Compasses

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marcinek

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Jan 9, 2007
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Went down the compass YouTube rabbit hole, and now got an itch to buy a compass.

Lensatic, baseplate, mirror baseplate, Brunton, Silva, Suunto, adjustable declination, fixed declination scale, ....

Floor is wide open. What do you like/use? What do you not like?
 
i like something with a mirror, like the Suunto MC2 (also can be used for signaling). Another option is the Celestron
Oceana 8x42 monocular, which has a built in compass in the viewfinder (gives the heading of whatever you're looking at).
 
barleywino said:
i like something with a mirror, like the Suunto MC2 (also can be used for signaling). Another option is the Celestron
Oceana 8x42 monocular, which has a built in compass in the viewfinder (gives the heading of whatever you're looking at).
Click to expand...

oooooh! Now THAT's a satisfying gadget!
 
After much study I bought a Suunto M-3. It has a declination adjustment, which is one of the features that I wanted. Be sure to get one that is balanced for whichever hemisphere you're in (or a global needle).
 
I also prefer a Brunton with a mirror and declination adjustment option. But I have a small brass compass I sometimes wear around my neck for woods wandering where I mostly am concerned about general directions on overcast days when I can't see the sun. You never know when the mirror might come in handy.. might be just to pimp or to look for a stray eye lash in your eye.
 
The Silva Ranger 15 was the "gold standard" forestry compass when I started my career in the early 80s; I bought two back then and still use one of them pretty regularly. If I remember correctly, part of the Silva company, including that model of compass, was taken over by someone else (Suunto, I think) some years ago. It may have evolved into the MC2 that several others have already recommended, but at this point it probably doesn't matter much. Sorry I can't remember the details. Silva still makes a 15, but it's not the same compass. Here's one from the 80s:

Silva_Type_15_Ranger_Sighting_Compass_vintage_open_720x.jpg


If you're looking for something more than just telling which way the cardinal points are, get one with a folding mirror in the cover (the purpose is to be able to accurately see the needle and baseplate marks with the compass at eye level when you're sighting), luminous key-point markings (needle tip, etc.), and adjustable declination. With a little experience, these compasses allow you to run the exact same lines through rough country repeatedly.

Good luck!
 
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.22rimfire: Its “primp”, not “ pimp”. The first is just a bit of vanity. The second is a felony. Cheers!
 
I lent my compass and clinometer to the guy who installed my fence, and he went out and bought one of each.
 
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