Let's Talk BBQ

General => General Discussion & Topics => Product Reviews => Topic started by: CaptJack on December 16, 2014, 02:58:06 PM

Title: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: CaptJack on December 16, 2014, 02:58:06 PM
Thermowand digital thermometer

a couple of weeks ago a new fella on our bbq message board asked about digital thermometers. we all told him how great the Thermapen is, but he had a problem with the $96 price tag.
he started digging around and came across the Thermowand for $28.
and it's only 1"sec. slower than the Thermapen.
i like it for it's smaller "pocket" size

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/CaptJack50/BBQ/Thermowand_001_zps945d9689.jpg)

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/CaptJack50/BBQ/Thermowand_002_zps0a939269.jpg)

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/CaptJack50/BBQ/Thermowand_003_zps039dab9a.jpg)

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/CaptJack50/BBQ/Thermowand_004_zps16e4be38.jpg)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sliding_billy on December 16, 2014, 04:12:26 PM
A lot of thermos claim to be just a little bit slower than a Thermapen, but real tests result in pretty terrible times.  I would like to see a real A/B from a user instead of relying on published speeds.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Bacala on December 16, 2014, 05:21:46 PM
You cannot calibrate this thermometer, and for me, that is a huge negative. If you can live without the pocket knife design, check ThermoWorks RT301WA. Been using it for a few years now and it is fantastic. Accurate, fast and carries the ThermoWorks reputation.

On sale right now for $16 - http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html (http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html)
Title: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Pappymn on December 16, 2014, 05:47:38 PM

You cannot calibrate this thermometer, and for me, that is a huge negative. If you can live without the pocket knife design, check ThermoWorks RT301WA. Been using it for a few years now and it is fantastic. Accurate, fast and carries the ThermoWorks reputation.

On sale right now for $16 - http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html (http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html)

And they have a great reputation. Outstanding company. Should get them as a sponsor. And everybody knows red is the fastest.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: CaptJack on December 16, 2014, 06:02:16 PM
I'm cooking a meatloaf on the OldSmokey at the moment
I've got the ET-732 stuck in it
when it gets to finish at 165° i'll stick both the Thermapen &the Thermowand in the loaf and see what we get ;)

(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/CaptJack50/BBQ/OSmeatloaf_001_zpsd2985098.jpg)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sparky on December 16, 2014, 07:18:02 PM
looks pretty good to me. 
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: CaptJack on December 16, 2014, 07:19:19 PM
sparky, it was as fast as the Thermapen (http://i50.tinypic.com/20ztyfl.gif)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 17, 2014, 12:03:20 AM
Great price!!!
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sliding_billy on December 17, 2014, 02:02:14 AM
Thanks for the followup.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: CaptJack on December 17, 2014, 05:31:22 PM
HEADS UP!
the new Thermowand worked the first time, (on the meatloaf cook) but when i turned it on this morning the read-out was frozen at -58°.
I went back and read all the reviews on Amazon and there were at least 10 where the unit failed.
i have sent 3 emails to Lavatool's customer service and they have not responded.
sorry i presented this to the community, not worth the money
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sliding_billy on December 17, 2014, 06:15:34 PM
HEADS UP!
the new Thermowand worked the first time, (on the meatloaf cook) but when i turned it on this morning the read-out was frozen at -58°.
I went back and read all the reviews on Amazon and there were at least 10 where the unit failed.
i have sent 3 emails to Lavatool's customer service and they have not responded.
sorry i presented this to the community, not worth the money

Did you get it from Amazon?
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: CaptJack on December 17, 2014, 06:25:42 PM
HEADS UP!
the new Thermowand worked the first time, (on the meatloaf cook) but when i turned it on this morning the read-out was frozen at -58°.
I went back and read all the reviews on Amazon and there were at least 10 where the unit failed.
i have sent 3 emails to Lavatool's customer service and they have not responded.
sorry i presented this to the community, not worth the money

Did you get it from Amazon?

NO, I bought it direct from Lavatools
but I did go post a 1-star negative review on Amazon, since I'm a regular Amazon customer
but I did buy it on my American Express credit card (http://i50.tinypic.com/20ztyfl.gif)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sliding_billy on December 17, 2014, 06:31:24 PM
Hope they respond.  In the meantime, disputed charge!
Title: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Pappymn on December 17, 2014, 06:50:27 PM
Cheapest isn't always the least expensive
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 17, 2014, 08:29:23 PM
I reserved any negative comment about it.  I kind of thought it looked cheap compared to the Thermapen but figured I'd wait and see how it holds up.  Now we know.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: muebe on December 18, 2014, 11:41:29 AM
I love my Thermapen and IMHO it is worth every penny! It is well made, feels solid, and dead accurate. When it comes to proper temps and cooking I would rather spend an extra $30 to get something that will not need to be replaced or fail. And if it somehow does I know that Thermoworks will right the wrong immidiately!

It is tough to find anything today that is very well made. Things are not made to last. Water heaters only last about 10 years now. I still see older water heaters with 30 years still working. And when things fail the parts are so expensive they aren't even worth repiairing. A new car with air bags can be junked because the air bags cost too much to replace.

So when I find a reliable product... Whatever it is... I stick with it. And Thermoworks has me as a lifetime customer!
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 18, 2014, 12:35:15 PM
Well said muebe, after many years of using elcheapo thermometers I finally splurged on a Thermapen and only regretted that I didn't do it sooner. It is worth every penny spent because in the long run you'll spend more money replacing the cheap ones.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: hikerman on December 18, 2014, 01:01:06 PM
Agree totally Ralph and Mike. Thermopen is a great product and buying one product that is of high quality and is backed by the manufacturer is far better than repeatedly buying the same thing over and over with a lesser priced, lesser quality item.  8)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 18, 2014, 02:06:53 PM
Agree totally Ralph and Mike. Thermopen is a great product and buying one product that is of high quality and is backed by the manufacturer is far better than repeatedly buying the same thing over and over with a lesser priced, lesser quality item.  8)

I do believe that's the definition of insanity.  ;)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: hikerman on December 18, 2014, 02:11:52 PM
Agree totally Ralph and Mike. Thermopen is a great product and buying one product that is of high quality and is backed by the manufacturer is far better than repeatedly buying the same thing over and over with a lesser priced, lesser quality item.  8)

I do believe that's the definition of insanity.  ;)

You are correct sir!
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Wingman on December 18, 2014, 03:39:52 PM
My philosophy has always been that if you make the very best of anything there will be a market for it because there are people who want the best of whatever it is and are willing to pay for it.  Thermapen is the gold standard of cooking thermometers.  It is never compared to other thermometers; others are compared to it.  And I, for one, will pay its price. 
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: SmokinKat on December 18, 2014, 04:25:52 PM
I haven't splurged on a Thermopen just yet, but I've got their less expensive 5-second ThermoPop, which works wonderfully too-- and at $25, it's great quality in the budget range.     
Title: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Pappymn on December 18, 2014, 04:38:17 PM

I haven't splurged on a Thermopen just yet, but I've got their less expensive 5-second ThermoPop, which works wonderfully too-- and at $25, it's great quality in the budget range.     

I bought my mom the thermopop.....as she way overcooks everything. She needed an intervention
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: sliding_billy on December 18, 2014, 05:55:24 PM

I haven't splurged on a Thermopen just yet, but I've got their less expensive 5-second ThermoPop, which works wonderfully too-- and at $25, it's great quality in the budget range.     

I bought my mom the thermopop.....as she way overcooks everything. She needed an intervention

Sounds like my wife.  Hey wait, am I your dad?  :D
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: teesquare on December 18, 2014, 07:54:40 PM
(Hmmmm. this may bring new meaning to the old expression..."Who's your Daddy???" :D ;D ??? ::) )
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Keymaster on December 18, 2014, 08:36:40 PM
That reminds me when I took  scuba diving lessons and the wife insisted I get the $7.00 snorkel instead of the $60 snorkel. I damb near drowned :) The expensive snorkel has Ball valves in it so water cant come down the top and a bottom blow out valve.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 18, 2014, 10:31:29 PM
That reminds me when I took  scuba diving lessons and the wife insisted I get the $7.00 snorkel instead of the $60 snorkel. I damb near drowned :) The expensive snorkel has Ball valves in it so water cant come down the top and a bottom blow out valve.

Did you check to see if she took out an additional life insurance policy on you before your scuba diving lessons? ::) :P
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: RAD on February 08, 2015, 11:07:21 AM
This is why I love this site. I got the go ahead to get a ThermoWorks and saw this one for only $25. So I decided to search LTBBQ to see if anyone had posted anything about the Thermowand and guess what.

Thanks CAPT for the post. I will spend the extra $$ and get the real thing. I have about 10 different thermometers in my BBQ drawer and if I would have gone for ThermoWorks from the start I would have saved money already.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on February 08, 2015, 01:39:37 PM
You'll be glad you did, as a happy owner of a Thermapen I can't say enough good about them.  We even gave one to our son for a Christmas present and he is so thrilled about it.  ;)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: ronman451 on February 08, 2015, 02:36:53 PM
I really dig my Thermapen. The only minor drawback for me is, as a southpaw, it's a bit awkward to use. I've learned to read upside-down.
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: RAD on February 08, 2015, 05:16:53 PM
I just ordered the fastest one they have, the gray one.  ;D
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on February 08, 2015, 09:21:24 PM
I just ordered the fastest one they have, the gray one.  ;D

That'll work. ;)
Title: Re: Thermowand digital thermometer
Post by: 1Bigg_ER on February 08, 2015, 09:32:55 PM
I don't have the thermapen yet but the thermapop is treating me well.