I need a compass advice

I don't own one simply because I know the places I generally frequent. As I searched I realized that we could possibly benefit from a subforum on navigation. Just a thought, but I'd assume there are others like my self that could benefit from such a place. Or possibly a group addressing the topic? So with that said, I need to know specifics on what to look for in a solid option at a reasonable price point, any advice from the list?
By reasonable I'm thinking/hoping one can be had in the 80-$100 dollar range on the very high end?

 

We always used lensatic compasses in the military. Held up well, only went through a couple in my 9 years.

I always got the nicer tritium ones. (Tritium glows, allowing you to see it in the dark)

CMMG Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass

$100 Cammenga Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass, Olive Drab Accurate Waterproof Hand Held Compasses with Pouch for Hiking Camping Navigation Survival Backpacking Orienteering

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001W2CJX6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pbJ0DbHKM0YS7

 

I've used Suunto compasses for 30+ years, reliable and won't bust your budget:

https://www.thecompassstore.com/suunto.html

 

iPhone google maps.

 

Silva Ranger, had to buy one in forestry school and have used it for the last 25 years. Affordable and reliable, knowing how to use it is the important part.
https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/...rSNNlrWpdWe7cJOvlBPchOW2g4W2U-fRoCw1cQAvD_BwE

 

Got one sitting in my truck.

 

A navigation forum could be interesting, but with modern technology I don't know how much there is to say. Back in the late 70's early 80's I worked for the Forest Service as a surveyor laying out new logging roads. In those pre-GPS days things were very different. I always have a compass and topo maps in my vehicles, but ever since I got a GPS in 1998 and then the Topo Map app on my phone in 2009 they get no use whatsoever. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/topo-maps/id306014271

Having done things the old, hard, manual way I'm still amazed at the ease and accuracy of the modern tools. This is one boomer that will never stay with the old ways when modern technology kicks ass.

^ this ^

Is what I have had in my vehicles for the past 40 years. The current one has been rattling around in the glove box for 20+ years. It's what I learned to use in Forestry surveying classes. But, when I worked as a surveyor we used these and IMHO they are much easier to use.
https://www.thecompassstore.com/51kb14360rd.html

 

i've never been short of words on subjects I've been passionate about, especially when teaching.

so strap in.

a solid first choice for a compass would be a Brunton TruArc 7. it has all the functionality of higher-end compasses at a much lower price point. typically around $35, I have found them as low as $12 new.

you can use it as a sighting compass, or a traditional baseplate hand-held. good for beginners that don't know what they prefer or need in function.

shorter distances? traditional hand-held is fine. but for longer distances you could probably use a sighting compass, especially if you're doing intersection and resection for determining locations.

using a sighting compass is where you find out the importance in compass quality. like: the more precise the bearing movement, and the more finely-divided the bezel scale graduations, the more accurate your azimuth shots will be.

is this respect, the TruArc 7 is a good student compass. and for what it's worth, it also has a simple inclinometer

if you're doing seriously short legs with a lot of varying terrain, you could probably get by with a simple button compass for referencing directions. i use an old SandY wrist compass for fast orienteering or just walking trail systems.

more importantly, learn to use a map. and not just any maps, decently-scaled maps. the worst ones to use would be BLM maps, they look impressive to a layman, but they aren't scaled well and determining grid locations for a beginner runs a scale from problematic-to-impossible

the domestic gold standard would be USGS 1:24,000.

at that scale they possess excellent terrain clarity and useful marginal data. the down-side to them: they can get expensive (around $15 each) and they are paper, so they take up room and are subject to water-damage.

and at a scale of 1:24,000 the possibility of running into adjacent map sheets becomes a real thing, you might need many maps to cover an entire route, especially if you're navigating from a vehicle (i.e. you can drive faster than you can walk, so you can cover more distance)

with the advent of very cheap digital navigation methods, map-and-compass: isn't as accurate, takes more time, and requires additional knowledge to accomplish.

but with all that said, you will have a greater understanding of how to find and navigate your locations and terrains when using a map and compass.

it's not lazy and doesn't rely on outside systems, and the better you get at it... the less you actually need. the same of which is not true of navigating via GPS.

the more you know, the less you have to carry.

@HiKingQueen
My advice: get a compass and buy a map for a familiar location, then follow he instructions for how to use the compass. and while you're hiking, just keep track of where you are on the map.

 

I have a Suunto M3 Global and it is pretty reliable.

 

Still have and use the OG military compass issued to me in the 1980s. They are accurate, last forever, and are virtually bulletproof. There are (and were) many manufacturers, but they all have to meet MilSpec conditions.

 

The lenses got all foggy and became unreadable. So I tore everything down for proper cleaning. Now it's as good as new with the exception of the original cover that has recently became MIA.

 

Older thread, but I am partial to the Brunton M2 compass. They are expensive, and probably overkill, the only reason I like them is it is what I spend most of my military career using to lay in Mortars and for land navigation.

In reality, any decent lensatic compass will work, you just want higher quality when using it for significantly longer distances.