compass

[ohsocountry1]

what makes a good compass? obiviously one that points the right direction haha but other then that does liquid filled make a difference is that good? what compass's do all of you use?

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[timbernet]

Brunton 15TDCL or Silva Ranger are both really well liked compasses.

 

[MarkAd]

The fluid makes a big differece. It dampens needle movement giving you quicker reading.
Also no matter what you use. Use it a lot.

 

[BlvdKing]

I have a Silva Ranger and really like it. I use it for SAR and trust it completely.

 

[waltermitty]

mirror, slope/declination indicator, magnetic deviation adjust, scales marked on
base plate corresponding to the maps I use most often. having blathered all
that, my current is the.....Silva Ranger. lightweight, slim, well made, does
what I need it to do for my alpine/glacier travels.

 

[John Gault]

mirror, slope/declination indicator, magnetic deviation adjust, scales marked on
base plate corresponding to the maps I use most often. having blathered all
that, my current is the.....Silva Ranger. lightweight, slim, well made, does
what I need it to do for my alpine/glacier travels.

+1 for the Silva

 

[twoclones]

Depends on your level of expertise and need for accuracy. I use a little $12 Brunton to start me walking in the right direction when I'm using GPS to navigate. When I have to find something small {like an old mine opening or quarter corner} using a topo map, I grab my Brunton Pocket Transit {current msrp $490}.

Liquid is good but when buying a cheapo I make sure the declination can be adjusted on the unit so I don't have to remember it every time I look at the map.

 

[ohsocountry1]

thanks everybody for your help it is just being thrown in a shtf bag

 

[Sun195]

Agree - the Silva Ranger is a good standard to go by. Something that has adjustable declination, a base plate w/ various scales, a lanyard, and a sighting mirror are all features that I'd look for.

Although, be warned - it looks like the Silva Ranger being sold by REI isn't the same as the old model. Brunton 15TDCL may be what you really want. Suunto MC-2G might be another option.

 

[zeezee]

+1 for the Silva

Ditto.

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Silva Ranger or the equivalent is good enough for ordinary woods use getting from here to there. You will want something better for surveying or for work requiring a degree of precision.

Do not trust the electronic compasses that come on your handheld GPS or smart phone. They are simply too finicky and require too-frequent calibration and mickey-mousing around with. Stick with a liquid filled case, magnetic needle and adjustable declination.

 

[Dan-Dee Sales Inc]

Brunton 9020G. Cheap and easy. Has an adjustable declination which is important in this area.

Brunton 9020G

 

[tkdguy]

Must have! Get one that can reset for declination! Or, you will be way off when reading a topo map! A good compass with declinaton adjustment could have been purchased for $20 several years ago. But those with more features were about $40.00. Good luck.