http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009WE45/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I have two of these and I'm a big fan. They read quickly and have withstood a lot of abuse.
A digital thermometer is nice while steeping but there really is no need for a thermometer in the kettle...you heat until it boils, time it, turn the heat off. I use a digital thermometer with a folding probe to check temps during; 1) steeping, 2) post boil chilling, and 3) yeast pitching.
Once you start mashing then it's a different story.
Its about $100 new but the thermapen is awesome. Temperature to within a 1/10 of a degree in four seconds. Its accurate and fast enough you can get different temperatures in different spots in the mash. Great for grilling too.
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