Best compass and courses?

[res308]

What would be the best choice in a compass for a feller to obtain? Of course that'll have to be tempered with cost, but I would like to have the best one I can find for the money.

Also, where could I find a good compass training course. Sure do need a refresher, skills have gotten rusty. How good are the training videos, such as the one from Brunton, etc?

I am looking at some of the Bruntons, as described in the maps and orienteering thread, but the most important thing is for me to find some real good educational materials in this area. I might remember a little about shooting an azimuth, nothing about declination, and I have no friggin idea what a clinometer is! Now you see how bad shape I'm in, huh?

Edited February 15, 2009 by res308

[Guest Mugster]

Go to silva's site and look around. They have some books on the subject. You want a compass with a good sized base plate so you can draw a straight line on a map. Something built pretty tough is more important than a real accurate surveying tool when out in the woods, imo. Silva has a good reputation.

Silva:

http://www.silvacompass.com/

This one looks good:

http://www.tech4o.com/p-52-explorer-pro.aspx

While a clinometer is a handy tool, and I have one, you don't need it to land navigate. A clinometer measures an angle, more or less. Maps should have elevation:

http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/astro/abney.htm

You do need to get a handle on your pace count, and some simple little tool to remember the count when you are under stress and/or running. I use this all the time hunting to figure range. Here's some ideas:

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Answers/Search-results/Walking/How-do-I-pace-count/?&R=EPI-9077

[R1100R]

http://www.cammenga.com/cammenga-products.php?category=1

What I was taught on and still in use in my +30 years.

http://store.cammenga.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=25

This is what they do for scouts.

Edited February 15, 2009 by R1100R

[res308]

Thanks fellers. Been looking at a Cammenga at a local store. I believe its the phosphorous and not the tritium. Can pick it up for 37 + tax. Kind of like to have the tritium though. Also been looking a the Brunton 15TDCL, the Silva Ranger 515, and the Brunton 8099 Pro on ebay. 8099 is a little pricey for me. Looks like I've got a good compass course manual and a good vacation (time to study and learn) in the near future.

[Guest clownsdd]

short of a gps, silva has done me right for 40yrs

[Guest Rando]

Has the global warming messed up the moss on the North side of the tree stuff;) I have been thinking along the same lines so if you dont mind I will borrow a little of this info for myself:D Besides I cant get the GPS to work outside of the SUV!!!

[Guest pjblurton]

I take a group of Boy Scouts to Shiloh every year to run the compass course they have out there. There are four different ones and they rotate them every year to prevent wearing trails.

They also have little tidbits of information pertinent to the civil war at the waypoints throughout course.

Pretty neat.

[Guest Jcochran88]

I take a group of Boy Scouts to Shiloh every year to run the compass course they have out there. There are four different ones and they rotate them every year to prevent wearing trails.

They also have little tidbits of information pertinent to the civil war at the waypoints throughout course.

Pretty neat.

We did those courses when I was in Boy Scouts. They are some of the best ones around.

[res308]

Nah, Rando, you borrow all the info you need, you're welcome to it. I just hope you're not in as bad of a shape as me. Just bring it back when you're done!:taunt:I've got a couple decent compasses, I just want a good one. Just ain't decided which one (quality vs. cost). Me and a friend of mine are planning on a day early spring where we can take our kids on an all day hike. I do need to get a good compass course and study up so we can teach the boys. Good for all of us to retain that kind of skill.

[res308]

Finally found my old Swiss Army Brand compass yesterday. Model is Recta Type DP2. Anyone have any experience with these? Still seems to be in good working order, needle settles quickly. One problem is a large bubble in the capsule now.

[res308]

http://www.cammenga.com/cammenga-products.php?category=1

What I was taught on and still in use in my +30 years.

http://store.cammenga.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=25

This is what they do for scouts.

Do you have the tritium or the phosphorous model?

[R1100R]

Four of the phosphorous models. I don't know if I have even seen the other model.

Two of mine are well over twenty years old. They still work great. I've been soldiering

over thirty years and have not used one at night that often. Some of the Spec Ops (Snake Eaters) guru's could chime in.

Edited February 20, 2009 by R1100R

[Guest krater]

What would be the best choice in a compass for a feller to obtain? Of course that'll have to be tempered with cost, but I would like to have the best one I can find for the money.

Also, where could I find a good compass training course. Sure do need a refresher, skills have gotten rusty. How good are the training videos, such as the one from Brunton, etc?

I am looking at some of the Bruntons, as described in the maps and orienteering thread, but the most important thing is for me to find some real good educational materials in this area. I might remember a little about shooting an azimuth, nothing about declination, and I have no friggin idea what a clinometer is! Now you see how bad shape I'm in, huh?

You wont go wrong with a Brunton or Silva brand ASSUMING you get the features you want- thats by far the hard part. Theres so many different styles!

You dont need a clinometer. You'll know when its steep.

[Guest macmonkey]

I bought this Silva Ranger and it's wonderful. I wanted a good professional compass that wouldn't set me back too much $$$ and that's exactly what this is. Don't settle for the cheap compasses which can break and frequently mislead out in the field.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RW0P60?ie=UTF8&tag=livingoutdoors-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000RW0P60