• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Compasses?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
I like compasses. Let's see your favorite compass.

Lately, I've been eyeing this Brunton 8099 Pro. :thumbup:

F-8099-Pro_L.jpg
 
No experience with that model. The truth is there will be negative reviews about nearly everything, no matter how good it is. Find a compass you like from a reputable name and go with it.
 
I use a Brunton 9020G "Classic". It is a simple basic tinted baseplate that works well with USGS topo maps and does just about everything I need. Best of all, it is lightweight and costs $10-$15, so I don't cry if it gets lost. I suppliment it with a cheap pin-on ball compass attached to my bag or backpack shoulder strap. It is accurate enough for general direction finding and a good backup to the Brunton.

Codger
 
adaman04 said:
No experience with that model. The truth is there will be negative reviews about nearly everything, no matter how good it is. Find a compass you like from a reputable name and go with it.
Click to expand...

Normally, I would agree with you. That there always going to be nit picks on stuff. However, I think this compass is a different story. Most people that know me, know that I am blatantly honest. And with this compass, there is none out there that I would DISCOURAGE more than this one. In fact, I believe this compass to be DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS. The more novice the hands this is in, the more dangerous. Even in experienced hands, it is an extreme PITA.

I wrote a quite extensive review on it. I am not going to re-write it all, so you can check it out on here on Woodsmonkey. It is a direct link to the article.

B
 
First you got plate compass like this one:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/polaris.html

For $10 dollars they'll cover most of your needs.

Then you've got mirror compasses that allow better precision azimuth.
http://www.thecompassstore.com/trekker.html
For $30 dollars you'll have most what is left covered.

For me spending more doesn't make much sense for the average hiker.
Good brands like Silva, Suunto, Bruunton compass are available at low price and they are as good as it gets.

I wouldn't look at deal extremes for a compass: too important to me and I can get premium quality at low price.

Unless you're doing cartographic/geologic work, average hiker generally doesn't need much more.

I've come to consider translucent plate including ruler a desirable feature.
Sometimes I even prefer the simplest plate compass to the mirror one because you can instantly check your direction without flipping cover open.
 
I have a number of compasses but honestly 90% of the time as long as I have a topo map the most simple one along with being able to view the topography will keep me on the trail.

Now in Surveying in college we used staff compasses to do a survey once and they were cool but nowhere near as accurate as a transit.
 
I like the Suunto MC-2DL. Which is essentially the same as the old Silva Ranger.

The current Silva Ranger is made in Indonesia, and is not the same quality as the old Swedish Silva.

That Brunton 8099, I wouldn't touch. Sure, everything gets a bad review now and again, but the bad reviews on that compass are frequent and consistent in their complaints.
 
Brian Andrews said:
Normally, I would agree with you. That there always going to be nit picks on stuff. However, I think this compass is a different story. Most people that know me, know that I am blatantly honest. And with this compass, there is none out there that I would DISCOURAGE more than this one. In fact, I believe this compass to be DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS. The more novice the hands this is in, the more dangerous. Even in experienced hands, it is an extreme PITA.

I wrote a quite extensive review on it. I am not going to re-write it all, so you can check it out on here on Woodsmonkey. It is a direct link to the article.

B
Click to expand...

I have the 8097. I'm in danger if I use it? I haven't had time to get through your review yet.
 
I think the most important thing is to learn how to use the compass you choose. The most sophisticated compass there is is useless if you are not thoroughly familiar with it.
 
Stormstaff said:
I have the 8097. I'm in danger if I use it? I haven't had time to get through your review yet.
Click to expand...

Nope. The 8097 is cool. I commented on it in the other thread already. It is the combination of circle over circle, and the sighting mirror viewing those circles at an angle the causes the problem with the 8099. Since yours is a baseplate, viewing from above does not cause any issues.

My heartburn with the 8099 is you can have large error and not even be aware of it. Once you are aware of it, it is very tricky to even try and minimize it.

B
 
Brian,

Sorry. I'm an idiot. I just read your response to my question in your Fall Nav thread. Thanks again!
 
MI1409.jpg


A reproduction of the Whitney compass that was used by Meriwether Lewis during the mapping of the Louisiana Purchase. Pricey, but I'm saving up!
 
Ravaillac said:
* Very good for aiming.
* Maybe stronger than plate compasses

Not bad at all but:
* it rattles a bit
* The opening action is a bit annoying
* I miss plate and ruler
Click to expand...

Thats the point. Very nice and not expensive basic compass for every basic work in the field. On short trips with well marked trails I just take the Silva Field 7. Realy small and lightweight to cary it on my neck and good enough for quick bearings in any terrain.
For big work in unknown and unmarked landscape the DS50G is defenitely on its own. Also the best compass for map work I have ever seen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top