The Best Backpacking Thermometer for 2023

If you’re looking for a review on backpacking thermometers you’ve come to the right place. We compare five different thermometers to help you choose the right one for you.

Whenever looking for a backpacking thermometer you want to find the best product to meet your specific needs. As you look at the different thermometers you’ll see different quality and prices, primarily based on the different features and functions.

You definitely want to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to your equipment, but it’s also important to make sure that you get gear that is going to work for you. This is especially important when you are going backpacking or hiking.

Whether you’re going backpacking, fishing, or camping it’s always a good idea to bring a decent thermometer with you. Fortunately, they don’t take up a lot of space, and knowing the temperature and weather conditions can be lifesaving for you. More advanced mulit-function thermometer devices do a great job of predicting storms, helping you to measure the wind speed. The more advanced devices will also monitor the atmospheric pressure and act as a barometer. This becomes especially important when you hiking in higher elevation or climbing on a trail above the tree line.

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If you are hiking in the cover of trees, you don’t notice the strength of the wind or the effects of the wind chill. Without the cover of the trees, knowing how strong the wind is, and how cold the wind chill makes the temperature feel while carrying a pack across the rocks is important. We take a look at the top five backpacking thermometers to help you choose the one that fits your backpacking needs.

Backpacking Thermometer Comparison Table

You can see our comparison table of the top 5 backpacking thermometers. Our list includes two basic thermometers and three multifunction digital units with many advanced features beyond giving you just the temperature. You will see options for old school simple design thermometers with a single line marking the temperature and high-end digital units with many features including backlit lcd screens.

Best Backpacking Thermometer: BTMETER Aneometer BT-100

Our top choice for the best backpacking thermometer of 2020 is the BTMETER Anemometer BT-100.

The multi-function thermometer has everything you need in a backpacking unit. This thermometer is small enough to stow away easily enough in your backpack while giving you important information like temperature and wind chill factor.

The backlit LCD screen is easy to read and the rubberized buttons are easy to use. See our full review below.

The Top 5 Backpacking Thermometers

1. Sun Company Original Zip-o-gage – Zipper-Pull Thermometer

We start our review of the best backpacking thermometers with and old school favorite. We love the simple design of the zip-o-gate thermometer. As the name suggests, it is designed to be attached to the zipper of your jacket or parka. It has a nice temperature scale for both Celsius and Fahrenheit on the front, while the back has an air temperature wind chill factor table. One disadvantage is that you have to already know the approximate wind speed to calculate the wind chill. Wind chill is why the temperature does not always feel like the temperature reading.

The thermometer is cushion mounted which helps make it durable and impact resistant. It attaches using a nickle-plated split ring like what you see on your typical key ring. This device has been around since 1972 and reminds me of the plaid pants era when my mother used to dress me in some interesting clothes. We also like the idea that the product is designed and final assembled in the United States. The production would be considered small batch manufacturing. We like this being close to home in Denver Colorado.

The pros are that it is simple and intelligent. The con is the limit to temperature alone and needing to to know the wind speed to calculate the wind chill. For a minimalist appoach and something super light weight, this is a great choice.

2. HOLDPEAK 866B Digital Anemometer Handheld Wind Speed Meter for Measuring Wind Speed, Temperature and Wind Chill

The HOLDPEAK 866B Digital Anemometer is a great device to bring with you when you are backpacking or hiking and need a thermometer and more. I remember the first time I was above the treeline hiking a mountain that was about a mile high. I had a moderate sized pack with me and the wind was blowing pretty hard with some strong gusts of wind. You have to to be careful when climbing in these conditions and having a device like the HOLDPEAK 866B  gives you the information you need to help prepare for your hike. With this device you’ll be able to see the wind chill indication, the max wind speed, the average wind speed and the current wind speed. One of the nice features is the manual and auto power off button, which helps you conserve your battery. Depending on the specific mode you get, you can also get information on the relative humidity and dew point as well.

The device is compact enough to fit easily in your pack. One disadvantage is the screen is slightly smaller than some of the other units in our review. Overall this is a solid unit and well worth considering for your next trip. The LCD screen is backlit which is really helpful to see the readings.

3. SUNDERPOWER 8 in 1 Digital Multifunction LCD Compass Altimeter Barometer Thermometer

If you are looking for a digital multifunction thermometer, but don’t require information related to wind speed, then this device would be a good choice for you. Some of the advantages of this device is the larger lcd screen and yet overall it has a very small footprint from a size standpoint. It easily fits into your hand and has a design that easy to hold on to. With this device you get a great barometer, altimeter, and thermometer. Another great feature is the ability to give you weather forecasts. When you are backpacking you not only want to the know the temperature and weather right now, but you also want to know what weather conditions you are going to be facing. This can help you adjust your day of hiking, or where you stop to camp for the night.

Another nice feature is the digital compass to help give you your bearings on the direction you are traveling. Especially helpful when it is overcast or raining and you can’t see the sun. It also had the date and time along with a calendar. We like the rubberized, larger buttons on this unit.

The one disadvantage for this device is not having the wind speed and wind chill information. If that is functionality you don’t need, then this would be a great choice.

4. BTMETER Digital Anemometer Handheld BT-100 Wind Speed Meter Gauge, Accurately Measure Wind Temperature Speed

The BTMETER Digital Anemometer Handheld BT-100 wind speed meter gauge is our top choice for the best backpacking thermometer when you are hitting the trails. This s durable multi-function unit. The unit can be used for a lot of outdoor activities, which is great. You will not only have the device when you go hiking, but you can also use it when you go hunting, boating and more. The anemometer will give you the maximum, minimum, and average wind speed, which is super helpful when backpacking in the open where you are vulnerable to wind gusts making you unsteady as you are climbing the mountain trails.

The wind temperature range in very wide and should give you everything you need. The range is -10 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius. Depending on the specific model you decide to get, it will also come with a blue tooth app, and a sensor for barometric pressure and altitude. Another advantage of the BTMeter BT-100 is the easy to use button interface and the LCD screen. The read out is nice on the large LCD, making it easy to get the readings you need. The LCD screen is also backlit to help in low light situations. The one disadvantage compared to the simple thermometers is the size. While still small enough to easily put in your backpack, the unit weighs 12.8. If every ounce matters to you, the weight may be a factor. Our personal opinion is that the additional weight is well worth the trade off for all the BTMETER BT-100 provides.

5. Sun Company TempaComp – Ball Compass and Thermometer Carabiner

Our last pick for the top 5 thermometers for backpacking is another old school favorite. Similar to the first thermometer we reviewed, the Sun Company Zip-o-gauge, the functionality is simple and straight forward. The TempaComp has a few more features than the basic backpacking thermometers. The compass is nice added feature to have.

We like the low tech aspect of this thermometer. When you are in the back country backpacking, it just simply works. Another great feature is the carabiner clip making it easy to attach to your pack or your jacket using the split ring keychain design. One disadvantage is the lack of windchill and windspeed information. If those are not requirements, we highly suggest a thermometer like this. Our last suggestion is to carry this with you as a backup, even if you do have have one of the more advanced digital thermometers.

Bonus Suggestion –  HAPPEEY Digital Anemometer, Wind Speed Meter, Air Flow Velocity Temperature Measuring Wind Chill with Thermometer

While the HAPPEEY Digital Anemometer didn’t make our official review, we had to include this unit as a bonus suggestion. It is another solid choice for a multi function thermometer for backpacking. Check the specs below, and be HAPPEEY as you hike.

How Windspeed Affects Temperature

So how does windspeed influence temperature beyond what a thermometer measures? Check out our video below.