Best compass for EDC?

[Grouch]

What is your favorite compass for EDC?

 

[mkhop]

I hace a nato button compas in the head of my walking stick and a pin on ball type(Bruton) pinned to my shoulder bag.

 

[mwerner]

Living in the middle of a major city that I've lived in for 60 years; I don't feel a lot of need for a compass.

If I was in an area where I did need one, I'd have a military "lensatic" compass which I'm reasonably familiar with.

"let's go out in the woods and shoot us some azimuths!"

 

[parnass]

My wife and I use a couple of small REI compasses. One is shown in the lower left corner of the photo below.

I needed a small compass, but many of the compasses I tried in stores were inaccurate or didn't produce repeatable results. These REI compasses were an exception.

 

[Lanza]

Tru Nord...excellent quality and small enough to fit in your watch pocket.

 

[spyder10]

I take a GPS over a compass any day, especially since a good portion of cell phones now incorporate a GPS.

 

[Bob W]

I don't EDC a compass. But for hiking and backpacking I really like the Suunto M3 Leader. http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=1283

 

[desmobob]

I have a couple of Brunton "keychain" compasses that are actually quite large, but small enough to be convenient. I also have a larger Silva with a clear baseplate and sighting mirror lid.

Beware of the tiny ones. As parnass mentioned, they can be very inaccurate. I compared one I had to one of my larger, name-brand compasses and it was more than 10 degrees off. That may or may not be a big deal to you, depending on the situation/use.

spyder 10,
I love my Garmin GPS and use it constantly. But the ONE and ONLY time I tried to use it to navigate through unfamiliar territory, it crapped out on me. I did have a small compass with me and was able to get to a high spot and take a bearing on a known peak.

Garmin quickly repaired the unit under warranty and overnighted it back to me. I learned a valuable lesson about trusting electronic devices....

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[mckrob]

I use a compass daily at work (yes daily)... I won't carry anything but a Suunto MC-2 with a global needle. I also own several Brunton's and Silva's but still prefer the Suunto. My old Brunton Pocket Transit is a bit overkill for most situations and as the needle is not liquid damped it is not quite as quick to take a bearing (the needle bounces around a bit). I don't care too much for Silva's anymore as over the years I have had two spontaneously reverse poles (north needle points south), they were replaced under warranty, but that is still not something you want to have happen when you are in the bush.

 

[tholiver]

My wife and I use a couple of small REI compasses. One is shown in the lower left corner of the photo below.

I needed a small compass, but many of the compasses I tried in stores were inaccurate or didn't produce repeatable results. These REI compasses were an exception.

Neat!
I have to ask where did you get the Estwing micro prybar?

 

[phatch]

I've got a Sun Mini Compass II that has proven to be highly accurate over the years and is very compact.

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Company-Mini-Comp-Compass/dp/B0000AXQJ8

But Amazon has a terrible price. Shop around and you can find better prices.

Phil

 

[BenchmadeBoy]

I have a Suunto keychain compass that I like very much. It has a thermometer as well. I carry it in a pocket paired with a Inova microlight. I have switched hemispheres (Canada to New Zealand) and it still works great. I can't say the same for my Silva I picked it up at MEC here in Canada.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...older_id=2534374302696143&bmUID=1190339564682

 

[parnass]

Neat!
I have to ask where did you get the Estwing micro prybar?

You can buy mini prybars by Estwing, Vaughn, Stanley, and other brands at many stores. Target sells the Stanley version.

I sawed the end off and drilled a hole.

Now, back to the topic of compasses.

 

[tholiver]

You can buy mini prybars by Estwing, Vaughn, Stanley, and other brands at many stores. Target sells the Stanley version.

I sawed the end off and drilled a hole.

Now, back to the topic of compasses.

Cool thanks! I'll keep an watch out for them.

Oh yeah back on topic i carry a Brunton 9045 Keychain Compass with Thermometer like this
http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=86
Its just a tad too big though. If i had my time back i would have bought the slightly smaller one without the thermometer.

 

[razcob]

I had a hard time finding this compass last christmas, because it was so popular. But, having owned it since then, I wouldn't trust it. The arrow gets hung up when the base is held level, and have had false readings from known directions. I own a Brunton field compass and it is excellent.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

A little Bruton Button on my key ring but if I want accuracy I'll take my Silva Ranger.

 

[Moodino]

I like the Kestrel 450. Never runs out of batteries, submersible and lifetime warranty. Can't beat that !
http://www.gearninja.com/Images/wthr.jpg

What is your favorite compass for EDC?

 

[ofelas]

For EDC I use my wristwatch as a compass.

For backcountry usage (and I mean 1 week+ remote backcountry) I use the (still going strong) issue Cammenga Tritium (it replaced my Stocker & Yale Tritium as it no longer self illuminates).

 

[RockyNomad]

Marble's brass pocket compass. An American classic.