Top 3 Compasses from Suunto and Brunton

Don Rearic

Don Rearic

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
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OK, after reading the other thread, put it in a bucket, please. :D

What are the top three compasses from Suunto and from Brunton?

(That's a question, I have a Lensatic and button compasses and all sorts of things. I know the Silvas made now are not up to par so you don't have to mention a old Silva Ranger, etc. Just the question at hand please.)
 
Way overkill unless you are a geologist or surveyor or a "Expedition Africa" guide but the Brunton Pocket Transit probably tops the list. It's been around a long time.

(Pasquale commented on being a geologist so it makes sense it would be his "go to" compass).

Thanks for starting the thread, aside from the transit I'm only familiar with Silva and that's out.
 
Thank you fellas. I am trying to simplify things. I don't think I will ever get rid of my 20+ year old Recta matchbox compass and I do own a Brunton Smokechaser (baseplate) but have relied on a lensatic for about 30 years, 24 or 25 with a USGI Lensatic, before that, cheaper ones. Dad used to buy them for me and turn me loose after 15 min. of showing me something and see if I could get lost. :D

The one dude in the other thread basically sold me on the idea of transitioning from USGI Lensatic to a Baseplate, so I am probably going to do that.
 
Its the Suunto MC-2 models I think that were issued. They work great, they are in mills, but very accurate.
 
Yeah, +1 on the MC2. I have a similar model with tritium and some other neat features and I have been very happy with it. A compass is a relatively simple tool, so it's hard to screw up the basics, but all the extra features make the MC2 really worth it if you actually have to do some orienteering.
 
Suunto MC2G, hands down the best, and the only one I truly trust at work and play. The Suunto global needle is the best out there, as is the Suunto adjustable declination scale.

Suunto_MC2.jpg


I have had a Brunton Pocket Transit (and just about every other type of compass) for years, and it rarely gets used, mainly as the needle is not damped so it tends to move around a fair bit making it slower to use while walking, it's also bigger/heavier and doesn't carry as well as the Suunto (it's a sheath-compass, whereas the Suunto is worn around the neck).It's also substantially more expensive. It is more precise for detailed work (like turning off survey grid lines) and geological strike/dip, but for the typical user there really is no benefit to the Pocket Transit.

Personally I would never buy another Silva or recommend Silva to anyone, as I have mentioned here before, in the past 20 years or so I have had two spontaneously and permanently change poles (north needle points south), they were replaced under warranty, but that hardly helps when your life is depending on it.
 
mckrob said:
Personally I would never buy another Silva or recommend Silva to anyone, as I have mentioned here before, in the past 20 years or so I have had two spontaneously and permanently change poles
Click to expand...

Funny you mention the pole shift. I have a carbiner style compass that i've been using recently and was (past tense) very happy with. But it just recently did the pole shift you described.
Did you get any explanation from the manufacturer as to why this happens?
 
tholiver said:
Funny you mention the pole shift. I have a carbiner style compass that i've been using recently and was (past tense) very happy with. But it just recently did the pole shift you described.
Did you get any explanation from the manufacturer as to why this happens?
Click to expand...

Silva provided no explanation ...
 
I don't have a great need for a perfect compass. I've used an old USGI compass for years. I recently bought a Brunton Adventure Racing compass for my son. We have others as backups, but those are the main two.
 
Suunto MC2G it will be then. Now, what is the absolute best book to learn how to use a baseplate type of compass in the most simple manner possible as put forth in that other thread?

There are some things that I am going back to Square One on in lifeskills and the compass is one of them. :)
 
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