How often do you use a compass?

H

hollowdweller

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
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Since the other thread was about types I thought I'd ask how often anybody uses one:confused:

I think maybe I use one only once or twice a year.:rolleyes:

It normally involves me going down a new trail and thinking "This doesn't seem right!" The map says the trail stays pretty much south and we just went thru a big curve".

I pull out the map, orient it to the compass, satisfy myself that I'm going in the right direction (or not) and either turn off some logging path I've gone down back to the trail or continue on down the trail.
 
elk hunting this year i had my compass out to check both location and altitude on a topo of the area, it also helped me to estimate the ranges i was looking over.

alex
 
I clipped one onto my wife's purse so that when she calls me for directions I can tell her to head north, south, etc. Without the compass she usually has no idea. Finally I gave up and gave her a GPS. Now she refuses to even look at a map in the car. She wants nothing, but those turn-by-turn GPS directions.

When I go on the road or trail I bring one, but around here the mountains and the sun usually orient me. It's nice to be in a place that is almost always sunny.
 
I haven't spent much time in the woods in the past 12 or so years. I should be ashamed I know. I use one semi regularly depending on how often I get outdoors to find objects through a telescope.
 
Depends a lot on the terrain, if many visual landmarks are visible not too often, if not (thick woods, lack of significant point, flat terrain) more often.

I also use the sun quite a lot for general directions... Really... just remember sun is on the east in the morning (sun rise), south @ noon, west in the afternoon, keep in mide that's solar time (sometimes differs from 'formal' time, and if necessary that southern hemisphere is the opposite)... In conjunction with a map it is often enough for "on the run" checks or realizing you're heading the wrong way (e.g. following the trail in the opposite direction).
 
I use one more than I have to just to try and keep those skills in shape. For instance, the other day I was walking along a ridge near here and spotted a power plant in the distance. Shot an azimuth to it, calculated the back azimuth, and ran that back from the power plant on the map to my position on the trail.

But I started a long time ago as a scout in the Army, and have just tried to keep some of those skills in place. Liked it so much I got a degree in geography, and work with maps for a living now. I will say with the new GPS receivers that map reading and compass use is becoming a thing of the past!
 
mapper66 said:
I use one more than I have to just to try and keep those skills in shape. For instance, the other day I was walking along a ridge near here and spotted a power plant in the distance. Shot an azimuth to it, calculated the back azimuth, and ran that back from the power plant on the map to my position on the trail.

But I started a long time ago as a scout in the Army, and have just tried to keep some of those skills in place. Liked it so much I got a degree in geography, and work with maps for a living now. I will say with the new GPS receivers that map reading and compass use is becoming a thing of the past!
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That's cool. The great thing about GPS technology IMO is anything done with it you should still be able to find the points on a survey even if there are no markers.
 
I'd say maybe once a year, twice at best. Mostly involves going on a new trail & being unsure if I'm going the right way. Usually can get sorted out fairly quick just orienting my direction. I think I've only had to plot an azimuth once on the trail.

I really need to improve my Land Nav skills. Only thing that kept me from getting my Expert Field Medical Badge in the Army was failing night Land Nav.:grumpy:
 
Halfneck said:
I really need to improve my Land Nav skills. Only thing that kept me from getting my Expert Field Medical Badge in the Army was failing night Land Nav.:grumpy:
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Yeah it's kind of a pet peeve of mine now. Feel like an old grump (I'm only 41) when the kids come out today with the latest and greatest GPS receiver, but don't know squat about terrain association or have a clue how to use a map and compass together. I always ask them what they are going to do when the batteries die. :confused: I try to keep my land nav skills sharp, so I use the compass when I get the chance.

But man, that new Garmin Colorado sure is tempting!
 
pretty much anytime i go into the woods, which has been pretty often in the last 6 months. I usually just get oriented as far as which way the road runs and my direction into the woods. really basic stuff. I'm sure GPS is probably the way to go but i have a deep seated fear of electronic failure and if it's going to happen to only one person in the world it'll be me.
 
When I lived in the UK and hiked I'd use my compass all the time along with my maps.
Here in Canada I can't seem to get hiking maps that are as small a scale and show as much detail as the UK OS maps !
 
Im not very good at using the compass. But i always have a GPS and practice with my compass. I got one with the GPS in the same pouch. One on the camera bag and another one in the pack... Yea i got alot of them for someone that is not as good at using them. Saved my A** once when i forgot my GPS going on a long hike in the desert.

Sasha
 
Both out west and in this part of the world, it's fairly easy to navigate with a map and Mark I eyeball. The compass is there but comes out maybe every third backpacker.
 
I use mine several times a day at work, it's usually around my neck but in my left chest pocket to keep it from swinging around while walking

The Suunto MC-2 International is my preferred compass, not too fond of the Silvas, had lots of problems with them over the years.

The compass dip needle also gets used a lot for measuring slopes.

Suunto_MC2.jpg


I've got Brunton Pocket Transit that I use if I need to sight something in a little more precise (+/-1 degree rather than +/-2), but it's a bit too sensitive for every day use.
 
At least a couple of times a week. But I can get turned around in valleys I've been hiking and hunting in since I was a kid. The fastest way to find South is to ask me which direction North is.
 
I seldom (almost never) use a compass. I just use the maps, M 1:50000. I follow valleys, rivers, creeks, ridges and so on. I have never had the need to take out a direction with a compass.

Tor Helge
 
In the woods you mean? Maybe a couple times a year. Mostly because I like using one though. Not out of need. Out of need, maybe twice in my lifetime.

Now if the one on my truck rearview mirror counts, then I use it constantly. When I got that truck and discovered that readout I thought it was totaly useless, but I find myslef checking direction every time it changes now. And I'm a lot better oriented when in new places too because of it.
 
Everytime I go out. I am always checking directions. It's a habit I have acquired over the years and I try to instill it in my students.
Oldman/Marty Simon
 
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