What's nice about this meter is that it has a cap on it that you fill with a small amount of the storage solution. Make sure the cap is on tight and you can let it sit there for quite a long time with worrying about the probe drying out. The solution doesn't evaporate very quickly because it's screwed on tightly. I agree that meters with their calibration solution, storage solutions, etc. are a pain in the butt and it's what kept me from buying one for years. But this meter is a pleasure to use and maintain and it just works every time I go to use it. Also, I used to use the ColorpHast strips which seemed to work okay but at some point I read the
Water book and somewhere in there I found something like [I'm paraphrasing]...
Let's be honest, pH strips are for amateurs. If you want to make the best possible beer, you need a pH meter! Now I don't believe that for one second and let's be honest... we *ARE* amateurs!
But it did strike a chord and it did make me pick up a meter and I'm glad I found this one. Cheers.