Simpler is almost always better.

L

leghog

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This 40+ year old compass was my first compass using the Silva System, and at the time Dad gave it to me it was the most basic compass Silva made for the Silva System (but truly all you need since land navigation is a mental skill not truly improved with gadgetry beyond the basics). Today's Silva 1-2-3 is the current equivalent to the old Type 5, and it's really a great compass especially considering you can get one for less than 10 bucks. The biggest thing the 1-2-3 has over the Type 5 is the needle bearing. The needle on the 1-2-3 dampens much more quickly than the needle on the Type 5. Of course neither has a global needle, but there is little sense paying for one if you don't need it.

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For orienteering and most land navigation tasks you really don't need anything more expensive or fancy than the simplest Silva System compass and a good topo sheet with a declination diagram.
 
A fraction of the weight of a GPS unit, and no need to carry batteries. :thumbup:
 
So True,

Also pays to know the stick method. And that the a line stuck between the points of a crescent moon always point south. At least up here.

The old saying is technology always fails first. I have and use a GPS, but never depend on it.

Great looking old compass.
 
I still have my Silva 15 from 1969
I would strongly suggest the mirror for sighting bearings as invaluable and highly accurate

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I'm not sure what model mine is but I probably picked it up in the 70's. I agree with basic is good.
 
Cool. The only thing simpler is navigation by signs and dead reckoning. Some people can do it and some can't. I always could. My brother could not.
 
I picked up a Brunton F-7DNL for $6. It does everything that I want it to, and more.

330


If it weren't for the bargain, I would be using a Silva. Silva's are great for the price.
 
DAVE_M said:
I picked up a Brunton F-7DNL for $6. It does everything that I want it to, and more.

330


If it weren't for the bargain, I would be using a Silva. Silva's are great for the price.
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Sad thing is so much of what has the Silva name is no longer made in Sweden. Johnson Outdoors has the exclusive rights to the Silva brand name in North America and none of the products are made in Sweden or the USA (that new (Johnson Outdoors) Silva Starter 1-2-3 above was made in Indonesia). So Brunton (then a Silva company) sold Silva-made products in the USA and Canada under the Brunton name. Brunton is no longer owned by Silva's parent company. Many Bruntons are now made in the USA. For the last few years Brunton has been the only compass manufacturer to make any compass in the USA.

I also have a Brunton TruArc3 (USA made) I bought for less than $7. They're normally only $14. Cheapest compass available with a global needle. Also has tool-less declination adjustments, but it's a PIA so I just add or subtract the declination on the dial, as appropriate, when setting the compass.

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it always helps to know the area you are in. I get by with a compass, without having to resort to a GPS unit. I know my area very well, and don't even need the compass 90% of the time.
The GPS really comes into it's own, when you are in virgin territory. Not having to carry a box of maps is really a step forward.
 
Mannlicher said:
it always helps to know the area you are in. I get by with a compass, without having to resort to a GPS unit. I know my area very well, and don't even need the compass 90% of the time.
The GPS really comes into it's own, when you are in virgin territory. Not having to carry a box of maps is really a step forward.
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You are making quite a bit of ground and not on foot if you need to carry a box of maps. I'm rarely in any area where I need more than one, and then it's because I'm crossing from one quadrangle to an adjacent one which is uncommon in my experience.
 
I have a Brunton that I carry normally, but also like my compass made by Victorinox. No hand held GPS for me, at least yet.

Most trails are fairly predictable in terms of orientation. There is one state park where I used to hike the trails a lot and was very familiar with them. Ten years passed without a visit..... memory fades a bit, and I was doing some day hikes there and the terrain is really confusing but on the surface very simple IF you stay on the trail which I don't always in the woods. A compass helps point me in the general direction of where I need to end up when a tad confused if you have a general knowledge of the lay of the land.
 
Just be sure to update your declination when using topographic maps and as others have said, use a pencil and notebook to record your travel route.

Most of the time I use a simple button compass on my watchband, but I do have a quality compass and map in my pack.
 
At one time, "Silva" compasses sold in the U.S. were not made by Silva, and Silva-made compasses were sold in the U.S. under the "Brunton" brand. IIRC this situation arose out of Johnson Outdoor owning the "Silva" brand in North America. After a few years, Silva stopped exporting compasses to the U.S. entirely. For a time, Suunto of Finland made the "Silva" compasses sold in the U.S.

I still have my Silva from when I was a Boy Scout. :)
 
Swampdog said:
Just be sure to update your declination when using topographic maps and as others have said, use a pencil and notebook to record your travel route.

Most of the time I use a simple button compass on my watchband, but I do have a quality compass and map in my pack.
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Depending on the age of the map, you can, if necessary, call the NOAA for updated declination by location or just go to their website:

http://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/viewers/historical_declination/

Zoom in.

Click "boundries and labels" from the drop down menu at top right of map.

Select year on scale at bottom of map.

Click on isogonic line to determine the magnetic declination for that place at that time.

At my current location at the current time there's a westerly magnetic declination of 10.5 degrees.
 
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When out hiking, I always have a local Topo map and compass. My current compass is a Brunton F-7DNL. Used to have a Brunton or Silva compass with the scout logo on it.

Am am assistant youth leader for church and help with the local scout troop. The scout master asked me to help them with the Orienteering Merit Badge. This evening we'll be going on a hike up the canyon, using Map and compass to help navigate. This is showing me how much I forgot since scouts and is a great learning experience. :)

Some of the kids thinks this is nuts, that their electronic device with maps will do the trick. But they don't realize what happens when the batteries dye after a day of Movie and MP3 playing or if it gets wet. The Map and compass weigh hardly anything, can be stashed in a pack with out taking up any room and are there when you need it. One of my local Topo maps is Water Proof, I've never worried about it. Even though my Android phone has a GPS and I have a great Topo map program (Back country Navigator with local maps preloaded), I still love using my paper maps and compass.
 
What was it that quote from Daniel Boone "I've never been lost, but I've been mighty turned around for a few days"
Map and compass work is something I've been training in, and need to do more work on. There is a difference between knowing what to do, and pinpointing yourself on a topo map, especially without much visible horizon.
Codger, Its funny you mention dead reckoning. By talent or training, my dad always knows where he is, Myself, well, lets just say I refer to my nav skills as legendary, because I've been so lost its unbelievable. My little brother is half way there, he knows exactly which direction to go, no concept of distance, he decided one day in the city it was time to head back to the hotel, and he was on the right track, only problem was it was 25kms away.
 
Another label for getting around without a compass was "navigation by observation." That was easier out west where geographic features are easier to see (less vegetation and sharper features).
 
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