View Full Version : Recommendations for a good Compass
hammock engineer
05-01-2006, 01:14
I am looking to purchase a good compass. I have had cheap ones in the past, but know I am looking for one that is going to last.
Anyone have any good recommendations for one? I do not want to spend $100, but I want something better than the $15 model.
Disclaimer: I am posting this in the straight foward forum, because I am going to take one, and I do not want to start an argument on if you should take one. Sorry for causing more work for the moderators.
Thanks.
Hammock Engineer,
An expensive compass really won't be of more use than a simple orienteering compass such as the least expensive Silva or Suunto protractor compass - under $15.
Elaborate compasses such as the sighting compasses are not much good for working off of maps, which is the only effective way to navigate. Few of them have protractor capabilities. They are useful if you are calling in artilliary or doing some light (and not certifiable) surveying. Those that combine sighting with protractors are heavier, more bulky, less durable, and generally less useful than the protractors in my experience.
The simple, cheap protractor compasses are made for map work and give sufficient sighting accuracy for competitive orienteering and any wilderness travel. They will last for years of hard traveling. I've used the cheap Silva I bought as a Boy Scout 45 years ago through a career as a wilderness instructor and lots of extreme outdoor adventures since. In this case inexpensive and simple is a good thing.
I use a Silva Ranger CL I got at e-bay for about 20 bucks. Very nice and easy to use. The different scales go with almost any map you will find. I think you would be quite satisfied with one of these.
Part of your answer depends on what you plan to use the compass for.
For example, my usual backpacking compass is a small protractor compass made by Sun that looks similiar to the zipper pull compasses you see in many stores. Weight 0.3 ounces
The good compass for recreational orienteering is the clear baseplate protractor type compass that sells for between $10 and $12. Weigh is 1.0 to 1.2 ounces. Nothing fancy.
The next step up is the same type of compass with a small magnifier on the base plate. As my eyes age, I find the magnifier helpful for reading details on maps. Usually costs $5.00 or so more than the basic compass.
I have not found the need to take precision bearings. Hense, I don't have any compasses with sights, or mirrors.
Other than that, I do have a couple of thumb compasses that I use for orienteering. While mine came from the LL Bean outlet store, I've seen them cost about $75.00. Nice for orienteering, but not really suitable for other applications.
i use 2, depending on where i'm going.
one is a simple $6 fisheye that i can clip to my pack. gives me general cardinal directions, and i use it when i'm in familiar terrain, like a loop trail i've done frequently. helps me orient my map. it looks like this:
http://www.gleasoncamping.com/ProductImages/silva/328_l.jpg
the other one is an old silva compass i've had for about 25 years, since boy scouts. i carry it when i'm in more unfamiliar territory. it looks like this one.
http://www.silvausa.com/images/2/3/203.jpg
Shutterbug
05-01-2006, 14:09
I am looking to purchase a good compass. I have had cheap ones in the past, but know I am looking for one that is going to last.
Anyone have any good recommendations for one? I do not want to spend $100, but I want something better than the $15 model.
Disclaimer: I am posting this in the straight foward forum, because I am going to take one, and I do not want to start an argument on if you should take one. Sorry for causing more work for the moderators.
Thanks.
For years I have carried a military style lensetic compass. I have never really needed it. Recently, I bought some of those SwissGear Hiking Poles ($9.97 each) from WalMart. They have a little button compass in the top of the handle. I find myself checking them often.
One like they teach Air Force Pilots to use in Survival Training costs $48:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/military27.html
I carried one just like it on 250 missions in Vietnam.
I will also get on the "get the basic $10 compass" bandwagon.
Unless you are doing orienterring meets or adventure races, the basic compass works fine for your navigation means. As Peaks suggested, the magnifying glass upgrade for ~$5 can come in handy as well for looking at fine details on some maps.
The Silva 1-2-3 is a classic example of a basic compass. I have the magnifying version of this compass myself.
For years I have carried a military style lensetic compass. I have never really needed it. Recently, I bought some of those SwissGear Hiking Poles ($9.97 each) from WalMart. They have a little button compass in the top of the handle. I find myself checking them often.
One like they teach Air Force Pilots to use in Survival Training costs $48:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/military27.html
I carried one just like it on 250 missions in Vietnam.
For hiking, I carry a simple $10-$15 Silva or similar. They last forever, though one once lost some fluid and the resulting big bubble irritated me, so I bought another.
I do have a lensetic (sp) that I sometimes use when trying to find the boundaries of a town land trust preserve. It's not really needed for that purpose either if the land has been surveyed and there are survey stakes and blazes, but it's fun to play around sometimes, especially when working with ancient deeds, and old surveys.
The Komperdell "button" compass i have on the cork tip of my wooden walking stick is all I carry on familiar trails, where I'm prone to do a little bushwhacking. It works, though deet has blurred the plastic cover, and it has to be virtually level to get a reading, which slows things down a bit.
If I do another long distance hike on a well-marked trail, the Komperdell "button" is probably all I will carry, however.
Weary
Shrkbit143
05-01-2006, 14:58
If I want to get down and dirtyand do true compass work, I carry my big sighting compass from Brunton the 8099. It will do everything but cost $80, unless you can find it on sale. (see websight below)
For a basic sighting compass, I carry the Silva's Wrist Sighting 424. It is a great little sighting compass for around $20. (see websight below)
Either works great, it is just how much compass you want to work with. For the cost and weight I recommend the Wrist Sighting 424.
http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=286
http://www.silvausa.com/sighting.html
hammock engineer
05-01-2006, 15:14
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am only going to use this for backpacking and general bearing. I am going to look at the different Silva models suggested for under $20.
As usual I get caught up in the more expensive equal's better mentality. It looks like I can save a little money on this piece of gear.
Whitebalze comes through for advice yet again.
I have a Silva Guide 426. I thnk it was 18 bucks when i got it an weighs .9 oz.
666
I have a Silva Guide 426. I thnk it was 18 bucks when i got it an weighs .9 oz.
666
Also, if you are into kayaking or canoeing... rafting, it floats.
hikerjohnd
05-01-2006, 20:15
Silva Ranger - adjustable declination for serious orienteering, clinometer for slope angles, sapphire jeweled needle - mine goes just about everywhere with me!
The compass may be the last refuge of really good gear that does exactly what it is supposed to do for just about forever and costs practically nothing. And where expense doesn't mean quality. Keep quiet about this or the manufacturers will up the prices.
icemanat95
05-01-2006, 20:54
I've got a couple as well. For hard core bushwhacking where precision counts, the GI lensatics are hard to beat, but they are not adequate on their own for precise map work...which is why soldiers often carry map protractors as well.
A Silva Ranger has decent map protractors built in, the accuracy is a bit dodgy because of the paralax induced by the thick baseplate, but it's good enough for recreational work.
My old Boy Scout compass is still going strong after 25 years. It's my backup compass.
Part of your answer depends on what you plan to use the compass for.
For example, my usual backpacking compass is a small protractor compass made by Sun that looks similiar to the zipper pull compasses you see in many stores. Weight 0.3 ounces
The good compass for recreational orienteering is the clear baseplate protractor type compass that sells for between $10 and $12. Weigh is 1.0 to 1.2 ounces. Nothing fancy.
Yep... I had the standard Silva for 15 years and never had it out once. But if I hadn't had it no doubt I would have needed it. On the trail you're likely to need a compass only for getting straightened out in a fog or verifying the trend direction on a trail you (mis)took.
When I lightened up I got one of those mini-compasses Sun makes. (Bought it at/branded-for Blue Ridge Mt Sports.) Measures 1.5 by 1 inches, transparent baseplate, rotating bezel, glow-in-the-dark markings, neck lanyard... You can actually use the tiny thing for basic map work. Weight is just 0.3 oz like Peaks reports.
Another option: one of those thermometer zipper pulls with the tiny compass built it.
Doug Frost
A compass basically is a needle which always points in one direction. After that consideration, it’s a matter of what more do you need, or want? You should be able to readily distinguish which end of the needle is pointing nominally to the north, and which end is pointing south. It’s a nice feature if the needle quickly stops floating around and comes to rest.
I appreciate the unique quality of each of my compasses. Some are extremely accurate. Some easily work with map grids.
I consider my use of a compass is sort of like my watch use. My digital watch tells me all sorts of things, all the way down to the exact second of each hour. My analog watch tells me it’s about this time or about that time AT A GLANCE.
When hiking along a well marked trail, I don’t usually use a map. Of importance to me is, whether the compass face is large enough and the needle stable enough to consult while lurching along hiking. Frequent checks of my general heading may still result in momentary confusion from time to time, but I’m much less likely to become lost.
I bought a US military surplus pocket compass on eBay which is perfect for my use.
Suunto Thermometer Compass around $10 or less. http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:s6r2FrSn3ncsTM:www.moteng.com/ProductImages/51-COMET-P-GRN.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.moteng.com/ProductImages/51-COMET-P-GRN.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.knifeandgear.com/proddetail.asp%3Fprod%3D51-COMET-P-GRN&h=300&w=300&sz=50&tbnid=s6r2FrSn3ncsTM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&hl=en&start=26&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsuunto%2Bthermometer%2Bcompass%26star t%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff %26sa%3DN)