I'm trying to remember, a search isn't finding it, but I seem to recall a post quite some time ago, I think it was Para, for a compass recommendation.

Thanks!

Countycomm.com has several. https://countycomm.com/search?q=compass

I don't think it's where his were from though.

Don't get a Tate's compass.

He who has a Tate's is lost.

I think Trunford compass is what Para recommended.

Tru-nord

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
Don't get a Tate's compass.

He who has a Tate's is lost.

Okay, I will acknowledge just how awful that was.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInWV:

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
Don't get a Tate's compass.

He who has a Tate's is lost.

Okay, I will acknowledge just how awful that was.

Amazingly wonderfully awful!

A rugged, extremely small compass is the “NATO” that can reportedly even be ingested to keep from being discovered by the bad guys and then recovered for later use.

Keep in mind that such small compasses are useful for approximate direction finding only. For precise dead reckoning navigation to find something like an orienteering marker or a car parked in the woods after a long hike (and assuming no GPS), it really is necessary to have a compass that permits accurate sighting to within a couple of degrees or less.

I like my Suunto MC-2 Global Pro Compass. Got mine from REI, but it's for sale everywhere.

My iPhone X has a built-in compass app that can be set to either true or magnetic north. I’d guess that all smart phones have the same. Since I always have it with me, I don’t see any need for an actual compass, although I have one.

until you're 5 miles into the deepest jungle, lost, under cover of heavy jungle with little gps access and you run out of power......

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Tru-nord

I think that was it as well. Suunto has a small compass, with the benefit of a rotating bezel.
https://www.suunto.com/en-us/P...ipper-LB-NH-Compass/

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
A rugged, extremely small compass is the “NATO” that can reportedly even be ingested to keep from being discovered by the bad guys and then recovered for later use.

I think Cracker Jacks had one like that too.

Silva, Recta or Suuno. If you want to navigate with a map, make sure declination between true north and map north is adjustable. We used Recta compasses in the military.

Tru-Nord, but a couple of things- first, this is a very small compass, designed for kits or for pocket carry. This is not a precision compass. This compass is designed to get you out of a jam, not for precision navigation.

Secondly, they seem to have gotten too big for their britches. In the summer of 2011, I paid 24.95 for a Model 100C, Today, that same model is 54.95, thirty dollars more!

One of the nice things about the Tru-Nord compasses is that they are not fluid-filled. No fluid = no chance of a bubble. Most of the very small compasses I've had have all eventually formed a bubble. The indicator on these small compasses is usually a card, not a needle, and a compass that uses a card for an indicator and forms a bubble ceases to work reliably. If the bubble is big enough, the compass ceases to function at all.
The downside of not being fluid-filled is poor damping. With the Tru-Nord, it takes forever for the card to settle down, You can slow the swinging by tilting the compass slightly to bind it, then bring it back to level as the card settles down. Again, this is not a precision device, but it's likely the compass you'll have with you when you really need one. I have two Tru-Nord 100Cs in kits, but at 55 bucks, I think I'd be hard pressed to justify the purchase.

And I see they have a titanium model priced at a mere 150. Looks like they've gone uptown on me. Oh well. Made in the USA, gents.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: parabellum,

I learned to orienteer on this Silva Ranger model many moons ago. For a long time, this was the "go to" compass for the military. I don't know if that is still the case, but it is tried and true:

https://www.amazon.com/Silva-S...silva+ranger+compass


A less expensive version:

https://www.amazon.com/Silva-N...ranger+compass&psc=1



.

For baseplate compasses, I really like Suunto. Those Finns have style.

Also, I like the Cammenga Lensatic

I'll second the Suunto MC-2. I picked one up this summer and it does everything I need.

Remember to set your declination and practice with the compass before you need it.

Cheers~

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
Don't get a Tate's compass.

He who has a Tate's is lost.

It couldn't be any worse than the Henway Brand.

Thanks for the replies, Para, as well as the others, much appreciated.

I'm making several walking sticks/hiking staffs, and am planning on carving an inlay to set in a compass on the top of the staff. I don't expect a fine degree of accuracy, just a generally close idea of direction.
.

For all things compass related, my go to vendor is:
www.thecompassstore.com

Good service.