Suggestions on a good Compass

TxAg · June 18, 2012, 11:25:00 PM

I'll probably order it online. Anyone have an good recommendations. I don't need anything over the top....just a quality compass that will last. Idiot proof is good

Russ Clagett · June 19, 2012, 12:00:00 AM

Pretty much anything Suunto makes will do....the nice thing about them is you can manually set the declination angle from off the map, so now you dont worry anymore about converting grid to magnetic,or back and forth.....just set the azimuth and go.

Easy to orienteer with, and they dont cost that much.....

Bjorn · June 19, 2012, 12:45:00 AM

What Russ said pretty much covers it.

58WINTERS · June 19, 2012, 12:30:00 PM

Silva Ranger used to be good then Brunton bought them and they are made in Indonesia now. I would definately go with a Suunto which are made in Finland.
I have an old Silva that's my go to. Bought a newer one at REI and the needle wouldn't spin when I went to set the variation. I took it back and that's when I discovered the made in Idonesia on the packaging. Came home with a Suunto replacement for my back up.
The old Silva always goes around my neck and has gotten me home several times when I was momentarily confused. Never lied to me yet.

straitera · June 19, 2012, 01:35:00 PM

Like my older Silva. My new one not so much as described above. I too will look int the Suunto.

T Lail · June 19, 2012, 02:38:00 PM

I agree, old Silva very good, new ones will get you lost...go with the Suunto....

Izzy · June 19, 2012, 03:07:00 PM

Old school Marbles.

Dan Adair · June 19, 2012, 03:27:00 PM

I've got a Suunto with a USGS quad tool built into it. Being that I always have quads with me, it comes in handy if you navigate in UTM/ITM grids. It makes turning coordinates into a spot on the map stupid easy.

Hummer3T · June 19, 2012, 03:43:00 PM

Silva ranger or Suunto if you want a good compass to use maps with and navigate with.

TxAg · June 19, 2012, 04:02:00 PM

I pocked up a Suunto at lunch today. It was their cheapest version. ...$14 for the A-10. It should serve my purposes.

The nicer models looked great as well. If i ever hunt a large area, i wouldn't mind investing in a nicer one with a quality map

sledge · June 19, 2012, 07:16:00 PM

bummer to hear, but good to know, that silva is not what it used to be.

my 30+ year-old silva lives around my neck in the backcountry.

no stinking gps joe

sledge · June 19, 2012, 07:19:00 PM

toddster · June 20, 2012, 03:34:00 AM

guess I am old school, but for the money I always thought the Military Lensetic compas was worth it. I know 75.00 dollars, but with the tritum gas will last a lifetime. And all that other do.

Greg Clark · June 20, 2012, 09:03:00 AM

Unless you are doing some really serious compass work (orienteering), I would recommend Suunto's M-9 Wrist compass. It is more easily accessed than a tradtitional compass. I have used mine in the swamps of GA all the way to the mountains of MT and got the job done.

Russ Clagett · June 20, 2012, 03:53:00 PM

Toddster...you're not old school....I still use an old beat up military compass all the time...once you know how to use one and remember to be aware of the decilination angle all the time, they're bombproof.

I just suggested the Sunnto cause you can set the angle and quit worrying about. Just one less thing...

My old Army compass can tell some stories....bet yours can too........