Hello, everybody,
I broke my keychain compass. Already n-th time. Like the one shown on this address: http://www.highlander1.com/Torches/Compasses%20and%20map%20cases/KeyringCompassThermometer.html
I am so disappointed by it that I do not want to fix it again, but change for another one, more reliable and stronger. Which one would you recommend? If possible could you also indicate the website where I can purchase.
Keychain compasses are very useful when you travel, especially when you are in towns or cities you do not know well. I have seen some complicated electronic compasses, but I would not want to pay much for a keychain compass. Preferably, I would have a compass with a thermometer, but with good precision. From my experience with my keyring compass-thermometer I find that the thermometer on the keyring is too small to show correct temperature (always +- 5 degrees error, +- 8 degrees in some occasions, the higher the temperature, the higher the error). IMHO you do not need such a bad thermometer because you can usually guess the temperature with similar precision.
Regards,

I've been satisfied with the Suunto keychain compass/thermometer (~$8), but I agree that the thermometer is of little value. My favorite is made by www.TruNord.com (~$15). It is non liquid filled so no bubbles and it settles down quickly (not appropriate for boat usage, however). The brass case is slightly heavier than plastic. They are compensated for your choice of three USA regions. HTH

If you're willing to go with a watchband compass instead of a keychain compass, I'd recommend the Brunton Watchband Compass:
http://tinyurl.com/2c4yp

or the Suunto Clipper with glowing bezel:
http://tinyurl.com/s3dj

Hi yall
omaga I personel like the Sunnto Comet but I have all so seen the brunton WEATHER-EYE it looks ok but I think your best bet wood <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> be probably
the Sunnto Comet becase its probably alot less prone to break and it is in a smaller package thats my 2 cents
Teen Suriver

Last year, I bought a dozen little Sylva compasses (sp?), to put in different PSKs, like this one :

OK, they are cheap ... BUT .... they are just good enough to throw in the waist basket ! <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Not two give you the same direction for North .... and none is true.
I really prefer the wrist band models like this one (photo from the link Gear Freak provided)

Mine has a Sylva logo, but it's the same.
Much more accurate.


I

Many of us in the military prefer the Suunto clipper on our watchstrap as there are graduation marks.

Suunto clipper


Recta clipper


HTH.

I have a small keychain compass made by Recta. It has the same capsule and ring as the clipper but it is on tiny clear baseplate. The attached ring is made from a copper alloy. It´s as acurate as you could expect from the small size. I can recommend it.

Avoid the Silva Meteor.
http://www.silvacompass.com/2002/i_meteor_l.jpg
MIne developed a bublle within two weeks!

Note that in the USA, Silva is NOT made by Silva (long legal story). I do not know who made these. I had hoped they were quality items, but I guess not.

Hi all,

Last week I finally found a button compass that seems to work so well, I'm thinking about including this one in my PSK: it's the European Silva model 40 luminous watchband version.

I'll try and post a picture....
[img]http://www.silva.se/pg/products/com_sere40.htm[/img]

The link is http://www.silva.se/pg/products/com_sere40.htm

Its the one with the high case and the yellowish bezel (luminous).

I've tried others, also silva (the low case) and they are unreliable. Because the disc has very little room for tilting, you have to kep them very flat on your hand or the disc gets stuck. Which is difficult while walking. The model figured here is less prone to this sticking of the rotary disc.

Has anyone got experience with these compasses. How do they hold themselves over time?

Thanks!

Luca

The 40 LU compass is one of the best "button" compasses around. It is the compass used in two of our survival kits at Pro Survival Kit Company. Doug reviewed it as excellent when he tested it last year. I have handled hundreds of these compasses and only seen one bubble, which quickly disappeared at room temp. They are extremely durable and easy to use. I think you'll be happy with the choice.

Semper Fi, George

On the Sere40...

Where can you buy them in the US???

Nobody imports them into the U.S. that I know of. I was working with them to be the only supplier in the U.S., but the minimum purchase was too much $. You can get the exact same compass made by Brunton and called the 40LU. The best place to purchase them that I've found is from BotachTactical.com. They are listing them for $7.00, which is less than I paid this morning when I placed a bulk order directly through Brunton as a dealer. Botach must have some left over from before the December price increase, so I would order quickly. I think the retail on the 40LU is around $14.00 and it's worth the money at that price... IMHO.

Semper Fi, George

I have four Suunto Clippers. They have been accurate (remembering that you're never going to win an orienteering competition with a button compass) and robust.
Mine are all black with a 'luminous' (not really) face. Interestingly, I bought mine from my local dive shop not my usual climbing store because (to quote the salesman) "divers are too tight to get much of a markup out off". And with insincere apologies to divers he lights the blue touch paper and retires....

Another vote for Tru-Nord compasses. I have found them to be quite useful and durable.