Someone please explain button compasses

FWIW

The best compass to use is the one that you have with you.

Having a compass with you does not mean that you know how to use it.

Learn the meaning of magnetic declination and inclination and how to correct for it in the area where you are traveling.

Be aware that the angles of declination and inclination do not remain constant and are regularly updated.

Choose your compass by hemisphere, function(s), durability and weight.

Compass readings can be interfered with by ferrous metals. For example a high carbon steel neck knife.

From personal experience on the AT remember that for published trail guides NOBO means you are traveling towards Maine and right is East and left is West regardless of what your compass tells you. ;-)

Maps and compasses generally do not require batteries. One of Murphy's laws is that a battery will run low or out of power when needed the most.

Using a compass and map is like driving a standard transmission automobile. It isn't often necessary these days but it is still a useful and fun talent.

Party On,

Newton

I carry a gps and map and compass. The gps gives me interesting data while Im on the trip but I rely on the map and compas for navigation. The gps is used primarily to record a track so I can download it to my computor later. I don't rely on it for navigation. To many times it's locked up or gone dead.

We have to keep in mind that people hike differently. If you mostly stick to popular trails, then it is much more difficult to get lost. Travel cross country a lot and it is easier to get lost. Of course the goal is not to get lost in the first place. Going cross country a compass is often not necessary to know where you are, a good map with prominent landmarks can keep you on course. Sometimes you need both the map and compass when traveling cross country. But whatever method you use, being truly lost is a bad thing, a failure of sorts. True, declination's change. But I don't worry about them, I orient the map to the compass. And I have never been truly lost. In poor visibility, you need to learn how to use the pacing method of travel.

Bottom line is that one needs to learn how to use a compass (take a class) and then practice.

I was really impressed with Adan Lopez last year. He posted a Joshua Tree trip report last year, and part of it included practicing with his compass to locate a water cache. These are the kind of things we need to do. And as I posted earlier, I had noticed my skills had gotten a little rusty, so I went out and did a long trip that required accurate map and compass work so it was also a refresher course for me.

I was looking at that watch compass it look like a beef up button compass for a expensive watch.

I rather trust reputable race/backpacking proven orienteering compasses companies like Suunto, Brunton/Silva or the Moscow compass look interesting that can be worn on your wrist or thumb or by it self for lIght weight compass back country solution.

Or better than a button compass your own sense of direction looking for landmarks like mountain peaks if you have to climb up on top of peak to find your way out back.

For example:
I go backpacking at Joshua Tree national forest and their are stories of people getting lost in the rock mazes for days. All they had to do is scramble up a large rock and you can see park roads,town of Joshua tree,Yucca valley,29 palms, Landers, Palm spring/Desert hot springs to get out of the maze so you can get out of being lost.

I found a web page for Orienteering racing gear and compasses that would fit in with the UL backpacking they have some other ultra light gear like gaiter socks that look impressive also beside compasses.
http://home.comcast.net/~galeso/O_Gear.html

Terry

At work I rely on a Silva Ranger, and I carry the Silva Type 27 backpacking, but I like the Suunto clipper for maintaing general orientation. A quick glance to confirm your heading is very often all you need, and with it so easily obtained you'll do it, whereas if you have to pull out a larger compass you may be inclined to push ahead.

geoff

http://www.thecompassstore.com/51clipl.html