Choosing a Compass

For a person like me who likes to hike in established hiking destinations which usually come with clearly marked paths and/or a guide, when I need to use the compass or the whistle, it usually means that I am in a quite a bad situation.

That is why I live with the philosophy that I shouldn’t be cheapskate about such equipment because I want quality working equipment when I am in situations where I need to rely on them heavily to get me out of trouble.

I did my online research and it seems that the two brand names for quality compasses are “Suunto” and “Brunton”. A decent compass costs at least $35 dollars and above and the type of compass you require depends on the type of terrain you are hiking on.

From my research, I have broadly classified compasses into 3 categories:
- Sighting Compass
- Map (flat) Compass
- Hybrid Compass

Sighting Compass

If your adventure takes you to a dense jungle where you do not have a proper map or if the trek does not have clear treks, a sighting compass would be more useful. A sighting compass allows the user to determine his direction and look through the line of sight to fix his focus on a distant object marked by a thin line on his compass. The user then walks towards the object and takes aim again.

This technique helps the user to walk in a straight line instead of walking around in circles which is the common case in dense jungles where one tree looks exactly the same as the next.

Map (flat) Compass

For trips where there are clearly marked routes and these routes are shown in a comprehensive map, then a transparent flat compass would be more useful. These types of compasses are lighter than the sighting compasses and you can place then on the map to determine whether to take the left or the right when you are at the fork or a junction.

This type of compass suits the terrain where there are little or no obstructions to the line of sight and works well with maps.

Hybrid Compass

Hybrid Compasses are like multi function tools where the compass no only gives direction, it may also function as a whistle, thermometer, altimeter or even a flash light. Some water bottle caps and hiking poles also come with a compass affixed.

While such compasses save space and weight for the hiker, I personally doubt the durability of such compasses. For example, I do not expect the compass/whistle to sound louder than a fox 40 whistle or the compass/ flashlight to be as bright as a standalone flashlight. Moreover, if you trek in the night, you will need the compass and flashlight to be in separate devices so that you can shine the light to see the compass. Watch compasses are ok but what if your watch had suffered a hard knock which damaged its electronic device or if it had just run out of battery.

I once bought a hiking pole with a compass attached. The compass worked well initially but after I had to check in the hiking pole due to airport regulations, the compass did not work at all after I collected it at the baggage claim when I arrived at my destination country.

After that experience, I learnt that for important tools, it is better to buy them separately from an established manufacturer and have a peace of mind that the gear works well. For other not crucial equipment, two-in-one functions are acceptable if your dependence on them is not life and death.

Below is a picture of my own contraption - a flat transparent map compass with a Fox 40 whistle attached to the neck sling