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I know it is the age of the GPS. But I use a compass. My usgi compass is, for whatever reason no longer trustworthy, trashed. What are we buying? I have a small Burton ball compass on my jacket. What would be the next step up? Silva Ranger? Suunto ? Something compact and reasonably priced.
Last edited by Gojoe; 02/05/21.
They will vote our way into socialism, We will have to shoot our way out.
Every major horror in the world was perpetrated in the name of altruism.
Just how big is Aroostook County you ask?
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Campfire Outfitter
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You say "reasonably priced".....what's the value of your life??
Suunto M2 G Global compass. I have been using mine for several years, and I even buy them as gifts for family that spend time in the outdoors.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Reasonable price is relative, and compass cost from .99 cents to $$$$. For the hunter or day hiker there is a practical limit on price. I'll take a look at the M2
Last edited by Gojoe; 02/05/21.
They will vote our way into socialism, We will have to shoot our way out.
Every major horror in the world was perpetrated in the name of altruism.
Just how big is Aroostook County you ask?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,200
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2004
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Get a goood one made in USA or Switzerland , not china . I have had problems with the cheap ones, however, later in life , I found it could have been iron in all ground in northern WIs.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
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Campfire Outfitter
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I had a silva Forrester for a long time and there's none better.
I would not buy something that runs on any kind of primer given the possibility of primer shortages and even regulations. In fact, why not buy a flintlock? Really. Rocks aren't going away anytime soon.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2008
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I'm pretty partial to t a Rekta DP 6 or Suunto MB-6. Rekta was a Swiss instrument manufacturer that made compasses for the Swiss military. They were acquired by Suunto some time in the late 90s.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Although I actually carry a vintage Wittenauer with no bells and whistles, I think the Cammenga is the toughest. You said you had a military compass fail, I'd like to hear the details.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
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I had a silva Forrester for a long time and there's none better. Now brought to you by China.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
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Suunto M2 G Global compass. As often is the case, the first reply on a thread is often the best and only one needed.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
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We've been training our church's Trail Life troop to use compasses. They all had different types, and some of those were junk. It's a real pain to teach when they don't all have the same type. Someone donated 10 Suunto MC2's to the troop. It's a mirror type that costs about $45. Mirrors are easy to teach and learn. We haven't used these a lot yet but we've found them to be very accurate and reasonably durable. We're thinking up fund raising ideas for a trip next year to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness. If we can go, it'll be a week on the water and the boys will be expected to do all the navigation by compass. My gps will be for backup only.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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What were the old official Boy Scout models
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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One failure does not make a trend. My son is a forester, the company issued Suunto (don't know the exact model forester but it had a declinometer) has developed a drifting north. He thinks it may have been caused by storing it on the dashboard of the pickup unthinkingly, near a large speaker magnet?
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,282 |
One failure does not make a trend. My son is a forester, the company issued Suunto (don't know the exact model forester but it had a declinometer) has developed a drifting north. He thinks it may have been caused by storing it on the dashboard of the pickup unthinkingly, near a large speaker magnet? That could easily do it...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
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One failure does not make a trend. My son is a forester, the company issued Suunto (don't know the exact model forester but it had a declinometer) has developed a drifting north. He thinks it may have been caused by storing it on the dashboard of the pickup unthinkingly, near a large speaker magnet? That could do it. Here are some instruction on how to repair it that might work. COMPASS REPAIRI've heard of compasses being screwed up by carrying them in the same pocket with a cell phone but I don't know if that's true.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
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Although I actually carry a vintage Wittenauer with no bells and whistles, I think the Cammenga is the toughest. You said you had a military compass fail, I'd like to hear the details. I really don't have any beyond I was following a blazed property line , known direction. And north was not where we last left it,
They will vote our way into socialism, We will have to shoot our way out.
Every major horror in the world was perpetrated in the name of altruism.
Just how big is Aroostook County you ask?
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,359
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 1,359 |
As a former forester, Silva Ranger was our goto. Still is for me and I think there's at least four in various packs right now. Mirrored, declination adjustable, fine degree markings, slope inclinometer, durable, lightweight, and cheap enough that if it 's lost, it's not a heartache to replace.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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You ain't alone Gojoe, I can't begin to tell you how many times somebody left my pickup..not where we last left it. The magic self moving pickup. Maybe my compass is ok, I just need a new pickup.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
Although I actually carry a vintage Wittenauer with no bells and whistles, I think the Cammenga is the toughest. You said you had a military compass fail, I'd like to hear the details. I really don't have any beyond I was following a blazed property line , known direction. And north was not where we last left it, Actually, that's happening. The magnetic north pole has always been moving but in recent years it's speeded up considerably. For all the years when I was growing up, the declination here was 17 E. In recent years, it's moved to 12E. It's speeded up the last couple of decades and is now moving at about 34 miles/year. Scientists think that there are 2 huge blobs of molten iron way down deep that have been shifting and messing up the magnetic poles.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Dec 2014
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2014
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One failure does not make a trend. My son is a forester, the company issued Suunto (don't know the exact model forester but it had a declinometer) has developed a drifting north. He thinks it may have been caused by storing it on the dashboard of the pickup unthinkingly, near a large speaker magnet? That could do it. Here are some instruction on how to repair it that might work. COMPASS REPAIRI've heard of compasses being screwed up by carrying them in the same pocket with a cell phone but I don't know if that's true. Rocky, Thanks, I thought a compass was toast when it started to drift, I have an old Leitz that needs a tuneup, I'll give it a try.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The only thing that has actually failed for me on a cammenga are the tritium vials. They do have a shelf life.
For most uses I prefer a liquid damped compass. I've got a Silva R15 I've been using for around 40 years now. It will be buried with me.
I think that the Silva compass today is made by Suunto. And maybe always was. Not sure how that all works out but both brands have reliable compasses.
Are you using the compass to navigate? Or just to find your way back to a road, or linear terrain feature? Most guys are well served with a medium sized protractor compass. Just a quick look tells me that $30 buys a decent one suitable for rough navigation and small enough to carry easily.
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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