Getting an accurate temperature reading.

I usually wear a multi-function watch. Time/date/day/barometer/altimeter/thermometer/lap timer(segment timer)/compass, etc. Yes, it is somewhat bulky and requires a battery. Batteries last for a couple years, though. It is accurate to about .1 degree of temp, but you need to take it off. It ticks all my boxes. Soo, I pay the extra ounce in weight…it weighs more than my flashlight. Fairly waterproof (3 meters) and several settings for centigrade/Fahrenheit, miles/klicks, decimal/minutes. I get cheap ones because they get beat out hiking.

I like https://www.brunton.com/products/adc-wind

same idea as James watch

the problem with both of those is it takes a while (15 minutes?, 30 minutes?) for the temperature to stabalize

cooking thermometer, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/ThermoPro-TP01A-Digital-Meat-Thermometer/dp/B078KPHKZD/ref=lp_289810_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1527078715&sr=1-4 instantly responds.  You can check it’s accuracy by filling a glass with ice, then add water, then put your probe into the center of it

James, I’ve thought about trying a watch like that but haven’t gotten around to picking one out from all of thenavailable choices. What’s a good cheap one you’ve used?

Search is the magnifying glass icon in the upper left.

Timex. They don’y seem to make it anymore. I have had it about 8 years now. The first one I had for about 12 years.

…I’ve thought about trying a watch like that but haven’t gotten around to picking one out from all of thenavailable choices. What’s a good cheap one you’ve used?

This one’s excellent for a very reasonable price:
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-SGW300HB-3AVCF-Multi-Function-Sport-Watch/dp/B003URP7CQ
I have no idea how accurate the temperature sensor is, but it’s close enough for my purposes. Like any watch thermometer, its readings are meaningless while on your wrist, and it takes a LONG time to equilibrate after you take it off (20 to 30 minutes?).

I take an Acurite Electronic thermometer on a mini-biner clipped to my pack.  It uses a CR2032 battery and it seems to last me for years (I take the battery out between trips).  What I really like about it is that it records the high and the low in the 24-hour period that started at the time you inserted the battery.  I usually put the battery in around 10:00 am so I know that any highs will likely come after that and any lows were usually overnight and I have time to check them before it resets.

It’s cheap ($9) and supposedly accurate to +/- 2 degrees.  With the battery it weighs 1.2 ounces (and I think that includes the mini-biner).

I had posted my Casio ABC watch a while ago….still available if anyone wants it.

You must take it off to get an accurate temperature reading:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/fscasio-sports-watch-altimeterbarometertemperature-sgw400h-1b/

From the Casio website:

High quality sports look, backed by a rich feature set, defines the new SGW400 Twin Sensor from Casio. The watch takes and displays barometric pressure readings, which are then converted into Altitude measurements based on International Standard Atmospheric Values. A built-in thermo sensor gives reliable temperature readings. Combing these sensors with a rugged case design, ana-digi display and a host of additional features makes this watch tough to beat.

I disagree that zipper-pull thermometers are as bad as +/- 5F. First pick one that, in the store, says 70F. Then calibrate it at two points and you can have corrections for any reading like general aviation pilots do for their whiskey compasses. One could certainly get within a degree.

Digital watches offer data-logging and multipurpose as watches, sometimes compasses and sometimes altimeters and/or GPS as well. Women’s models give the same functions in smaller, lighter packages.

or, slight variation on that, use the ice water trick to see what it says at freezing and write that on it, like “31 F”.  Then, just assume it has an offset error.  In that case always add 1 degree F to the reading.  Even if there’s also a scale error, I’m mostly concerned with accuracy around freezing, so that works pretty good.

I have one of those zipper pull thermometers on the outside of my pack.  Also a compass.  There are tick marks every 5 degree F and I can read better than half a tick mark, so that’s 2.5 degree F which is close enough

https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/Search.php?stext=Thermometers

Go t a restaurant supply store. They sell all kinds of wide range thermometers in digital and analog versions. The grail is an UL digital that will record high and low temps so you can evaluate your sleeping gear.

I am with Kevin on the Accurite thermometer, cheap, light, accurate and records the max and min.  It is the minimum that is most important to me to dial in future insulation needs.  It registers much quicker than my old Brunton weather center too.

I have the one Kevin recommends and it is indeed accurate. Mine lands to within a degree of the actual temp.

Ryan

Personally the more important point is that I doubt that your measurements are comparable if that’s what you are seeking due to changes in the measurement environment especially when on the move.  Consider the standards used for establishing the temperatures reported in weather reports. I have played around with a Garmin Tempe sensor (10 grams) that links to my Garmin gps and enjoy knowing the 24 hr min but on the move it would vary considerably depending on the degree of sun or shade and where it was on the pack.

As for standardising a thermometer the best way that is easily achieved is to assume any variation is linear and determine an accurate high and low error – just because it reads 2 degrees low at freezing doesn’t mean it reads 2 degrees low at boiling. In the lab using reasonable mercury tube thermometers it was the ice bath and boiling water points and variations up to 4 degrees C high and low were found in a batch of 21 thermometers. You can then extrapolate a reasonably accurate temperature reading and have it comparable to other thermometers that have been similarly calibrated.

ICYMI:

BPL Backpacking with a Thermometer

— Rex

Also this discussion as well as older ones:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/thermometer/

I use a Taylor aluminum cased thermometer from the 1970’s just like the one in the link you provided (or the link Ken T provided). The one in the link looks excellent and would be what I would use if I didn’t have my Taylor (which is in 2* increments). Been using it for over 40 years, I’ve never taken a trip without it.

Froget the electronic crap, or zipper pull models and use a real thermometer.

+1 for the Acurite Kevin references.  Small, light, cheap, works great.  I hang it from my food line assuming that is going to give an accurate ambient temp.

In camp I hang the Acurite from one of my hammock straps near a tree.  I’m mostly concerned with the overnight low temperature so that I can effectively judge how my sleep system is performing.  That’s the primary reason I put the battery in around 10:00 am.

https://www.elitechonline.co.uk/RC-5

Google “temperature data logger rc-5” and you will get multiple offers. It is 1oz, but it records temperature for weeks or even months.

I bought an expensive ($45 USD) temperature monitor, the Blue Maestro tempo disc logger that weighs 9 grams.

Power
* The device uses a CR2032 battery and requires removing two tiny philips screws to replace.
* You turn the device on by holding down the button.
* Battery life depends on logging intervals. Can last up to

Display
* The device has no display. If you want to see current conditions, you check these on the accompanying smartphone app (Android/iPhone), which communicates live data from the sensor over low power bluetooth.

Logging
* The device logs temperature, humidity, and dew point, in hourly intervals to its internal memory.
* Logging intervals and other settings (C/F, date, alarms, calibration, etc) are configurable with the smartphone app over bluetooth.
* Logs can be downloaded, and exported in a CSV.
* Log Format. The CSV contains these information fields at the top of each file:

Current Date and Time,Device Name,Device UUID,Class ID,Battery Level,Radio Strength,Reference Date,Last Download Date,The number of alert thresholds registered,Temperature Unit

The rest of the file contains the actual logs, in the following fields:

Record number,Timestamp,Temperature,Humidity,Dew point

I carry a smart phone when I hike. I don’t always care about the temperature, so I don’t mind turning airplane mode off when I want to check. I do like knowing how cold it got during the night, and the hourly logging interval is nice for that. If you want temperature logging, this little device is great. I use it in the house for monitoring certain rooms when I’m not hiking.