compass: performance, value, price?

ArmoredSheepdog

ArmoredSheepdog

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I haven't really seen a thread here of this nature, sorry if this is a repost.

I have never really delved into what equates to cost in a compass before, or even what to look for aside from just having a needle that points you north. The prices seem to range just as far and wide as those of the knife do.

Do you look for the equivalent of a $10 Mora knife for a great bang for the buck? Do you go with something more 'robust' as it were ie my life may depend on it: along the lines of a gransfors axe or RTAK II but instead as a compass. Does cost correlate to value?:confused:
 
Cost correlates to some degree, but an inexpensive compass by a name brand, such as Silva or Brunton will be reliable. More money should get you more accuracy of detail- i.e. 1 degree instead of 2 or 5 degree marks; it will also get you better material and therefore more rugged durability.
I have on Brunton Pocket transit made in an aluminum hull with a large dial, capable of rough survey accuracy, and with a built in clinometer . It is a several hundred dollar compass these days.
I also have an $8.95 Brunton plastic compass that works just fine for orienting maps and taking a rough bearing for field navigation purposes. The cheap plastic imitation lensatic compasses sold in some army navy stores are real junk, and best avoided.

You can find good but inexpensive compasses from the recognized manufacturers and they will serve well. I generally carry at least two - one in map pocket or case, with the map, and another as a backup carried in belt pouch or pocket.

Just remember that without a map, a compass is very limited in utility- it will let you follow a reasonably straight line, but not much else. Like a knife, it takes practice to get skilled enough to realize the full capabilities.
If you can do a little "orienteering" it will help a lot, even if you just buy a book and practice on your own.

My kids, when 7 or 8, all got a quicky course in compass- I handed them one, told them each -separately- to go 100 paces in a straight line, then add 90 degrees and go another 100 paces, and then a third and fourth iteration. When they ended up standing less than 2 paces from the starting point, they realized that this was a good way to stay "unlost" <g>.
 
I just checked a current spring catalog from Forestry Suppliers, and they have a Suunto Navigator MC2D Compass with built in clinometer listed at a sale price of $36.50. (Regular$38.50)
This is a good all around field compass capable of most work at a reasonable price. From $8 or $9.95 up to this price is a range that should get all anyone needs for hiking and using a topo map to stay oriented and located. If you NEED more capability than this, you will have a real good idea what to get. :)
 
I have a Brunton 28NL I recently bought new from Bens Backwoods for $7.00 and its very good for everyday work. Its mighty small. My other one is a Silva 54 and I've had it for around 30 years. It cost all of $15.00 at the PX in 1977, a very good compass.
 
My main trekking compass for places like Dartmoor (wild place) is a Silva TD15, costs around $60.00, very sturdy piece of kit and the sighting mirror can also be used as a signal mirror if the shtf

_rang--td-15-silva.jpg


My everyday compass that go's with me everywhere when im out and about is one of these, a Silva Type 4.

ma_silva_compass.jpg
 
i have a little compass that I bought from the dollar store, it works, but its not that great, I wouldn't depend on it if I were trying not to get lost.... but if I were trying to get lost, it would be my best friend ;)
 
I have used an army lensatic compass for years - it works and is really durable. The "needle" is actually part of a rotating disc, marked with both mils and degrees. Here's a primer on it's use: http://www.survivalprimer.com/1st Book Military Compass, many sources.pdf
These can be had for under $50, and are much better than the cheap imitation style. Tritium inserts might be of use if you are trying to nav in the dark, but since I generally carry a light source, I am OK with the standard "glowing" inserts.

Since reading "Master Backwoodsman" by Bradford Angier, I've gotten a hankering for a Pocket Transit, though. Seems like a step up...
--
Brian
 
Compasses are like most everything else, you get what you pay for. However some hints on what to look for in a compass and what you want it to do. For precise map following a lensatic compass works very well, when choosing one make sure it is liquid filled and no buble in glass, bubbles will throw off reading a couple of degrees, if not that precise, OK. make sure the magnifing glass is clear so you can read the azmath on the compass. If not so precise reading is needed a silvas no lensatic works very well, i have my 1964 silvas boy scout compass that works very well. One thing I might mention when you take off from your starting point where you leave you car or where your comming back to, take a reading and make shure which way your going before you start and if very rugged keep a log, of compass headings from land marks till you get where your going and add 180 degrees to that and go from back where you started, if thats the way. if you make a log and directions, and get lost you usualy can find 1 of your landmarks and your log will get you back from there.

Bill
 
gaga said:
i got a SUUNTO Finland MC-1 a 50$ compass for 7$ new no scratches or dents, in a silva leather pouch box ,form a goodwill, im not cheap, but more like a opportunists:D and someone should load this into the downloads section please:) http://faculty.forestry.ubc.ca/bendickson/FOPRLibrary/Library/Surveying/Compass Instructions.pdf is for suunto but i think is good for all compasses
Click to expand...

Posted in the downloads section this evening as "Compass
Instructions" along with some other good compass references.
 
brionic said:
Since reading "Master Backwoodsman" by Bradford Angier, I've gotten a hankering for a Pocket Transit, though. Seems like a step up...
--
Brian
Click to expand...

They are the top end of modern pure compass equipment, but are somewhat bulky and heavy for general backpack use.
I do love mine, used it years ago in mapping archaeological sites, doing 1 foot contour maps for recording the location of trenches and artifacts.
 
Let me see.....

Brunton Pocket Transit,
Silva 15T,
several cheapo Colemans from K Mart,
GI Lensatic
Recta (Suunto) DP - swiss army compass
and a few others lurking around in various packs and drawers.

The Recta is my usual carry, even though its got a bubble in it. Still checks OK against my Brunton.
 
Michaels of Oregon used to make a good little all metal foresters compass that I have two of. They are damped needles, not liquid fill, accurate, and very rugged.
 
I grew up with Silva compasses, still use them today, to me they are the Mora of the compass world. I have this as well, but its a bit big to backpack with, WW2 Spitfire compass I believe.

c2Small.jpg
 
I have several for having a dayhike compass the Brunton classic 9020 is great, its bright green nice big numbers, even has a declination correction, that you usally wouldnt find in a compass under 20 dollars. I think it was 12 bucks at REI.
408023Lrg.jpg


For weekend outtings I prefer the Brunton 8096 , it has a few more features for actual navigation that makes things simpler. Hard to beat its features for 33 dollars.
7b03229a-8fe3-4db3-99c3-da38be2733ff.jpg


In my bug out bag I have the always true Cammenga. This thing will out last me I'm sure, something to pass down to the kids. But it was 70 bucks.
Compass_mn.jpg
 
At one time I had about a dozen of those little brunton classic compasses- they sold "kits" for Hunter Safety Instructors to use in teaching basic map and compass skills. The kit included a good VHS video as well.

Those are good little compasses at any rate- not fancy, but tough, reliable and accurate enough.
 
Wow thats a ton of info guys, thanks a bunch. It sure is a devastating array of choices, kinda like picking a backpack lol!. I bought a Silva starter compass from Academy this weekend for $8, I will upgrade once I build up my knowledgebase and experience more.
 
Bigger and better compass is nice, but first get a good supply of topo maps for your main areas. A good map and any decent compass is far better than a top flight compass and a road map, or no map <g>.
 
I use an aluminium case Ranger sighting compass (cost about €20 10 years ago), also carry a cheapo €10 compass as a backup.
Then as a last ditch back-up I carry a small button compass in my possibles pouch.
 
The silva starter will serve you well - like the mora you may find it is all you'll ever need. As was said the compass is only part of the equation, get some good topo maps of an area near you and go practice. I would also suggest the book Be Expert with Map & Compass by Björn Kjellström.

cc
 
This is the Uncle Mikes Forester's compass I had referred to:

P1000776.jpg


Apparently it is no longer in their line, at least I could not find it.
 
I know I only have the skill to use a compass to go in a relatively straight line. Years ago I took an orienteering class and had a ball doing it but I didn't retain enough of it to trust my life to it. I guess my point is that a compass that consistently points north is all I really need cause I don't need all the other stuff cause I aint smart enough to use it.


Jesster
 
GreyOne said:
Bigger and better compass is nice, but first get a good supply of topo maps for your main areas. A good map and any decent compass is far better than a top flight compass and a road map, or no map <g>.
Click to expand...

If you don't have maps for your area, the DeLorme Topographic Atlases aren't a bad way to start. I think they're based on the 1:100,000 USGS topo data so they aren't as detailed as the 1:24000 quads, but they're really handy to have, especially if you're hunting/traveling in a new area, you can then pick up the 1:24000 maps as you need them. I usually keep one of the Atlas & Gazetteer for whatever state I'm in at the time in the truck so I have a handy reference to the little back roads and trails.

I've used a Brunton pocket compass for years now, I don't know what model it is but it is the type with a folding cover and a mirror inside. Handy for following a bearing and it can double as a signal mirror. The magnifying lenses on some models can also double as a way to start a fire - something to think about when you're picking one up - might be worth an extra buck or two to have a magnifying lens built-in.
 
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I used to have a Silva "Ranger" compass that I laid irrigation lanes out on our farm here in NE NEbraska. It was made of plastic, about the size of a "penny" box of wooden matches. The sighting groove was across the center of the top with "luminous" grooves in both the compass body and the detent-loaded drawer.

Bear with me here....upon sliding the drawer out, the mirror would drop and let you view the "rose" from bottom to top AND sight upon a fencepost a half mile distant. You could split a degree into "thirds" with this thing and I have arial photos to prove it!

It was light, adjustable for declination, but I never bothered........ya' got 5 fingers, don't ya'?. Great tool...light, surveyor quality, and CHEAP!
 
i have a brunton and use my dads commenga that is from the late 80 early 90s takes a beating and keeps goin
 
In the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, I can do much more with a good topo than a compass.

Heck, about all I use the compass for is to make sure my map is oriented North. I maintain constant situational awareness, and am reading the lay of the land against the topo contours. I stop and check my map about every ten minutes. That's how I always know where I am.

I use a small pin-on brass Silva compass that attaches to my packstrap so i can always see it. I also have 3-6 other cheap Silva and Brunton compasses stashed about in other packs.
 
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silva tdr25 Very much like the one that kepis has, about $80 even has a night light i didn't realise was there... I haven't had a go at doing it but I'm learning how to back track if thats what it's called... after the story about the couple that only just wandered of a track, lady sprained here ancle so the chap tripped of to get the ranger... he didn't take a coirdinate of his stop, she was only an hour away but it took weeks to find her, by then she'd unfortunately lost her life... my inspiration for a decent compass... I always carry a spare, small one just to check they're reading right...
 
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