February 7, 2001


Is there a digital thermometer that will record min/max temperatures?

I'm heading off to Algonquin Park to do some winter camping. The weather report calls for -30 Celsius nights. Is there a digital thermometer out there that will record min/max temperatures over a 24-hour period? That way I can confirm just how crazy I really am for doing this.

— Kevin Baggs Toronto, Ontario

So, the idea is you want to produce this device at a key moment during a cocktail-party conversation, and impress the crowd with your death-defying ability to survive temperatures that even polar bears find a little uncomfortable? Uh, okay.

Of course there is such a gadget. It's called the Jumbo Display Thermometer, made by Oregon Scientific http://www.oregonscientific.com/home.html. The Jumbo refers to the digital numbers —- the unit itself is only about 4X4" and weighs 12 ounces, so it's very packable. It stores minimum and maximum temperatures in memory and also has a temperature probe that you can put outside your tent/igloo/snow cave, and compare the outside temp to the inside temp—something I imagine you would find useful. The Jumbo Thermometer runs off of two AA batteries, and sells for $29.95 U.S.

Have fun! Actually, I don't mean to give you a hard time. I just installed a weathervane, and am looking at Oregon Scientific's complete weather station. Weather happens, so we might as well know the specifics.