Review: Conant Weather Station

I've been testing another product this summer, one that is important but not essential in these modern times of connectivity: a thermometer! Is it strange that I've never had a thermometer in my garden until this year? My problem was being spoiled for choice: there are so many different types of thermometers available, how would I choose the right one for me? I knew that I didn't want to go strictly functional, so something plastic or digital wasn't right.

When this spring I was contacted by Conant, an "Annapolis, MD-based manufacturer of high-quality functional home & garden decor", asking if there was something from their catalog that I'd be interested in reviewing, I was only slightly interested -- until I saw that they have a wide selection of weather instruments.

***

I chose a small but beautiful "weather station" from their Vermont collection. At about 4" diameter (100mm) it's not going to be a focal point in the garden, but it's made of copper -- and you know how much I love copper in the garden!

I like the simplicity of this design -- very easy to read. I'm not going to be able to see it from across the garden, but that's fine.

It also includes a hygrometer (to measure humidity) -- very useful in St. Louis summers for sure!

If you're wondering about the condensation inside, that's because it recently got knocked over and has been horizontal on my table for a few days. When vertical moisture doesn't seem to get in, and if it does it can drain out at the bottom:

(The condensation will soon clear up now that the unit is vertical again.)

So looks great, easy to read, shows humidity too, is sturdy. Are there any drawbacks?

Well, yes, just one. This weather station needs to be mounted in the shade, as when in direct sun you'll get inaccurately high readings. Not just a couple of degrees either -- there were times this summer when the readings were 25ºF higher. Once when it was 85ºF (29ºC) the unit read almost 110ºF (43ºC).  Note that when not in direct sunlight, this unit was accurate.

I'm not sure if this is because of the metal body, but it's caused a problem for me: I don't know where to mount it! That's why it's been on the table all summer. Placing it where it can be read from either the door to the deck or the kitchen window -- the most convenient spots -- means that it will be in sunlight in the morning (door) or midday (window).

I suppose I should just mount it somewhere and see how it goes, then move it if there is a problem. I often overthink in situations like this, planning when action is required. (Copper mounting bracket and screws are included.)

Bottom line: I'm glad to have this beautiful instrument in my garden, but it won't be my only source of info -- I will still be using the Internet to check temperatures for comparison, at least for a while.

(Note that although Conant is a US-based company, their products are manufactured in China.)


I received this weather station free of charge for review, but was not otherwise compensated for this review. 

.