Which Thumb Compass?

After using my cheap Silva during the Great Lakes I'm thinking about investing in a thumb compass for races and trial style events. My Silva is fine, but I suspect a thumb compass would be much quicker to use.

I want to get one you can set a bearing on, because in most races I won't be running with the map out all the time. I often plan my bearings before hand and write them on my arm.

The Moscow 11L\R looks alright to me, but does anyone know any better models for the same price? Or should I splash out on a Silva one?

Is it worth buying one at all??

I have a Moscow thumb compass for orienteering and find it fast and accurate. I wouldn't use it for a tough fell race with lots of hands on scrambling though.

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Originally Posted by matthew

I have a Moscow thumb compass for orienteering and find it fast and accurate. I wouldn't use it for a tough fell race with lots of hands on scrambling though.

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Good point I hadn't thought of that!

I'd go for a Moscow 3. For fell stuff a stable needle is much more important than a quick settling one. It's important to consider which hand you hold your map in when running. I use a right-handed, but I know plenty of right-handed people that use a left. I wouldn't worry about damaging it. I've had mine for a few years and have given it plenty of abuse. It's a bit scuffed and scratched, but still fully functioning. I definitely reckon Moscow are better than Silva for the price.

I can be quite prissy with equipment, it's true. I'm a right hander but run with a LH compass.

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Originally Posted by matthew

I have a Moscow thumb compass for orienteering and find it fast and accurate. I wouldn't use it for a tough fell race with lots of hands on scrambling though.

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I would totally agree - good Moscow thumb compass for orienteering - but a cheap base plate compass for the fell races. I just haven't decided which category the LDMT fits into, probably the first. I'm also right handed with the map & compass in the left hand (dibber in the right) - I thought this was fairly standard for orienteers?

Yes, I'm right handed with left hand compass, too.

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Originally Posted by Lemming

I'm also right handed with the map & compass in the left hand (dibber in the right) - I thought this was fairly standard for orienteers?

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I think it is, but I'm right-handed and go the other way round... i.e. map and compass in right hand, dibber left. Feels better for me that way round.

In an event with lots of falling-on-your-face potential - and onto rocks - I would not want to be holding anything in my hands that might slow down/inhibit the normal reaction to put my hands out. Whilst a thumb compass might not inhibit this normal reaction I doubt it would last long; I would not carry a map in my other hand unless the route was complex and the terrain forgiving.

I wore gloves in the Great Lakes Race - these were fantastic as there was lots of handling of rough rocks; I did not have a fall though there were several close calls - wearing gloves means the natural instinct to handle rocks and to put your hands out if you trip is not inhibited.