Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters - 4500NV Pocket Weather Tracker

Tester 1 of 3
Tested by a police officer from Kentucky
Individual Score: 4.9

Once you turn the device on and perform a date/time set-up and a compass calibration, you will instantly have access to readings for wind speed, wind chill, direction, heading, headwind and tailwind averaging, manual data storage, humidity readings, a barometer and an altimeter. There are also multiple measurements and modes charts available for navigation. The Kestrel 4500 even allows you to arrange your own personal user pages.

The Kestrel 4500 is very user-friendly. It's compact and comes with its own lanyard and carrying case. I used the Kestrel 4500 during SWAT training, as a weather forecaster on the range, and also in a long rifle/observer position to determine wind speed, direction, average and humidity. This is a great tool. Although I did not try it, you can upload your data from the Kestrel 4500 to a PC. The Kestrel 4500 even comes with a lifetime customer care warranty and a warranty that covers calibration and certification. I highly recommend this piece of equipment.

Tester 2 of 3
Tested by a police officer from Pennsylvania
Individual Score: 5

The Kestrel 4500NV pocket weather meters are identical to the company's brightly colored models. They bear the same model number, but they are olive drab in color and have a red backlight to help preserve the user's night vision. The first step to setting up the Kestrel 4500NV is to install the supplied AAA batteries. There are very specific yet simple instructions on how to do it. The batteries can affect the compass and the compass must be recalibrated after the batteries are replaced.

Calibrating the compass is also very straightforward and simple. All of the instructions are clear and concise. My only complaint is that the font size could be larger (my eyes are getting old!). The next step after the compass calibration and setting the time and date was to set up the user screens. There are three user screens which are programmable to display any combination of three readings simultaneously. I set one screen for wind direction, wind speed and temperature, and the second screen for relative humidity, cross wind and barometric pressure. With just two user screens, I got the information I needed. For more than 12 years I have been keeping data books for my long rifles.

In the early days I was limited to the temperature and my estimate of the wind speed to document the atmospheric conditions in the data book, supplemented with local weather reports. By using the Kestrel wind/weather meter I have been able to accurately document just about every possible weather-related variable at the specific location and time that I am shooting, and I now have the added data of the compass.

Not only does the compass indicate the heading, but it can also display the wind direction as well as differentiate between cross, head and tailwinds. A handy accessory is the Kestrel Portable Vane Mount which allows the wind/weather meter to spin freely in the slightest breeze. It can be mounted on the Kestrel Lightweight Monopod or any standard camera tripod. I made a mount that fits both on my spotting scope and on my rifle rest.

I realize that I am only utilizing a small percentage of the data that the Kestrel 4500NV records. The compass features significantly enhance the other data book entries and also allows the 4500NV to replace a traditional compass and can be used for land navigation. Furthermore, the data that the Kestrel 4500NV provides would be equally valuable to other SWAT team members in the planning of and the deployment of irritant gas or smoke.

In the emergency management of nuclear, biological or chemical incidents, knowing the wind speed and directions would be crucial. Overall I found no fault with the Kestrel 4500NV. I have also had occasions to contact Nielsen-Kellerman over the years with questions and for tech support and they were always happy to help and willing to take the time to explain anything that I did not understand.

Tester 3 of 3
Tested by a police officer from Arizona
Individual Score: 4.29

The Kestrel 4500NV Pocket Weather Tracker requires the user to place a small plastic shim between the batteries so that the magnetic signature does not influence the compass readings. The user is also required to calibrate the device prior to its use. At first glance the directions look intimidating, but as long as you follow the instructions it is quite easy to set up and use.

Once calibrated, you can view an endless amount of weather records like exterior temperature, humidity and pressure sensors for fast and accurate readings along with a built-in digital compass. As a tactical medic, I used this product to obtain the wet bulb temperature to aid in tracking fluid replacement in team members during missions and training. It also allowed me to set up a work/rest schedule.

While putting together a medical threat assessment, the Kestrel Weather Tracker proved useful as an additional verification tool regarding the information that was compiled prior to deploying on a mission. I also found this piece of equipment to be very quick and reliable in providing accurate information once on scene.

The various measurements that are available with this unit are: heading (true and magnetic); wind direction; crosswind; headwind/tailwind; altitude; pressure trend; barometric pressure; relative humidity; heat stress index; dew point; wet bulb temperature; density altitude; wind chill; air, snow and water temperatures; current and average wind speeds and maximum wind gust; customizable 2000 data point storage; and data upload (with optional interface). There is a hookup available for the PC and a red backlight to preserve night vision.

It comes with a pouch for protection and a strap so you can put it around your neck. This unit even tells you when your batteries are low. It is waterproof and very well-designed. I would recommend this piece of gear to all SRT/SWAT teams.