Accuracy and durability should be paramount in your quest for a good compass. The easiest way to determine reliability may be the brand (The most dependable brands are Suunto, Silva, and Brunton). While the brand is definitely a good indication of quality, each manufacturer supplies compasses of varying grades including various features. When it comes to choosing a specific compass you will want to consider the following:
- Bezel resolution (5 degree, 2 degree, 1 degree, 1/2 degree -- lower is better)
- Compass accuracy (again lower is better)
- Dampening time (how long it takes the needle to settle)
- Capsule temperature range (don't let the cold weather get you lost)
- Translucent baseplate? (this is helpful when working with maps)
- Sighting mirror? (this feature can allow more accurate readings to be taken)
- Declination scale? (helpful for quick declination calculations)
- Adjustable declination? (eliminate the need for calculation altogether)
- Clinometer? (for determining slopes or heights)
- Reciprocal Scale? (very helpful for sighting compasses. not necessary for others)
How do I use a compass?
We have developed an entire page on how to use a map and compass. If the extent of your knowledge stops at "the needle points North", you should be sure to check our our "How To Use A Map & Compass" page. And once you begin to work with a compass, you will quickly want to learn
What is a reciprocal scale?
The reciprocal scale is often called the reverse scale, because the reciprocal direction is the exact opposite of the direction you are heading. The reverse/reciprocal scale is very useful in determining your location on a map. For example: if you see that mountain top "A" is at a bearing of 240 degrees from you (the reciprocal is 60 degrees), and the bluff is at a bearing of 300 degrees from you (the reciprocal is 120 degrees), you can draw a line on your map from the mountain top "A" in the direction of 60 degrees, and a line from the bluff at 120 degrees. Where these lines intersect is the location you are standing. Reciprocals are easy to get from a baseplate or mirror compass, because you just look at the white tail of the needle and read the reverse direction. Since you can't do that when looking through a sighting compass the smaller reciprocal scale is very helpful.
What is the compass mirror used for?
The compass mirror allows the user to view the target and the compass capsule at the same time. This is why we group mirror compasses in the sighting compass family -- as you can "sight" your target and your bearing at the same time. See our compass mirror page for more details.
Do I need a Global Needle if I will only be in the
Without a doubt, the greatest benefit of the Global Needle is the capability of it's worldwide use. As a result of the design however, there is a secondary benefit. The way the Global Needle is capable of handling worldwide magnetic zones is with it's ability to handle needle tilts of up to 20 degrees. This characteristic is great for hiking because it means as you bounce along the trail, you don't need to have the compass perfectly level to get an accurate reading... making it easier to get readings while you are walking. To learn more about the Suunto's patented Global Needle, see our "What is a Global Needle?" page.
What are the "cotangent" tables on the KB-14 sighting compass used for?
The cotangent table is helpful for determining your distance from specific objects. First, lets talk about Figure A. Assume that with the map, you can determine the relationships between the location of the house and the tree, but you aren't sure your exact location. Use the map to determine the distance of that short perpendicular line from the house to the line going towards the tree. If you take that distance and multiply it by the cotangent of 20 degrees (the angle you determined with your compass), that will tell you distance between you and the house. And since you probably don't know the cotangent of 20 degrees by memory, you just have to refer to the handy cotangent table on the back of your KB-14.
Figure B show a more realistic and typical situation. First, you would pick two objects in the horizon that seem as best you can tell to be roughly side by side. If you can determine the angle between the two objects with your compass (let's say it was 4 degrees) and you know from your map that those two objects are 1/2 mile apart, then you just perform this equation:
(cotangent of 4 degrees) X (1/2 mile) = your aprox distance to the house or mountain.
...and since the scale on the KB-14 says the cotangent of 4 degrees is 14.30, you can calculate...
(14.30) x (1/2) = 7.15 miles to the mountain.
Figure A is a more accurate depiction of the proper geometric properties, but it is a little unrealistic to assume you can determine the distance of that cotangent line with great accuracy, since you don't know your own exact location. Figure B is a more realistic example of how to use a cotangent to approximate your distance to a destination.
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