Compass

xbxb

xbxb

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
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1,618
Hey guys help me out a little here. I'm looking for a good compass to carry. I'll probably toss it in my 72 hr. emergency kit that I carry in my car and then dig it out when I go camping. Any advice? I'm willing to spend a few bucks to get a decent piece of equipment.
thanks
 
From this question, I'm guessing that you don't have much experience with compasses. Therefore, it seems likely that advanced features such as sighting mirrors and declination adjustments would not be very useful for you.

I recommend therefore that you get a simple compass on a clear, flat plate. In otherwords, a basic, beginner's compass. Any of these should work. The $12 compass will probably work just as well as the $60 compass for basic usage. I am unaware of any advantage that one manufacturer has over another.

I apologize if I've made false assumptions about you. It's a risk that we run when talking to people over the internet.
 
I have a Victorinox compass that seems pretty good for general use hunting and hiking. It is adjustable for declination and has a mirror. It is about 1.5"x 2.5" in size with a cord to wear around your neck or whatever. It is red and the compass is protected inside a plastic box; the compass slides out for use. I keep it in my vehicle and use it from time to time if I am uncertain about directions. I carry it hunting usually as I am a gadget kind of guy. For serious compass work, I use a Brunton pocket transit which are very expensive. Don't know if Vic makes them any more, but here's a link to one that is very similar.
http://www.thecompassstore.com/mb6.html
 
Your profile doesn't mention where you live, but in some parts of the world magnetic declination can make magnetic north point as much as 18-20 degrees off from true north. That can be quite a difference.

Here is a good web site describing declination: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/declination.shtml

I always recommend that people purchase compasses with adjustable declination. While the user can use simple addition or subtraction to make the adjustment manually, it is much safer to set the declination once and then not worry about it until you move to a new area of the country.

The other thing you'll need to consider is whether or not you want a mirror-sighting compass. Mirror sighting can make navigation more precise, but it also adds weight to the compass.

My favorite simple baseplate compass is the Suunto M3 Leader, running about $20 for a very high quality compass. From what you describe this is your best bet.

My favorite mirror-sighting compass is the Brunton Eclipse 8099, but many prefer the Brunton 15TDCL, which is the original Silva Ranger but renamed when Brunton/Silva SE lost the US "Silva" trademark. These are pricey though.

A great on-line source for purchasing is http://www.forestry-suppliers.com
 
SPend the money and get a real compass straight off. The silva ranger or what ever its called today is the benchmark to what all compases are measured. mine is going on 25 yrs old and good as new.

SEcond, take a course and learn how to use it as the VAST majority of people with a compass have no clue how to use it.

Many local SAR tams teach map and compass as a team fund raising activity.

Skam
 
Thanks for the replies gents. Actually I am familiar with Declination as I was in navigation in the US Navy. Don't think Ill be needing that with this compass. Just wanted something simple and your comments really helped. That compass store is something else. I think Ill just get a simple Silva. That should do the trick.--------Regards.
 
Keep in mind that a compass labeled as "Silva" in the U.S. is not actually made by the one and only Silva of Sweden who invented the modern baseplate compass. Instead they are made by some unknown maker and distributed by Johnson Outdoors Inc. who owns the Silva trademark. In the U.S. compasses made by Silva are labeled as Brunton or Nexus (Silva of Sweden now owns Brunton).

Another real nice little compass is the Brunton 9020G. It has adjustable declination (no tools needed) and the flourescent green color makes it harder to loose in the grass. I have several of them for use with the Scouts.
 
bulgron said:
From this question, I'm guessing that you don't have much experience with compasses. Therefore, it seems likely that advanced features such as sighting mirrors and declination adjustments would not be very useful for you.

I recommend therefore that you get a simple compass on a clear, flat plate. In otherwords, a basic, beginner's compass. Any of these should work. The $12 compass will probably work just as well as the $60 compass for basic usage. I am unaware of any advantage that one manufacturer has over another.

I apologize if I've made false assumptions about you. It's a risk that we run when talking to people over the internet.
Click to expand...



Good idea. Just make sure you get one that's liquid filled, they don't dance around so much.
 
SEcond, take a course and learn how to use it as the VAST majority of people with a compass have no clue how to use it.


Skam[/QUOTE]

I must admit that I'm one of those people. I've managed to pick up a lot of good info on using a compass by just looking around the internet.
 
One of the things I look for in a compass is that the bearings are either 0-90 degrees from north or south or on the international 0-360 scale. I prefer the 0-90 readings as that is typically how bearings are written N32E (or 32 degrees east of north) or S37W. There are some military compasses around that I have never been able to figure out the scale. Eventually you just toss them in drawer somewhere and get another compass. If you are working with maps, take a little protractor along with you to plot bearings. Useful.
 
kenk said:
Keep in mind that a compass labeled as "Silva" in the U.S. is not actually made by the one and only Silva of Sweden who invented the modern baseplate compass. Instead they are made by some unknown maker and distributed by Johnson Outdoors Inc. who owns the Silva trademark. In the U.S. compasses made by Silva are labeled as Brunton or Nexus (Silva of Sweden now owns Brunton).

Another real nice little compass is the Brunton 9020G. It has adjustable declination (no tools needed) and the flourescent green color makes it harder to loose in the grass. I have several of them for use with the Scouts.
Click to expand...


my silva polaris from wally world says "Finland":confused: ...9 bucks
 
ranger88 said:
SEcond, take a course and learn how to use it as the VAST majority of people with a compass have no clue how to use it.


Skam
Click to expand...

I must admit that I'm one of those people. I've managed to pick up a lot of good info on using a compass by just looking around the internet.[/QUOTE]


You can pick up a lot of info on your own but nothing replaces proper training outdoors on a good course. Orienteering clubs still exist and will train people as well. Besides its fun.:D

Skam
 
Agree with the Silva/Brunton baseplate compass for tossing in the backpack.
Unless you are doing precise cross country navigation, you don't really need a sighting compass, although the more you pay, the better the quality.
I would also recommend a Marbles 1" button compass on a lanyard or pinned to to your clothing. Good quality, liquid damped, weighs next to nothing and will put you on the right bearing when you need it.
 
When last checked, "Silva" in the U.S. are made by Suunto, a perfectly respectable company in Finland. Skammer's old "Silva" was probably actually made by Silva, as was my old Silva "Ranger."
 
If you're a hiker, then you can't go wrong with a U.S. mil spec compass. Cammenga makes them.
 
ranger88 said:
Good idea. Just make sure you get one that's liquid filled, they don't dance around so much.
Click to expand...

The compass I use the most is a Brunton Nexus (the first compass on that page). It's one of those $12 dollar jobs that I picked up at REI without giving it any thought. This thing is liquid filled and so I assume every other $12 job out there is as well.

As for what the liquid is, that I can't say. If you're hiking in extreme cold temperatures, you probably want to find out ....
 
Try one of these, for the money it can't be beat.
Edmund Sceintifics

30215-62.eps.jpg
 
This looks like a better link. For the price, I might have to pick one of these up and play with it.

Edited: I just bought one. Couldn't resist. I'm looking forward to getting to know this particular piece of gear.
 
I carry 3 compasses, watch,small brass and mil spec. I am so used to mils readings ( degrees amd mils) i need a military Spec compass.

Always check for errors in a compass some can be off (under 3 degress) others way off (10 degress).

S/F,
CEYA!
 
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