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#198957 - 03/26/10 01:16 AM Recommendation for a decent compass
Outdoor_Quest Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/17/09
Posts: 305
Loc: Central Oregon
What would be your selection for a good compass for land navigation?

I like the Brunton 8010G and a Sunto (can't think of the model number) to go with me in the woods.

I like a compass that you can adjust for declination.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.biz

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#198958 - 03/26/10 01:35 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1418
Loc: Nothern Ontario
I use the Sunnto M-3D compass. Great compass for the price ($28.00 to 35.00 depending on where you shop.) The compass is very accurate for my needs which range from dense forest to open grasslands to alpine meadows. It also adjusts easily for declination.



MEC in Canada also sells the same M-3D compass for $28.00




_________________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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#198959 - 03/26/10 01:57 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Teslinhiker]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Just so I understand ... in the old Silva Rangers, there was a screw so you could adjust the 360 bezel for local declination. Is that the same with the newer compasses? Thx.

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#198961 - 03/26/10 02:02 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Teslinhiker]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
Any in the Sunnto or Silva line will do. You can spend as much as you like but a $10 compass from a reputable company will get you there as reliably as a $120 one will. More money buys you more features, and some of those can be handy, but, in the end, a compass just tells you which way is north.

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#198962 - 03/26/10 02:05 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: dougwalkabout]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1418
Loc: Nothern Ontario
Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Just so I understand ... in the old Silva Rangers, there was a screw so you could adjust the 360 bezel for local declination. Is that the same with the newer compasses? Thx.


Doug, That is the case with the Sunnto M-3D. There is a small set screw on the bottom side of the compass at roughly the 40 degree mark. The small silver tool shown on the end of the lanyard is for this set screw.
_________________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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#198963 - 03/26/10 02:13 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Art_in_FL]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1418
Loc: Nothern Ontario
Originally Posted By: Art_in_FL
Any in the Sunnto or Silva line will do. You can spend as much as you like but a $10 compass from a reputable company will get you there as reliably as a $120 one will. More money buys you more features, and some of those can be handy, but, in the end, a compass just tells you which way is north.


Not so sure about making a blanket statement on this. I have a cheap Silva ($14.00 originally) that I would not classify as reliable. A compass being out a few degrees over a fair distance can make a difference in finding your destination whether it be your camp or your vehicle. Sure you end up in the general area you need to be but when light is fading fast or bad weather is hitting you, I prefer to have a compass that gets me closer to where I was originally headed for.
_________________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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#198964 - 03/26/10 02:31 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Teslinhiker]
jzmtl Offline
Addict

Registered: 03/18/10
Posts: 530
Loc: Montreal Canada
Does anyone have any experience with the Brunton 8099? Local store has it for a good price but reviews are mixed.



Actually nevermind, I remembered I can't use any of the sighting compasses because I have one of those easyclip eyeglass frames.. smile


Edited by jzmtl (03/26/10 03:12 AM)

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#198967 - 03/26/10 03:06 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: jzmtl]
scafool Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 12/18/08
Posts: 1534
Loc: Muskoka
The Eclipse?
I used one on a bit. Nothing wrong with them.
I thought it was a bit fiddly at first with the circles to line up but I got used to it OK.

I think the Brunton 8099 is fine if the price is good. I still use my older Silva and Sunnto compasses that have been fine for me for years but that is mostly because I am much more used to them.
However if I was buying a new compass I would certainly consider another eclipse.
I use the sighting compasses like rangers and K series Sunnto so Eclipse serves just like the Ranger compass does.

I will tell you that even if you could sight a compass to seconds instead of degrees it would not help much.
The Earth's magnetic field has enough change in it that you wont ever get better than 1 degree accuracy anyhow.
If you can get within 2 degrees true consistently you are doing very good with a magnetic compass.

Edit. I was actually answering Jzmtl but the answer holds.

I do find I have uses for the sighting compasses so I like the Ranger types with the mirrors. I am not as fond of the military style engineer compasses because I find them awkward to focus on and read when sighting a line.


Edited by scafool (03/26/10 03:11 AM)
_________________________
May set off to explore without any sense of direction or how to return.

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#198969 - 03/26/10 03:29 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: dougwalkabout]
Outdoor_Quest Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/17/09
Posts: 305
Loc: Central Oregon
It sure is. That small screw adjusts your compass for declination.

Blake

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#198975 - 03/26/10 08:24 AM Re: Recommendation for a decent compass [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
EMPnotImplyNuclear Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 09/10/08
Posts: 382
Anyone use Solar Powered Digital Compass Altimeter + Barometer + Thermometer?

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