All the baseplates, but the Brunton 8099, in that shot are Suunto compasses. I have Silvas also but for some reason when I took this I could only dig up my Suunto's.

I agree that the declination adjustment is a must have. It makes all map work easy and effortless.

The 8099 is a nice compass but mine has given me no end of trouble at high elevation. I have replaced the compass capsule 3 times...every time I took it to 7000' or more it developed a huge bubble that prevented the compass card from turning.

I consider it unreliable for any trip where elevation gain is part of the equation. Too bad really as its operation is quite good other wise, and Brunton keeps assuring me they have corrected the liquid expansion issue, but it no longer makes any trips to Montana.

The Ranger type baseplate compass is my workhorse. I like the compact size folded, the mirror for sighting and the mirror for other purposes like looking in your eye, as a secondary signal mirror etc. That is a Global needle Suunto Ranger type compass in the middle. I also really like the Global needle.

I do not use my GPS much but the 3 together is a fun excerise, and adding waypoints at home from the map is pretty good training in itself...then it is fun to see how good you were when you are (or think you are) standing in the spot located from the map at home.

The backwards dial Forestry compass is another one of my favorites...somewhat for its unique use of walking a bearing. However it is not one I would recommend as the primary compass to most folks. The Lensatic, for me, is a similar special purpose compass....fun and accurate but not my recommendation for the "first" compass.