I use a calibrate -able analogue hygrometer. It is much more dust and dirt resistant than the digital types (I don't use newspaper substrate) and is easily changed if found to be incorrect. They are reasonably priced and seem to run as low as 2-3$ and as high as 11-12. No probe but I figure ambient humidity is the lowest and add 4-8% for inside hides I keep ambient at 55-60% and never have problems.
Thermometers are a bigger problem almost all the affordable ones on the market have an accuracy range of +/-2ºF or more. That means the tolerances they are made to cannot assure better you could get one that is perfect and one that is off 2º next to each other. Digital thermometers (cheaper ones anyway) use a resistive sensor to take readings it measures the tiny changes in resistance (electricity) at various temperatures. The problem is any damage to the wire poor contacts debris on the surface will change resistance of the probe and in turn the temperature.
There are two options buy a good one with finer tolerances... the down side is a huge price tag. I own two platinum tip thermometers they are scientific grade ones one is a basic model one very advanced the cheap one is over 300$ the advanced one over 1800$ Few are able or willing to spend cash on scientific grade thermometers that are accurate (+/- 0.1ºC)
One answer is to buy a few of the cheapest ones you can find. There is a digital aquarium thermometer that is usually 1-4$ each. Buy if you want two buy 6-10 It sound crazy but they vary quite a lot but the average of all ten will show the ones that are in error and you can get rid of the those that read differently than the rest and only use the ones that are reading the same or similar.
I believe accurite has discontinued the wired probe type all together. It is no longer listed on the web site.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Aquari...4218931&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Cheaphumidors-...4219167&sr=8-1
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