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Does anyone carry a compass?

av8r1 · 27 · 3610

00 Offline av8r1

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Does anyone carry a compass?
on: April 14, 2014, 06:03:16 PM
I developed a fondness for compasses in flight school, and carried one EDC for awhile mostly out of aesthetic value. I almost never need one in my suburban life, so it tends to stay behind. It's a nice Silva compass, I just never need the thing.  Does anyone EDC a compass?
My EDC:
Leatherman Skeletool   Led Lenser P3 AFS P
Leatherman Style CS    "Fauxton"
Sharpie Twin Tip           Bic Mini


us Offline sawman

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #1 on: April 14, 2014, 06:07:53 PM
My iPhone has a compass app, I'm not so sure how accurate it is though.
SAW


gb Offline Millhouse

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #2 on: April 14, 2014, 07:19:20 PM
I don't EDC one, but I carry a Silva 4 when hiking. For convenience, I use GPS, but carry a map and compass for backup.
Expedition-4-Mills.jpg
* Expedition-4-Mills.jpg (Filesize: 69.13 KB)
« Last Edit: April 14, 2014, 07:24:58 PM by Millhouse »
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de Offline RT1969

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #3 on: April 14, 2014, 08:20:19 PM
I have a little keychain size one at, guess what, my keychain. I went into a pretty big Outdoor store (Globetrotter) in Cologne and looked at the compasses there. I wanted a new one, was not sure if I should use a flip-open style or what.
I finally choose a 3€ button style (20mmØ) one, because it was fluid filled, rotated faster to north than the 15x the price ones and was dampened better. Been carrying it for 4 months now, used it for Geocaching (my smartphone has GPS, but no compass) and been pretty satisfied with it.

But beware: there were several on the rack from the same model, some worked as good as mine, others were totally trashed.


gr Offline kkokkolis

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #4 on: April 14, 2014, 09:02:26 PM
I  carried a keychain button compass for years, until it broke. It  helped me several  times when travelling in urban settings, together with hotel maps. I remember that I  was lost in Prague and it helped me find my way to an avenue.
The last  decade I wear or attach my Casio Pro Trek on my backpack and it helps a lot. But lately I also have my iPhone compass and the Recta compass of the Victorinox SOS kit (I have both styles but I carry the large one with the thermo and magnifyling lens).
I like compasses. They make me feel nice.


us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #5 on: April 15, 2014, 12:37:34 AM
I'm with sawman. I have an app on my phone for it. I DO have an actual compass in my get-home bag in my car, so if I'm ever away from my home, I actually have a compass near to hand.


us Offline Random Dan

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #6 on: April 15, 2014, 12:46:51 AM
I carry one whenever I'm out on a camping trip, but otherwise no. Never needed one either.
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us Offline Stormdrane

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #7 on: April 15, 2014, 01:12:19 AM
I keep one on my watchband.  Boy Scouts don't get lost, just disoriented.  :P




us Offline ironraven

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #8 on: April 15, 2014, 01:51:13 AM
back up compass of last resort- 20mm button in my EDC gear
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nz Offline RimfireNZ

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #9 on: April 15, 2014, 01:55:23 AM
I don't EDC one, but on hunting trips I have one as a backup for my GPS.


us Offline detron

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #10 on: April 15, 2014, 01:58:01 AM
Compass?

CHECK

If I can help, let me know 


00 Offline Fattsgalore

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #11 on: April 15, 2014, 01:58:24 AM
No...
Compasses are best for people in emergency situations traversing undeveloped terrain or sea travel. As an EDC item in developed areas it's kind of pointless. Who doesn't have access to phones, roads, and other means of locating one's self in a general area?


ca Offline Jothra

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #12 on: April 15, 2014, 02:09:17 AM
Any time I'm heading out hiking, skiing, or whatever,  I take my Silva Ranger. It sets the bar for compasses.

If I'm in town, on highways, or otherwise in People Country, I usually have a pretty good idea which way I'm pointing, so the nearest compass is probably the cheap Silva in my truck.

Generally, unless it's really cloudy, either the sun or the stars are good enough.


us Offline JAfromMn

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #13 on: April 15, 2014, 03:28:30 AM
My iPhone has a compass app, I'm not so sure how accurate it is though.

I'm the same as Steve

my compass is fairly accurate as far as I know with the little bit of testing I've done with it.

but I really should carry one in my bag for just in case .
« Last Edit: April 15, 2014, 03:31:37 AM by JAfromMn »
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us Offline Aloha

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #14 on: April 15, 2014, 03:55:54 AM
Esse Quam Videri


no Offline Grathr

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #15 on: April 15, 2014, 10:09:49 AM
I have used this trick a few times
http://m.wikihow.com/Use-an-Analog-Watch-as-a-Compass
I would not rely on it instead of a compass, as it is difficult to get very accurate. But It works nicely for urban use and a lot better than nothing. 


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


us Offline ducttapetech

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #16 on: April 15, 2014, 10:25:17 AM
No I don't, but I have always used my watch and the sun.
When I am the brush, I then have a compass with me.

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spam Offline comis

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #17 on: April 15, 2014, 08:38:41 PM
I actually do EDC a compass on my backpack, it has proven to be helpful many times especially when I was sightseeing oversea and there is no English direction/street names.



It's a hand made compass made in US, and little that I know, it is no longer common to find.  :)


no Offline Grathr

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #18 on: April 15, 2014, 09:03:57 PM
Very nice looking compass :salute:


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


de Offline RT1969

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #19 on: April 15, 2014, 09:15:07 PM
I keep one on my watchband.  Boy Scouts don't get lost, just disoriented.  :P

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us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #20 on: April 15, 2014, 09:24:26 PM
My compass is the Sun and the Stars. Seriously though.  :tu:
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de Offline RT1969

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be Offline Top-Gear-24

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #22 on: April 16, 2014, 12:03:42 AM
I always carry a watch with a build in compass like these ones:






And for the ones that don't have a build in compass, I have this (which works even better than the build in ones, no battery power needed for this one  ;)).:




And when I go on a hike in the woods, I'll take this one with me (no picture of the compass itself, but you can see it on this next pic):






00 Offline av8r1

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #23 on: April 16, 2014, 12:52:51 AM
I also have one of those cell phone apps. I used to have one that I could mark a location and it would point back to it so you could "home" back to the car or whatever.  It was difficult to use, so I deleted it.

I wouldn't own a compass that isn't liquid filled unless it came out of a box of cracker jacks.
My EDC:
Leatherman Skeletool   Led Lenser P3 AFS P
Leatherman Style CS    "Fauxton"
Sharpie Twin Tip           Bic Mini


Offline Styerman

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #24 on: April 16, 2014, 02:40:06 AM
I have one in my bag . Has come in handy a few times .

Chris


no Offline Steinar

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #25 on: April 16, 2014, 04:37:23 PM
I usually bring a Silva Metro compass when I travel in unknown cities. Excellent for malls and subway stations, where you walk quickly, have to change direction a lot and GPS is both too slow and utterly useless. (GPS and GLONASS are nice systems, but not very useful underground...) It has saved me a lot of time quickly getting to the correct exit, avoid being fooled by curved corridors, etc.


spam Offline comis

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Re: Does anyone carry a compass?
Reply #26 on: April 16, 2014, 05:45:46 PM
Very nice looking compass :salute:


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

Thanks, Grathr.

I have done some research before settling on this small compass, and much to my surprise, many experience compass user in US do complain about the low quality small compasses that fills the market nowadays.  Personally, I do purchase a fair share of small compasses and stored them in different kits or wear them on wrist watch, but they always end up dismagnetized sooner than I thought(usually they last for a few months and none survived after 1-2 years)

Even some brand as famous as Marble has migrated production to China and quality is no longer the same as it used to(old ones have reported to last for many years, if not decades).  Several 'survival' stores do give grading to their small compasses, but it is not about how good is the quality, but more about how well is the liquid sealed inside the compass.

In the end, after reading from different forums, sounds like the Tru-Nord in US is one of the few that has received decent reports and its performance comparable to the old Marble.  I am in no way related to the maker, but so far, after about 1/2-1 year of use, the compass does work well and remain strong.


 

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