Navigation? Probably less of a concern if you only walk in the summer on well established and marked trails. Go off-trail, add some inclement weather of choice - fog, a deluge, low clouds - and throw in some challenging landscape - dense forest, wide open tundra, vast bogs - and you'll want to carry a navigation tool of choice. And while GPS gadgetry have their place, I prefer compass and map.
Before I went to become a Wilderness Guide, I seldom carried a compass. A map was sufficient for me, as I usually hiked on trails or if I went off-trail, I was sure enough of where I will end up. That changed as I started the education, and needed to navigate through dense forest at night, vast bogs in winter, and mountainous terrain in autumn. A compass became a useful, much needed tool. As I didn't want to throw my UL principles over board, I first used my
Suunto Comet. That worked out just fine during day orienteering challenges, where I seldom even bothered using the compass - I find navigating solely by map a viable option during the daytime.
Let there be a fine, wet, autumn night, in which you need to find five or more flags hidden in the forest, and I realized I needed a more substantial compass - one with a baseplate for ease of use with a map. A look at the three leading firms when it comes to navigational tools, some chats, and a few days later I had three different compasses in the post, with the aim to see which is the best lightweight compass out there.
A look at the weight showed that the Suunto A-30 is the lightest of the trio:
Recta DT 220: 32 gram
Silva Ranger 3: 34 gram
Suunto A-30: 31 gram
Suunto Comet: 11 gram
Suunto Core (Watch): 64 gram
I added the Comet and Core to this list, to illustrate what different tools weight. But weight ain't everything, so lets look at further features the three compasses have:
Recta DT 220: 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens, luminous bezel and markings
Silva Ranger 3: 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens (The current Ranger modell also has a luminous bezel and markings)
Suunto A-30: 1:15.000 and 1:25.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens, luminous bezel and markings
They also all three point north! The Silva Ranger stands a bit out because my 2010 model didn't have a luminous bezel, only a tiny luminous marking on the needle, which made it less practical for night orienteering. Sure, I wear a headlamp at night, but the luminous bezel and markings do help as they're easier on the eyes if you want to take a quick look. The Recta & Suunto are fairly similar, although I do value the Suunto a tad more (call me biased, as Suunto is Finnish =). The little extra info on the Suunto on how many meters is a centimeter in a given scale is very useful if you need to calculate in your head how far you gotta go still; and in the heat of an night orienteering exam this kind of info might slip your mind. Both the Recta & Suunto have a clip-in lanyard, which allow you to quickly detach the compass from the cord, useful if you wear your compass around your neck but find taking a bearing with your nose just centimeters from the map a bit difficult.
So after having used all three compasses for over a year, I nowadays tend to use the Sunnto A-30 if I head out and know I will go off-trail. Being the lightest with the for me best extra functions, that decision is easy. But how does the A-30 compare to the Comet and the Core watch? The Comet is fine if I don't go navigating at night. You can take a bearing with it, though it is fiddly and I have been heard swearing sometimes using it. The added thermometer and its minimal weight of only 11 gram make it a great multitool, and if I head out on the bike I carry the Comet on my pack to keep tabs on the direction. The Core is obviously in a league of its own. At 64 gram you get an Alti- & Barometer, a digital compass, and it also tells you the time, as well as sunrise & sunset and a whole bunch of other stuff. The compass works great, and thanks to the moveable, luminous bezel and the illuminated screen you also can use it at night. However, taking a bearing with it on a map goes in the "Be patient & don't swear" category, it [the compass] is also so sensitive that you need to stand still to get exact coordinates. In a pinch you can navigate at night with it, but a baseplate compass is a lot more practicable - the needle is less sensitive to movement. However, given the extra functions the Core brings along - I do like the thermometer and weather function - I often wear it when outdoors, especially since the iPhones battery isn't what I'd call long-lived.
For those who're curious: I use an
Ortlieb Document bag, Size A4, for keeping my map and documents dry. At 56 gram a great bag, and I rather have this than the Ziplock bag which I have used in the past - if I would know an easy source for waterproof paper, then that might replace the case, but until then it comes along.
Finally, if talking navigation and orienteering I need to mention the Harold Gatty book "Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass" - it is THE book on the topic. Originally published in 1958, it is full of useful information on how to orienteer without extra gear, and just use skills and knowledge to find your way. Gatty goes in-depth and has a wealth of knowledge, and explains how to find your way in polar regions and deserts, over telling the time by the stars, to telling the directions from trees and to find your way in towns, this is the best literature on navigation, period. While one might think it is dated, the knowledge and skills he discloses are still as up-to-date as more modern books on the topic.
That's my take on navigation. I firmly trust my skills to navigate without map or compass thanks to acquired and practiced skills & knowledge; though at night and off-trail I prefer to take my Suunto A-30 compass for support. If I will be hiking on trail in e.g. a National Park, then my Suunto Comet thermometer and compass will be sufficient, while my Suunto Core is a great tool when travelling in mountainous terrain thanks to its alti- & barometer and its storm warning function. A lot of Suunto love =)
[14.10.2011] Edith says: Some of the reactions are not understandable for me, might be that English ain't my mother tongue. If some people don't trust their own navigation skills and rather carry a double/ triple back-up, cool. If I on the other hand feel comfortable guiding clients or hike on my own without consulting the map & compass, then that should be cool as well. I have in 99% of my trips compass & map/ printout with me, though I am skilled enough to find my way without needing to consult them. So calls for "Carry a compass & map, dude!" are unnecessary. I keep safety firmly in mind, and don't compromise in that area.
Where to get the gear?
Disclaimer: Untold riches will be poured over me if you purchase via the above Amazon links.
Navigation? Probably less of a concern if you only walk in the summer on well established and marked trails. Go off-trail, add some inclement weather of choice - fog, a deluge, low clouds - and throw in some challenging landscape - dense forest, wide open tundra, vast bogs - and you'll want to carry a navigation tool of choice. And while GPS gadgetry have their place, I prefer compass and map.
Before I went to become a Wilderness Guide, I seldom carried a compass. A map was sufficient for me, as I usually hiked on trails or if I went off-trail, I was sure enough of where I will end up. That changed as I started the education, and needed to navigate through dense forest at night, vast bogs in winter, and mountainous terrain in autumn. A compass became a useful, much needed tool. As I didn't want to throw my UL principles over board, I first used my
Suunto Comet. That worked out just fine during day orienteering challenges, where I seldom even bothered using the compass - I find navigating solely by map a viable option during the daytime.
Let there be a fine, wet, autumn night, in which you need to find five or more flags hidden in the forest, and I realized I needed a more substantial compass - one with a baseplate for ease of use with a map. A look at the three leading firms when it comes to navigational tools, some chats, and a few days later I had three different compasses in the post, with the aim to see which is the best lightweight compass out there.
A look at the weight showed that the Suunto A-30 is the lightest of the trio:
Recta DT 220: 32 gram
Silva Ranger 3: 34 gram
Suunto A-30: 31 gram
Suunto Comet: 11 gram
Suunto Core (Watch): 64 gram
I added the Comet and Core to this list, to illustrate what different tools weight. But weight ain't everything, so lets look at further features the three compasses have:
Recta DT 220: 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens, luminous bezel and markings
Silva Ranger 3: 1:25.000 and 1:50.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens (The current Ranger modell also has a luminous bezel and markings)
Suunto A-30: 1:15.000 and 1:25.000 scale, declination correction scale, centimeter/ millimeter scale, magnifying lens, luminous bezel and markings
They also all three point north! The Silva Ranger stands a bit out because my 2010 model didn't have a luminous bezel, only a tiny luminous marking on the needle, which made it less practical for night orienteering. Sure, I wear a headlamp at night, but the luminous bezel and markings do help as they're easier on the eyes if you want to take a quick look. The Recta & Suunto are fairly similar, although I do value the Suunto a tad more (call me biased, as Suunto is Finnish =). The little extra info on the Suunto on how many meters is a centimeter in a given scale is very useful if you need to calculate in your head how far you gotta go still; and in the heat of an night orienteering exam this kind of info might slip your mind. Both the Recta & Suunto have a clip-in lanyard, which allow you to quickly detach the compass from the cord, useful if you wear your compass around your neck but find taking a bearing with your nose just centimeters from the map a bit difficult.
So after having used all three compasses for over a year, I nowadays tend to use the Sunnto A-30 if I head out and know I will go off-trail. Being the lightest with the for me best extra functions, that decision is easy. But how does the A-30 compare to the Comet and the Core watch? The Comet is fine if I don't go navigating at night. You can take a bearing with it, though it is fiddly and I have been heard swearing sometimes using it. The added thermometer and its minimal weight of only 11 gram make it a great multitool, and if I head out on the bike I carry the Comet on my pack to keep tabs on the direction. The Core is obviously in a league of its own. At 64 gram you get an Alti- & Barometer, a digital compass, and it also tells you the time, as well as sunrise & sunset and a whole bunch of other stuff. The compass works great, and thanks to the moveable, luminous bezel and the illuminated screen you also can use it at night. However, taking a bearing with it on a map goes in the "Be patient & don't swear" category, it [the compass] is also so sensitive that you need to stand still to get exact coordinates. In a pinch you can navigate at night with it, but a baseplate compass is a lot more practicable - the needle is less sensitive to movement. However, given the extra functions the Core brings along - I do like the thermometer and weather function - I often wear it when outdoors, especially since the iPhones battery isn't what I'd call long-lived.
For those who're curious: I use an
Ortlieb Document bag, Size A4, for keeping my map and documents dry. At 56 gram a great bag, and I rather have this than the Ziplock bag which I have used in the past - if I would know an easy source for waterproof paper, then that might replace the case, but until then it comes along.
Finally, if talking navigation and orienteering I need to mention the Harold Gatty book "Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass" - it is THE book on the topic. Originally published in 1958, it is full of useful information on how to orienteer without extra gear, and just use skills and knowledge to find your way. Gatty goes in-depth and has a wealth of knowledge, and explains how to find your way in polar regions and deserts, over telling the time by the stars, to telling the directions from trees and to find your way in towns, this is the best literature on navigation, period. While one might think it is dated, the knowledge and skills he discloses are still as up-to-date as more modern books on the topic.
That's my take on navigation. I firmly trust my skills to navigate without map or compass thanks to acquired and practiced skills & knowledge; though at night and off-trail I prefer to take my Suunto A-30 compass for support. If I will be hiking on trail in e.g. a National Park, then my Suunto Comet thermometer and compass will be sufficient, while my Suunto Core is a great tool when travelling in mountainous terrain thanks to its alti- & barometer and its storm warning function. A lot of Suunto love =)
[14.10.2011] Edith says: Some of the reactions are not understandable for me, might be that English ain't my mother tongue. If some people don't trust their own navigation skills and rather carry a double/ triple back-up, cool. If I on the other hand feel comfortable guiding clients or hike on my own without consulting the map & compass, then that should be cool as well. I have in 99% of my trips compass & map/ printout with me, though I am skilled enough to find my way without needing to consult them. So calls for "Carry a compass & map, dude!" are unnecessary. I keep safety firmly in mind, and don't compromise in that area.
Where to get the gear?
Disclaimer: Untold riches will be poured over me if you purchase via the above Amazon links.
Are We There Yet? - A Compass Comparison
I use a Brunton 7DNL which is 25g. I recently added a simple GPS to my stock though since a map and compass isn't enough in our dense tree cover.
ReplyDeleteI had to quote you here, Hendrik. " I firmly trust my skills to navigate without map or compass thanks to acquired and practiced skills & knowledge."
ReplyDeleteAre you being serious?
My Suunto Arrow 5 thumb compass weighs 23 g. Compared to the cheaper compasses I've had the needle settles a lot faster.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you ask? Does something speak against this statement?
ReplyDeleteIn certain environments, sure. Having been one of the best in class, been the fastest in both night & day orienteering exams and done the latter without a the help of a compass, yes. Obviously if I'd come to Scotland and would need to navigate at 900 m in the fog, the situation might require a compass, altimeter and map. It depends on the situation, but I am very sure I will usually find my way - with or without compass & map (though the latter might take a bit longer).
I think any of these basic compasses does the job when hiking. But I usually carry two compasses when backpacking: a small one (Suunto Comet or equivalent) + a Suunto A-30 (or a similar one from Silva). Why? Because I've broken more than one compass (ok, not when backpacking but in orienteering competitions), and the 11 g extra weight is really nothing.
ReplyDeleteI also like thumb compasses, but when using walking poles that's not a good option.
"I firmly trust my skills to navigate without map or compass thanks to acquired and practiced skills & knowledge" what about water?
ReplyDeletecan you walk on water? ;-)
Thanks for the comparison, usually when I know there is a trail or at least landmarks which are easy to recognize I prefere maps too, but this years PCT hike really showed me how great it is to have a GPS. Which I always thought its just a item of luxury or convinience. But when you have to navigate for longer than one month every day, often 4 times in one hour you just get frustrated with a map and a comp. And without you start to cry :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Suunto Core. I have a Vector but dearly would have loved the rather more sexy Core...
ReplyDeleteProblem of the 7DNL is the missing luminous markings & bezel which are for me mandatory for night orienteering, though if you don't do any of that, then a solid compass. Skills are lighter than gear, so brush up those map & compass skills!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't do a lot of night hiking. I've won orienteering competitions in the past so I'm not worried about my skills. It's mostly an issue of terrain. In Montana, it's very easy to navigate using only a good topo map and the terrain, especially at higher elevations. In wilderness areas, where trails exist that aren't on maps, or when going off trail, it becomes increasingly difficult to navigate with a map and compass, especially when there is no getting above tree line. Everything around you looks identical and finding markers to use is near impossible. They don't call it the "green tunnel" for nothing. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it would be plain stupid to rely anything on any thing that works on batteries,solar power,has lcd screen or such modern tech. A simple basic baseplate compass might be worth its "weight" when you crash the screen of gps watch, or you run out of satellite connection,or batterie sthat doesnt like water, nor cold. No matter the weight :)...or unless you like to be found as a ultralight skeleton few years after you went for a hike :)
ReplyDeleteGreat article Hendrick. I can appreciate all the effort going into nav testing and the book selection looks interesting. Always happy to while away some time reading on navigation. Do you know of any way to get the gear links to point to Amazon UK to get the referral to work? Thanks for a lot of great blogging
ReplyDeleteTrevor
It says so even in the product description ;) Looks ace, how does it work at night/ in comparison to a proper baseplate compass?
ReplyDeleteI never set off into the hills without a map and compass, Hendrik. It's an unwritten rule with most hill goers here, so i found it an unusual statement.
ReplyDeleteI know my local hills pretty well, yet still make mistakes. A couple of years ago, i climbed some hills with a friend. We had reached the summit of one hill, and set off for the summit of another. My friend was new to the area, so wanted to take a compass bearing as there was low cloud and poor visability. I said don't bother, as i've climbed these hills lots of times. We descended the hill, and started climbing up the next hill. When we reached the summit, imagine my embarrasement when it turned out to be the summit of the hill we had left 30 minutes before! I had contoured around in the mist and reclimbed the same hill.
The map and compass came out this time! :)
dude, appreciate the points on land nav and your orienteering skills....but please, for your own sake and others, don't ever lead a group without map and compass, even if its on local ground you know. There's some weight that's just fine to carry, and some you don't ever want to have to, know what I mean? All said with respect H.
ReplyDeleteDude! In 99% of the cases I carry a map/ printout and a compass (the Comet, usually).
ReplyDeleteMaz, the Vector is lighter ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you come to Finland sometime, you should grab a Core here. I first was skeptical about mine - I have small wrists - but it fits and looks fine, and does work very good - I imagine you'd have found the Core useful on your trip in the Alps!
I amended the Post, Mike. I carry in 99% of the cases when I go outdoors a compass and a map or printout, so rarely leave without them - I just usually do not consult them, and leave them in the pack if I feel certain of where I am.
ReplyDeleteHave a look at the Gatty book - there's a whole chapter on walking in circles in it, and how to avoid it =) Very interesting.
No big deal Hendrik. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a very popular blog, and we wouldn't want any newbie reading it and thinking, 'if Hendrik doesn't need a map and compass, why do i?" Would we. ;)
Mmmm maps and compasses =)
ReplyDeleteAn interesting and controversial post! I'll weigh in on a couple of points if I may.
ReplyDeleteAs a young scout, I was taught never to hang my compass lanyard round my neck. Convenient it is, but there's a chance of getting garrotted if you slip somewhere and the lanyard catches. OK, it's a small chance, but I'd rather not be "the dumbass who got killed by his compass". Get a lanyard with a low-strength clip if you must.
I was surprised that none of the compasses featured a sighting mirror. I carry a Silva with a sighting mirror, and find it invaluable for getting an accurate bead on where I'm going. Plus all the other uses that a good mirror has in the outdoors. It's only a gram or two heavier than the non-mirrored versions.
Oddly, I find myself using map and compass much more than the GPS nowadays. Something about the GPS just doesn't cover the *expanse* of the mountains quite like a paper map does...
I guess Suunto comet is more than good here in Finland. I was hiking in Lapland last two weeks and did not have to use my compass once since I could orienteer on the terrain all the time.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest moslty when I am guiding i do not even have map or compass with me, becouse I know the terrain so well. As I remember none of my fellow guides in Lapland have map or compass with them either. Ofcourse this is daytrip hiking around the cabin or hotel. But I know guides with compass and map that got lost in that terrain :) When I go out of the zone that is not known for me I always have compass, map and gps with me.
Hi Hendrik, I enjoy your blog, thank you. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteToday I have a question:
When you claim 'I am skilled enough to find my way without needing to consult them. (compass & map)' do you mean in places that you have never walked before and without any guide notes at all, or places you are already familiar with the lie of the land? If the former, how do you work out your destination or are you just wandering with no set destination? Or maybe you have an initial look at the map, and have a photographic memory? I'm a little confused as to what level of ability you are claiming here. In my home landscape, even on trail, often I meet an un-signed fork on a path/track, and, it is at least necessary to consult the map (and sometimes even the compass) to allow a decision (I can't pre-load all of the route into my mind!). Maybe the landscapes you travel in only have one trail?
I don't find carrying your compass around your neck convenient - the lanyards are usually to short to be functional. Around my wrist it is.
ReplyDeleteNo sighting mirror compass here as I was comparing baseplate compasses - though a sighting mirror compass would be useful in certain environments, I am sure.
As I don't own a GPS or a GPS app (I'm too cheap to dish out 20€ for ViewRanger as I doubt I would use it enough!) a map and compass is for me also the way to go. There's just something about being in your quilt and checking the map that is so relaxing while letting the imagination run wild.
Hi Hendrik,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog - interesting as always! (I'm the happy owner of a Scarp 1, and you're partly to blame...)
I have a Suunto Core, too - I love the alti/baro and watch, but the compass feels more of a gimmick - useful as a backup, but I'd never want to navigate with it routinely. If you see someone slowly rotating 360 degrees in the middle of nowhere, chances are they're trying to recalibrate their digital compass...
I normally use a Silva Ranger 4, and the luminous markings are incredibly good. I've replaced the standard lanyard with a longer one (dyneema, naturally ;-) which means I can keep it round my neck but have the compass stowed in a chest pocket. Still get throttled, but at least you don't have to eat your friends... http://bit.ly/oXwhqB
As for maps: I'm a geek, so I tend to print my own:- http://butnoidea.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/maps-for-walking/
+1 for the thumb compass.
ReplyDeleteSuunto and Silva both offer excellent alternatives.
They are light, small, have most (if not all) of the useful features of a larger compass, and the quick needle just rocks.
I'm not sure if the Arrow 5 has fluorescent markings, but I can check when I get home.