Is there a "right" kind of compass?

[Jay H]

I think they are the same... However, it is a dated compass, I think I bought it when it was actually called a "GPS compass" because it has the little round circles to tell you how close you are given that SA was turned on. Based on the scale and GPS coordinates, you would mark your position and use the circles to give you a rough estimate of your worst case scenario. It's kind of moot now though. I can only guess the "AR" that REI uses is for Adventure Racing, cause it includes a UTM grid. All Adv. races I've done used UTM for the orienteering. However, there are better UTM grids than one stuck on the compass, it's better to have a dedicated UTM grid that is much easier to use to mark orienteering or topo maps with.

Jay

 

[RoySwkr]

I consider $10 to be an _expensive_ compass

Nice to meet you, TC

If you can spare a dollar or two, buy one of the miniature compasses and fasten it to a pack strap. One of my friends did this who used to just plod up trails without any clue of which way she was going, with it so handy now it's trivial to get a feel for which way she's going and she wants another for her car. For someone who previously didn't know if they were going N or S, why worry about a few degrees declination? Use the compass & map to get a feel for how a trail goes, then you will understand what a similar off-trail route might be like. Go to an orienteering meet, for a few bucks you get an accurate map with compass lessons and a rental compass if you need them.

Serious bushwhackers will want a spare compass, the one from your pocket can get snatched away by a twig or left in the car while packing up so it's good to have a spare in your first aid kit.

Most of my bushwhacking is to obvious points such as peaks so I rarely even look at a compass anymore but just follow the terrain or the sun. I knew a guy who had hiked all over the Belknap Range before the trails were built and he didn't even carry a compass because he thought it was too difficult to understand. I offered to teach him and said anybody who could balance a checkbook could figure out a compass, and he said he just figured the bank got it right.