Best Compass for UDF and Ground Team Work

[NC Hokie]

I'm looking for recommendations for a good general-purpose compass that is suitable for UDF map work as well as ground team land navigation.  I've researched the pros and cons of the baseplate and lensatic compass types, but I'd like some input from those who have "been there and done that" before dropping coin on something that will be with me for a long time.  I'd also like to have a little more to go on besides "cuz I said so" when making recommendations to my cadets.

[Al Sayre]

I personally have one of these:  http://www.thecompassstore.com/dakar.html
It's kind of the best of both worlds lensatic and orienteering.  It works well so far.  I think I got it at Wal-Mart for about $20.00... 
You can get a pretty good idea of all the different types available here:  http://www.thecompassstore.com/
The choices will give you a headache trying to compare them.

[Stonewall]

Almost 25 years of orienteering and I've only used the Silva Ranger.

I used it extensively for ground ops in CAP, as a grunt in the Infantry and even during a few airfield assessments outside of the US.  It works and it rocks.



This winner of the 2003 Backpacker Magazine 's Editors' Choice Gold Award keeps you moving in the right direction!

•This precise azimuth compass has a sighting mirror for taking accurate and quick bearings--great for serious and avid users

•Liquid-filled rotating capsule with anti-static liquid stops needle swing in less than 4 seconds-- sapphire-jeweled needle for friction-free movement

•Adjustable declination accounts for difference between true and magnetic north; lanyard key locks adjusted declination into place

•Sighting mirror with vee notch allows quick bearing acquisition on landmarks and also folds down to protect compass

•Includes a clinometer to measure slope angles- useful to winter travelers to help estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes

•Features luminous points for better viewing, silicon map grippers on base, and meridian lines to help orient compass to map

•Uses 0 - 360 degree azimuth scale in 2-degree increments

•Includes has a removable 15 inch lanyard (30 inch circumference) with declination adjustment screwdriver

•Guaranteed to be accurate -40- +140 degrees Fahrenheit

•Meets or exceeds all forest service and military standards

[lordmonar]

I use both orinteering silva types and military lensantic.

There is no real best.....a lot depends on personal peference.

I find the lensatic is most helpful in the field...getting accurate bearings, and finding spot on distant targets....but it is a real pain doing planning and plotting on the map. 

The one rule of thumb I will say is that you get what you pay for.  Don't worry about the add ons, and fancy mirrors and magnifiers.....put the money into the basic compass.

[heliodoc]

AHHH yes ..the Silva Ranger Model 15 or Silva Ranger w/ clinometer used by many a Forester and firefighter nationwide

Now we still have the choice between Silva, Suunto and others

Silva Ranger and the TRUE GI "lenstatic" compasses....... swell pieces of equipment that will help pull ones fanny out of a fix!

[JC004]

I agree with Stonewall.  I've had one for many years and I like it very much.  I recommend it to people often.

[TACP]

Military Lensatic all the way!

With that said, it's totally personal preference. I also have a Silva Ranger, as the mirror setup can really come in handy.

[NC Hokie]

I also have a Silva Ranger, as the mirror setup can really come in handy.

I'll out myself as being compass-ignorant by asking what makes the mirror particularly handy? Grooming, signalling, or something else entirely?

[heliodoc]

^^^
More accurate bearing readings and the vertical line for lining up objects in distance,  and reading the reciprocal, at least that is what I was taught.

The old saying?  The mirror was for looking at the person who got themselves lost in the first place!

Someone here may have a better answer

[Stonewall]

More accurate bearing readings and the vertical line for lining up objects in distance,  and reading the reciprocal, at least that is what I was taught.

That!

Also, something not mentioned in my description of the Silva Ranger above is the scales of 1:24,000, 1:25,000, and 1:50,000 , it makes plotting easy no matter which type of topographic map you're using.  This, to me, was one of the best features of the compass.  Generally I used these 3 scales of map which meant I never had to carry along a protractor made by "Lighthouse for the Deaf and Blind".

[IceNine]

Not at a full keyboard or i'd get the link for you.

Brunton sightmaster is the holy grail.  Although not appropriate for map work.

Add a $10 silva orienteering and you're set.

[Eclipse]

I mentioned elsewhere that I had a Silva Ranger in with all that other stuff I got in the TAC gear I bought, and it sat for a couple years
because it wasn't as "hardkewl" looking as my nam-era Army lensatic.

While trimming down gear on a SAREx, I pulled it out and figured I'd try it and toss it.

Huge difference in accuracy, ease of use, alignment of the pointer on a fixed target, you name it.  Its now compass #1 on my list.

[Hoorah]

Almost 25 years of orienteering and I've only used the Silva Ranger.

I used it extensively for ground ops in CAP, as a grunt in the Infantry and even during a few airfield assessments outside of the US.  It works and it rocks.



This winner of the 2003 Backpacker Magazine 's Editors' Choice Gold Award keeps you moving in the right direction!

•This precise azimuth compass has a sighting mirror for taking accurate and quick bearings--great for serious and avid users

•Liquid-filled rotating capsule with anti-static liquid stops needle swing in less than 4 seconds-- sapphire-jeweled needle for friction-free movement

•Adjustable declination accounts for difference between true and magnetic north; lanyard key locks adjusted declination into place

•Sighting mirror with vee notch allows quick bearing acquisition on landmarks and also folds down to protect compass

•Includes a clinometer to measure slope angles- useful to winter travelers to help estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes

•Features luminous points for better viewing, silicon map grippers on base, and meridian lines to help orient compass to map

•Uses 0 - 360 degree azimuth scale in 2-degree increments

•Includes has a removable 15 inch lanyard (30 inch circumference) with declination adjustment screwdriver

•Guaranteed to be accurate -40- +140 degrees Fahrenheit

•Meets or exceeds all forest service and military standards

I like it but the price is little high where can I find it cheaper.

[davidsinn]

Almost 25 years of orienteering and I've only used the Silva Ranger.

I used it extensively for ground ops in CAP, as a grunt in the Infantry and even during a few airfield assessments outside of the US.  It works and it rocks.



This winner of the 2003 Backpacker Magazine 's Editors' Choice Gold Award keeps you moving in the right direction!

•This precise azimuth compass has a sighting mirror for taking accurate and quick bearings--great for serious and avid users

•Liquid-filled rotating capsule with anti-static liquid stops needle swing in less than 4 seconds-- sapphire-jeweled needle for friction-free movement

•Adjustable declination accounts for difference between true and magnetic north; lanyard key locks adjusted declination into place

•Sighting mirror with vee notch allows quick bearing acquisition on landmarks and also folds down to protect compass

•Includes a clinometer to measure slope angles- useful to winter travelers to help estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes

•Features luminous points for better viewing, silicon map grippers on base, and meridian lines to help orient compass to map

•Uses 0 - 360 degree azimuth scale in 2-degree increments

•Includes has a removable 15 inch lanyard (30 inch circumference) with declination adjustment screwdriver

•Guaranteed to be accurate -40- +140 degrees Fahrenheit

•Meets or exceeds all forest service and military standards

I like it but the price is little high where can I find it cheaper.

Try Here

[Stonewall]

I like it but the price is little high where can I find it cheaper.

Try Here

First off, Capt Sinn, you owe my company a new keyboard and some paperwork that is now soaked with water that flew out my nose.

Secondly, Cadet Williams, I think I bought my Silva Ranger for about $50 almost 20 years ago.  That means it cost me about $2.50 a year to own.

[heliodoc]

^^

Same here  another 6 to 10 dinero for a leather carry case

Any cheaper one is lucky...make sure its not a Tijuana knock off

[davidsinn]

I like it but the price is little high where can I find it cheaper.

Try Here

First off, Capt Sinn, you owe my company a new keyboard and some paperwork that is now soaked with water that flew out my nose.

Secondly, Cadet Williams, I think I bought my Silva Ranger for about $50 almost 20 years ago.  That means it cost me about $2.50 a year to own.

Send the invoice to Eclipse. I got the idea from him months ago and have been waiting for juuuuuust the right moment. 

[Stonewall]

One cool thing that the Silva Ranger has (it's mentioned above) is it comes with a mini-key that allows you to adjust for the declination on the compass.  That's awesome if you're working in a single area, but you'll have to adjust it if you leave.

There are very few pieces of equipment that I am adamant about, one of them is this compass.  It has NEVER failed me and has traveled the globe, been in extreme cold/hot conditions, wet, submerged and in the highest of altitudes.  I used it at NESA, Hawk, Bosnia, Laos, Florida, Shenandoah Mountains and most recently in Alpena, MI.

That said,  added another piece of kit that I never leave home without.  This came into my life about 5 years ago and is always strapped to my wrist when in the field.  It's simple and is reliable.  But like with everything that depends on batteries or a good line of site with satellites, it will fail you.

But this is the one I recommend the Garmin Foretrex 101:

[Eclipse]

I never go to a CAP activity w/o my Garmin III+ - ancient and reliable, but these days most decent cell phones have a GPS and a compass
which is adequate for land nav if not more pinpoint use.

You gotta love convergence.

[JoeTomasone]

I never go to a CAP activity w/o my Garmin III+ - ancient and reliable, but these days most decent cell phones have a GPS and a compass
which is adequate for land nav if not more pinpoint use.

You gotta love convergence.

iPhone 3G/3GS = UDF force multiplier.   

Look up tail #'s online, check regs, plot lat/longs in Maps, make calls, monitor weather, find the nearest gas/coffee/donuts, get the number for the FBO, lookup data on any airfield, take mission notes (like serial number, battery exp. date, etc), capture the lat/long of the ELT for the IC (heck, snap a picture), and email it all before you even leave the find site. 

Oh, then add that find to your "Find" database on Google Docs. 

The 3GS has a GPS *and* a digital compass.