Compass Recommendation

Sundance_Kid

Hi there,

Looking to get back into hiking,day hikes initially and eventually moving onto hikes over multiple days (all within Ireland).

I used to do a bit when younger but not in the last few years, kept fit through sport since.

Anyway was looking at getting a compass and refreshing my memory on how to use them.

Which in the below link would you recommend? Bearing in mind that I want it to be of use in the future and not just for now.

http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/index.php?cPath=27_374_121

Or am I behind the times and everybody is now using GPS systems on their walks?

Thanks in advance

sheesh

the silvas expedition 4

If money is tight the field 7 will do.

Orion

Sundance_Kid wrote: »

Or am I behind the times and everybody is now using GPS systems on their walks?

No - just no. GPS is very handy. I use it on my phone to log my hikes. But there is no substitute for a compass and paper map - they never run out of battery or care about the strength of the signal.

What is the difference between one compass and another? - they all point to mag north. I know the Silva 4 has a magnifying glass - but does that justify doubling the price over the Field 7? At the end of the day you can do what you need with a button compass if push came to shove.

Sundance_Kid

Sundance_Kid wrote: »

Or am I behind the times and everybody is now using GPS systems on their walks?

I use a compass, have no gps and no desire to get one.

DeepSleeper

Sundance_Kid wrote: »

Hi there,

Looking to get back into hiking,day hikes initially and eventually moving onto hikes over multiple days (all within Ireland).

I used to do a bit when younger but not in the last few years, kept fit through sport since.

Anyway was looking at getting a compass and refreshing my memory on how to use them.

Which in the below link would you recommend? Bearing in mind that I want it to be of use in the future and not just for now.

http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/index.php?cPath=27_374_121

Or am I behind the times and everybody is now using GPS systems on their walks?

Thanks in advance

I always recommend the Silva Type 4/54, but get the one with the red lanyard - this is the 'normal' compass and is divided into 360 degrees (as one would expect...) but the 'Military' version has a green lanyard and is divided into 6300 milliradians - a real pain if you are walking or training with someone who is using degrees ... 'We are now going to walk for 1km on a bearing of 34 degrees' - 'How many milliradians is that?'

Avoid green lanyards at all costs (unless you are in the military...) - if the Type 4/54 is too expensive (aka Expedition 4 - €34.99), then the Ranger 3 (€24.99) is a better option than the Field 7 (€18.99).

duckysauce

Deleted User wrote: »

I use a compass, have no gps and no desire to get one.

I have a gps and I personally think its the handiest piece of kit I have. Great for giving you a grid ref , tracking how long you have walked height gained , route taken , love it . I also have maps for the various areas and a compass.

Gillo

Deleted User wrote: »

I use a compass, have no gps and no desire to get one.

I'm pretty much like yourself, I've a basic gps though I hardly ever use it, it's really just in my pack as a back up if I'm completely lost.

duckysauce

duckysauce wrote: »

I have a gps and I personally think its the handiest piece of kit I have. Great for giving you a grid ref , tracking how long you have walked height gained , route taken , love it . I also have maps for the various areas and a compass.

I'm one of the types who likes to go on all day hikes from summit to summit, and then that's it, no interest in how many miles I did or how much altitude I gained overall, or the precise route or grid references. Some people like to log the route, for me its mostly about getting to the summit and if there's an obstacle like some cliff with a gully or an exposed ridge, so much the better. I'd probably like one if I had one...but it's gonna take a lot to convince me that a buff isn't the handiest piece of kit!!

acorn

I think the Silva 4 with red lanyard is the way to go. Look on it as an investment. I made the mistake of opting for a cheaper one and discovered too late that it was missing the luminous markings for night navigation.

NathanKingerlee

Silva 4 is good. Here's a tuition video on taking a bearing: http://tinyurl.com/auuy5uy.

evil-monkey

Silva 4 without a doubt.

BriangC

I have a Silva 4. However its not much good having a map and compass if you can't use them properly when you really need them. The video above from Nathan is a handy start.

I also have a GPS which I carry with me for some reason but rarely use. I use my eyes for directions mostly