The map & compass topic is one of my favorites :-D

My thoughts ...

I think the knowledge of how to use a paper map (as in a USGS topo), compass, and GPS is vital for anyone spending time in the field. This includes understanding map coordinates (Lat/Long & UTM), how to a coordinate on a map, how to read a coordinate from a map, how to enter a coordinate into a GPS, how to use a map to set a compass bearing, ...

Suunto: My Suunto M3 (without mirror) purchased maybe 5-8 years ago is very high quality (no bubbles in capsule, smooth bezel movement, design). Probably my preferred compass across LOTS of them. I can't speak to the current quality.

Navigation by landmarks: Hikermor brings up a VERY good topic that is not mentioned much in forum discussions. Out west navigation using a map can easily be done using visual landmarks. When in a canoe on the Boundary Waters (northern Minnesota/Canada) I genuinely struggles to see features on the horizon, though I've found some people are pretty good at it. In the midwest U.S. navigation by landmarks is really tough. Unless you can spot a identifiable (on the map) antenna or tower navigation has to be done using the map itself. When in completely featureless dense woods or big water the only way to navigate is to get compass bearings from a paper map (field bearing) or to use a GPS with a electronic compass that points the way. The hand compass will certainly be more accurate. If you don't know how to do this the only thing the compass does for you is help you walk in a straight line (to where??)

GPS: The lack of midwest U.S. navigation landmarks is what has lead me to really appreciate the GPS. They get knocked for being battery operated, and I have found myself with dead batteries and no replacements, but that only has happened one time (never again). GPSs make navigation super easy, especially if the GPS is pre-loaded with expected important waypoints. Still, it is critical that users know how to use it, how to convert a GPS coordinate to a place on the paper map, and how to find the coordinate for a place on the paper map.

Type of Compass: I much prefer a good plastic baseplate compass with adjustable declination. Those without a mirror are good for rough directions ("head that way"). Those with a mirror are a much more precise tool ("head toward that big tree on the right"). I've read arguments that both are actually good enough. Since I use a GPS too, I can't comment on the accuracy of non-mirror vs mirror compasses alone. In dense forests a mirror is of little use.

Silva: This has been mentioned before, but do keep in mind that Silva in the U.S. is a completely different company than the original Silva in Europe due to U.S. trademark issues. I'd trust the Europe Silva. Not so sure about the U.S. Silva (I don't buy them because I feel the U.S. company stole Silva's good name and reputation - just my view). Brunton used to sell the real Silva of Europe compasses, but I don't know if that is still true today.

Brunton: This is one of the few U.S. compass makers. An being that I live in the U.S. I tend to want them to be good and high quality. For a while they were merged with Silva of Europe and at that time their product quality suffered (even though the pure Silva products were still high quality). Now Brunton has split away again ... but I'm not sure if their quality has improved (I hope so). Their simple rounded low-cost baseplate compasses are my preferred pocketable compasses (I even bring them to places like Disney World to keep myself oriented - yeah, such a compass nerd).

Military Style Lensatic Compasses (Cammenga & lower cost versions). Lots of folks love these. I bought a Cammenga and really tried to like it. I like the idea the capsule simply can't bubble or run dry ... but without adjustable declination I just didn't care for it. I strongly recommend a good plastic baseplate compass over the lensatic compass (unless you've had enough lensatic training to make up your own mind).