Just curious if the ones that plug into the phone are accurate or if I should just get a stand alone wind meter, and what inexpensive ones work. It would be nice to be sure what my conditions are before I rig my kites.

I find the best wind indicator to be a wind sock / spinner. You can tell so much about what is going on just by a quick look at the sock.

I have two anemometers that I don't use. I can look @ the sand,water, trees,etc. and tell about what range it's blowing. Pay for shipping and I'll send ya one.

We sell the Weather Flow. I've stopped using my Brunton ADC in favor of it because of the ability to upload wind readings to friends and sites. Becoming and instant mobile wind station is pretty sweet. Accuracy seem good. Not perfect, but pretty close. It's a good tool for general reference but I feel as Blade does, you should always look at you're surroundings and also listen carefully.

We just started selling the JDC Windo 1. The base model. Works the same as the Weather Flow but is smaller and Omni directional. Haven't used it myself but will do so in about 10 minutes. :D We won't add the other JDC's until we really have some time with the base model. I suspect they are very good and I'm sure you can't go wrong with either.

Specs can be found here...

http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/small-parts-and-leashes.html

I have an inexpensive one that I'm guessing used to be pretty accurate, but then somehow my daughter got a loooooooong strand of doll hair sucked up into a wrapped it all around the little propeller's spindle. I took it apart and removed the doll hair, but never felt like it was quite so accurate as it might be.

I use two. The weatherflow if I'm just out and about. its cool, but I do the eyeball check about 60% of the time.

When I'm out for an extended time, I like the Eole. I can mount it on a tripod and its multidirectional so you don't have to worry about the wind direction shifting on you. Weldngod made you the best offer. Beats hairy spindles.

Here's what I use. Cheap and accurate. Plus watching the ball bounce around lets you know how steady the wind is.

I've never used one of those. Looked at 'em and yeah for the price it's a pretty handy unit I bet.

Honestly the phone based units are great but in reality an experienced kiter is going to be able to tell what the wind is doing based on what they see during site assessment. I really like the phone units to be able to share what is happening on site over the web and seeing who shows up. :D It's pretty handy being a real time mobile weather station some times.

Everyone should have one IMO and Mike's right Weldngod's offer is the best deal going. You should snap one up. It will take the guess work out of the equation until you get comfortable judging on your own.


By the way, I didn't get much use out of our new phone windmeter yesterday. No wind! But we got a good test of the 18m Chrono.

Here's a pic of the Weather Flow and the Windo for size comparison. Much smaller unit.

Thanks all. I did take WG up on his offer under his condition that I pass it along to the next person that needs it. I think I'm a pretty good judge of what kite to put up but sometimes I put too much stock in my apps and put the wrong kite up knowing in the back of my head that all other signs point otherwise. Also, I have an idea of what I think the winds are doing and I think it would be nice to compare what I think to what the actual wind measures. Thanks Weldngod!

By the way Randy, that one is very cool. You wouldn't have to worry about batteries or downloading apps or other BS that accompany some of our modern technology.

I have the weather flow model and it's nice because it doesn't need separate batteries. I really only get it out when the wind is very high or to settle a debate on what the wind speed is. It also helps discuss the wind with someone not there.

The good side of having a wind meter is to be able to put a number to what you see. You learn things like you have to start leaning into the wind a bit at 25 mph.

Sean ,I'll get it posted Fri. or Sat. . I hope it helps you learn to gauge the wind better. You can't beat this deal!

Thanks! your right, that is a hard deal to beat. It will be interesting to see if the estimated wind ranges I have for my kites in my head match what the meter says. I've said this earlier but the only time I usually put the wrong kite up is when I'm trusting my weather app and not what it feels like. This past Sunday is a good example. My weather app showed like it was 5 meter wind. When I got to my spot, it felt very light for a 5 meter. I put up the 7 meter and was perfect with room to spare. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere with the 5.5. I used to take 1 or 2 kites with me based on weather reports. Anymore, I take 2.5 - 7 every time just in case. I learned that one the hard way a few times.

No matter what the wind meter or forecasts say, you still have to deal with what's happening.
A wind meter is a great help in learning to judge wind speed. Most people overestimate as the feel is a logarithmic type thing.

But the REAL danger is rogue gusts. Just like rogue waves ,you can't predict them. And they likely won't happen until you are at full power.

Its simple. If you cant get the kite in the air, you need a bigger one. If its dragging you on your face, you need a smaller one. :P

yup!

Quote:

But the REAL danger is rogue gusts. Just like rogue waves ,you can't predict them. And they likely won't happen until you are at full power.

On our higher wind days in my area, there is a huge variance between the gust and lulls. So each gust feels like a semi rogue gust. If they are predicting average winds of 17 mph, than that is almost always accompanied with gusts in high twenties low thirties.