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Compass selection

Boon20

Smart like shovel
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 7, 2019
582
1,070
Saskatchewan, Canada
Im curious what every one who uses a compass is running? I need a new one someday so i wanted to see what every ones top pick is. Why did you go with it and is there something you dont like about it?
 
Suunto MC-2G is my go-to compass for work. Easy to read, bug dope doesn't affect it, handles temp extremes, gimbal for global use ( all five zones), and great customer service.
I also like the Silva mini for general purpose work when dead-on accuracy isn't as important. It's small and convenient, but the marking are 5 degrees.
I teach with the issued Suunto A-30, which is a decent compass, but bug dope eats the numbers and the base plate is susceptible to breaking. Also, there's no feature to adjust declination.
 
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I have an old Silva Ranger mirror compass that has served me well for over 30 years and keep a Silva mini in my dope book for quick reference. Never used the Suunto mentioned above but looks like a good unit. Still remember the days hunting in NM & CO when we carried laminated 7.5 minute maps along with a compass for navigation. Between GPS units with land ownership maps, range finders and watches with compasses the compass rarely comes out of my pack but I always make sure its there.
 
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Have used one of these for years in Forestry and hunting afield, and if you get a big bubble inside I think they will fix them for minimal cost.

 
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Used suunto MC2 and Silva Rangers in the Canadian military. They were tough enough for infantry use if that tells you anything.
 
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Suunto MC G2 paired with a Foretrex 401, protractor, and an appropriate scaled map with UTM grids.
 
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With the magnetic pole flip due any second, does anybody know where/how far off true N is from magnet reading about Lincoln,Neb? Asking for a friend. Friend is using a '70's mil compass.
 
Teaching orienteering is lost art. I still do it because batteries die!

Suunto or Silva, but make sure it is adjustable for declination.
 
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Suunto is top tier, so you can’t go wrong but the others will do the job also. I run Suunto’s.
 
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The Brunton compasses are not expensive, the transits are rather pricey.