compass selection

[wildmike]

Cammenga!!!

Go to landnav.org for some excellent info on the use of this compass.

Cammenga.com has a review/comparrison on their site side to side against the baseplate compasses that is a real eye opener as well.

Another point. Baseplate compasses and many knockoffs of the cammenga are liquid filled and dampened which can and does lead to problems. The cammenga is induction dampened so the needle stabilizes much quicker. It is also much more forgiving in use and easier to read.

 

[PayetteRucker]

Also how much faith would ya'll have in watches with compasses for general direction

My Suunto X Lander Military was downright accurate, always within 2-3 degrees of my Commenga. I'd definately recommend the brand if it's what you're looking for, it's handy while on the move.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I've been rocking the Suunto MC2G for about 3 years now.

From Suunto:

This is Suunto's top-of-the-line Navigator MC-2 compass with Suunto's patented global needle for true world-wide performance. Other features include an additional sighting hole for superior bearing accuracy, a luminous bezel, an adjustable declination correction scale, and a built-in clinometer. Each baseplate features anti-slip rubber pads, an inch scale, 1:24,000 map scale, 1:62,500 map scale, a round magnifying lens, and a red nylon lanyard.

 

[PayetteRucker]

Cammenga!!!

Go to landnav.org for some excellent info on the use of this compass.

Cammenga.com has a review/comparrison on their site side to side against the baseplate compasses that is a real eye opener as well.

Another point. Baseplate compasses and many knockoffs of the cammenga are liquid filled and dampened which can and does lead to problems. The cammenga is induction dampened so the needle stabilizes much quicker. It is also much more forgiving in use and easier to read.

I have finned in some of the grossest, muckiest solid brown water and the tritium headings on the cammenga compass stood out like a lighthouse on a stormy night. Not many compasses can show an accurate heading while completely submerged, in the dead of night or after being run over by a humvee but this one will do it.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Geez, keep this crap up and I'll have to try one out.

 

[eloreno]

I have a basic SUUNTO baseplate compass, and it works great for me. It was inexpensive and is all I need.

 

[kyhunt]

North American 'Silva' is made by Suunto. Note the made in finland mark on them. They are still good compasses. But if you are going to buy a Suunto then buy a compass with the Suunto name on it-- not the Silva name sold here in North America. Johnson Outdoors hoo-dooed Silva out of that name for the North American market (read intellectual theft). I deplore such tactics so I refuse to buy anything made by Johnson Outdoors. That is purely a personal opinion.

Commenga is a great, U.S. made compass and had or maybe still does have the U.S. Army contract for comasses supplied to the military. Brunton also makes the only really good Pocket Transit which is a compass on lots of steriods that many field geologists, engineers and surveyors use for quick checks on locating topographic points in the field. I don't think you can go wrong with Brunton, Silva of Sweden (which is now the same company as Brunton), Commenga or Suunto.

So the Silvas bought here in the U.S. are still made in Sweden? I was just informed recently that they where made in Indonesia. So apart from Silva U.S name being owned by Johnson outdoors is there any difference in Quality?

As I mentioned in another thread I have this compass by Bruton that was given to me about 2-3 yrs ago. I would like to get a back up compass.

Also does the cheaper Brunton and Silva compass have accurate readings? I want to get a compass for my son to start using but dont want to spend alot. He is only 7.

 

[oguruma]

I like a normal baseplate compass for pretty much all uses. The USGI Cammenga compass is great, but I don't call in a whole lot of artillery strikes these days, so it's a bit of overkill. It is bombproof, but it also weighs something like 8 ounces... A Suunto M-2 weighs 1.2 ounces.

If you do get a USGI compass, make sure you keep it dry! My unit took the USGI compasses out for a navigation course, and they got wet. They didn't clean/dry them before they put them away, and when we went to inventory them a couple months later they had nasty corrosion all over them.