Originally Posted By: ILBob
I have all cheap compasses. I don't use them all that much. I can usually tell which way is north by the sun.

but sometimes the clouds restrict my ability to see the sun and I am forced to use one of my various $1-5 compasses.

Mostly, if it is 5 or 10 degrees off it does not make much difference to me. I am not doing any precision navigation here. I am trying to follow a trail that is on a map mostly.


I do not use a compass much except for general directions. I usually rely on terrain association, unless I am in featureless terrain, night, heavy fog or dense forest. I have a variety of Suunto, Silva and Brunton. When I am teaching, I generally use the Brunton because I have the instructor kit from that company. But I generally teach more reliance on terrain association and a good map.