compass for a neck lanyard

Had the comet and liked it. It’s compass is accurate and functional with movable outer bezel. Thermo is reasonably accurate.

I attached it to my BP hip belt and after a couple years of abuse the compass portion popped out leaving me with the thermo unit and a hole! I doubt this will happen if you wear it around your neck though. Next time I order from BPL, I plan to get a new one.

I’d vote for the Gem. Brunton makes a “pocket” compass. I have an older version of the Silva 609 “Companion” model that goes everywhere with me (see http://www.silvacompass.com/promotional.html). REI has a mini (Item 408059) that is a keychain rig too.

My main navigation compass is a Silva Guide 426 (REI item 408185). It is 1.2oz and has a sighting mirror (doubles for grooming and signaling). You could wear it on a lanyard without too much trouble.

Rather then wearing such things around my neck, I have taken to making a lanyard from reflective line that can be looped around my belt and just dropped in my pocket. A whistle, a keychain compass, fire starter and a small knife or multitool can all be carried this way.

>or have an alternate to suggest?

I don’t want to carry a 2+ ounce compass when I’m on a trail. Mostly I want a compass to orient a map, but it should also have the chops to do some serious work if called on. My choice is the Suunto M-9 wrist compass.

http://www.rei.com/product/744.htm

If you “Click for larger view” and then click “View face detail”, you can see that it is marked in 5-degree increments, and has a side-viewer and sighting marks. This makes it easy to take an accurate sight bearing, which is hard to do with other small compasses. [Note: the degree markings are off by 180 degrees, which is only correct when viewed through the side window.]

Compass weight is 12g (0.5 oz), and the wristband (which I don’t carry) weighs 3g (0.2 oz).

thanks everybody.

Dale, i like your idea but i’ve moved into using a skirt for hiking. my current model has no pockets, so i’m sticking with the necklace for now.

From: “Wilderness Navigation” by Bob & Mike Burns…”It is not a good idea to put the [compass] lanyard around your neck; this can be an unsafe practice, particularly when doing any technical climbing, difficult scrambling, or when climbing over and under fallen logs in a forest.”

There was a thread some time ago about break away lanyards. The safety of a lanyard is worth considering. Someone besides an assassin might be tempted to use Aircore 1.

I usually just girth-hitch lanyards and keeper loops to my pack and keep whatever gadget I’m talking about in a pack pocket. Packs with hipbelt pockets and little pockets you can attach to shoulder straps are awesome for solving the neck lanyard problem.

With a little common sense a neck lanyard (break away or not) shouldn’t be a safety issue. Just tuck the lanyarded compass under your shirt when you’re bushwacking, rock scrambling etc.

I perpetrated that earlier post on lanyard safety. BizMart and Office Depot both carry Avery brand lanyards with safety releases. They break away, and reattach. I think I paid $5 for two.

wow, didn’t mean for this to become a necklace debate. the lanyard is tucked into my shirt & bra 99% of the time. my compression bras do a good job of keeping it in place.