I think its time I bought a wind meter, can anyone recommend which are the best (not expensive) brands to look for?
Do any of them come with a compass so you can check direction as well (for the geographically embarassed 
).
i don't know which one is best but you can get ones that have compass' included.
a few of my mates have bought some at around $80. they're more of a fun luxory then something that i think you really need.
I bought a $80 one from Dick Smiths- it is pretty much useless. I have a $300 one that I use for work (air conditioning) that is much more accurate but still not great. I find the best thing to gauge wind strength is the way the water and the trees look and make an assumption from there...
Just my 2c worth.
I use a Kestrel 4500, it has an inbuilt compass so tells you the wind direction and speed, you can give it a head and it will tell you Crosswind/Tailwind. Also gives you temperature and its waterproof so if you can place it in water and it will tell you water temp.
It measures:
* Heading (true & magnetic)
* Wind direction
* Crosswind
* Headwind/tailwind
* Altitude
* Pressure trend
* Barometric pressure
* Wet bulb temperature
* Relative humidity in %
* Heat stress index
* Dewpoint
* Wet bulb temperature
* Density altitude
* Wind chill
* Air, water, and snow temperature ?F or ?C
* Current, average, and maximum air velocity
At around $500 its probably over kill for kiteboarding but I use it when I'm flying out of a remote airfield that doesn't have data available.
This site seems to have a decent range at not to expensive prices:
www.windpowersports.com/accessories/wind-gauges.php
Avoid looking like a tool
Spend the $300 on 2nd hand board or kite
Lick your finger instead,
Or better still have your girlfirend lick your finger :P
As for Airush Geoff, he can tell how windy it is by the way his skirt blows around his legs.
1. Grab a cheap or unused Digital Multimeter DMM) such as this one from Jaycar ($8.00) or Bunnings ($less) http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QM1500&CATID=12&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=546
2. Pull the (working) fan out of an old PC power supply.
3. Connect the fan leads to the DMM and set the DMM to read AC voltage to 30 or 50V or AC current to 5 or 10mA. For 3 wire fans, find the pair that give the highest reading on the DMM (most sensitive). Ensure the leads between the DMM and the fan are at least as long as your arm.
4. Hold the fan into a wind strong enough to spin the fan and away you go. Dont try to calbrate it into knots - you'll adapt faster to the voltage/current readings that suit your kites.
5. You dont need a compass either. Just add a 4-6 inch length of cotton thread to the top of the fan to act as a wind direction indicator.
Enjoy.
If I get enough requests, I'll make up a batch using all new parts for $30 plus postage (~$10) or $20 using recycled PC fans with 7 day warranty on the fan (plus postage).
Heres my original using an old analog multmeter:
Otherwise the abusers will outnumber the rest of us.
Would I want a backlit multimeter sandgrouper. Just incase I needed to use it at night. Not that I would be kiting at night, that would be wrong, but just incase. ROFL
Very ingenious Sandgrouper
Don't let the doomsayers berate you, people are scared of others
smarter then them (the tall poppy syndrome strikes again), all
when the bloke was just trying to save windies a few bucks on a wind indicator.
Poor form wal269 (but i'm sure it was just a joke, right?)
Plus, how could you call anyone that participates in watersports a nerd wal269?
Yeah, 2008, the year when kiting was nerdy! Haha, back to my less-nerdy windsurfing then (come join us wal269,
obviously you don't wanna be nerdy, as being smarter is obviously not cool, but being dumb is cool, right?)!
Isn't being better then someone at something elevate them above others?
Who actually owns a windmeter? What type/any problems or is it all good?
Looking to find a cheapy that will do a few function and is durable and accurate, are these functions mutually exclusive?
Thanks dism, getting things back on track 
I want to get feedback on what people are using and find works and wont cost me a new board, any comments?
Sorry Knickers we are digressing. (but its all good fun )
Ive got one of those flat ones you have to hold 90 deg's into the wind or they dont read correct strength
If I was buying another one (which I wouldnt) I would go with one of those backlit ones with a whirly-gig on top - ones that pick up the wind in 360 deg's. I havent seen these on sale in WA but Kitepower Steve has them. (sorry dont know the brand name)
Ive heard good ones are cheaper now that the cheaper-still-but-nasty ones have appeared. ie I wouldnt go too cheap.
I'd maybe look at the yachties and dingy sailor websites, they have been sailing the winds and trying this kit way before kites (and windsurfers prob) were even thought of
Watch out but, some of their's would cost and arm and a leg (losses not too handy to do either kiting or windsurfing!)
In the old days, kiting used to attract weird freaks with a penchant for building dangerous stuff, and the balls to give it a crack. Now it's all about showing your crack and handling your balls.
I LOVE that someone is out there making something, and proving that your brain isn't just a big wet thing that stops your head from caving in.
Personally, I won't go out in anything over 4.5 Volts.
wouldnt have thought so.) entertained.
wouldnt have thought so.) entertained.
If you pee into the wind and it lands on your feet,its 17knots.
If it hits your knees,its 25knots
If it lands where its comming from,put up ya smallest kite
The pee wind meter is accurate within 2knots and is free for anyone to use.
Not sure how this would work for females.
well done
