Carolyn is getting ready for our move to AK in the future. Reading up on compass reading, all on her own.

All my compass are in AK... order her a silva ranger?

Also I have a cheat book somewhere that gives scales and such, I have always run UTM quads, and that little pocket book had scales and such on it... I can't seem to find a copy here either, or on the net to easily? What am I after there?

Much appreciate the input!

Jeff

Jeff, get me an address and I'll send her a compass and quad square.

not looking for a handout, just whats good to buy. I'm fairly sure what we have in the packs in AK are silva rangers...

Just wanting to check on whats good, IE buy something other than ranger? And I'll google quad square, maybe that will help.

Give that stuff to a young person starting out!

Thanks, Jeff

The books help but nothing works as well as time in the field.

A few years ago I bought 2 sets of cut rate trekking poles from Cabelas. Each pole had a compass in the top of the grip. At any given time, each of the 4 compasses pointed a different direction, up to 180 degrees different. We could chose which way to go to get the most lost.

Will do on the youngster. I've been using a Ranger for nearly 30 years. They just work. As for the quad square, technically they are called a UTM Grid Reader (I have v2; don't know if there are later versions at this point).

Thanks Sean, Ranger it will be when I order this week then.

Rock Chuck, the notebook is a scale basically and straight edge and it generally has all scales... its not a book about how to use a compass, she has that down basics, and is reading a more detailed book so she feels confident with a backup system to the GPS while we are in Alaska in the fall and once we move.

Rost495-
I had heard some time back that Silva had been bought out--I want to say by Suunto, but may have been Brunton.
The site I normally look for compasses(REI) doesn't show the Silva Ranger 15 anymore(or any Silva). It and the 16 have been long time favorites, and have wondered about replacements when the time comes.
FWIW--I do like the Brunton Eclipse for plotting a UTM reading for my location on a topo. Using it in conjunction with my GPS, I can generally plot/determine my location within a few yards +/-.
I am curious if & where you may have seen the Silva line for sale recently.
Thanks.

LO< have not. Was looking for suggestions.... that may complicate things tonight once again... life... ugh....

Silva isn't silva anymore.
Look at Suunto M2 Global.

Amazon still lists the Silva Ranger in stock. You might try there.

Will check em all later tonight or Tuesday as time allows.

I saw the Rangers on an amazon link, but I never went there, was just googling on Saturday.... doesn't mean they have em though.

This ^^^^

I did an extnsive look at compass a year or so ago. I bought 2 Suunto M2's. Might also consider a Recta DS50.

Silva compasses are still on the market, but i've read that they are now chinese made and not comparable to the older suunto built silva stuff.

I've carried my old ranger for nearly 40 years now and it is still a very good piece.

If I were buying today, it'd be a suunto.

I'll look into 2 Suunto M2s.... and retire the rangers to practice for Carolyn.

I saw 3s easy on the net yesterday but no 2s but honestly I didn't look that far...

never mind, found em on 2nd look. But says fixed declination, going to have to go check on the Suunto sight, that can't be correct... even the picture has the mini screwdriver to correct declination...

I just looked at the new Suunto M2s and don't like the mirror, it's very foggy.
Looks like cheap plastic. They used to install good mirrors.

Well that sucks for 65 ish to 85ish dollars....

wonder what to look at next...

http://www.thecompassstore.com/ranger1.html

Junk Chinese version as some have noted or not? I"ll read further... at glance I didn't see china mentioned or not.