Instrument Choice’s 2021 Best Weather Station Gift Guide
As more decorations appear in shops, it’s starting to feel like the “silly season” is here. If you’re stuck for gift ideas – this article is for you.
Weather stations make excellent and highly-practical gifts. So, whether you are looking for a gift for a parent, partner, friend (or yourself), we guarantee that you will find the perfect gift idea in our weather station guide.
See the best-performing instruments beginning from models under $A150, all the way up to professional models for weather enthusiasts.
What is a Home Weather Station?
A home weather station typically includes at least one outdoor sensor and an indoor console or receiver. Home weather stations collect a range of backyard environmental and weather data - providing the lucky owners with insights and forecasts for their microclimate.
What Makes a Weather Station the Perfect Gift?
Weather stations make excellent and highly practical gifts. Have you noticed how often official local forecasts don’t match the local weather? How often have family and friends shared similar stories? Such events are common due to local city weather station sensors being located significant distances from someone’s home.
What’s different is that a home weather station generates forecasts and provides real-time data based on the owner's microclimate.
In other words, it is guaranteed to be as accurate as possible! What’s more, many highly effective weather stations are surprisingly affordable.
The 2021 Weather Station Gift Guide
Instrument Choice has made choosing this year’s best home weather station easy. For your gift-giving convenience, your weather station guide is sorted into three main price categories:
- Best Home Stations Under $150AU
- Best Home Weather Stations From $150AU to $500AU; and
- Best Home Stations Above $500AU.
Best Home Weather Stations Under $150AU
These budget-friendly weather stations are affordable, feature-packed, and guaranteed to delight!
Thermo RH Station With 8 Temperature Channels
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Wireless Weather Station
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Temperature/Humidity Weather Station
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Weather Station With Rain Gauge, Wind Speed And Direction
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Temperature/Humidity Weather Station with 7 Inch Colour Display
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Best Home Weather Stations From $150AU to $500AU
This price bracket includes stations with more advanced features like WIFI connectivity, PC connectivity, coloured indoor displays and outdoor multi-sensors capable of collecting and retrieving weather data. We recommend these stations to keen weather watchers or those weather station owners ready for an upgrade.
V10-TH Remote Monitoring WiFi Color Weather Station
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WS1081 Ver3 TESA Professional Weather Station
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Digital Weather Station with Colour Display
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7 Inch Colour WiFi Wireless Weather Station
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1. Indoor temperature |
7. Wind speed |
Weather Forecast: On-screen forecast display predicting sunny, partly sunny, cloudy, rainy, stormy and snowy weather.
Wireless Range: 100m.
Connectivity: WIFI: connects to Connect to third party services via the WS View Plus app (Android and Apple).
Add-ons and Upgrades: N/A
V40A-PRO Wireless WiFi Professional Weather Station
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1. Indoor temperature |
6. Wind speed |
Weather Forecast: On-console dynamic forecast icons: sunny, partly sunny, clouds, rain, thunderstorm, and snow and NWS forecast when connected to the app.
Wireless Range: Up to 121 meters.
Connectivity: WIFI. Interfaces with the LaCrosse View app for Apple and Android.
Add-ons and Upgrades: Five add-on sensors are compatible with the V40A-PRO (sold separately). The sensors will use your weather station as a gateway to the La Crosse View app, where their data can be viewed and tracked 24/7. Available sensors:
- LTV-TH1 Thermo-Hygro Sensor (Temperature and Humidity)
- LTV-TH2 Thermo-Hygro Sensor (Temperature and Humidity with LCD screen)
- LTV-TH3 Thermo-Hygro Sensor (High accuracy temperature and Humidity with LCD screen)
- LTV-R3 Rain Sensor (Rainfall)
- LTV-WR1 Multi-Sensor (Wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall).
Wireless Digital Weather Station with Colourful LCD Display and WiFi
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1. Indoor temperature |
7. Windchill |
Weather Forecast: 12-hour forecast.
Wireless Range: 150m (line of sight).
Connectivity: WIFI: Interfaces with WeatherUnderground and WeatherCloud.
Add-ons and Upgrades: N/A
Best Home Stations Above $500AU
Are you looking to spoil someone rotten (or seriously treat yourself) this Christmas? Look no further. The two station examples listed below are practical gifts suitable for home weather enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station
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1. Indoor temperature |
7. Heat Index |
Weather Forecast: Weather forecast displayed in icons that let you know when to expect sun, rain, partly cloudy, cloudy, rain or snow.
Wireless Range: 300m!
Connectivity: Not available for the IC6250AU. See add-ons and upgrades here.
Add-ons and Upgrades: Tripods, internet connectivity, data loggers and more – there is a massive assortment of add-ons and accessories available - Browse Vantage Vue Accessories here.
Popular Bundle #1:
Weatherlink Live and Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station Package
Get the best of both worlds! View live weather conditions on your indoor console and stream your weather data over WiFi to the Weatherlink Cloud to access the versatile Weatherlink Live app.
Popular Bundle #2:
6110AU WeatherLink Live Vantage Vue Bundle
Go 100% mobile - this kit doesn’t have an indoor console. Instead, the outdoor console relays information to the WeatherLink live app directly via WeatherLink Live.
Vantage Pro 2 With Standard Radiation Shield
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1. Indoor temperature |
7. Heat Index |
Weather Forecast: Weather forecast displayed using icons to let you know when to expect sun, rain, partly cloudy, cloudy or snow.
Wireless Range: 300m.
Connectivity: Not with the IC6152AU. See add-ons and upgrades here.
Add-ons and Upgrades: The Davis Vantage Pro 2 packages and add-ons take weather stations to the next level, making this weather station one of the best home weather stations you can give as a gift! View the complete list of Davis Vantage Pro 2 Weather Station Add-ons and Accessories here.
Popular Bundle #1:
Weatherlink Live and Vantage Pro 2 With Standard Radiation Shield Package
Get the best of both worlds – this kit offers you the ability to view live conditions on your indoor console and stream your weather data live over WiFi to the Weatherlink Cloud utilising the versatile Weatherlink Live.
Popular Bundle #2:
6112AU WeatherLink Live Vantage Pro 2 Bundle
Go 100% mobile - this kit doesn’t have an indoor console. Instead, the outdoor console relays information to the WeatherLink live app directly via WeatherLink Live.
The Final Word
Weather Stations make excellent gifts and practical gifts. With over 350 models available at Instrument Choice - each with varying features and functions - we guarantee there will be a model that will satisfy even the most discerning weather enthusiast.
You can learn more about the best home weather stations mentioned above and browse other models here. Or, if you have some questions or need a bit more help choosing the best home weather station for your application, we recommend you call one of our friendly scientists on 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
Also interesting
With such an extensive assortment of home weather stations on the market with different features and capabilities, getting to know what each station offers can be a challenge. The great news is that your Instrument Choice team regularly reviews new and popular weather station models so you can make more informed choices!
This edition checks out the overwhelmingly popular V40A-PRO Wireless WiFi Professional Weather Station – a smart and stylish station packed with an assortment of user-friendly features.
Read our scientists’ review of the La Crosse V40A-PRO Wireless WiFi Professional Weather Station below
Scale resolution refers to the smallest increment of weight that a scale can detect and display. So, if you’re searching for a scale with a 0.01g resolution – here it is! Scientists at Instrument Choice have found a bundle of devices that will perform to your standards – and more.