Of all the environmental factors facing a shooter one of the trickiest to master is the wind.
Stiff gusts wreak havoc with bullets at any distance, while a casual breeze is enough to blow the accuracy of a long-range shot. While there are all sort of tricks and tips shooters can use to tame blustery weather, one of the surest systems is the wind meter.
Caldwell aims to give shooters the ability to factor out the wind with its new CrossWind Professional. But the wind meter is more than just a digital version of sticking your finger in the air. The device has all the features someone serious about staying on target, no matter the conditions, is looking for in a wind meter.
The CrossWind offers a full range of measurement settings, giving shooters the option to gauge the wind in mph, km/h, m/s, f/s or knots. But it does more than give the prevailing currents, the meter actually pieces together a full profile of the wind conditions.
The wind meter records the maximum gusts and the average speed of the wind, in addition to current conditions. These extra variables are invaluable, giving shooters the edge in adjusting their scope and in anticipating the perfect moment to break their shot.
This would be enough for most shooters, but Caldwell’s device also calculates a number of other environmental conditions that can affect a bullet's trajectory. With temperature, station pressure, barometric pressure, altitude and wind chill – among other data points – the CrossWind offer every bit of information pertinent to dialing in a shot.
The meter also features a rotating anemometer, making it easier to calculate the crosswind without having to factor in wind angle. It has a data hold function, allowing shooters to save data from one shot to the next. And the CrossWind also boasts a LCD backlight, making the meter useful no matter the lightning conditions.
Most retail sites have the CrossWind priced in the $80 to $100 range. This is quite a bit more than most entry-level wind meters, but puts the Caldwell product at the low end of comparable devices.
Gun Digest Book of Long-Range Shooting
Why You Can Trust Gun Digest
Since 1944, Gun Digest has been a trusted authority on firearms, shooting and shooting gear, delivering expert firearms reviews backed by nearly a century of experience. We go beyond standard reviews, combining hands-on independent gun testing, in-depth research, and expert insights from industry professionals and manufacturers.
Our reviewers are the bedrock of our testing and come from a comprehensive cross section of the shooting world. Their diverse backgrounds include law enforcement professionals, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and life-long firearms enthusiasts. In addition to being firearm experts, we are also thorough journalists adhering to the strictest standards of the profession.
For our readers, this means objective, unbiased reviews, free from outside influence. Our priority is to provide the information you need to make informed decisions—whether a firearm or piece of gear is a must-have investment or one to pass on.
Find out more about our Editorial Standards and Evaluation Process
Looks interesting and great price. Just a quick question, what is the battery do you use for that?