Compass

With several rifles that all are more accurate than I am, I don't know why I'd need a $400+ compass.
 
The Brunton pocket transit is probably the best compass in the world. They have been used to complete land surveys out west, to lay out claims, survey inside mines, and of course by geologists and engineers for many many years. It is not JUST something to tell you which way north is. It is a very percise instrument. I have one that is probably 75 years old and it still works like a champ!

You don't NEED a $400 compass, but you might need a $400 pocket transit. Believe me, it is far from "junk". For most, it is way way beyond the capabilities of most regular outdoors folks to utilize its features. It is accurate within one-half a degree if you are careful.
 
You know, I'm as much of a gearhead as the next guy, but I can't even imagine what I'd do with a $400 compass.

Amazing.
 
I just looked at the Lowrance Expedition GPS, that was $299.00. I would spend money on that before I would buy a $400.00 compass. Personally I still use my Lensetic (sp) compass that I used in the ARMY.
 
22-rimfire said:
The Brunton pocket transit is probably the best compass in the world. They have been used to complete land surveys out west, to lay out claims, survey inside mines, and of course by geologists and engineers for many many years. It is not JUST something to tell you which way north is. It is a very percise instrument. I have one that is probably 75 years old and it still works like a champ!

.
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All the above maybe true but you still can't use it to do simple map and compass plotting as it has no clear baseplate . It is not a compass used for navigation.

Its an engineers compass designed to be used with transits for surveying not wilderness navigation.

Right tool for the job.

Skam
 
bulgron said:
The compass I use the most is a Brunton Nexus (the first compass on that page). It's one of those $12 dollar jobs that I picked up at REI without giving it any thought. This thing is liquid filled and so I assume every other $12 job out there is as well.

As for what the liquid is, that I can't say. If you're hiking in extreme cold temperatures, you probably want to find out ....
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I looked at the link you posted. I think they call that a map compass. I got one at walmart for around $5.00. I don't know what the liquid id either, but here in the south freezing isn't a problem. But melting is another story :D
 
skammer said:
You are kidding right!?

YOu can't even plot a route on a map with it.:rolleyes: Gearhead junk.

Skam
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Calling that compass 'junk' is one of the most stupid things I have ever heard...:(
Calling it 'inappropriate' for wilderness TRAVEL, is something else...:D
It is designed for MAPING not navigation...
Try using a baseplate compass to MAKE a map sometime if you want to experience frustration!
Though it is perfectly capable of being used for navigation...
Baseplate compasses are a NEW invention...
I learned how to use a compass with the K&E version of their previous generation of that same compass...
A baseplate compass is a CONVENCE, not a necessity...
 
The Brunton pocket transit is NOT my first choice if I'm hiking or hunting. The precision is not necessary. I would absolutely cry if I lost it. It is not the compass for the job in that application, but if you own one. They are nice.

But if you are measuring strata attitudes (strike and dip), there is no substitute. You can perform compass traverses quite well with one. They are also nice for laying out roads.

You can quite easily plot compass bearings on a map with a protractor. If I am doing work with maps, I will usually have a 6" engineers scale and protractor with me.

All this is mute, as I don't carry one of these pocket transits hunting or hiking. Too much bulk. I just wanted to explain what they are used for. You don't need a $400 Brunton to walk around in the woods with unless you are doing mapping work. Most people also don't need $500 custom bowie knives. But they are nice to have!!
 
For two cents more:
I have used, abused and lost many compasses. The best of the bunch, and my favorite so far is the Suunto M-3G Global compass, about $40+ at most places. Whyfor favorite you axe?.......Simple: Because of the way the needle is mounted, this compass can be tilted MUCH more than the rest and the needle still points true. This feature makes it MUCH easier to use under conditions of stress and disorientation...or, any other time. Worth the slightly extra outlay of elusive sponduits, IMO.

Incidentally, it works anywhere on Planet Earth, unlike other planets, if that's worth anything to you.
 
I've got a whole slug of compasses, from the most basic right on up to a Brunton Pocket Transit. I inherited the pocket transit from my dad. He used it for mapping and wilderness travel (as in real wilderness... the most general of maps) many years before GPS was available. It is a beautifully crafted piece of gear. My personal favorite for general use is a Brunton clear baseplate compass I picked up in a closeout outlet for a couple of bucks about ten years ago. Declination can be set by rotating the lines inside the compass, and the base plate features two squares, equivalent to forty acres (broken into 10 acre quarters, and 2.5 acre sixteenths) on 1:62500 and 1:24000 maps. It also has the usual magnifier, and scales on the edge showing miles and parts thereof in 1:62500 and 1:24000, inches, and millimeters. The compass has no model number, all it says is Brunton USA. I wish I had bought all they had at the price!
 
The Brunton Pocket Transit is a surveying tool, not a mapping/navigational one. It is hardly a piece of junk - it is a sophisticated piece of equipment. For measuring strike and dip it is no better than a regular baseplate compass. It has a higher level of precision, but is not more accurate.

Geologist love them and wear them around as badges of honour, refering to them as "Bruntons". I find it funny how so many geologists have the attitude that the Brunton (Pocket Transit) is so much better than the Silva Ranger (or whatever baseplate compass). I am geologist and mapper, and I use baseplate compasses exclusivley. They are far more versitle becasue they can be used on the map with the clear baseplate, and are lighter and easier to carry around. They are perfectly satisfactory for taking all sorts of structural measurements.


Will
 
My recommendation will be very different from the ones given previously here.
I have SILVA Ranger Model 15 with mirror http://www.silva.se/outdoor/products/prof_com15.htm . I bought it because I had similar compass when I served as a commander of artillery battery. However, I did not find much use for a compass with mirror in civilian live – you follow some track, see turning points on the map or select distinguishing features of terrain close enough to your track and by quickly looking on the map and knowing general direction you are walking you can find out where you are with precision +or - 50 meters which is good enough for a tourist even in a town or city. Compass with mirror is good when you need to find your location with very high accuracy (a few meters). It takes some time and you do not do it when you hike because you do not need such an accuracy. I have never been in a situation when I would need a compass with such an acuracy. At the same time it is not particularly convenient to carry this compass – it hangs on my neck, you have to tack it into your shirt's front pocket that it does not annoy you by hanging and hitting you while you walk. When you want to find out quickly where you are heading you need to open the compass first. I find it annoying. So, I do not use this compass and keep it in my BOB as partially useful collection item.
Therefore, I use other compass. My first choice was Silva Companion http://www.vtarmynavy.com/silva-companion-609.htm . It is very convenient compass because it is large enough to be accurate as other ordinary Silva compasses, but it is on key chain so I have it all the time with me when I need it. Also, it is quick and easy to take it out to check direction When I hike I usually hang it on the backpack shoulder strap and by quick glance I know which direction I am heading. However, last year I lost it and bought Silva Forecaster 610 http://www.vtarmynavy.com/silva-forecaster-610.htm. I bought it because it had thermometer. However, I found thermometer quite useless – you drop you key chain a few times and then the liquid inside the thermometer breaks into several separate sections. After that you can guess the temperature with better accuracy than your thermometer can show.
So, I would say Silva Companion is the best choice. It is not expensive, it is £4.95 9about $7 US) in the UK, but it does cover 100% of all my requirements.
And I would not pay more than £100 ($170 US) for a compass, unless I was collecting them – you can get GPS for this price!
Regards,
 
Will said: "It has a higher level of precision, but is not more accurate." You are correct with regard to discussion on accuracy vs precision. Magnetic north is no different for an inexpensive compass as compared to a pocket transit. That is why the "Brunton" has a tripod hole to increase the precision. How do you conveniently measure a dip (or a slope) with a regular Silva Ranger?

The Konus compass looks like a really interesting piece of equipment. Learn something new everyday! May just have to try one out.
 
22-rimfire said:
Will said: "It has a higher level of precision, but is not more accurate." You are correct with regard to discussion on accuracy vs precision. Magnetic north is no different for an inexpensive compass as compared to a pocket transit. That is why the "Brunton" has a tripod hole to increase the precision. How do you conveniently measure a dip (or a slope) with a regular Silva Ranger?

The Konus compass looks like a really interesting piece of equipment. Learn something new everyday! May just have to try one out.
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Good Lord! The War of the Compasses!! "junk" "stupid"

Goes to show that someones are available to get into an argument about any topic.

I find myself in the same "school" as OmegaA. In fact, while I carry the slightly smaller version of the Silva 15 (16?) when backpacking, I carry it in a pouch on the shoulder strap of my pack. It comes out to "play" perhaps twice a year. That is probably the function of backpacking mainly on trails in country that has obvious streams and ridges and such thick woods that 'shooting" bearings to landmarks is difficult. I mainly navigate by topography.

The Ranger 15 has an inclinometer, 22-rimfire. Does that help.
 
Didn't know the Ranger has the clinometer. Thanks. I also primarily navigate using topography. Only becomes a problem in flat forested rolling areas with limited vision where one area looks much like the other.

I like my Victorinox and I like the option to be able to sight.
 
Once again, just to clarify, any compass sold in the United States with the label "Silva" is not made by Silva of Sweden. Real Silva compasses are sold under the trademark of Brunton or Nexus.

The original Silva Ranger compass is now sold as a Brunton 15TDCL. At http://www.forestry-suppliers.com I can't help but notice that they now describe the 15TDCL as "Brunton Original 15". I wonder if Silva/Brunton is trying to let customers know the truth without using the words "Silva" or "Ranger".
 
kenk said:
Once again, just to clarify, any compass sold in the United States with the label "Silva" is not made by Silva of Sweden. Real Silva compasses are sold under the trademark of Brunton or Nexus.

The original Silva Ranger compass is now sold as a Brunton 15TDCL. At http://www.forestry-suppliers.com I can't help but notice that they now describe the 15TDCL as "Brunton Original 15". I wonder if Silva/Brunton is trying to let customers know the truth without using the words "Silva" or "Ranger".
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Kenk, I think you have a good theory on the lableing ("original").
 
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