How to Choose a Compass

The compass may seem like an artifact in this high-tech day and age, especially with the use of GPS and satellite navigation. The truth is that no amount of technology will be replacing the compass anytime soon.

This piece of equipment may be old and small but it has remained one of the 10 essential items to bring into the backcountry since its creation. Unlike GPS units that fail in bad weather or in dense vegetation, a compass is the best tool for navigating through any type of weather condition.

Being able to read a map and compass is a vital outdoor skill. If you are going to spend any extended length of time in the backcountry or outdoors you should take the time to learn this skill. There is too much detail to cover in this article and this skill is better learned hands-on from an experienced person. But make sure you learn this skill because it could save your life someday.

Types of Compasses

• Accessory Compass: These are the most basic types of compasses. You can find these on key chains, watches and even cell phones. They can get the job done but may require a little more skill on the individual's part. They point magnetic north but are more for novelty use or just to get a general direction.
• Basic Compass: These are cheap and great for beginners or people just looking to learn the basics of compass use. These will work fine for traveling in the backcountry. The only difference between these and more expensive compasses are some of the features such as declination adjustment and mirrors.
• Specialized Compass: While a little bit more expensive than the basic compass, these have everything you need to get the job done. Think of these as a new car with all the options. They come fully equipped with declination adjustments, mirrors, magnifying glass, etc. This compass is worth the extra cost and almost a must-have if you plan to travel off-trail frequently.

Basic Compass Components

• Magnetized Needle: The red end of your compass needle is the end that generally points magnetic north. The magnetic north pole is usually the strongest magnetic force around. Keep in mind that a magnetic compass can be affected by other magnetic fields. You need to be aware that magnetic north is different from true north. True north and magnetic north are about 1,000 miles apart. Have someone teach you how to accomplish declination adjustments.
• Liquid-Filled Enclosure: This part of the compass houses the needle for your compass, the needle's bearing and damping fluid. The liquid inside the enclosure serves two basic tasks. One is to keep the needle from jarring about and the other is to help keep the needle from moving when you are trying to take readings or watching the compass while you are moving.
• Rotating Azimuth Ring: This is the ring that circles the enclosure of your compass and it is marked with degrees from 0 to 360. Your azimuth is actually your bearing. You will use your rotating ring to figure out your bearing, or direction of travel between two points. This is the first basic skill you should learn when using a map and compass.
• Base Plate: The fairly large rectangular piece of plastic that your actual compass sits on top of is called your base plate. Most, if not all, are clear plastic so that you can see your map when trying to figure out your bearing. Most also have a ruler for measuring distance. These rulers are great when you are trying figure out distance between two points. You can also use the neck strap to figure out distances on more curved paths.
• Orienting Arrow and Parallel Lines: These lines and arrows are usually found at the bottom of the compass enclosure underneath the needle itself. Once you have figured out your bearing you will align your red arrow with the direction of travel you are looking for. This will help keep you on the right bearing and moving in the right direction.

Helpful Information

• Metal can affect the reading your compass gives you. Make sure that you are away from any large metal objects such as housing or cars. Electric fields can also alter your reading. A running car or cell phone tower can change your reading by 20 to 60 degrees so be sure to take this into account when getting your bearings.
• Storage of a compass is also very important. If a compass is exposed to metal or a magnetic field for an extended period of time the needle may become demagnetized. Avoid storing your compass near electronics or directly on or near metal surfaces.
• Cardinal Points are the four basic directions on a compass: North, South, East and West.
• Bearing is the word used to express your direction of travel in degrees. You will follow your bearing to get to your selected destination.