Blake:

Why do your students say they like their lensatics? Are you training military folks? I've often wondered why the military stays with lensatic compasses, other than the angular mils thing (handy for measuring distance, used in artillery plotting, etc.), which is also available on baseplate compasses. I've also wondered about the basic map and compass proficiency of the average platoon leader in the era of GPS. Please forgive my curiosity, as I confess to being a bit of a compass geek.

Jeff

Honestly, the main reason I like my GI lensatic compass is the inductive damping - no liquid to leak/form bubbles/get sluggish in the cold.

The main drawback is it is not convenient to use it as a protractor to transfer an azmuth directly to or from a map.

The reason for a lensatic compass is to be able to accurately sight a bearing/heading. The best you can do with a baseplate compass is hold it against your chest and rotate your body until the needle is "caged" and then look up straight ahead.

Although that's probably good enough for most uses.

I'll stay with my Suunto Mirrored MC-2 Global. Plenty of accurate for me.

John

The plain fact is that for most outdoor applications you really don't need great accuracy in a compass.

I carried two compasses during my time in the military. The issue one, because they gave it to me and it glowed in the dark; and a civilain cheapo around my neck I usually carried to check azimuths on the go.

And Jeff, I learned early on, LT + compass + map= lost waiting to happen.

Hey now! I resemble that remark. At least the LT part of it. BTW, the equation is not necessarily wrong but that is why PSG's carry a compass too...and usually don't stay within ten yards of a PL. They're so shiny and new that they cancel any Grid to Magnetic adjustment. (Or maybe they just forget to do the declination before moving)

In full disclosure, I was seven years infantry before OCS, so when snap judgments were made seeing my glaringly shiny butter bar, the subdued tabs and unmistakable pumpkin patch on my left blouse pocket tended to stop the snickers fast. lol.

Jeff,

Just a few bring those lensatics in.

Most folks have very limited Navigation skills and are a bit confused as to how a compass works. They are more than ready to use a baseplate once they see it work.

I like the Brunton 8010G.

The Suntoo baseplates are very nice too.

Blake

Thanks, Blake. I imagine it helps to have various types to demonstrate for comparison purposes. I know afew guys who still swear by their old GI issue lensatics. I friend of mine (ex-SF type) teaches, as a civilian contractor, at the Army ranger school here; I was wondering if you were doing that type of work, too.

My own favorite compass (considering features, cost, and quality) is the Suunto Leader M-3 without the global needle (pointing to Canada is just fine - I don't need it to point to Norway or Siberia).

I've had mine for many years and no problem with bubbles. Plus, at that price (about $20-$25) I can replace it, if needed, without too many tears.

I also like the Brunton 15TDCL (the original Ranger 15)a lot, but it is a much higher cost ($50). The mirror is a good multi-purpose survival device.

Ken

Off topic for a moment, but is declination *really* needed? Most of the topo maps I've seen have a Mag North and a True North imprinted. I just tend to use the Mag north as my reference and ignore declination. I get a yardstick, continue the MN arrow until is hits the end of the map, and draw parallel lines from there. That way my compass can be placed on those lines, orient the map, and away I go.

am I wrong to be using it like that?