An accurate cheap small thermometer that works

[Lamont]

Sleeping last night with the nearest BOM about 6ks away and wanted to know how cold it was at my location. BOM says 2 degrees -0 Apparent at the station. I was in a gully bordered by stone cliffs.
I've seen those little caribeener things but they get bumped all over the shop and I suppose not much chop so wouldn't mind a fridge digital one that stores max and min. Ebay has too many to count.
Any body know a small cheap and light (maybe 2 x2 cms?) (ebay?) one that works, i.e. you have somehow verified the reading with something you are sure works? Would stick it in my rucksack when not used hang it up at night when cold mainly. I had one of the little weather stations-yellow plastic can't remember the brand-confirmed it by standing right near a BOM spot.
But the battery lasted about an hour and went through too many.
Not after barometric, altitude etc. Thanks for any insight.

[Lamont]

Anyone have this-
https://www.ebay.com.au/p/AcuRite-White ... 412&chn=ps

I should have searched the redditUL first but forgot-this looks the goods -pull off the suction cap and 34 grams, bingo, bango, bongo!

[Zapruda]

I use this and think i think its pretty accurate - https://m.catch.com.au/product/acurite- ... d=13887182

It’s small and weighs around 34 grams. Thermometers are great to bring along if you are a data nerd like me.

[Lamont]

Ah ha looks like acurite is right senor Zapruda! Yours looks like an updated version of the one I found on redditUL. Same weight-although I read the one I linked was stripped by some of it's outer case to make it smaller, which meant a bit of mucking around was required to keep the battery in. I'm getting 4.5cms high X 6cms long X 2cms deep. Is this accurate would you say? If so makes it a wee bit bigger than a matchbox? And a hook to boot.Ta boyo.

[CasualNerd]

I bought a couple of cheap thermometers off ebay and they're definitely NOT accurate, definitely worth spending a little.

Report back because I'd love to carry one when testing new sleeping arrangements

[Lamont]

Funny you should mention that Nerdy, the one I linked has pretty poor reviews on Amazon, now I have a good look. Looks like Zapruda's suggestion is the go. You would hope one made for fridge/freezer would be better.

[Mark F]

I've used a Garmin Tempe sensor (10 grams). It works with sensor enabled Garmin gps units - Etrex 30 in my case. It has no display but provides current temperature plus the 24 hour max and min temperatures, the current temp also appears in any track log being recorded. I found that with a Bluetooth? app on my Android phone I can also access the readings and seems accurate.

The temps experienced near ground level can vary greatly from the bom temperatures as they are collected in a shaded enclosure about 1.5 metres above the the ground and in a very open environment. Temps in a tent are influenced by ground temperature plus heat radiated by the occupants. Hanging thermometers off ones pack is not a good way to get a reasonable temperature estimation as one passes from shade to sun and back. The thermometer reacts quite quickly to the changing environment as I have seen on the gps track logs. If you want a reasonable estimation hang the thermometer in the shade fro a few minutes when you have a break.

[CasualNerd]

I should clarify, I think you're in the right price range, I bought a couple under $5. The only cheap one that's accurate is very bulky.

[Warin]

To check the accuracy ..

Place it in crushed ice ..that will be close enough to 0 C for the purpose.
If you want better then the water has to be pure.. not the stuff you get out of a tap ..but your trying for 0.000 C then.

[LachlanB]

Report back because I'd love to carry one when testing new sleeping arrangements

Yeah, I'd love to know too, for pretty much the same reason. Looking at getting another sleeping bag in a few years time, and want to get an idea of how cold the conditions I'm camping in really are...

[Lamont]

http://www.catch.com.au/product/acurite ... ermometer-
Ordered-thanksS Zapruda.
Every time you give me a suggestion it costs me money!

[stry]

http://www.catch.com.au/product/acurite-digital-fridge-freezer-thermometer-
Ordered-thanksS Zapruda.
Every time you give me a suggestion it costs me money!

Hah ha. Yep - I'm in for one also. Carried a bulb and tube thingy for years but it is long gone, and I've never found anything really suitable to replace it.

Always referred to it as a "Toughometer" not a thermometer. The reason is obvious

[GPSGuided]

I have one of those cheap and tiny keychain thermometer that I bought from the city market for around $1 (same kind of stock as eBay and Aliexpress etc). Scanned through quite a number of units based on reading. Took it home and did some simple calibration checks. Whilst it's not exactly accurate to the degree, it's good enough to within 1-2 degrees from zero to 20+. These analogue thermometers are never going to be perfectly accurate, they just need to be compared with known reference and be aware of its systematic errors, then it's good enough for my general outdoor needs. Not as if I am needing it for a scientific experiment. The best is that it's not another electronic device with associated hassles.

[crollsurf]

I've been dragging one of these around for a while and seems close enough.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Thermometer-Metal-Decoration-Accessories-Car-Keychain-Hiking-Compass-Mini-/263634348373?hash=item3d61d4e955&_uhb=1
Thing is I never really use it!
The relationship to what to take walking is based on the BOM forecast, not the reading on the thermometer. By that time it's too late. If BOM is forecasting 8C min, I'll take certain gear. If I get caught out I'll take something warmer next time the forecast is 8C min.

EDIT: I wouldn't recommend the keychain in the link. The numbers are small and hard to read.

[Lamont]

I think crolly you missed something in my original post, I want to know the temp when I am there, overnight etc -love to gather that data!

[crollsurf]

Hi Lamont, just explaining why I find the things not very useful but... If you are collecting that data, it could be interesting to correlate that with what the BOM's forcasted and recorded temps were for the nearest station. That would be super useful for planning.

[Overlandman]

I use a Silva windwatch.
Accurate yes. Cheap no
Regards OLM

[ChrisJHC]

I know this is absolutely not what you're looking for, but I use the thermometer on my Garmin Fenix 5 for this purpose.

When hiking, if I really need to know the temperature, I take it off and hang it off my pack for 30 minutes or so to equilibrate.
(If I leave it on my wrist, I'm just getting my wrist temperature).

At nights I hang it over my ridgeline. That way I can get a quick visual picture of the temperature over the time I've been asleep. All I'm really interested in is the minimum.

Of course, you might not want to spend $5-600 on a thermometer, but you do get a lot of other stuff thrown in for free!

[keithy]

The Aldi Barometer Altimeter Compass from a while back viewtopic.php?f=27&t=21067 had a thermometer with a memory setting (it could store min and max). I never picked one up, but wished I had now. I was trying to work out dew points and temperatures for condensation in my single layer tent. I have an ABC watch that gives the temperature, but it doesn't record the min/max or humidity. So only usually get up in the middle of the night when it gets too cold and check the temperature - I have the watch hanging next to my torch.

Also, as redrock mentioned in that thread, Jaycar still has this https://www.jaycar.com.au/portable-lcd- ... r/p/XC0394 Even though it is discontinued, some stores still stock it, and it does have a min/max temp memory.

I also had a cheapish Hygrometer, which recorded min/max temp and humidity, with the corresponding times in a memory log. But it was bulky, and ran on AA batteries.

[Lamont]

Ta everyone I have ordered the one Zapruda linked. It looks good and he mentioned to ensure it is kept dry to ensure best results. So it is winging it's way to me now. Pleaze keep adding suggestions tho, everyones help is appreciated.

[Lamont]

Arrived-basically the size of a match box and 32 grams. Includes the two batteries required to power it. Excellent.

[Zapruda]

Well... What’s the temperature?

[Lamont]

It's juusst right.

[LachlanB]

Tempted... Between this and the cheap gas thread, too many things to buy!

[Lamont]

Temp in the tent 9.4, outside 6.3 at 5.15 am today, double wall tent.
I am loving the temp nerding and this wee device.

[LachlanB]

Temp in the tent 9.4, outside 6.3 at 5.15 am today, double wall tent.
I am loving the temp nerding and this wee device.

Mine works well too. Although I've had fewer opportunities to use it over the last month than I'd have liked...

[Lamont]

Finally confirmed what I thought, mesh is a substantial barrier, espeially in milder weather. Single wall Duplex, on a hill -13 inside -10.1 outside, 5.05 am today. Not much wind, shelter doors half open.

[wildwanderer]

Interesting. When you say mesh I assume you mean non solid thatch style.

So you just had the inner up and it was 3 degrees warmer inside. Quite good

[Lamont]

Not quite -full mesh sides and DCF top panels. It's the Zpacks Duplex.

[Warin]

-13 inside -10.1 outside

-13 is colder than -10.1