which compass

muzzleup

muzzleup

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Messages
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What do you guys think of the Suunto, Brunton, or the Silva compasses? I think they are all supposed to be pretty well made.
Do I really need one with a sighting mirror if I am not orienteering with it?

Ciao
Ron :confused: :eek:
 
I dont' know about the first 2, but I always had a blaze orange silva...I hadn't used it in a few years now with GPS...should head out and give it a shot this weekend.
 
Personally, I like Cammenga.

They are about as tough as they come, the magnetic moving piece locks when closed, so it is not damaged, you can get in phosphorus or tritium. They have accurate markings, and in general can just take a beating.

I may use others, like a pin on, but this one is always with me.
 
I have an older Silva System Scout Compass and a lesser priced GI-type Lenestatic Marching Compass as well as a BCB Button Compass, which is an updated SAS Compass (currently NSN'd and used by the RAF for E&E IIRC). I also bought one of the pin ons at Wally- on clearance for a dime or the like.The only one I'm not crazy about is the Pin on. It works, I just don't like it. The lenestatic and silva are both right on and the BCB is within 3 degrees. I keep the BCB in my wallet, and ironically, i have found myself going for that over my primary compass. The main problem is it is marked less precisely than the others, but for making sure I'm in the ball park that's not a biggy.
 
This probably isn't what you're looking for but I did alot of looking for the perfect compass about a year ago. Check out the Brunton Nexus Type 4/54. They're a little pricey and not always easy to find in the U.S. but they've got a feature that really makes them shine. They've got a tiny sighting prism that uses an optical illusion to create a "sighting line" and your bearing to show wherever you're looking at. Difficult to explain. Check it out at the Brunton or Silva websites or here at http://www.kooters.com/reccomp.html#54lu . Kooters usually snaps most of these up whenever they come into the country. I can't say enough good things about this compass.

Oh, yeah. Sometimes you can find these on ebay and very occasionally they'll have the Australian Army version with tritium.
 
task force k said:
This probably isn't what you're looking for but I did alot of looking for the perfect compass about a year ago. Check out the Brunton Nexus Type 4/54. They're a little pricey and not always easy to find in the U.S. but they've got a feature that really makes them shine. They've got a tiny sighting prism that uses an optical illusion to create a "sighting line" and your bearing to show wherever you're looking at. Difficult to explain. Check it out at the Brunton or Silva websites or here at http://www.kooters.com/reccomp.html#54lu . Kooters usually snaps most of these up whenever they come into the country. I can't say enough good things about this compass.

Oh, yeah. Sometimes you can find these on ebay and very occasionally they'll have the Australian Army version with tritium.
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I've had the Silva 54 version of this for nearly 20 years I think; a superb compass. I used to use it for trig bearings when doing geological mapping. Basically, you keep both eyes open looking at your target, with the compass prism in front of one eye. Very accurate system and I found it much easier that using a mirror.

Unfortunately, I broke the base plate a few years ago, so now the compass part lives in my BOB. Replacements are available, but I haven't bothered yet.

Rick.
 
All three are equally good. If you don't think you neeed the mirror, then you don't, it just makes for easier and more accurate sighting. Mind you, it could be good for other things, like signalling, or shaving, or treating cuts on your face.
 
The one thing I look for in a compass is an adjustable declination screw. That way I don't have to do the math in the field when I'm hot and tired and not at all interested in doing math. In all other regards I find compasses to be pretty much equal.

Sighting mirrors are only interesting (from a navigation point of view) once you get into precision navigation. But as noted above, I find them handy in the same way any mirror is handy in the field.
 
I think the quality among all three is comparable.

The Brunton declination adjustment is nice and simple - the degree dial is sort of like a watch bezel, and turns independently from the needle capsule. It has a little magnifier that lets you read bearings to 1 degree, as opposed to 2 or 5 degrees for most Silva compasses I've used. (though practically the difference doesn't matter to me. I'm going "that way", not mapping to any great degree.) My usual compass is a Silva Landmark - small, with a sighting mirror that is mostly useful for other things, but occasionally gets used for shooting bearings to mountain peaks and triangulating position. The sighting mirror has an actual hinge, as opposed to the Guide model which uses a single piece of plastic that folds in half for the baseplate and mirror. I'm not sure what the durability of the Guide would be, especially in cold weather.

The Brunton Classic is nice, though doesn't add much beyond a Silva Polaris except for the declination adjustment. I don't think that really makes up for the larger size.

I have a Brunton GPS, which has the GPS gizmos on the base plate. It's a real handful, which is why I don't usually carry it (it would be fine, but the Landmark is smaller and lighter and easier to tuck in to a pocket.) I have an older version, and the numbers are painted on to the bottom of the baseplate. I'm worried that that they may wear off with long-term hard use, but no issues so far. I think the new ones are made by Silva, and I'm not sure if the baseplate markings are still an issue. The GPS tools are handy if you're plotting GPS positions on a map, especially if your rambles take you off-trail. The Eclipse line in general has some cool gee-whiz features.

You might want to consider Suunto if you travel around the globe. Different regions have different magnetic fields, and most compasses are region-specific. Suunto has claimed to develop a needle that works anywhere. I tend to stay in North America, so I haven't learned much about the technology, how it works, or whether they still make these compasses.

Overall, I'd recommend the Landmark for small size, simplicity, and cost. However, you'll need to upgrade if you want more precision, or for use with a GPS. If you want the most brag-worthy compass ever, get a Brunton Pocket Transit. Sort of like using a battle axe to peel carrots, unless you need it. :D
 
amiga said:
Silva=Brunton(in the USA)
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To clarify ...

The original "Silva" is a company in Sweden. Silva of Sweden now owns the U.S. company Brunton. Compasses manufactured by Silva of Sweden are sold in the U.S. under the Brunton trademark.

Silva of Sweden does not own the "Silva" trademark in the U.S. That trademark is owned by Johnson Outdoors (they bring you Eureka! tents, Old Town canoes, etc...). Years ago, Johnson Outddors used to market compasses in the U.S. for Silva of Sweden under the "Silva" trademark. When Silva of Sweden bought Brunton they wanted to market their compasses thorugh Brunton, but Johnson Outddors wouldn't give up the "Silva" trademark. Now, Johnson Outdoors sells "Silva" compasses in the U.S., but they are not made by the original Silva of Sweden.

They are all good compasses though.

I'll also strongly recommend you buy a compass with "adjustable declination". Don't confuse a "declination scale" for adjustable declination - not the same thing.

The mirrored compasses do give more accurate sighting. If that is important to you, then get a mirrored compass, but the mirror isn't vital.

Compasses I like:

non-mirrored, small & rounded enough to stuff in pocket: Brunton 9020G

non-mirrored, my favorite: Suunto Leader M3 - great value!

mirrored, classic: Brunton 15TDCL - the "original" Silva Ranger compass

mirrored, my favorite: Brunton Eclipse 8099 - kind of expensive, some love it, some hate it
 
Here is a pic with my Silva compass on....had it a number of years now and has never let me down !!!
PICT0917.jpg
 
The mirror's primary function is for sighting uphill without loosing accuracy by tilting the needle. You tilt the mirror and sight instead.

It is much more precise and is recommended for any serious navigation.

The mirror is great for signalling as well.

Buy what you can afford price is indication of quality in compasses. Dont overlook older used ones as a compass is a compass. Mine is 20 something yrs old and works perfect on all SAR ops. Silva ranger model 15

Skam
 
See, you learn something every day. I never knew that about mirrors and sighting uphill or maybe I did and forgot that I knew. Either way, thanks for teaching me or reminding me.
 
Now I know why they call you "Skammer". :-)

The mirror is not for looking up hill.

The mirrored sighting compass is usually held near eye-level with the mirror at about 45 degree angle to the baseplate. The user then either lines the target up using sights on the compass body (Brunton 8040G) or using a sight notch on the top of the mirror (Brunton 15TDCL). Even though the 15TDCL only has one sight, you can use lines in the mirror to tell if you're square on to the target. Finally, use the mirror to view the compass' capsule and rotate the capsule to "box" the arrow.

The http://www.brunton.com site provides instruction manuals for many of their compasses. They do a pretty good job of explaining how to use them.

Using a mirrored compass is kind of like aiming a rifle. Using a non-mirrored compass is kind of like shooting a shotgun - you usually just sort of point it in the general direction (which can be surprisingly accurate).
 
kenk said:
Now I know why they call you "Skammer". :-)

The mirror is not for looking up hill.

.
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Hmmm. :yawn:

I teach about 4 map and compass courses a year to the public and I can assure you the mirror is used to adjust for the slope of the hill by tiliting the sighting notch on the mirror and not the baseplate, thereby keeping the needle free swinging and level. Not possible with a baseplate compass.

Before commenting, research.;)

I guess I have been navigating to lost people wrong all theses years:eek: .

Skam
 
Hey Ron, I'm not sure about the extent of use you're concerned with, but out of the package these 3 are on pretty level ground. Unfortunately, I destroy things like compasses, along with watches, cell phones, radioo and anything an electro/magnetic field likes to mess with. So, in this area the Silva brand compasses have failed most rapid, the Bruntons last as long as I don't keep them right next to my body for extended times, and my Suunto has been with me for a couple years while not giving up it's accuracy to any noticeable degree.
There are a couple of gentlemen out at Sportsman's Warehouse in Silverdale, who seem to be knowledgable and helpful. A little hands on doesn't hurt either.;) :thumbup:

Good Luck!
 
skammer said:
Hmmm. :yawn:

I teach about 4 map and compass courses a year to the public and I can assure you the mirror is used to adjust for the slope of the hill by tiliting the sighting notch on the mirror and not the baseplate, thereby keeping the needle free swinging and level. Not possible with a baseplate compass.

Before commenting, research.;)

I guess I have been navigating to lost people wrong all theses years:eek: .

Skam
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Here is info from kooters.com (the link that task force k provided above):

"Baseplate or Mirrored compass? Mostly personal preference. The mirror compass is useful in hilly terrain where you need to take a bearing on a point which is at a higher or lower elevation than your own location. Baseplate compasses are generally simpler to use with a map."

Huh, I've been navigating with compasses since Boy Scouts - almost 40 years now - and read just about every book on the topic that I can get my hands on. I've never heard that angle (no pun intended).

I stand corrected ... and embarassed.

Here is are a few links that describe how I use mirrored compasses:

http://www.thecompassstore.com/usmircom.html (cool animation!)

http://www.brunton.com/manuals/current/Compasses/8099a.pdf (page 6)

http://www.brunton.com/manuals/current/Compasses/Nexus_compass.pdf (lower left corner)

http://www.brunton.com/manuals/current/Compasses/15TDCL.pdf (page 2, illustrations A & B)

http://www.islandnet.com/sarbc/compass.html (about 2/3's of the way down)

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/sar2/compass2.html

If I want to sight to higher or lower elevations I just change the height of the compass relative to my eyes, adjust the mirror angle so I can still view the capsule, and then use the compass' top sight (as opposed to the pee-a-boo sights).

Ken K.
 
I want to thank everyone who has given me some feedback. My way of solving my problem is that I have ordered 1 Suunto, 1 Silva Ranger(marked Finland and not Sweden), and 4 different Brunton compasses. My Brunton 8099Pro should come in today and I already have the BN8079 non mirror one. I also ordered a military style and a "racing" compass from Brunton.

I will now probably get lost in my house or get dizzy from moving in circles! :rolleyes: :eek: :D

Ciao
Ron
 
kenk said:
"Baseplate or Mirrored compass? Mostly personal preference. The mirror compass is useful in hilly terrain where you need to take a bearing on a point which is at a higher or lower elevation than your own location. Baseplate compasses are generally simpler to use with a map."

Huh, I've been navigating with compasses since Boy Scouts - almost 40 years now - and read just about every book on the topic that I can get my hands on. I've never heard that angle (no pun intended).
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No biggie;) .

When I teach in elevated areas the students make the constant mistake of tilting a non mirrored compass up the hill. While in the classroom portion many do not see the need for a mirror until we go in the field. I demonstrate the mirror elevation sighting trick and the lightbulb goes on.

To be honest I never recommend any baseplate compass as you just cant do as much with them. A decent mirror sighting compass is not cheap and thus you get some who think all compasses are the same and buy cheap.

Not the case. As with most outdoor gear buy the best you can afford.

More important is learning how to use it. I guestimate from my experience 90% of compass owners have no clue how to use it and are shocked to learn that: "When lost with a compass and no map, a compass just gets you more lost in a straight line".

I see many with a compass as part of a survival kit but you have to use it before you are lost or understand triangulation with a map and without.

Gripes from a frustrated nav instructor I guess.:grumpy:

Skam
 
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