maybe you just got a bad one, mine has been pretty nice for a small portable -- runs on three AAA's I think -- haven't checked the batteries recently

KyBooneFan,

Let me add my $0.02. I have to disagree.

I was in the Army and we used the military compass. It seems overkill for civilian use. I have a GPS and I use it when I am driving off road and hunting. The rest of the time it seems to be of little use.

I have taken my boys to several map and compass classes. We also have several books and a video on using map and compass. The base plate compass seems to be the compass universally taught. The Silva now Brunton 3DLU seems to be the most popular. You will see it used in demonstrations on how to use a compass. It is my favorite. For every day carry I am fond of the Suunto Comet. It has a declination scale and is easy to use. When I am in a mall or hiking I like to see which direction the car is.

I say: forget the military compass. Have a good base plate compass and a good pocket compass.

Craig, I can't disagree with you on the compass. I chose the military model primarily because of the night lite (although I haven't used it at night yet). Maybe I will have to purposely get lost at night to use it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> As for the GPS it obviously has it's place. I have been in some pretty big woods (think Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri). Find yourself a LONG way from your vehicle on a dark, overcast day. You and I are together. You head for the vehicle with your compass and even your topo. I will head for the vehicle using my GPS. I will hit the vehicle dead on the first try. You will eventually get there after considerable meandering, backtracking, stumbling thru thickets, etc. Everything has it's place. Thanks for responding. Always good to get a different point of view.

Look at the bottom of your Grundig. Since reunification Germany is spelled China.

it probably is China -- but then again, what isn't stamped 'Made in China'? very few products are made in USA anymore, frankly I'm surprised when I don't see made in China on something I buy. even my Blackhawk gear was made in Vietnam, go figure!

I guess I'm not too bad then. I have in My PSK a tiny watchband compass and in my BOB in the truck a Silva with the Clear baseplate.
In the truck are a city map, county map and state map of the city/county/state I live in as well as maps of two states that I travel in regularly. I have a small AAA powered AM/Fm radio and spare batteries in my bob as well.
I;m still loking for a small battery powered radio that might pick up the NOAA signals or weatherbands, thinking of selling my old radio shack CB radio and buying one of those that pick up NOAA.
What are your thoughts on the Ruger 22/45, I've been looking at pictures of it, thinking the shorter barrel would be easier to fit in a BOB and since its considered a 'target" pistol it might be slightly less scary to the sheep, I can say I was at the range.

An interesting post.
I admit to carrying my GI issue lensetic compass, but mainly because I have it, not because I need it. My old, cheap basic Silva is a good enough compass when used w/ good topo maps, even in northern Ontario and Quebec.
I do appreciate the GPS system, but its easy to get sloppy navigating. Then I dropped my old, non-immersible Garmin 24 in the lake. Only 3 inches deep, but that was enough. Cost us a lost day and two pair of tough, unnecessary portages.
By the way, if you're buying US topo maps, get the new 1:25,000 issues. They already have the one thousand meter UTM grids on the map face. The Canadian maps have used the UTM grids for years.

Well, Eugene, you got me on the Ruger 22/45. I had never heard of it. A quick Google search came up with the following:

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/2245_p512.htm

Looks like a quality pistol. I don't like a long target barrel for every day carry. I wonder if this gun comes in stainless. After reading the review on the mechanism, I believe for a survival situation, I would defer to the old, proven Ruger. Besides, I like the looks of the old one better. These new pistols, Glock, Sig, et al all have that cut up, squared off look that makes it look more like a tool than a handgun. A pistol should have some visual character as well as reliability. Can you imagine the old single action Colt .45 being retooled into this 21st century squared off piece of steel? There are some things that just can't be improved on. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sony has a bunch of reasonably priced radios with all the weather bands and television 2-13, which I have found kind of handy when storms were coming in. $40.00, with 'phones, IIRC.

{I am a life long Ruger fan, but I was REAL disappointed in the .22/45. The trigger was awful, and I've had government models that were smoother if you dumped sand in them. I love my H-S Victor, or, better yet, a Smith 41, which I have not wanted to drill for glass - but I want a long barrel for it, so . . }

Jack, I'm not persuaded on the 1:25000 maps. If you are going to just use it with a compass, fine. But trying to adapt all the UTM grids, etc. to the new map would be akin to learning to speak Swahili (?). I learned to use the 7 1/2 minute, 1:24000 map and I'm too old to change but thanks for your input.