pocket thermometer

I bought one just to check it out.  I don't have a thermopen, so I can't compare it to that, but it is much faster than any of my other digital thermometers.  Definitely not instant (1-2 seconds) but its fast and often in the 5-6 second range.

The one thing that I liked about it when I did research was the ability to adjust it - and I just did a calibration this weekend and it was reading 1 degree off.  Its reading spot on right now - I'm loving it because I don't have to remember the variance when I cook, like I have to do with my maverick (2 degrees hot) or my other digital thermometer (5 degrees hot).

I highly recommend this with the caveat that I've only had this for a few days.  Amazon has a good number of reviews on this unit.

when your checking meat temps over a searing hot grill 6 seconds is a long time. doesnt look like something i would carry in my pocket

Is it necessary to hold on to it? My wife uses her kitchen thermo by sticking a roast (or any meat) and leave it there several seconds then remove. Now, if you need to hold on, quicker is better.

if your buying it for roasts you can buy one for 5 to 10 bucks you just leave in there, or buy a remote for more that you can read from outside a closed egg. cook chicken wings at 350/400, or pork chops, a steak, you want it fast. you dont need  therm for low and slow cooking unless your trying to figure when it will be ready in several hours

Hard to say personally as I have never tried the less expensive one but a quick phone call to the company and they should be able to answer if there's a big difference in quality.

I have had very good results with my thermapen and I did get the fastest color they make which is 'Purple', 1.5 to 2 seconds!!!

Blue.  Zero to cooked in the tastiest of seconds.

On Europe, We pay 1/2-2/3 the price for a thermopen (Mfg in UK), but we pay 2 times the price for the BGE, so I can tell you: get the thermonpen, it is worth it !