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Fieldcraft Compass suggestions

JacobJ

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 11, 2009
38
0
54
Twin Cities, MN
Who makes a good quality compass these days? Are there any that aren't made in china? I'm looking for something like a Suunto MC2, but reviews of the newer Suuntos are not very flattering.

Thanks,
Jacob
 
Re: Compass suggestions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kellogg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the Cammenga as well, great compass, plus it's what I learned to use in the Corps. But don't buy it directly from them, save yourself $30 on Amazon.com . </div></div>

Man, Amazon has everything.
 
Re: Compass suggestions

I like the Silva Rangers for a training tool as it has more features, but I've broken two of them and won't go back as a field compass.

You can't beat the aluminum case of milspec. I've seen more military compasses lose the glow on the tritium (12 year half life) before they broke, and that is in the infantry where we used and abused them.

One note on using a milspec compass: Make sure you know your magnetic declination (G-M angle) offset. You can't set it into the compass like a Silva or Brunton, so you have to do the math before following an azimuth you plotted off a map.

You can find your offset here: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp
 
Re: Compass suggestions

I would agree that the construction of the milspec compass is more durable, but I believe the Silva is more accurate with the sighting mirror and the declination feature is valuable.
 
Re: Compass suggestions

I still have and use my old Military issue lensatic compass. I've tried several others and haven't found any thing, regarless of price that works as good.
 
Re: Compass suggestions

Silva Rangers works well enough for me mine is in mills (you can get them in deg. as well) and has been almost everywhere with me. but like anything if you beat it with a rock it's bound to fail. I like that you can set the declination and that it’s not too bulky, has a built in protractor and small magnifying glass, I dis-like that the mill ring does not aluminate so you can’t read the baring in the dark but you can see the north pointing needle and the north ring indication marks.
 
Re: Compass suggestions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Military issue lensatic has always been my favorite. Get the tritium version, and beware of cheap luminous knockoffs. </div></div>

That's what I bought - from a fellow hide member.

I have one of the carlson or whatever famous brand it is - had it for years and it just plain works also. Good to have.

I also h ave a Military issue strobe light, two in fact with the conversion kit to run CR123 batteries, another useful thing to have
smile.gif
 
Re: Compass suggestions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Military issue lensatic has always been my favorite. Get the tritium version, and beware of cheap luminous knockoffs.</div></div>
+1 it's easy to see if you get a tritium one. It has a radiation symbol on the back. The luminous ones are pointless.