There’s no doubt about it: the Kestrel 5000 is a beast of a handheld weather station. While the Kestrel 5500 is the company’s top-of-the-line model, the additional functionality you get is primarily targeted towards wind-sensitive uses (crosswind, tailwind, etc.) You won’t need that in most cases. As a result, the Kestrel 5000 is $80 cheaper (MSRP).

We’d strongly recommend purchasing the model with LiNK. Using a mobile phone and Kestrel’s app, you can view data up to 100 feet away from the device, making it useful for taking fixed readings without having to stand in the elements to do it.

We understand that many might find the Kestrel 5500 to be a bit of overkill — after all, it’s Kestrel’s top-of-the-line weather meter. If you’re looking for something a bit simpler that’s also much friendlier on the pocketbook, then we’d suggest the Kestrel 3500 weather meter instead. It has all of the functionality of the 5500 but lacks the internal compass and data-logging functionality.

For most of us, that’s not going to be that big of an issue. Also, the Kestrel 3500 is a little more compact than the 5500, as it uses the same CR2032 battery as some of Kestrel’s cheaper models (the 5500 uses AA batteries). If you’re sticking this in your pocket when it’s not in use, that might matter.

A step up from the Kestrel 2000, which adds temperature to the wind meter, is the Kestrel 3000. With humidity also measure, the device can measure variables like dewpoint and heat index. That’s why the company’s dubbed it a “heat stress monitor,” and we think this would be useful for those that spend a lot of time outdoors for work.

However, if you don’t have a real use for this data, we’d recommend stepping down to the much more reasonably priced Kestrel 2000. The nice thing about Kestrel meters is that the instrumentation is generally the same across the entire line, so you’re not losing accuracy, just features.

The Kestrel 2000 Pocket Wind and Temperature Meter is Kestrel’s higher-end handheld anemometer before you get into their “weather meters,” which is a majority of their line. Running on just a CR2032 watch battery, like all Kestrel meters the Kestrel 2000 is waterproof and tested to military standards and is made right here in the U.S. at its suburban Philadelphia factory.

In addition to wind speed readings, the Kestrel 2000 wind meter also includes a digital thermometer, which adds the capability to measure temperature and wind chill. This is a great pick for those looking for a higher-end handheld wind meter without all the bells and whistles of a handheld weather station.

Ambient Weather makes our rankings for the Best Handheld Weather Station of 2022 with the WM-5 Handheld Weather Meter. The feature set of the WM-5 is much like the Kestrel 3500, although the WM-5 is only water-resistant and not waterproof. If you’re not using your handheld weather station in harsh conditions or near water, that might not be that big of an issue.

Reviews of the device are surprisingly good, with most users reporting that the readings are accurate and the device is easy to use. One big complaint however is the battery life, which users report is far less than other similar weather meters. That said, the company does get high marks for its customer support if anything goes wrong.

In terms of price, the Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter is as expensive (if not more) as some of the weather stations we’ve reviewed. But there’s a reason for this: all those instruments are packed into this beast of a handheld weather station. In addition to temperature and wind speed, the Kestrel 5500 can measure humidity and barometric pressure. An internal compass can also tell you wind direction and calculate headwind, tailwind, and crosswind when the Kestrel 5500 is used with an optional vane mount.

Another cool feature of the 5500 is LiNK, Kestrel’s connectivity platform. Using a mobile phone and Kestrel’s app, you can view data up to 100 feet away from the device.

If your budget is super tight, the BTMETER BT-100 wind speed meter is a popular seller on Amazon (as well as a popular alternative among TWSE readers, too). For casual use, the BT-100 is perfect as it retails for under $40, and measures all of the commonly included variables like temperature, wind, and wind chill.

But the BT-100 isn’t necessarily built for this use: instead, it (and other copycat models on Amazon) are for technicians to test the performance of HVAC units. But buyers are using it for weather, and with a good degree of success too. Keep in mind that wind readings max out at 67mph, and the margin of error is a rather large 5% — far bigger than any of our previous recommendations.

Also Consider

If you don’t need any bells and whistles and just need a great handheld anemometer, consider the Kestrel 1000 wind meter. It’s built the same way as the Kestrel 2000, just without the temperature sensor. Since it’s of similar construction, the accuracy is the same too — as it shares the same turbine that the more expensive models do.

If accuracy is a concern for you, we don’t think a budget wind meter will serve you well. The Kestrel 1000 is more expensive than most other wind meters we’ve seen, but we think the added cost is worth it. Overall, we’re very impressed with Kestrel’s lineup, and it’s the reason why you’ll see their devices quite a bit in this list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most often-asked questions by readers.

Wrapping Up

For the price, the Ambient Weather meters are a good deal. However, we’d recommend considering the Kestrel Weather Meter, as they have more functionality and are more durable (and waterproof). We’ve created a post summarizing those recommendations, which you can find here.