Thumb or traditional compass?

[Twister]

I was thinking about making the transition to using a thumb compass and was wondering if I should bother? What are the pros and cons?

I've been warned that they can be a bit of a pain on longer events where you need both hands.

Anyone got any experience with them?

[Brotherton Lad]

They're useful for orienteering in my experience, for quick and short legs on maps set to magnetic north. The one I have doesn't even let me set a bearing, it's map to ground only, not vice versa.
A Silva compass, I reckon, is good to about 2 or 4 degrees. For true accuracy you need a chunky prismatic, but only if you're really in the wilderness.

[mr brightside]

I guess this was that red thing that Jane Reedy had on her hand in one of last year's fellrunners.

[GeoffB]

I guess this was that red thing that Jane Reedy had on her hand in one of last year's fellrunners.

If you're referring to the Wasdale race, that would have been her dibber. We all had one!

[Facewest-Stu]

I have both and use a Silva thumb compass for orienteering and some adventure racing and a Silva Jet 5 compass for everything else. I do find that if the weather is bad or I think the nav will be tricky then I opt for the proper compass even in non mountainous terrain, so if I only had one it would be the Jet 5. I know they are expensive as compasses go but the fast settling needle and chunky bezel make it great for running.