Review on SMARTRO ST49 Digital Thermocouple Meat Thermometer: Instant Read, Professional BBQ Kitchen Food Cooking Thermometer for Grilling, Deep Frying, Candy Making, and Oil Temperature Monitoring by Angela Murphy

I have not encountered any problems in testing this unit. I used my existing thermal foam against it for 7 years. I tested it in various scenarios including 2 BBQ's this weekend - hamburger and steak and it matched my reference device. I also tested both devices on my neighbor's supposedly very accurate TK-20 thermometer and it matched the two devices to within tenths of a degree. The device feels much more solid and heavier than my previous device. There are about as many magnets - more than enough for kitchen and grill surfaces. There are soft silicone pads in various places - some prevent it from sliding on slippery surfaces - nice to have. It's definitely heavier and thicker than most pens, but I like it because it feels more durable. I also submerged it in 5 inches of water for 20 minutes and it worked fine. In my opinion, this is more than enough to cover what this device will be exposed to, such as a simple wash or use in the rain. Does it cost $8-$10 more than standard Revain pens? I think so. There may be some improvements such as a printed temperature and meat type chart - most have this. They provide this in the instructions and most people who use it often will recognize it, but it really comes in handy if you forget. That's the only reason I took off a star and only in one category. Other than that I'm happy with the machine and I'm sure it will last a long time. My reference pack used a coin cell battery and came with a AAA type and although there is a screw on the battery door, in my experience it will take years for this battery pack to even come close to wearing down with normal use, so not a big problem , but a lighter front door would be a nice touch. However, I am sure that the water resistance has something to do with this decision.