Choosing a Hiking Compass for Navigation Tool

Choosing a Hiking Compass for Navigation Tool

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When you go out and hit the trails it is important to not only know where you are but also how to get back if you get lost. One thing you should carry with you when hiking or backpacking is some kind of map or navigation device and a compass. When choosing a compass there are a few different types you can choose from and each works better than another in certain circumstances. The three most common types of compasses that work well for hiking are lensatic compasses, baseplate compasses, and GPS compasses.

GPS Digital Compass

A GPS is great for the beginner hiker or the hiker that likes gadgets. The GPS compasses have an advantage of being every easy to use and in most cases they can store locations for you so you'll know how to get back to your starting point. GPS compasses can also be used without a map if you get a handheld like GPS device that has maps stored on them. For comparison purposes the hand held map GPS devices are not included as part of this review. The type of GPS compass you should look for are ones that tells you things like direction and distance. A great example of a digital GPS compass is the BackTrack by Bushnell which gives you the direction you are traveling from an easy to read display that takes the guess work out of finding your way back.

Lensatic Compass

Lensatic compasses are great for the beginner hiker on a budget. These compasses are not as easy to read as a digital compass but they are a little easier to operate then the baseplate compasses. A lensatic compass has a magnetic disk that is suspended so you can easily read which direction you are traveling in by simply looking down. This is one of the more popular compasses and the ones you will most likely find and your local department stores. If you are looking for a high quality lensatic compass look for one that uses electromagnetic induction as it will help improve accuracy.

Baseplate Compass

A baseplate compass can be a little difficult to use and will take some time and training before you'll be able to operate it effectively. Of the three types of compasses discussed here this is the hardest to learn and is meant for experienced hikers. Baseplate compasses usually have a clear plastic case that has a magnetic needle suspended by some kind of fluid. These compasses can come with a wide variety options for more advance uses like map magnifiers and can be accurate up to 1/2 degree. Brunton makes an advance compass called the Eclipse 8099 which features a map magnifier and comes with field reference cards for easy operations. This Brunton baseplate compasses is designed for professional use so beginner hikers will want to practice using it before starting out.

For more compasses and hiking navigation tools or other Outdoor Sporting Goods visit PoorFish Outdoors.

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