I'm of a similar mind on this. I've really questioned the usefulness of button compasses in many survival kits. Without a map and at least a general idea of where you are, I can't see them being much good. I guess as a minimum, you'd need to have a known baseline for one to help.

That said, I've started looking at them (and much of my "emergency" kit) as a back-ups. I should have a base-plate compass and map, but if something were to happen to my compass (loss, damage, etc) then having the button in my kit should actually be helpful.

Of all the items placed on a list of outdoor essentials, a compass is the item I could most easily do without. A map is far more necessary. There are lots of alternative methods for establishing the direction of true North. I carry one, partly out of habit, and partly because I use the mirror more often than that little pointy red needle thingee....

A button compass can be used to verify the operation of a primary compass.I have seen people swear that their compass was broke because they knew that it was "that direction".When you have two things saying north is that way it makes it easier to admit you're wrong.Then again if it is 9:00am and both your compasses are pointing at the sun,you could be standing on an iron deposit.It happened to me.....


BOATMAN
John

Why in the world would you want to swallow your compass? I'm not military, but that strikes me as an odd thing to do.

I have had the exact same experience. Fortunately, it was still dark and the North Star was plainly visible. The most common situation requiring compass use is dense fog which hides landmarks and celestial clues. If you are on unfamiliar terrain, it is compass time, or perhaps time to stop moving.

If you are about to be captured and have a button compass, you can try to swallow it. That way if you have a chance to escape later, you'll have a compass that can at least keep you going in one direction. You'll most likely only be able to move at night, they'll be looking for you, etc.

Of course, if you DO swallow the compass, it will reappear later, likely from another orifice. need I say more?

I can just hear the conversation now ...

"Here's the compass. You navigate while I keep watch."

"Heck no! It's YOUR compass. YOU navigate!"

Yeah but if you poop out a SERE compass, it only points towards your butt from then on...

LMAO at heartig. The compass is for a kit I'm putting together for a relative for use in the military.

While I like the compasses I have and use now, this thread got me looking at some of the smaller models and the one I really liked was the Suunto M-9 wrist compass. Larger compasses like my Suunto M3G are probably more accurate, but how much accuracy do you need. Button compasses are smaller but not as convenient as having a compass on your wrist -- no digging for it in your pocket just to drop it in the grass/river/mud. Looks like a good compromise that should be accurate enough.