Personally, I carry both – using the GPS to confirm what I have calculated on the map and compass. There is also something satisfying about using a compass and a traditional map to figure out where you are. Learn to use both.
With that in mind. This article is a quick comparison of the options available to trampers – what to look for, what you need, what is nice to have. The ‘how to’ of compasses will be in another article. This is more of a comparison of features to look for.
The Basics – what is a compass?
Essentially, a compass is a device that lets you walk in a straight line.
It is a device that lets you know the direction you are walking.
For this article, we will be talking about the floating needle compass. This magnetised metal floats on a bearing, often encased in a fluid that will align itself with the earth’s magnetic field. A lensatic compass is often used by the military and is also a magnetic compass. We won’t address it for this article as it isn’t overly common in tramping circles.
The different types of compass
In its simplest form, the button compass is small and may do little other than provide the direction of the north. It must be remembered that these are often only made with the intention of being a novelty item and can prove a little unreliable. While it’s always important to take multiple references to determine where you are using a button compass, be extra cautious in relying on what it tells you. In addition, they usually won’t have anything in the way of a rotating bezel (or azimuth ring) – which makes things a lot easier when taking bearings off or putting them onto a map.
What the button compass will do, though, is make sure you can head in a direction and stay heading in that direction. So, it will still be better than the best guess, especially in low visibility situations where you may not be able to see any significant landmarks to use as a reference.
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At a bare minimum, for any outdoor work, you should carry a basic compass – often called the ‘base plate’ style of compass. These are generally a magnetised needle encased in a liquid capsule, surrounded by a rotating bezel (or azimuth ring) and mounted onto a base plate with measurements (usually to scale) orientating lines and a direction of travel indicator.
For the majority of backpackers, this is all they will ever need – it will let you take bearings off a map so you can follow those bearings.
However, we have a range of advanced compasses for those who like more functionality.
The advanced compasses, often known as the Sighting Compass, generally have a mirror and method of visually taking accurate bearings off distant locations. In addition, you will likely see Declination Adjustment, an easy method of semi-permanently adjusting your compass readings to allow for declination. Use with caution. Another feature likely to pop up at this point is glow-in-the-dark or Luminescent indicators. These make navigating in the dark a lot easier. A Clinometer may also be included, a tool for calculating vertical angle, which helps determine slope and is especially important in areas prone to avalanches. These extra features come at a cost in terms of money and additional weight.
Regardless of the type of compass you get, a couple of essential features are pretty important.
- A lanyard. If not in your hand, the best place for a compass is easily accessible around your neck. Walk. Check bearing. Walk.
- A global needle – essential if you buy an overseas compass for use down in the southern hemisphere – some of the cheaper variants may not compensate sufficiently for variances in the earth’s magnetic field and stick. This also applies to units purchased in the southern hemisphere, which are then taken north.
An interesting note here is on build quality – take two compasses – both ‘sighting’ compasses – both from Silva – but one purchased via America and one locally. I have read online that Silva compasses from America are often made to a cheaper standard in Indonesia than those sourced from most other places worldwide.
Compass Differences, in summary
There are many options for compasses – and your choice will depend significantly on its intended purpose. For example, in my BOB/Emergency pack, I packed a lightweight sighting compass (the one with the grey base in the main photo). It’s light and simple but still incorporates the mirror, giving me additional signalling options. The basic base-plate model (bottom) is what I use on day walks or figuring out routes at home. The ruler is a decent size, making working our measurements accessible, and it does most of what I need. If I am heading out for a few days, I take the expedition (right top) – a combination of both – mirror decent base plate for measuring off the map, but it does way more than the other two. It’s not massively different, but it all adds up once you start measuring grams. However, its convenience and multi-functionality justify the weight (to me, anyhow).