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Thread: Compass

  1. #1
    Senior Member No vice's Avatar
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    Compass

    Might seem a daft question? I mean a compass, is a compass, is a compass.... right?

    Did a search and couldn't see any obvious thread.

    Thought I'd ask as during a recent trip to Wales I dropped into Llanberis. Whilst there I HAD to go to the Joe Brown shops .

    I bought a compass years ago. Can't remember where from. Its a typical perspex rectangle with scales on the outer edge a 'direction of travel' arrow and a bevel round the compass itself. Probably cost me a fiver from Millets.

    So there I am in the shop with a wall display of various instruments with no blatantly obvious differences apart from the price tags, which ranged from about £10 to £30+

    Is there any great discernable difference between a £5 or a £30 compass? Is it down to features or just quality of build?

  2. #2
    Grandmaster IanDarkpeak's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Quote Originally Posted by No vice View Post
    Might seem a daft question? I mean a compass, is a compass, is a compass.... right?

    Did a search and couldn't see any obvious thread.

    Thought I'd ask as during a recent trip to Wales I dropped into Llanberis. Whilst there I HAD to go to the Joe Brown shops .

    I bought a compass years ago. Can't remember where from. Its a typical perspex rectangle with scales on the outer edge a 'direction of travel' arrow and a bevel round the compass itself. Probably cost me a fiver from Millets.

    So there I am in the shop with a wall display of various instruments with no blatantly obvious differences apart from the price tags, which ranged from about £10 to £30+

    Is there any great discernable difference between a £5 or a £30 compass? Is it down to features or just quality of build?

    there will a a talk on kit at the Acellerate shop tonight although it may be a bit far to come.

    What you are probably getting is a bigger base plate perhaps with a roamer, magnifier, different scales etc luminous bits to help in the dark. the £5 one was probably not dampened so will be harder to hold and take bearings.

    I would say minimum to look for is this

  3. #3
    Master DazTheSlug's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Quote Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak View Post
    I would say minimum to look for is this
    that's the exact one I've got!
    I've even started to actually use it recently
    Scramble the rock face through the glare of morning sun — to run

  4. #4
    Master Darth domain's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    i have the silva 4, has romer scales and long plate on it. Some expensive compass also tend to have a needle that settles down quicker when moved .So you are not stood there for ages waiting for it to settle and having to keep turning left and right etc.
    go play on the m 6, now, how does that sound

  5. #5
    Senior Member Epocian's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    I have a Moscow compass which is ultrafast in settling
    Compasspoint sell them if you're interested

    .http://www.compasspoint-online.co.uk...ml%23aM8L#aM8L

  6. #6
    Senior Member The Navigator's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Quote Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak View Post

    I would say minimum to look for is this
    Yup - the good old trusty Silva 7 is the one I use

  7. #7
    Senior Member No vice's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Ta guys,
    Thinking of getting mountain navigation for runners (sent fatlad a PM)
    Meantime I've been scouring abouts online. Found this:
    http://www.geocities.com/k_o_dionysu...compasses.html
    Which along with the associated pages looks interesting. Guess the more reading I do, the more tips I get

    Looks like I will get another compass as well

  8. #8
    Grandmaster IanDarkpeak's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Quote Originally Posted by No vice View Post
    Ta guys,
    Thinking of getting mountain navigation for runners (sent fatlad a PM)
    Meantime I've been scouring abouts online. Found this:
    http://www.geocities.com/k_o_dionysu...compasses.html
    Which along with the associated pages looks interesting. Guess the more reading I do, the more tips I get

    Looks like I will get another compass as well
    I'm thinking of running a Nav course for runners, probably from Langsett. I'll keep you posted

  9. #9
    Headmaster Grouse's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    A couple of my recent silva compasses developed bubbles which I always thought was normal if they were quite small but they got bigger and in one was definitely affecting the functioning. I presume it is leaking fluid - how common is this, should it happen?

  10. #10
    Senior Member The Navigator's Avatar
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    Re: Compass

    Quote Originally Posted by Grouse View Post
    A couple of my recent silva compasses developed bubbles which I always thought was normal if they were quite small but they got bigger and in one was definitely affecting the functioning. I presume it is leaking fluid - how common is this, should it happen?
    It does happen over time - I've had a couple develop bubbles over the years. Small bubbles are OK, but I usually bin the compass if the bubble gets bigger than 10mm or so.

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