Posted: 9/11/2009 2:54:39 PM EDT
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i am looking for a good (read: durable, accurate, reliable) compass.
said compass could be expected to do hiking duty along with possible occasional work related duties. i don't mind paying for quality, yet i don't feel the need to spend more than necessary for bling effect bragging rights. suggestions appreciated. thanks rich |
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If you want toolbox durability and tritium illumination, you need the Cammenga military lensatic compass. Note, it is based on the military 50k system, not the USUG 24k system. Widely available, very tough. Very affordable for what it is. You could always add a 24k scale if you needed to.
If you want a good hiking compass with simple clinometer, and 24k 25k and 50k scales, I recommend the Brunton 15TDCL Elite. I got mine for $36 each, new because I scrounged for deals. I've had these two for several years on camping and they ride with me daily on patrol in my body armor and laptop bag. Interesting note, in the US: Silva USA = Johnson Outdoors, as Johnson owns the Silva trademark in the US. Silva had a marketing agreement back when the original Silva Ranger was touted by the Boy Scouts and others as one of the best compasses around. Johnson and Silva parted ways, but Johnson retained the US trademark for the Silva name. Nowdays the Silva Ranger made by Johnson isn't the same quality as the original. Brunton = Silva Sweden in the US. Most of the compasses have a small nationality flag on the bottom of the package that denotes where it came from. As long as you have a Silva Sweden or Brunton, you're good to go. Whatever you choose, buy two. Keep one handy and the other secured deep in a pack or pocket. A backup compass is worth its weight in gold... you never know when you'll lose or damage the one you have handy. |
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Quoted:
since i don't know exactly what orienteering is... map compass i guess Map compasses are flat and are good for laying on a map to determine general direction. 
Orienteering compasses are good for navigating while on the move and give you something to sight on i.e. "We need to travel at 23 degrees and that is right in line with that big pine tree on the other side of the valley" You can use the notch "sight" on top to pick the object to move toward. 
See the difference? 
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Quoted: The Suunto MC-2G is the best compass on the market today and can be had for $62.95 at www.basegear.com. REI wants $84.00 for it. Great big +1 here. Most versatile compass money can buy. Cammenga Lensatics are fun, but for all-in-one (including map work) get the MC-2G or any of the other baseplate/mirror sighting compasses in the Silva Ranger lineage (Silva, Suunto and Brunton all have representatives here). |
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Having taught landnav,,and doing Orienteering since 12 now 45,,here's a site to help learn some basics.....It's very important to understand declination,,it changes from east coast to west,,
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/navigation_map_compass.html I usually just terrain associate,,using a compass to orient the map. The Sunnto MC2G,{g=global},,is an excellent choice,,very forgiving about leveling the compass,,be careful 4 versions,,2 metric and 2 US scale. I've gotten these for others just starting,,the quick reference guide cards attached seemed to help them.Plus it has enough versatility,USGS map scale 1:24,000, ft, UTM, mils, http://www.thecompassstore.com/eclipse.html I carry the Pro version of the Brunton,, or my Sunnto M3G,,also a global needle,,as back up to my Sunnto Vector watch |
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Quoted:
If you want a good hiking compass with simple clinometer, and 24k 25k and 50k scales, I recommend the Brunton 15TDCL Elite. I have this and it's a great little compass. I also like having the UTM scales handy. My baseplate compass is a Suunto M3-G which I also love. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
since i don't know exactly what orienteering is... map compass i guess Map compasses are flat and are good for laying on a map to determine general direction. http://www.tech4o.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/50.jpg Orienteering compasses are good for navigating while on the move and give you something to sight on i.e. "We need to travel at 23 degrees and that is right in line with that big pine tree on the other side of the valley" You can use the notch "sight" on top to pick the object to move toward. http://www.tech4o.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/44.jpg See the difference?
Orienteering compasses will also produce a more accurate fix when used to triangulate (aka orienting) your position due to the sighting aids. |
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I like Suunto, Brunton, Silva, in no particular order. GI compasses are good as long as you realize the trit lighting vials have a definite life. Pay extra for guaranteed new, and buy from a trusted vendor.
Practice makes perfect with compass and map, along with most things. Learn to understand declination, and buy a compass that allows you to pre-set declination into it, which will save time, mental figgering (perhaps under stress), and overall hassle. Remember, always, that declination is constantly changing by small amounts, so annually update your compasses with new declination data. Compasses are definitely an occasion where two is one, and one is none. Always have a spare, AND a backup. Oh, and dump all your gear, especially ferrous/metallic/magnetic stuff when making that all-important reading. Even your watch can make a slight difference, so learn to use your compass in your off-hand. |
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I've got a cupla $5 walmart lensatic types.
Over a 15 mile orienteering course with BSA, with various points to go to, I was off by a total (through 7 checkpoints) of about 100 yds (cumulative)... It's not so much the equipment as the operator... a good compass will do you no good if you don't know how to operate it - an inexpensive compass is GTG if you know what you're doing... YMMV and all that stuff. And yes - make sure you always keep your declination accurate. Otherwise, you're gonna have a really hard time. |