Compass

[karen nash]

I rarely use the scale on the end of mine, although it does have one. Some come with a removable / slide on and off scale that you can turn over and change.
Even if there isn't one or it is in mm you can always draw on lines with a permanent/OHT pen at the scale you want.

[damienpearson]

Cheers, that's a big help. I've seen the ones with the removable scale, is the scale bar pretty secure with these? Never thought of marking on with a marker, I should have thought of it myself as I do AutoCAD and do my own scales for drawings, Doh! Will probably go for the field/go compass.

[karen nash]

the slide bit on mine is very hard to remove, certainly no chance or it falling off. Silva are good. Fast needle good for orienteering but I ting stable needle more important for jogging on a bearing on a long run/MM

[Will_B]

Silva field is small enough to use as a thumb compass.

IMO all the rangers and scales are pointless unless you have really bad eyesight. Just easy extras for manufacturers to sell more expensive e gizmos at little extra cost to them.


However I do get lost quite often so what do I know

[IanDarkpeak]

Don’t mean to hijack this thread, but without starting a new one about a compass, now that I know how to uses my basic compass (with the worst needle in the world) it’s now time to upgrade.
Does it matter about having scales on the baseplate? I’m assuming most of the time while racing, the compass is used mostly to get adirection etc. I’ve not had to use one in racing yet so I’m not sure.
The majority I’ve looked at have mm as standard if they don’t have any scales on. Thinking about the Silva Field Compass or the Expedition 4 as it has the new 1:40k scale, does this scale matter?



Any advice appreciated.

I use a type 7 for racing and a type 4 for teaching/instructing.
the 1:40,000 is good if you are doing MM's as thats the scale they use. This has replaced the old 1inch mile scale erm which was.....erm some thing like 1:36,630.

The roamers scales are very useful not only for working out how far you need to go but also for giving an accurate grid ref. If you are inexperienced then I would get one with roamers. the more practiced you are the less you need these. if you have poor eye sight or in complicated terrain then the magnifyer can help.

[gej]

I use a type 7 for racing and a type 4 for teaching/instructing.
the 1:40,000 is good if you are doing MM's as thats the scale they use. This has replaced the old 1inch mile scale erm which was.....erm some thing like 1:36,630.

.

Or even 63,360!

[IanDarkpeak]

Or even 63,360!

Well I did say something like ....erm...
As les Dawson used to say...I had all the right notes Just not in the correct order

[dominion]

Well I did say something like ....erm...
As les Dawson used to say...I had all the right notes Just not in the correct order

I thought that was Eric Morcambe whilst talking to to Andre Previn.....

[IanDarkpeak]

I thought that was Eric Morcambe whilst talking to to Andre Previn.....

Infamy.....we're all being picky this evening...

[felltrumpet]

Just got an email from si about the thumb compass and dibbers combined.

Was thinking of both for Christmas, but now they're combined bonus. Which hand do people go for, I'm right handed and usually carry compass in left, so thinking a left hand. But I've read that parralax error may mean a right hand is better.
Any ideas?