Compass

[newguy220]

What does everyone carry for a compass? Is there any advantages to any of them?

I've had a couple cheap wallyworld ones and they end up broke after awhile, so I'm looking for something with quality.

Thanks,
newguy220

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I always have one.....its in my watch. I wear a Casio Pathfinder watch which has a compass function, along with an altimeter and barometer.

 

[Mustang06]

Silvah Ranger or a Suunto. Used them for 15 years in the US Army infantry and in my civilian career as a forester for the last 12 years. Darn near indestructible and adjustable for declination. Can't go wrong with either of them.

 

[Cobbhunts]

Silvah Ranger or a Suunto. Used them for 15 years in the US Army infantry and in my civilian career as a forester for the last 12 years. Darn near indestructible and adjustable for declination. Can't go wrong with either of them.

What he said!! They are hard to beat.

 

[Winchester]

My primary compass is in my Garmin GPS ... works great. Like "CC" I also have one in my Casio watch and sometimes carry an old Military Style Lensatic Compass left over from Ranger School as a backup (doesn't need batteries).

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I am not sure of the brand, but I have a simple rugged plastic one attached to my pack. I navigate almost exclusively by landmarks and GPS, but my compass is my back-up plan.

 

[25contender]

Same here I keep a Suunto attached to the inside of my pack with a map as a backup.

I am not sure of the brand, but I have a simple rugged plastic one attached to my pack. I navigate almost exclusively by landmarks and GPS, but my compass is my back-up plan.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I carry the Army compass in the little canvas pack it was in when my Dad used it in WWII. It's just for a backup and I know it will be there and functional if my GPS goes kaput!

 

[Winchester]

I carry the Army compass in the little canvas pack it was in when my Dad used it in WWII. It's just for a backup and I know it will be there and functional if my GPS goes kaput!

TG '06, That's the same compass I have ... it's been through alot and will continue to work fine for a long, long time. Great for a GPS backup.

 

[libidilatimmy]

Although purely a backup to my GPS, the one I carry is a Brunton Pocket Transit. Maybe a little overkill but they are super accurate and you can triangulate your position off of a quad map with landmarks to within a 200 acre area or so if you know how to use it. It's kind of fun to navigate terrain like that.

 

[mnhunter]

My primary compass is in my Garmin GPS ... works great. Like "CC" I also have one in my Casio watch and sometimes carry an old Military Style Lensatic Compass left over from Ranger School as a backup (doesn't need batteries).

Me like….I do the same. When I went through pathfinder I was introduced to the Suunto compasses which are great for plotting off of maps, but they never fully replaced my tritium lit, lensatic compass. I have used that thing from calling in artillery in AFG to navigating the black timber hunting elk.

 

[Winchester]

Me like….I do the same. When I went through pathfinder I was introduced to the Suunto compasses which are great for plotting off of maps, but they never fully replaced my tritium lit, lensatic compass. I have used that thing from calling in artillery in AFG to navigating the black timber hunting elk.

Yep, the lensatic compass is an oldie but a goodie. Can't go wrong with one, even though I primarily use my GPS these days.

 

[Drhorsepower]

I use my suunto core watch and/or iPhone.

 

[LaHunter]

Silva Explorer

 

[Musket Man]

Whats a compass? We have GPS now! LOL!

 

[OregonJim]

I also way keep one in my pack but it just doesn't come out unless I run though my spare garmin batteries……

 

[newguy220]

I need one once in awhile when the gps can't get enough satellites to give me an accurate reading, but it will tell you what heading you need to go.

Jim, I'm surprised you coast guys don't run into this problem more.

Thanks everyone
newguy220

 

[Kevin Root]

I carry a small one, mainly to use as a backup to the GPS failure but I also use it just to get a quick mark or line instead of turning on the GPS and having to wait on start up. I don't have the GPS on all the time typically and just use the GPS more to mark waypoints or points of interest I come across or to get to a location I'm unfamiliar with or trying to get to off trail track or way points I made/plotted for the first time.

 

[tttoadman]

I carry a small one with a cover that snaps closed. Must be liquid filled. It just has a little red pointer to help set a target. I have no training on the "proper" use of a compass. These are just the basics that work for me. I would agree it only comes out at night during map time, or when the GPS batts die.

 

[Cav Troop]

I carry a military lensatic compass, the same one I used as a tank commander, as a backup to my Garmin GPS.