I looked at Doug's section on compasses and now I need a personal recomendation. My old Army compass broke. Magic forces (dog and angry girlfriend) teletransported my compass all over the apt and left it behind the couch. Needless to say it is in pieces. I prefer compass to my GPS for many different reasons but I always liked to have one handy where ever I go.

I can go out and buy the same model that was broken with tritium markers. But I also read good stuff about other manufactures out there. As of now I have my mind set on this:
CAMMENGA™ GI LENSATIC TRITIUM SELF-LUMINOUS FIELD COMPASS & CASE


Why would I go out and buy something else?

Matt

After I broke my army compass I bought a Recta field compass. It had a reasonable price, it is transparent and it is light.

Burak

I have one of these myself and I like it a lot.I also like the fact that it is a dry needle compass.Sorry to hear of your last one.The military should adopt a new type of testing for new equipment.Let a five year old child or a puppy play with it for fifteen minutes.If it survives and still works it can handle any thing <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
BOATMAN
John

Nahhhhhhh ... it can handle anything if it passes the "angry ex-wife bent on destruction" test. That is just one notch below a 1-K nuclear device. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That looks like anice unit, although I've never heard of Cammenga. Personally, I have a nice Brunton 8099, but I think I'm going to upgrade to a Brunton Geo Transit. You never know when you might have to survey a plot of land! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Currently, the 8099 is backed up with a Brunton 9020, but I'm also looking at the 8096 GPS and 8097 Eclipse's as extras.

I used to be a true believer in the Lensatic compass, until one failed me in the field and I got off in the wrong direction, in the dark, etc. Anyway, Its a good piece of gear, designed to be used with MGRS maps and in military scales (i.e. 1:50 and 1:25).

The thing that I dont like about them is that they are big and bulky, and it is difficult to get lensatic compasses with tritium so you dont have to shine your flashlight on it at night.

I personally use a Silva explorer. I use it when I go camping and when I am in the field. Its lighter and fits in a breast pocket and disappears. The thing that I like about it the most, is the ability to quickly spin off an azimuth and then being able to use BIG FAT ARROW to line up with BIG FAT DOTS and maintain my course. Is it tactical? No, but if I am killed because someone sees my clear plastic compass then I have bigger issues to deal with.

just my two cents

Garrett

Matt, I would follow Maggot's line of thinking, a bit.
First, if you are going to purchase a new compass, eliminate the possibility of it too, being ruined.
My suggestion, keep the dog, find a new girlfriend.

Boatman, I saw your comment on testing and I would suggest that anything that will last a Marine two weeks in the field will last a normal person a lifetime! But, children have a special kind of ability to destroy!

Garrett