Using the sighting scope for spotting is generally an unsafe practice. The spotting scope will be more powerful and tripod mounted, allowing the spotter to call the shot and suggest corrections.
Rangefinder. These may not be completely necessary if you are shooting on a formal, marked range. Range finder technology is becoming cheaper and more accessible as hunters discover its value. A range finder is indispensable if you are practicing on an informal or non-regulated range.
Wind/Weather Gauge. The air that a bullet flies through has an incredible influence on its performance. Most of this will be covered in the external ballistics discussion. For now, keep in mind that weather gauges are another example of getting what you pay for. However, what is best for one shooter is not always what is best for another. The shooting community has embraced Kestrel handheld wind gauges which feature preloaded ballistics software. Many shooters prefer a simpler but just as informative interface such as found on the WeatherHawk line of handheld wind gauges. The most common parameters you need to measure using your Wind/Weather Gauge are temperature, wind speed & direction, humidity, and altitude.
DOPE Fiends
One interesting habit of long-range precision riflemen is their use of D.O.P.E., “Data on Previous Engagements”. In its simplest form, doping entails
1) “calling” the shot, or predicting where on the target practice or sighting round will impact,
2) evaluating where the sighting round actually hits, and
3) applying corrections to the rifle sighting system before firing for effect.
This will work on the range, but in the field or a tactical situation, the shooter will not have an opportunity to safely take a practice shot for doping. That trophy bull standing on the ridgeline is not going to let you take a shot in his direction, wait for you to adjust your sights, then let you take another shot! In the real world, the first shot is likely the only shot.
D.O.P.E. = Data on Previous Engagements.
With this in mind, precision riflemen usually carry a D.O.P.E. This shot data book is used to record as many environmental, equipment and physical factors of each shot (or “engagement”) as possible. By studying the collected data, they will eventually be able to apply proper dope for each shot without the need for a practice or sighting round.
Being able to put that first round on target entails the ability to observe those factors and understand the ballistic variables which affect the shot.
Before Moving On To Expert Long Range Marksmanship
At this point in our discussion, the weekend rifleman should have a good idea of whether or not the discipline of precision long-range marksmanship is worth exploring. If it is, they will also know what they need to begin their “study”.
Briefly, these will include:
A reasonably accurate rifle. Although a purpose-built long-range rifle is nice, almost any modern bolt-action rifle can be pressed into service as a precision firearm.
Ammunition. The advantage here goes to the experienced hand loader with the time and resources to find which works best in an individual rifle. Note here that branded factory ammunition will work for most shooters. Save the expense of “match-grade” ammo for actual match shooting.
A Place to Shoot. A formal rifle range may have some helpful coaching available. But, if a “place in the woods” is more convenient and is a safe place to shoot, you are likely to get in more practice.
Shooting Aids. These are in addition to a bench or pad for prone shooting, and a steady rest for the rifle. They include instruments needed to evaluate the shot and the environmental conditions.
Spotting Scope. To allow the target to be accurately observed from the firing line and evaluate shot placement and conditions
Spotter. Hopefully, someone who is experienced with precision shooting to help establish DOPE for each shot
Range Finder. Determines precisely how far the bullet must travel between the shooter and the target
Wind Gauge/Weather Meter. To evaluate the wind conditions at the firing line. As we will discuss in an upcoming section, wind and air resistance have the greatest influence on whether the shot hits the point of aim after basic marksmanship principles.
With these basics in hand, you are ready to begin practicing long-range marksmanship. As long as you have the proper tools, an understanding of the science behind them is not strictly necessary. However, if you do take the time to learn and understand the science, you will better understand the tools and be able to use them more efficiently.
The Hard Science of Ballistics
Great shooters understand that long-range precision marksmanship is a combination of art and science. Up to this point, we have mostly been discussing the artistic part of the shot. Every great artist begins by understanding his tools and how to use them.
These tools include the rifle, the ammunition, a place to shoot, and shooting aids including environmental sensors like wind and weather gauges. Like any other artist, the long-range rifleman needs to practice to become proficient with his tools. A chef needs to sharpen his knives and cook, a musician needs to tune his instrument and play, the rifleman needs to get on the range and use his equipment to put rounds on target.
Taking some time to understand the ballistics basics will definitely improve your shooting skills.
Science is observing and understanding the factors which contribute or detract from success. The chef learns that the best ingredients are spoiled if the pan is too hot or too cold. The musician knows how to strum the strings of his instrument, but if his fingering is not correct the notes may be sour. A shooter needs to understand the science of what happens between the time he pulls the trigger and the round impacts the target. The science of shooting is called ballistics.
Ballistics is a science of mechanics which deals with the launching, flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles through space. These mechanics are based on measurable and predictable Newtonian physics. They will apply whether the projectile is a bullet, a bomb dropped from an aircraft, a stone launched by a kid’s slingshot, an intercontinental ballistic missile, or a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher. The mechanics and the physical laws are the same for all of them.
Scientists further break ballistics into three or four distinct categories.
Internal Ballistics,
Transitional Ballistics,
External Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics.
Internal ballistics deal with everything to do with launching the projectile. Another definition is everything that happens inside the gun itself.
Transitional and external ballistics are often discussed together and include everything which occurs from the time the projectile leaves the gun until it impacts the target.
Terminal ballistics study what happens at the end of the bullet’s flight and how the projectile’s energy is transferred to the target. It may seem somewhat academic to the target shooter on the range whose goal is to simply hit the target precisely. However, it is of terrific importance to the tactical shooter or hunter as what the bullet does to what it hits is the whole reason for the shot.
Some observers consider internal ballistics as everything that happens from the time the trigger is pulled until the bullet leaves the muzzle. Actually, it begins with the primary design of the firearm.
Every firearm which uses cartridge ammunition goes through an eight-step cycle of operation. They are:
1) Feeding – stripping a round from a magazine or manually placing it before the breech or bolt face,
2) Chambering – pushing the round into the firing chamber,
3) Locking – the firing chamber is locked closed and the mechanism of the firearm is aligned to fire the round,
4) Firing – the trigger is pulled and the firing pin impacts the primer, causing the propellant (gunpowder) to ignite, the expanding gasses of the burning propellant push the bullet through the bore where it engages the rifling, imparting spin to the projectile,
5) Unlocking – occurs with the backward motion of the bolt or slide in an automatic or semi-auto weapon, manually in a bolt, pump or lever action,
6) Extraction – the spent cartridge is pulled from the firing chamber,
7) Ejection – the spent cartridge is thrown out of the firearm, and
8) Cocking – the firing mechanism is readied to fire the next round.
These eight steps are most readily observed in the cycling of automatic and semi-auto firearms. They can be applied to muzzleloaders as well as launching arrows from a bow, perhaps even a pitcher throwing a baseball. The steps are most simple and controllable in bolt action rifles, and why they are the preferred tool for long-range marksmanship.
Although there are differences between rifle models, the basic steps can be seen in the video below of a bolt action mechanism. They do not apply to the discussion of precision rifle shooting, observing the cycles of a Glock pistol, a Colt 1911 pistol and the M16 semi-automatic rifle can aid in understanding internal ballistics.
The cycle of firing a rifle is only the beginning of internal ballistics influence on accurately placing the round on target. The construction of the piece will govern how precisely it shoots.
A mass-produced surplus infantry weapon or sporting gun is generally thought to be less precise than a tightly fitted custom-made firearm. This is due to the slacker tolerances necessary for mass production versus the tighter control of one-off construction.
Modern manufacturing techniques allow tightened production tolerances, and why modern hunting rifles make acceptable tools for precision shooting and long-range marksmanship.
Barrel length is another important internal ballistics factor. A longer barrel is thought to be inherently more precise and accurate than a shorter barrel. As the bullet travels down a long barrel, the expanding gases of the propellant have more time to build pressure and transfer more energy and velocity to the projectile.
Understand Precision vs. AccuracyFor Long Range Marksmanship
Ammunition selection is considered as part of internal ballistics. The powder charge must be sufficient to propel the projectile to its target. However, an excessive charge can damage the firearm and even injure the shooter.
Every rifle, even those from the same production run, will have an optimum combination of powder charge and projectile. This gives it the greatest accuracy and is an advantage of handloading over factory ammunition. However, higher grade factory ammo may be even more precise than hand loads and this consistency can have a greater effect on overall accuracy.
This is a good place to discuss the difference between precision and accuracy. The long-range marksman needs both, of course. Precision is related to how small a group you can shoot with your rifle and ammo. Generally, precision is thought to be the mechanical qualities of the rifle and ammunition combo.
A precise rifle will place the shots in a tight grouping every time. Accuracy is a function of the shooter himself, and depends on his ability to achieve a proper sight picture, maintain breath control while pressing the trigger, and understanding and compensating for the influences of external ballistics as the projectile flies toward the target.
Most people assume that when a rifle is fired, the bullet travels in a straight line to the target. In fact, due to the effects of gravity, the projectile needs to follow an arced path toward its target, flying slightly upwards first until gravity forces it to begin falling towards the earth, impacting the target on its downward path.
An advanced shooter, especially when engaged in long-range marksmanship, realizes that there are many other factors that affect external ballistics. These include air resistance, humidity, wind speed, even the rotation of the earth (the Coriolis effect). Since a bullet flying 300 yards or further spends more time in flight than a pistol round at a range of 15 feet or so, external ballistics are of great importance to the long-range shooter.
External Ballistics Begins in Transition
The physics of every shot fired is essentially the same, no matter the weapon or the range. One thing not very obvious to the shooter is that the spinning projectile which we expect to fly true all the way to the target actually wobbles a great deal during the first part of the ballistic arc.
We can see the same effect in slow-motion replays of a long-distance football pass. The quarterback’s fingers impart spin to the ball, just like the rifling in the barrel, but the ball will wobble in flight. What is important is that the further the ball flies, the steadier it becomes.
This wobbling is less noticeable in pistol rounds since the projectiles are usually shorter in comparison to their length. This means they stabilize much faster. A rifle bullet may fly as far as 50 feet before it stabilizes on its axis of rotation.
Wobbling can be minimized by matching the load to the rifle, but never completely eliminated. This is why increasing the powder charge to a round may increase its velocity but can destroy its accuracy.
If you’re only interested in knowledge regarding the specific subject of Long Range Shooting, then you can check the “Long Range Shooting Handbook” by Ryan M. Cleckner. This #1 Best Seller on Amazon will guide you through all aspects of long-range shooting; from calibrating your rifle to using your wind speed instruments and calculators.
Flies Through The Air with the Greatest of Ease
We can use the quote “What Goes Up Must Come Down” and claim to understand bullet trajectory. But, we know there is a lot more going on that influences a projectile’s flight than gravity.
Granted, gravity is a pretty big deal any time a shot is fired. The moment the projectile leaves the muzzle, gravity begins pulling it toward the center of the earth. Most shooters understand that the bore of the rifle is aligned so that the bullet will fly slightly above the line of sight. In this way, the bullet will arc back down to impact at the point of aim. What is harder to see is that the downhill side of the arc is slightly steeper than its climb.
Not only is gravity pulling the bullet down, air resistance is slowing it down so that it has time to fall further. This means that the high point of the bullet’s arc is not at the midpoint of its flight, but closer to the target. It seems like a small point, but it is one that is magnified over distance and important to long-range marksmanship.
When we begin considering how air resistance affects a shot, we also see the influence of the weather. Air resistance is greater when the shot is fired at a lower altitude. Barometric pressure, or the amount of air that is stacked on top of you, is greater at sea level than it is in the mountains.
Air resistance will decrease as the temperature rises, as humidity rises, or as the barometer falls. These conditions combine to generate a figure called “density altitude”. An illustration of density altitude is the fact that a shooter on a sunny 90-degree day in Dallas will face about the same air resistance as a shooter in Denver on a cool 20-degree day.
As stated by NOAA, density altitude is “the pressure altitude adjusted for non-standard temperature.” Simply put, increasing temperature at a given atmospheric pressure will cause the air density at that pressure to appear as though it resides at a higher physical altitude.
Density altitude increases as barometric pressure decreases which reduces air resistance. Indeed, a falling barometer may also indicate approaching storms meaning increased wind, which will have its own effect on long-range marksmanship. It is commonly understood that a five-mile-per-hour crosswind (blowing directly perpendicular to the shot) can deflect the path of a .308 round as much as 3 inches over 300 yards. In fact, the wind is probably the most common excuse for missed long-range shots.
Judging the effects of wind for a long-range shot is fraught with variables. The first is determining just how much wind there is.
An old standard of wind speed is the Beaufort Scale. It provides a series of observations (how much leaves move, whether the sea is calm or rippled) to help estimate wind speed. This can be notoriously inaccurate unless the shooter has a good deal of practice with the observations and an accurate scale to go by.
The simplest, most accurate scale would be the anemometer of a weather station, but few firing ranges have one installed. A handheld wind gauge is an important piece of a long-range shooter’s kit. It may not be available to use in a tactical or hunting situation, but on the practice range, it will contribute to eventual success in the field.
A common complaint about handheld wind gauges is that they will only give you wind data at the firing line, and not at the target or in the space between. This is true and there is no way to accurately judge the wind velocity at the target. However, if you have accurate data at the firing line, you will be better able to make an estimation of wind velocity down-range.
Some ranges have flags to indicate wind speed and direction between the shooter and the target. At other times the shooter will simply have to base his estimate on how the vegetation is reacting to the wind at the target. Indeed, in both cases, accurate data at the firing line is the best data to have.
Check these quick tips to approximate the wind speed at the point of target:
Use a portable anemometer to measure the crosswind speed while you analyze your target. Now you have the wind speed at your current standing position.
With your high magnification rifle scope analyze the heat waves or “mirage” caused by the atmospheric distortions. With a crosswind wind speed of zero, the “mirage” is perpendicular to the ground. If the mirage waves tip at 45 degrees from left to right this indicates a wind direction from left to right at approximately 5mph. Horizontal waves indicate wind speed is at least 10mph. Be aware that higher wind speeds will still indicate a horizontal “mirage”.
Keep in mind your wind meter value and the “mirage” patterns while analyzing the environment such as grass, leaves, tree sways, floating seeds, or even spider webs.
This method combined with the right ammo choice should help you in approximating the wind speed and direction.
Improving Long Range Marksmanship Using Portable Wind Meters
Another reason for the importance of accurate data at the firing line is the wind will have its greatest influence on the flight of the projectile early in its flight. Remember our discussion of transitional ballistics? During the phase immediately after the bullet leaves the muzzle it is still wobbling in flight. It is at its most vulnerable to be blown off course. Then, gyroscopic stability sets in to help the bullet fly true.
What are the characteristics to look for in a shooter’s portable wind meter? The most obvious attribute is accuracy and consistency. As with everything in long-range precision shooting and marksmanship, small inaccuracies add up. Ensure that your data is correct before you begin to make corrections.
What do you need to read with your handheld wind meter before pulling the trigger? Crosswind, Wind Speed & Direction, Air Pressure, Density Altitude, Temperature and Relative Humidity.
The next thing to consider is the ease of use and ruggedness. You need to be able to gather the data easily so as not to have to waste concentration on things that have nothing to do with making the shot. This is where ruggedness comes in. Ideally, the portable wind meter can be turned on, provide the data needed, and then set aside with no further thought. A unit that can be closed to protect its impeller and then simply placed on the shooting bench or even the ground will be more useful than one which is so fragile that it needs to be carefully placed in its case after every reading.
While it is true that you get what you pay for, long-range shooting is an expensive pastime if you are not being paid to do it. A top-of-the-line portable wind meter may be a worthwhile investment for a tactical operator where lives are on the line. The extra expense is questionable if the purpose of the shot is simply to put holes in a paper target.
One of the reasons the price of the wind meter goes up is its list of features. The casual shooter probably only needs a simple gauge that will show little more than wind velocity.
As the portable anemometers move up in sophistication, they will add extra features. A compass, temperature, and humidity gauges, used for wind-chill and heat-index readings and a barometer for weather prediction. However, as we discussed above, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure can be combined to calculate density altitude. Some of the latest wind meters are provided with special software for ballistics. Check our latest review for the best shooting wind meters.
There are portable wind meters that are designed specifically for shooters such as the Kestrel Elite with Applied Ballistics. Often, these units will carry ballistics software that will calculate the dope the shooter needs to apply for a particular shot. Again, these are features that may have value when lives are on the line, but there comes a point when extra features interfere with simply reading and applying the data and taking the shot.
It’s the complete solution specially designed for Long Range Shooting
Putting It All Together
Admittedly, by itself, ballistics is pretty dry science. For the average person, the only thing that makes ballistics exciting is actually pulling the trigger and seeing the mechanics of it in action. Then the dry science becomes very exciting!
The “spray and pray” type of shooting we see from Hollywood can be a lot of fun, but is expensive and not at all productive. Instead of burning your way through several boxes of expensive ammo, you may only shoot a few rounds during a precision shooting session. However, every one of those shots will teach you something and is vital for long-range marksmanship.
Put your kit together and get on the range this weekend.
Getting behind the rifle, calculating conditions, applying the D.O.P.E. and finally taking the shot is a rather long process. It may be one that you may not have the luxury of in a “real world” shot. However, there will be a surprising number of crossovers between a precision shot and one in the field or during a tactical engagement.
The Rest. Precision long-range marksmanship will require a shot from a rock-solid prone position, or occasionally from a solid bench, the rifle supported at its fore-end by a bipod or sandbags. This factor alone accounts for an increase in accuracy in comparison to a weekend shooter firing from a standing, off-hand position. After you get used to firing from rest and/or a prone position, you are more likely to take the time to find one in a hunting situation.
The D.O.P.E. A precision shooter usually zeroes his sights to conform to the D.O.P.E. he observes before the shot. A sportsman may “get away” with using the 100 yard “zero” he found while doing his preseason sight-in. This is because with most modern hunting rigs, whether the range is 20 yards, 50, or 150, the actual point of impact will be within a couple inches of the 100 yard zero. Acceptable accuracy at hunting ranges when the vital organ target area (“kill zone”) of a big game animal is around 10 inches. However, just like precision shooting, ‘little things’ which can spoil the shot add up. The discipline of long range marksmanship should carry over to keep the sportsman from taking an unethical shot as well as increasing the ethical range of a shot.
The Conditions. A long range marksman develops an intimate sense of range and environmental conditions, as well as an awareness of how these conditions will affect his shot. Although they verify them with instruments, range finder and wind gauge, using the instruments teaches them to make these observations and corrections in manually. They will not only have a feel for how to compensate for a gusting 7 knot crosswind, but also develop an awareness of the wind to the point that they make the corrections instinctively. A wind gauge may not be important in the field, but using it on the range will make your “real life” shots more accurate.
The Shot. A “spray and pray” shooter in a tactical situation or the once a year hunter with “buck fever” will waste ammunition and ultimately put lives in danger. Sometimes even those he is trying to protect. In the rush to get a round (or several rounds) down range, accuracy suffers to the point where actually hitting and killing the target is more luck than skill. Even when the situation does not allow for all the time normally taken for a shot, they will still be methodical enough to be accurate. One-shot, delivered accurately on target, is infinitely more effective than two, three, or even a dozen shots that miss.
“One Shot, One Kill.” It is a high standard to strive for, but with dedication, discipline, and best of all fun practice, it is a very attainable standard.
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