By Dave Wilkes

www.brooks-range.com

http://www.brooks-range.com/StoreBox/slpbag/bivysack.htm

A box arrived in the mail, and its size and weight had me totally at a loss as to what was inside it. I opened it to find a bright red water bottle size package weighing a measly 15oz, with a label stating it was an alpine bivy sack?!?! I have windbreakers that don’t pack this small.

A little background on the reviewer: I do much of my hiking/backpacking alone. I also snore, so being able to sleep away from others is good for overall morale. I prefer to use a Bivy as my shelter due to their lightweight and versatility. Also, I have taken to packing my sleeping bag inside my bivy. This makes setting up camp quick and easy as well as keeps my bag dry no matter how wet my backpack might get. It also helps to keep my bag clean. Finally, I have found no matter how careful I am, every snow shelter I make ends up with a drip directly over my head, so having a Bivy inside the snow shelter makes for a much more restful sleep. This will be my third bivy. My first was a super cheep one purchased for a single trip but ended up surviving heavy use for about 3 years. My second (and current) is an Integral Designs Bugaboo. I love the Bugaboo, but at 23oz it is a monster when compared to the Alpini.

Opening the Alpini Bivi for the first time was a bit difficult. It was packed tight in it’s built in stuff sack and the material is so thin I worried I would tear it. I got the hook-n-loop closure open and gently coerced the Bivy out of its pouch. It was like some sort of trick you might see from a birthday party magician…bright red and yellow material just kept coming out of this tiny little pouch until I had quite a pile in my lap. At this point I could not help but think that there was no way I was ever going to get this all back in to that little stuff sack, but more on that later.

I laid the sack out on the floor and examined it. The Bivi consists of two main components. First the red Bivi proper; the stuff sack is built into the foot of the bag and when deployed ends up inside out (or maybe it is inside out when the Bivy is packed into it?!?!). Along the Right side (from the perspective of laying on your back inside the bag) is a short zipper that has a hook-n-loop closure at the top to ensure it does not open on its own, and around the opening is a draw cord with the pull/lock on the left side (took me a bit before I noticed that). The material is a deep red and very thin. According to the documentation “the Alpini is constructed in an ultralight, waterproof/breathable ripstop outer fabric specially designed and fabricated for Brooks-Range”. The manufacturer goes on to say the material is water-resistant to withstand more pressure than generated by a driving rain, but also states this product is intended for ‘sub-zero’ conditions and not for use in sustained rainfall or wet conditions. The floor of the bag is water proof, and the entire bag while not fire-proof (there are plenty of warnings about keeping heat and flames away from it), it is fire-retardant treated.

The second major part of the Alpini Bivy is the bright yellow cowl. The cowl is attached to the top of the bag and completely covers the top section of the bag (down to just below the bottom of the side entry zipper (about the bottom of my ribs when I am in it). The cowl has a non adjustable elastic cord along the bottom.

I found no obvious signs of defects during my inspection. I was actually rather impressed with the quality of the construction. No loose ends or threads, no crooked or improperly finished stitching, no flaws of any kind that I could see.

The documentation states that the Bivi is sized to accommodate most standard sized sleeping bags. It was obvious that my 15 year old mummy bag would fit in the Alpini Bivy, but I was not quite sure about my Big Agnes Encampment bag (and Air Core pad) would fit. I stuffed the Encampment bag into the Bivy and inflated the pad. It is a tight fit but looks like it will work. When I got into the bag I noticed with the pad fully inflated the Bivy was compressing the sleeping bag insulation and I had very little moving room. I drained some of the air out of the pad to my normal sleeping pressure and this reduced the compression of the insulation, and gives me a bit more room to move.

Getting into the sleeping bag when inside the Bivy is a bit of a challenge. The side entry zip is quite short (however luckily on the same side as my sleeping bag) and even when unzipped there is not much room. Once inside the bag getting the zip closed was also difficult due to the limited moving room and interference from the cowl. The cowl is attached to the bag right next to the zipper and on my first attempt to zip it kept getting in the way. Once inside I found the cowl under the Bivy and could not get my arms out and around in such a way that I could pull it over the bag and my head (at this point I was still worried I might rip the thin material). I had to unzip, pull the cowl over so that it was over me and then reclose the zipper. Once fully inside I was pleased to see how much light the yellow cowl let through, but found it difficult to zip my sleeping bag due to the limited room. After a few more tries getting in and out, the process is a bit easer, and I am not as concerned about ripping the material (this stuff appears quite strong, as do the seams).

The material used is advertized as being breathable, but there are warnings about maintaining proper ventilation to avoid suffocation?!?! However since there are no actual vents and the cowl elastic closure is not adjustable, there does not seem to be many options with this. After a few minutes in the bag (being inside a 15F bag, inside a bivy, inside a 70F room…a few minutes is all it takes to turn the entire system into a sauna) I found I was having no trouble breathing, however at altitude, this may be another story entirely.

Remember how I mentioned the stuff sack in built into the foot of the bag? When I went to repack the Bivy into the pocket, it looked even smaller than it did when I first opened it. I could not help to think that there is no way I would be able to get the bivy back into that, but tried anyway. Picture the magic scarf trick in reverse. I started pushing the material into the little pocket. It appeared to fill up rather quickly but then it seemed no matter how much more I stuffed in, it never seemed to get full, at least not until I reached the end. I am not sure what I am more amazed by; how thin and packable this material is or how strong it must be to withstand all this pulling and the strain the little pocket must be under with it being stuffed so full.

I am impressed with the weight and quality of construction of this product. After reviewing it, my areas of interest are primarily as to its durability. There is nothing about the construction of the product that makes me suspect it will fail, I simply have a hard time believing any material this thin and light could possibly be strong enough. However if this Bivy can withstand the rigors of backpacking, then it should help to lighten my load considerably for snow camping, and allow me the freedom of a much larger and/or heaver tarp for warmer trips.

Please follow along with me over the next 3 months as I report on my experiences with the Brooks-Range Alpini Bivi

Update May 17 2010

Well…so far I have carried the Bivy on a few day hikes, a day snowshoe trip and used it for an overnight in a snow cave.

Nice bivy...lousy snow cave

The Bivy is light and small enough that I have no problem with tossing it into my daypack as an emergency shelter.

The Bivy is light and small enough that I have no problem with tossing it into my daypack as an emergency shelter.

This was not a great winter for me. Poor weather, lack of snow, and business/personal commitments limited my outings. I finally managed to swing time to do a quick overnight where I was sure to have good snow, by waiting for the White Pass ski area to close down for the season. So on Saturday morning I tossed my gear into my truck and headed for the mountain, this time I was not going to let a little bad weather stop me (the prediction was for rain at the base of the hill). I got out of the rain and into some light snow just prior to reaching the base of the hill…that was the good news. The bad news was the high winds. Soon after starting up, I took out my Kestrel 2500 weather meter (see my review of this fine product http://4alloutdoors.org/reviews/accessories/kestrel-2500-weather-meter/) and measured temperatures just under freezing and 15mph winds. By the time I reached the summit, the wind was gusting to over 30mph and the wind chill was in the single digits (F).

I found a sheltered spot in some trees that had a mound of snow just about ideal for a snow cave. As it turns out, I am a bit rusty when it comes to making snow caves and so I was unable to get the door opening below the floor of the cave as I should. As a result even with a tarp over the door and a candle in the cave, I was unable to get the temps above 34 F (I know, I should have closed off the opening with snow blocks, but I was confidant the combination of my bag & bivy should have been more than warm enough for that temperature).

I was using my 15F (synthetic) bag/mat inside the bivy. I have slept comfortably in this bag in below freezing temperatures on other trips so I expected a warm cozy night…but that was not to be. I shivered most of the night and awoke to find an alarming amount of moisture inside the bivy?!?!

Update July 20 2010

During the first 2 months I did not feel I used the bag enough to get a good idea of how well it performed, and I had a few questions still to answer.  Since then I have carried the bag with me on a few more day trips and used it during my climb of Mt Adams.

On the Mt. Adams trip I used the bag for one night at the trail head (Cold Creek Campground) where it was warm and clear all night, and one night at “Lunch Counter” (a little over 9k ft) where it was clear and cold (below freezing most of the night).

During this trip, I made a point of changing into clean dry clothes before bed, but in both cases I awoke in the morning with the inside of the bivy and the outside of my sleeping bag quite wet. Both nights I slept with the bivy unzipped and the hood fully open and I did not breathe into the bag. The moisture inside of the bivy must have come from perspiration during the night and the volume tells me that this bag is not breathable at all.

The other thing I realized is that my Big Agnes Encampment bag and inflatable mat are too large for the bivy. As such the insulation is compressed and so its insulation value is greatly diminished. This is not a problem with the bivy but it is in my selection of a large bag with integrated air mat. In the future I would use a different bag or try putting my air mat under the bivy (in place of insulation, the Encampment has an integrated air mat pouch built into the bag).

Overall I am impressed with the light weight and durability of the material used for this product. The construction also seems top quality; despite some less than gentle use it has shown no signs of strain or damage. The only real down side I can see for this bivy is its total lack of breathability. Even in dry cold conditions there was considerable condensation on my bag by morning. With some sun and a little time I found that it dries rather quickly (e.g. it took less than 1hr in the bright morning sun on Mt Adams). In humid conditions or when having the time to allow the bivy and sleeping bag to dry is unlikely, this could be a real problem. In addition, except for temperatures well below freezing, I would not consider using a down bag inside of this bivy, as the trapped moisture would compromise the insulation value of the bag.

In the future I expect to use this as an emergency bivy, and for an ultra light shelter. As far as I can tell the material and construction make this a far more durable bag than the thin light weight materials would seem possible, so I anticipate having this for quite some time.

I would like to thank 4AllOutdoors.org and the manufacturer for the opportunity to review this product. I also encourage readers to contact me via the 4AllOutdoors.org Forums to post any questions and/or comments you may have regarding this product or my review of it.

Thank you,
David (the turtle) Wilkes

Trailhead in Colorado

Life has gotten a bit crazy for me recently, as it often does for many of us.  Between increased responsibilities at work, an upcoming move, and a baby on the way, I have had to work hard to create opportunities to get out and test the Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker 4500.  As much as I look forward to the challenges that life brings, it’s nice to have an excuse to get outside and leave the hectic pace behind for an afternoon:  “Sorry, honey, we’ll have to pick out colors for the baby’s room tomorrow.  I have to go for a hike to test this cool piece of gear today!”

Between biking, hiking, and skiing outings, I’ve used the device roughly a dozen times in the field.  While I am having fun playing with it in various settings and activities, the most practical application for me is recording accurate environmental data for the purpose of testing other gear.  Don’t get me wrong… this piece of equipment is capable of measuring more than I’ll likely ever need to measure in a day (altitude, density altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, wind chill, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, crosswind, headwind, tailwind and more), but it excels at what is important to me:  accurate measurements in a format that is simple to read and record.

This serious piece of equipment retails for $409, though several other Kestrel models are available from the manufacturer (Nielsen-Kellerman) that perform many of the same basic functions for a lower price.  What sets the 4500 model apart from others in theKestrel line is the built-in digital compass to track wind direction.  The 4000 and 4500 also have the ability to record data over time and upload it to a computer for analysis.  This functionality requires the purchase of a computer interface accessory for $89, but for the serious data hounds, it would be well worth the cost.  (I’m tempted to pick one up for myself!)

Though small and lightweight for the punch it packs (5″ x 2″ x 1″ and < 4 oz), it is still bigger and bulkier than my altimeter watch.  I have found that for quick reference while on the move, I prefer to glance at a watch on my wrist rather than have the Kestreldevice on a cord around my neck or have to pull it out of a pocket.  However, when accuracy or more sophisticated measurements are important — the Kestrel is my go-to tool!

Even after a dozen uses in the field and more than that many again while “playing” with the device on airplanes and around the house over the past few months, the two AAA batteries still have 78% capacity remaining, according to the reading on the screen of the device.  An adjustable setting allows the user to determine how long the screen should remain on before automatically turning off.  I have mine set for 10 minutes, because when using it, I tend to check it frequently.  I’m impressed at the battery life so far!

Field Use
I have not yet had the opportunity to test the limits of the device (other than while holding it out the window of my car while traveling at freeway speeds and hearing the high-pitched “whir” of the impeller).  (Which was fun, by the way!)  Each year, I typically take at least one extreme cold weather camping trip to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota.  I am looking forward to testing the temperature limits of the device up there!

In the meantime, below are a few snapshots of the device in use:

The altitude graph after a hike in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington

The trailhead elevation for a fun hike to a partially frozen-over lake on a chilly day in Colorado

Product testing a lightweight stove on a day hike in Washington

Many thanks to the good folks at Nielsen-Kellerman for allowing me to play with this cool piece of equipment!  I am excited to continue using it!

Nov 19 2009

By Dave Wilkes (the turtle)

www.kestrelmeters.com/home.jsp

http://www.kestrelmeters.com/Kestrel-2500-Wind-Meter.pro

Image courtesy of Kestrel

When I received the Kestrel the first thing I noticed was how small and light it is. Now I had done a bit of research into the device and its features and expected it to be a bit larger and certainly heaver.

Despite its small size and lightweight the device feels like it is rugged and well made. First impressions left me quite impressed with the construction and design.

Upon turning it on I found the use of most of the functions to be quite obvious. There are only 3 buttons. The center one turns the device on/off and if pressed momentarily turns on the backlight. The left and right arrow buttons cycle through the various functions (wind speed current/max/average, temperature, wind chill, barometer, altitude, time). Pressing a combination of the buttons allows me to access the less used functions like calibrating the barometer/altimeter, choosing the scale used to display the measurements (e.g. mph, km/h, kt, m/s, ft/min or F/C or InHg, hPa or f,m etc).

The only thing about the device I don’t find entirely intuitive is calibration of the barometer / altimeter. The two functions are simply two representations of the same measurement (atmospheric pressure) and so are dependant upon each other. To obtain an accurate altitude measurement it is necessary to know the proper barometer setting, or to calibrate the barometer it is necessary to know the current altitude. For example, if I know my current altitude I can program that into the barometer, then using the result that number can be used to calibrate the altimeter. The other way to accomplish this is to obtain the correct barometer setting (from a nearby weather station). There is a very good description of how this is accomplished in the instructions that came with the Kestrel. In addition there are also some very good descriptions available on the internet.

I am not going to bore you with detailed specifications of the device, for that I recommend visiting the Kestrel web site where all of the details about each of their many weather devices are easily obtained. I will mention that I choose the 2500 version due to it having the combination of instruments I feel best suites my activities.

• Wind Speed [instantaneous / max / average]
• Temperature
• Barometric pressure / altimeter

Initial testing:

I first tested the wind speed meter (anemometer), both by blowing into it and by taking it outdoors. It seems to work well and smoothly. Unfortunately, I have no way to measure its accuracy. The best I could do was hold the device out the window while driving on the freeway. The reading matched my speedometer within about 2mph (the high pitched whine it made at 70mph was kind of cool).

I tested the thermometer next. I compared the reading to other thermometers I have and found it to be as accurate as I am able to tell. I then placed it into the freezer to see how quickly it responded. From the documentation, I was expecting a very quick response, but found it to be no quicker than the other thermometers I have. Upon taking it out of the freezer I waved it in the air as per the instructions (to speed up the temperature measurement). While this did seem to help speed up the measurement, it was far from the instantaneous measurement I was hoping for (I think this is more of an issue with my expectations than a failure of the device). While this was not what I had expected, the temperature response seems quite quick enough to more than accommodate the conditions I expect to encounter.

I then looked up the altitude of my home using Google earth. I entered that value to calibrate the barometer, and then used the resulting pressure reading to calibrate the altimeter. The altitude was accurate within a few feet and seems stable.

I am excited to put the device to work, I have plans to do some hiking and kayaking while attending a wedding in Central California (Moro Bay) where I think the temperature and wind speed will be useful information. Check back in about one month when I expect to be posting my 2^nd of 3 installments of this review.

In the meantime feel free to visit the Forums section of the 4AllOutdoors.org site where you can post your comments and questions.

Update 1

Jan 27 2010

Soon after receiving my Kestrel 2500 I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Central California (Morro Bay to be exact). While there, we did a bit of hiking, Geocaching, and got to go kayaking. I got some good use out of the wind speed meter and thermometer. During one hike in a state park the wind was blowing. I was able to measure winds of 18mph and used the meter to determine not only air temperature but wind chill as well. I found knowing the details to be quite interesting, and realized while it may not have been especially useful then and there, it did provide a good point of reference for the future. For example, my rain shell over a short sleeve shirt kept me quite comfortable, while the shirt alone left me shivering. More of this information will allow me to better plan attire for future outdoor adventures as well as compare the effectiveness of various garments (and garment combinations) to various conditions.

During our kayak trip the winds started to pick up again. I measured about 10mph. I was quite surprised to find how easy it was to maneuver the kayak in those winds, in addition to the very strong current that I had no way to measure (I wonder if I had held the Kestral in the water, would the anemometer have given an accurate measurement of the current, and if so could I use it in my canoe to get an accurate speed measurement? I will need to try this when summer returns.).

While I like the idea of having the cover attached to the lanyard, I am finding it kind of gets in the way. So what I did was remove the cover from the lanyard and put it on over the top of the unit rather than from the bottom. This allows me to completely remove the cover. When loosing the cover is not an issue I intend use it this way, but when loosing the cover could be a problem I plan to either not bring it at all or put it back on the lanyard.

I have used the Kestrel a number of times now. I am finding having almost instant access to accurate temperature and wind-chill quite useful in gauging appropriate attire. Recently the Cascadian’s along with the White Pass Ski area, put on a Ski/snowshoe jamboree to introduce cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to new people. Folks would come out of the warming hut wondering what attire they needed and I was able to tell them the exact temperature/wind-chill as well as let them know if the wind/temp was going up or down.

At this point I have not used the altimeter much. My primary use for this I expect will be to quickly verify my location on a known trail (should be far quicker than waiting for my GPS to acquire a lock, and not affected by tree cover) but that will be more of a summer use when I am following marked trails. I have also used the Kestrel on two short snowshoeing outings with my family, a day trip with the Cascadian’s, and an all day solo trip. I used the altitude information to measure the vertical gain. My primary use of the device besides simply satisfying my curiosity, is in evaluating the effectiveness of various clothing configurations. This is helping me judge with more confidence exactly what I need to wear/take when going on an outing and helps me avoid over packing.

I have two minor criticisms for the design of the product and they relate to the instantaneous measurements. The temperature measurement seems to take a bit longer to stabilize then I would like for a handheld product like this. Since I don’t like anything loose hanging around my neck I keep the device in a pocket, then when I want a temperature measurement I find I have to wave the device in the air for up to a minute before it gives a stable reading. The barometer/altimeter provides instantaneous measurements, and for a device that records data this would be good, but for viewing the altitude I find it fluctuates quite a bit making it difficult to get a reading I can be confident in. I also find it makes it difficult to calibrate the altimeter. My recommendation for a hand held device that does not record the data (or maybe even if it does) would be to utilize some type of averaging in the display of the data to make it easer to read.

So far I really like this product. It seems rugged and durable, light, and very user friendly (three items I find important)! As winter progresses and I extend my outdoor adventures, I expect accurate temperature and wind-chill will become more and more important/useful to me. I intend to update this review in about a month from now when I hope to have enjoyed at least one night in a snow cave up in the Cascades.

Update May3 2010

Over the last few months I have carried the Kestrel 2500 with me often. I have carried it for work as well as recreation and equipment testing. The temperature and wind speed are by far the most useful features for me. The barometer/altimeter has been far less useful. When outdoors it has been useful to have temperature and wind speed measurements and I fully expect this to become even more useful when I am testing temperature dependant gear (jacket, sleeping bag, tent, etc). My most recent, and to me most significant, use was during a school environmental trip I had the opportunity to assist with. We organized a hike to a nearby ridge to observe the sunrise. As luck would have it, it turned out to be a chilly and windy morning. We got the kids to the top of the rocks where I was able to give a short/simplified demonstration of wind-chill using the Kestrel (wind speeds up to 20mph & air temp of 44F).

My latest adventure with the Kestrel 2500 was a solo overnight trip to the top of the White Pass ski resort. I hiked up the ski runs and then found a sheltered spot for a snow cave. The it was snowing off and on with winds exceeding 30mpt making the wind chill in the single digits (F). Inside my poorly made snow cave (I am a bit out of practice) it was a consistent 34-36 F despite the 25 F just beyond the tarp I was using as a door. On this trip I had a bit of difficulty in getting the device to read temperatures correctly. A few times I found it to read a consistent 32 F when I know that was incorrect. In every case I found the temperature sensor to be covered in snow from being dropped/laid down or when I was holding it out in the blowing snow to take a measurement. I had to blow out the snow in order to get the device functioning again.

The altimeter has not been as useful to me as I expected. The primary issue is having to calibrate it for each use/trip. What I have used it for is to measure altitude deltas [changes], where I note the measured altitude at a given location and then again at a second location and calculate the difference, for this the actual altitude and hence calibration is irrelevant.

The device seems quite rugged and durable. I have made no effort to protect it in my pack or with my gear at home. As a result it has gotten banged and bumped by other gear and bounced while inside my pack, as well as being dropped in snow and dirt. For all I can tell the device operates as good as new, so I anticipate years of service out of it. The device is small and light enough that I have no trouble carrying it with me for most of my adventures.

I intend to continue to use this product for most of my outdoor activities for the foreseeable future, and would without a doubt recommend this product to friends and family.

As always I invite you to post questions and comments about this on the 4AllOutdoor.org Forums.

I would like to thank 4AllOutdoors.org and the folks at Kestrel for giving me the opportunity to test this fine product.

Dave (the turtle) Wilkes

Kestrel 4500 Pocket Weather Tracker

By Hollis Easter

11 November 2009, updated 24 December 2009, updated 5 July 2010

(click to see full-size image)

As humans, we’re kind of obsessed with the weather. We put money aside for rainy days, make hay while the sun shines, and whistle while the winds of change are a-blowin’. Politicians snow us, and lack of morning coffee leaves us foggy. We might get misty-eyed at the memories of an old love, and we deliver lectures with thunder!

And yet our observations tend to be the earthy, folksy kind. We know less about katabatic air than about trick knees. Most of us know a bit about clouds, and we know enough to get a general sense of what the weather is locally: as Robin Williams says in Good Morning, Vietnam!, “You got a window? Open it!”

Some of us want more. Whether because we’re gadget gurus or meteorology wonks, we want detailed weather data. For me, I guess I’m a pretty serious gear tester at this point–I certainly write about a lot of backpacking gear–and it helps to be able to quote accurate environmental data.

I started carrying an altimeter on winter climbs last year, and I’ve found it an enjoyable addition to my hiking pack. There comes a time during most long hikes when I wonder whether I’m actually making any progress, and it’s lovely to be able to watch my altitude climbing. I assess my fitness level based on how tired I feel after a given amount of accumulated altitude. And, finally, for trailless peaks, it’s nice to know that I’m at the right elevation for the summit to be around here somewhere.

(click to see full-size image)

I’ve often wondered about other environmental data, though. How cold did it get last night? Why was I freezing last night but not tonight? How soon do I think it’s going to rain? How fast was the wind blowing when it blinded me on Marcy’s summit?

Enter the Kestrel series of weather meters from Nielsen-Kellerman, www.nkhome.com . I first read about Kestrel meters several years ago, and I coveted them instantly. They’re what you might call Serious Technology.

Nielson-Kellerman (which, for brevity, I’ll just call “NK” from here out) was kind enough to send me a Kestrel 4500 Pocket Weather Tracker, $409 US, which packs a colossal punch in a Lilliputian package. It’s light, only a bit bigger than my cell phone, is waterproof, floats, has user-replaceable parts, and is warranted for five years of service.

The Kestrel family of meters offers a wide variety of choices for those of us who want to monitor the weather. Several other 4AllOutdoors reviewers are writing about other Kestrel meters, so I’ll focus on the 4500, the flagship of the line.

It’s smaller and lighter than I expected. I was waiting for a big huge box, and I got one the size of a few decks of cards. The device inside is small, but here’s what it measures: wind speed, wind direction, crosswind, headwind and tailwind components, temperature, wind chill, relative humidity, heat stress, dewpoint, wet bulb temperature, barometric pressure, pressure trend, altitude, and density altitude. NK’s specifications for accuracy are impressive, and each meter carries a certificate of compliance guaranteeing its accuracy.

Something I really like about the Kestrel 4500 is that it features a data logging function. I can set it to record data points at preset intervals and, once set, the meter will take weather readings and store them even if I’ve turned the meter off. A clever twist is that I can choose whether to keep storing new data points (and overwriting old ones) or whether to stop when it runs out of memory. I’ve chosen the “stop” function so that I can keep access to my hiking records when I get home. Really cool!

NK also sells a computer interface package ($119 US) for its meters; I didn’t receive one, though I may purchase one later.

The Kestrel came with a pair of AAA batteries, which I inserted as instructed. There’s a plastic shim that fits between the batteries to keep them from rotating once inserted; NK’s manual explains that batteries have a magnetic signature that can interfere with the compass functions, and that shimming the batteries into place allows the meter to compensate for the added magnetism.

(click to see full-size image)

As soon as I put the batteries in, the meter turned itself on. The screen is large (3/4 in by 1 3/16 in) and quite easy to read, even in bright light. I can also turn on a blue-green backlight (using a dedicated button), which makes the screen very legible. (There’s also a night-vision version of the Kestrel 4500 that uses a dimmer red backlight to preserve the ability to see in low-light conditions).

Most of the user interface involves a set of up-down-left-right buttons with an enter button in the middle. All buttons are clearly labeled with icons rather than text, which is nice since the meter’s software offers switchable English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish options. There’s also a menu/power button and a snapshot button, which automatically logs the current readings to the unit’s memory.

This will be a very long review if I keep describing all of the unit’s functions, and I’d like to get to some field use, so I’ll promise to tell you more about the workings of the Kestrel 4500 in a future update.

Field Use:

Ted flies while Hollis measures wind speed on Hurricane (click to see full-size image. Photo by Stephanie Graudons; used with permission.)

I took the Kestrel up Hurricane Mountain with some friends on Halloween. We’d intended to climb a higher peak that day, but the winds were forecast for hurricane-strength (75+ miles per hour) and we wanted to stay at a slightly lower elevation. So we trotted off to Hurricane, a delightful little peak near Keene Valley, NY. Among those on the trip was my friend Ted, a meteorologist who works for NASA. He’s done time at New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Observatory, home of the world’s worst (human-recorded) weather, and has used Kestrel meters extensively. He had serious meter envy.

In the interest of science and gear testing, I stood on the summit like a dork for a very long time while I held the Kestrel meter into the wind. I measured sustained winds of 45+ mph, with a (measured) peak of 54.1 mph. I learned the following things:

• The impeller on the Kestrel works in either direction, meaning I can hold the meter so I can still see the screen.
• The highest winds always come right after I turn off the meter.
• Winds of 54.1 mph will blow me a foot or so backwards if I jump into the air.
• Holding the Kestrel into the airstream for an hour is a highly effective arm workout that becomes even more apparent the next day.

The altimeter seems very accurate as far as pressure altimeters go, and I was pleased to see that (unlike many altimeters) this one actually outputs elevation in increments of one foot. One small disappointment: there’s no altitude accumulation function built into the unit, so it isn’t possible to calculate total climb and descent (just maximum and minimum elevations). However, if I had the computer interface, I could easily calculate the data using a spreadsheet.

I felt pretty warm on the summit, even though the wind was gusting hard, but then I abruptly started feeling chilled. Temperature was the same… winds were the same… what gives? Turns out the relative humidity had gone up suddenly. Sure enough, the rain came soon after.

So who cares? I do. I now know that my “windproof” fleece jacket is effectively windproof at 54.1 mph, which is important to me given that I rely on it to keep me warm when the temperature is -30 F. I’m working on re-calibrating my temperature sense so I’m better aware of what given weather feels like right now, so I’ll feel safer this winter venturing out into bitter cold and serious wind.

To close, there are three other parts of my life (so far) where I’ve used the Kestrel’s capabilities. I learned that the temperature in my bedroom went down to 55 F last night, which explains why I had weird dreams about being cold. The Kestrel calculates headwind and crosswind components, which is handy because I’m a pilot. And finally, the temperature and humidity readings are helpful since I’m a bagpiper and need to adjust my reeds for the changing air of winter.

Thank you, Nielsen-Kellerman, for letting me review the Kestrel! I’m looking forward to using it more!

– Hollis

Blowing on the impeller to show wind speed (click to see full-size image)

Update: 24 December 2009

Hi folks! Here’s a quick pre-Christmas update to let you know that I’ve been carrying the Kestrel to the tops of lots of mountains lately, and it continues to work really well.

I used it this week while ice climbing at Azure Mountain, NY, and also while hiking in the High Peaks with some friends–we climbed Cascade and Porter Mountains, which are the 36th and 38th highest mountains in New York.

It’s really winter here, which gives me the opportunity to comment on the Kestrel’s cold-weather performance. It does really well! We were really cold on Cascade, to the point where we started getting nervous about frostbite inside our gloves. Sure enough, the Kestrel showed a wind chill of -19 Fahrenheit (based on air temperature of about 5 F and wind speed of about 19 knots). It’s cold out!

-19 F on Cascade! (click for full size)

I was testing new mountaineering boots on Azure, and the Kestrel helped me determine that they were comfortable for belaying as long as the temperature stayed above about 5 F. When it got colder, though, I felt like I was growing toe-cicles!

I also carried the Kestrel to the tops of Lyon Mountain, Catamount, Mt Arab, and Mt Morris within the last few weeks. The large buttons on the Kestrel work well even while wearing gloves, which is wonderful!

The Kestrel also helped me diagnose a furnace malfunction, since it let me measure air temperature throughout my house and find the places where it was a little bit warmer. The thermocouple is very sensitive and quick to update, and it picks up pretty small variations in air temperature.

The only regret I have so far is that I wish N-K would include the computer interface with the Kestrel, or at least make it less expensive. There have been many times when I would have liked to compare the atmospheric data visually, and it’s hard to do without the computer interface.

Otherwise, I’m truly impressed by the Kestrel meter. I gladly bring it on every trip these days, and it’s giving me some really useful information about how my insulation system performs in different conditions.

More information soon, and I hope you all enjoy your December holidays!

– Hollis

Hollis on Cascade Mountain, 19 December 2009 (click for full size)

Update: 5 July 2010

Hi folks! Although I basically finished up this review last winter, I’ve taken the Kestrel meter all over the place in the ensuing months, and I wanted to tell you about some of the neat things I’ve done with it.

I’ve been learning how to make videos lately, and I thought I would present this update in video form so you can hear my voice.

Here are the highlights:

• Kestrel 4500 makes airline travel more pleasant!
• Kestrel 4500 helps me to be a better bagpiper!
• Kestrel 4500 helps me keep my students comfortable.

Here’s the video!

My biking and hiking weekend with the Kestrel 4500 Weather Meter

By Christopher N.

Kestrel Weather Meter

I’m training for a century ride (100+ miles) as a part of a fundraising effort for the MS Society.  And I never turn down an opportunity to give the hiking legs a workout on vertical terrain.  This past weekend, I decided to combine the two activities while trying out the Kestrel 4500 Weather Meter.

This Kestrel unit is an amazingly powerful device that can be used for many purposes in a variety of environments.  It has enough features to satisfy the needs of many military professionals and bush pilots, but can be helpful for hunters, fishers, climbers, hikers, or really anyone who wishes to record environmental data for immediate readings or to study data trends.  Besides being a self-admitted data nerd who loves to record and analyze data, I am looking forward to using this device for recording environmental data while I’m out testing other outdoor gear.  For both my sake and those who read my reviews, I’d like to be able to definitively say, for example, that a tent withstood 50 mph winds (with gusts up to 65 mph), or that I slept warmly in a sleeping bag down to -40 degrees, without having to guess.

While it is a complex piece of equipment, I have found it to be relatively easy to set up and start using.  However, I do recommend taking a few minutes to read the set-up guide.  One of the key steps in starting up is to insert a shim between the batteries that reduces the magnetic interference of the batteries on the built-in compass.  If planning to use the device to measure barometric pressure and altitude, I also recommend reading the information about these two measurements and how they are measuring the same thing, expressed in different units.

Now back to my weekend!  On Saturday, I biked over 35 miles.  It was fun to see how the elevation changed over the course of my route as the unit recorded data points every couple minutes.  (There is a variable setting that can be used to record all data at intervals appropriate for the activity.)  Looking at the elevation graph after the ride, I remembered distinctly the huffing and puffing up some of those hills that showed up on the graph!  I stopped a couple times to measure the windspeed and the cross winds.  While these measurements are not critical for pedaling a bike, it was reassuring to realize that I wasn’t slowing down just because I was getting tired while riding across Lake Washington on the I-90 bridge.  I was bucking an 8 mph headwind!

On Sunday, I knew that a local trail that I like to hike would have a packed parking lot.  So, I parked a few miles away and biked to the trailhead before heading up.  The biking must have taken more out of me than I realized, because both my legs and the altitude graph on the Kestrel showed that I slowed down my vertical progress as I neared the top of my objective.  Once I reached the top, I used the device to record the temperature, humidity, and windspeed while testing another product.

I am looking forward to continuing to use this product in the coming weeks and months to see how many practical uses I can find, but also to determine whether it has some practical limitations.

Trailhead in Colorado

Life has gotten a bit crazy for me recently, as it often does for many of us.  Between increased responsibilities at work, an upcoming move, and a baby on the way, I have had to work hard to create opportunities to get out and test the Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker 4500.  As much as I look forward to the challenges that life brings, it’s nice to have an excuse to get outside and leave the hectic pace behind for an afternoon:  “Sorry, honey, we’ll have to pick out colors for the baby’s room tomorrow.  I have to go for a hike to test this cool piece of gear today!”

Between biking, hiking, and skiing outings, I’ve used the device roughly a dozen times in the field.  While I am having fun playing with it in various settings and activities, the most practical application for me is recording accurate environmental data for the purpose of testing other gear.  Don’t get me wrong… this piece of equipment is capable of measuring more than I’ll likely ever need to measure in a day (altitude, density altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, wind chill, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, crosswind, headwind, tailwind and more), but it excels at what is important to me:  accurate measurements in a format that is simple to read and record.

This serious piece of equipment retails for $409, though several other Kestrel models are available from the manufacturer (Nielsen-Kellerman) that perform many of the same basic functions for a lower price.  What sets the 4500 model apart from others in theKestrel line is the built-in digital compass to track wind direction.  The 4000 and 4500 also have the ability to record data over time and upload it to a computer for analysis.  This functionality requires the purchase of a computer interface accessory for $89, but for the serious data hounds, it would be well worth the cost.  (I’m tempted to pick one up for myself!)

Though small and lightweight for the punch it packs (5? x 2? x 1? and < 4 oz), it is still bigger and bulkier than my altimeter watch.  I have found that for quick reference while on the move, I prefer to glance at a watch on my wrist rather than have the Kestreldevice on a cord around my neck or have to pull it out of a pocket.  However, when accuracy or more sophisticated measurements are important — the Kestrel is my go-to tool!

Even after a dozen uses in the field and more than that many again while “playing” with the device on airplanes and around the house over the past few months, the two AAA batteries still have 78% capacity remaining, according to the reading on the screen of the device.  An adjustable setting allows the user to determine how long the screen should remain on before automatically turning off.  I have mine set for 10 minutes, because when using it, I tend to check it frequently.  I’m impressed at the battery life so far!

Field Use
I have not yet had the opportunity to test the limits of the device (other than while holding it out the window of my car while traveling at freeway speeds and hearing the high-pitched “whir” of the impeller).  (Which was fun, by the way!)  Each year, I typically take at least one extreme cold weather camping trip to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota.  I am looking forward to testing the temperature limits of the device up there!

In the meantime, below are a few snapshots of the device in use:

The altitude graph after a hike in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington

The trailhead elevation for a fun hike to a partially frozen-over lake on a chilly day in Colorado

Product testing a lightweight stove on a day hike in Washington

Many thanks to the good folks at Nielsen-Kellerman for allowing me to play with this cool piece of equipment!  I am excited to continue using it!

Electronics

• Alt-En Power Cabat Battery Pack
• Brunton Solaris i6 iPod/iPhone Charger
• Brunton Restore Charger
• i360
• iFrogz Custom Headphones
• Kestrel 2500 Pocket Weather Meter
• Kestrel 4500 Weather Meter
• Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker 4500
• Magellan Premium Car Kit
• Powermonkey-eXplorer Solar Charger
• Wilson Electronics Sleek Cell Phone Signal Booster

Watches

• Tech4o Accelerator Pro Plus Watch
• Tech4o TraiLeader Pro Watch
• Timex Expedition E-Altimeter Watch
• Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS Watch
• Timex Expedition Military Chrono Watch
• Timex WS4 Expedition Watch
• Origo Rendezvous Watch

Exercise & Fitness

• Gibbon Slackline Kit
• Gibbon Slackline Funline

Hydration

• Aladdin 16 oz. To-Go-Tumbler
• Aladdin Transform Recycled and Recyclable 16 oz. Mug
• Camelbak Flow Meter
• Camelbak Groove Portable Filtration System
• Camelbak Podium Ice Water Bottle
• Camelbak Podium Ice Water Bottle 2
• EarthLust Stainless Steel 20 oz. Bottle for Cold Beverages
• Hydro Flask 18 oz Narrow Mouth Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
• Platypus SoftBottle
• Takeya Classic Glass Water Bottle

Knives & Tools

• Benchmade 111H2O Dive Knife
• Benchmade Model 147 – NimCub-II
• Benchmade 551H2O Griptilian
• Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage
• Benchmade 930 Kulgera
• Benchmade 950BK Osborne Rift Axis
• Benchmade Pardue 530 Folding Knife
• Gerber Metolius Pocket Folder Knife
• Gerber Paraframe
• Gerber Ultimate Multi-Tool (Bear Grylls Survival Series Tools)
• Wenger EvoWood 16 Swiss Army Knife
• Wenger Titanium 1 Knife

Trekking Poles

• Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Poles
• Black Diamond Trail Shock Compact Trekking Poles
• Easton  CTR-80 Trekking Poles

Other

• Aquapac Small Stormproof Pouch
• Clever Wraps: Ringer Wraps
• Industrial Revolution Stormproof Matches
• Metro Magic Air Inflator/Deflator
• ROAD ID: Interactive Wrist ID Slim
• SEAL Line E-Reader Case
• TRUE Utility Cash Stash
• Wonder Warmers (reusable warmers)