Which La Crosse Weather Station Should I Buy?

Filed Under: La Crosse Technology,Weather Stations

We break down La Crosse's expansive product lineup, and pick the best buys

We’ve noticed increasing interest in weather stations from La Crosse Technology from our readers, and from time to time have had questions on various La Crosse weather station models. It’s not surprising: their stations are inexpensive and readily available, not only from Amazon but from brick-and-mortar stores.

What is the best La Crosse weather station to buy? We’ve laid out our picks below. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments if you own one! Let’s get started.

Top Rated La Crosse Stations

La Crosse Technology Company Profile

La Crosse was founded in 1983 by its owner and current president, Allen McCormick, who traveled nationally with his mobile showroom of products. The company’s first devices were clocks, but the company has since expanded internationally with weather data, atomic time, and other home devices. The company’s main headquarters, sales, and distribution remain in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the company’s namesake.

Two interesting facts about La Crosse: it was the first to introduce radio-controlled clocks to the US market (1991), and in 2008, it sold the first internet-connected weather station.

The company’s full story can be found here.

The 5 Best La Crosse Weather Stations

1
La Crosse Technology C85845-INT Weather Station, Black
Editor's Choice

La Crosse Technology C85845-INT Weather Station, Black

This Amazon bestseller is our top pick in indoor outdoor thermometers.

While we generally don’t recommend La Crosse weather stations as there are better options, one thing La Crosse Technology does well is indoor and outdoor thermometers. One of the best indoor-outdoor thermometers is the C85845-INT, which features an adjustable brightness color display and an attractive console that doesn’t take up much space.

In addition to indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, this large display indoor outdoor thermometer also measures the dewpoint and heat index, and “comfort levels” are shown below the humidity readings. While the C85845-INT does measure barometric pressure to provide a forecast, that information isn’t shown.

The console runs off AC power, with 3 AA batteries used as backup (the outdoor sensor also requires batteries). La Crosse also sells a radiation shield for the sensor to improve the accuracy of outdoor measurements, which we recommend.

What We Liked
  • Large, bright display
  • Battery backup
What We Didn't Like
  • Accuracy isn't great without optional radiation shield for the outdoor sensor

The La Crosse V40A-PRO-INT is a fully-featured weather station, unlike the C85845-INT. In addition to indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, the V40A-PRO-INT measures wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall. It's expandable using other La Crosse sensors and is Wi-Fi connected. It also has forecast icons that change with the seasons, which we've always found to be a cool feature of the company's weather stations.

At this price, we'd recommend the Ambient Weather WS-2902 if it's cheaper. But occasionally, this model is on sale for a substantial discount, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.

3
La Crosse Technology V21-WTH Wireless Wi-Fi Weather Station

La Crosse Technology V21-WTH Wireless Wi-Fi Weather Station

If you don't need internet connectivity, the V21-WTH is a great alternative to more expensive stations.

The La Crosse V21-WTH is a good option if you're short on space. Much like the AcuRite Notos, it mounts to the top of a mast and measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. However, one thing it has that the Notos does not have is internet connectivity. If you like the Notos but want to be still able to monitor your backyard weather remotely, the V21-WTH is an excellent alternative.

The La Crosse 328-10618-INT is very similar to the V21-WTH, however, with a rain gauge allowing you to work better with tight spaces. We also like that it's internet-connected and expandable -- and not badly priced, either!

A digital rain gauge is the perfect option if you don't need a full-blown weather station but need to monitor rainfall (gardeners, we're looking at you). The La Crosse 724-1415BL is a wireless rain gauge that also monitors indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity as a bonus. This gauge tracks rainfall readings from the past hour, day, week, month, and year, and an icon tells you how many days it's been since it last rained (or how long it's been raining).

This model has no internet connectivity, which is a shame. However, it's not badly priced for a digital rain gauge, and reviews are generally positive.

What We Liked
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What We Didn't Like
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La Crosse FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions from our readers about La Crosse weather stations.

Are La Crosse Weather Stations Accurate?

La Crosse stations are best used for general-purpose weather observation, where accuracy may not be as important. The sensors used in these weather stations aren’t as high quality as other stations from Davis or even Ambient Weather, which means your measurements might not be as accurate. However, La Crosse stations are some of the most affordable on the market, and some models have helpful features not found on other brands, like mold alerts.

Where Are La Crosse Weather Stations Made?

La Crosse’s sales, distribution, and customer service staff are all in La Crosse, Wisconsin. However, the weather stations themselves are manufactured in China.

How Do I Set Up My La Crosse Wireless Weather Station?

The exact instructions to set up your station vary by model. We have a page full of weather station manuals, including some La Crosse stations.

For Better Accuracy and Performance

La Crosse manufactures many cheap weather stations with varying degrees of quality. The average person or casual weather observer will be happy with the performance. However, if you’re a weather enthusiast looking for better accuracy, we recommend considering other manufacturers first. See our list of preferred brands, which you can find by clicking Buyers Guides in the menu above.

Any questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments below!

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Our commitment to accuracy

All content on The Weather Station Experts is written by or reviewed by humans before it is posted to our website. Our contributors and editors include degreed meteorologists and scientists, all committed to providing our readers with the highest-quality content. If you spot an error, please let us know.

About the Author

Ed Oswald

Ed Oswald has nearly two decades of experience in technology and science journalism, and specializes in weather stations and smart home technology. He's written for Digital Trends, PC World, and TechHive. His work has also appeared in the New York Times. When he isn't writing about gadgets, he enjoys chasing severe weather and winter storms.
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