Getting lost while trekking on navigating a dense trail is perhaps one of our biggest fears. Smartphones or handheld GPS are handy, but they are prone to depleting power or running out of signal. Therefore, having the Best Compasses for Hiking compass is instrumental when you are out in nature.
If you plan to venture into unfamiliar terrain, a compass is a must-have in your hiking gear. A reliable compass is key to ensuring you’re always on the right path. The best compasses for hiking can make a significant difference in your outdoor experience.
Compasses ensure you don’t get lost when your phone kicks the bucket or your GPS device signals out. They also come in handy when you’re lost in the middle of nowhere, and your map is soaking wet. The best compasses for hiking can be a lifesaver in some scenarios, so you need to make sure you pick the right one.
But what is the best compass for hiking? Stick through to the end to find out.
Best Compasses for Hiking
1)Orienteering Backpacking Compass
The Orienteering backpacking compass is a small-sized hiking compass that is essential to have in your pocket or backpack. It can be used by both kids and adults and is easy to carry on hiking trips.
This top-tier navigation tool features an acrylic baseplate compass with azimuth bearing, ensuring accurate directional readings every time.
The 360-degree rotating bezel allows for easy adjustment and precise navigation, while the magnetic needle with a liquid-filled capsule provides stable and dependable readings, even in rough terrains.
Designed with portability in mind, this compass is both lightweight and durable, making it an ideal companion for any hiking trip. The orienting lines on the compass facilitate quick and straightforward map alignment, enhancing your navigational accuracy.
Better yet, the included lanyard ensures the compass is always within reach, adding convenience and safety to your outdoor adventures.
As the top contender for the best compasses for hiking, this device can be a literal savior to make you out of depth in an emergency where you feel lost.
Features
- 1:24000 compass scale for precise route mapping
- Compass ruler
- 360-degree rotating bezel
- Orienting lines compass and lanyard
- Magnetic needle with liquid-filled capsule
- Acrylic baseplate with azimuth bearing
- Magnifying glass for reading and navigating geological maps
Pros
- Well-made
- Portable
- Ease of use
Cons
- Issues with movement and alignment
2)Suunto MC-2 Compass
The Suunto MC-2 compass helps you safely and accurately find your way outdoors through its advanced engineering combined with thoughtful design for a fast, stable, and easy-to-use hiking device.
If you are a fan of anything compact, this compass fits the bill. It is small and compact, hence easily fits in your backpack, pocket, or climbing bag. Less weight means faster movement. The MC-2 also comes with a wrist-lock lanyard that keeps your compass on hand as you navigate the wilderness.
This high-performance compass employs Suunto’s innovative two-zone system, which enhances navigational precision across different hemispheres, making it an invaluable tool for global travelers.
One of its standout features is the fixed declination adjustment system. It allows users to easily set and maintain declination, ensuring precise bearings even when hiking in areas with significant magnetic variation. The compact mirrored compass design is perfect for detailed map reading and sighting, offering a clear and accurate view for precise navigation.
Poor visibility is a non-issue for this compass. It can glow in the dark for a full 20 minutes after a mere minute of exposure to natural light. The lifetime warranty is the real treat, covering damages and manufacturer errors.
Features
- Fixed declination adjustment system
- Lanyard with wrist lock
- Suunto’s two-zone system
- Compact mirrored compass
- Available in centimeters and inches
- Built-in clinometer
- Glow in the dark dial
- 2-degree graduations
Pros
- Very rigid construction
- Good grip for easy rotation
- Flawless performance
Cons
- The lanyard could be better
3)Sportneer Hiking Compass
The Sportneer hiking compass is a simple investment that saves you from the nightmare of getting lost in the wilderness. It is durable, reliable, and straightforward, ensuring it always steers you right.
It is robust and waterproof, built for challenging outdoor conditions. This guarantees a clear reading and navigation regardless of what nature throws at you.
You don’t have to worry about excessive bulk, as the Sportneer hiking compass weighs just 5.6 ounces. This means it is light and compact, keeping your load bulk-free. To make things even better, the compass includes a robust canvas pouch and lanyard for easy portability.
As one of the best compasses for hiking, it has luminescent characters and a dial that lets you see the characters on it even at night or in low-light conditions.
The built-in clinometer measures the angle of slope and elevation as you navigate mountainous terrain on your escapade.
Features
- Clear reading scale
- Two-part design, one-button disassembly
- Waterproof
- Weighs 5.6 ounces
- Built-in clinometer
- Night visibility thanks to the glow-in-the-dark dial
- High-strength metal base
Pros
- Easy to read
- Includes a nice carry case
- Well built
- Super accurate
Cons
- The lanyard has a thin part where it connects to the compass
4)Cotouxker Lensatic Hiking Compass
The Cotouxker is an indispensable tool for any hiker. It offers reliable direction, safety, backup navigation, and an enhanced sense of adventure as you explore new routes and discover new gems.
This compass ensures accurate readings with its advanced Lensatic function and prism lens. The inclusion of a bubble level and clear scales further enhances accuracy, reducing errors and ensuring reliable navigation in all environments.
This hiking compass is constructed with rugged materials that promise longevity and resilience. It allows users to navigate dense forests and unfamiliar terrains with ease. It is also weatherproof, protecting its components from the elements.
Its fluorescent design and glow-in-the-dark interface make nighttime navigation easy, allowing you to find your way confidently, even in low light or dark conditions.
For added convenience, this compact and lightweight pocket compass comes with a carrying case, lanyard, or pouch, making it easy to transport and always within reach.
Features
- Clear scales
- Rugged construction materials
- Glow-in-the-dark interface
- Prism lens
- Bubble level
- Lensatic function
- Fluorescent design
- A pouch, lanyard, and carrying case are included
- Waterproof
Pros
- Sturdy pouch
- Durable build quality
- Versatile
Cons
- Quite heavy
5)Eyeskey Multifunctional Tactical Survival Military Compass
The Eyeskey is one of the best compasses for hiking. It is very easy to use while walking through unknown terrain. This compass is both waterproof and shockproof, with a metal base and cover designed for rough use in challenging environments.
Its optical reading card ensures accurate direction measurement, offering higher accuracy for critical navigation tasks. The thermo-elastic liquid-filled housing with a floating dial provides stability and precision, while the scale features Azimuth 360° and Reversed 360° for comprehensive directional readings.
Its high-resolution rotating bezel ring allows for easy and precise setting of bearings. The compass includes threads for tripod mounting, ensuring reliable operation and stability in any situation.
The built-in bubble level guarantees level measurements, and the sighting lines on the cover aid in precise targeting.
The backplate of this hiking compass includes a conversion chart for angle, gradient, and distance, providing essential information for advanced navigation.
Features
- Built-in bubble level
- Accurate measurement of directions
- Sighting lines on the cover
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Threads for a tripod mount
- High-resolution rotation bezel ring
- Durable outer body casing
- Wide temperature range
Pros
- Ease of use
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- Easy to read
Cons
- Not a military-grade compass
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Types of Compasses
Various compass types include:
Baseplate Compass
This is designed with a transparent base and a rotating bezel. It is ideal for map navigation and is commonly used by hikers and orienteers.
Lensatic Compass
A lensatic compass features a lens for precise landmark sighting and is commonly used by the military and in tactical situations.
Mirrored Compass
This is equipped with a mirror for sighting and taking accurate bearings. It also helps align the compass with distant objects and navigate maps.
Thumb Compass
It is attached to the thumb for quick and easy reference and is popular in orienteering due to its convenience and speed of use.
Digital Compass
A digital compass incorporates electronic sensors to provide readings. It is often found in GPS devices and smartphones for easy and quick navigation.
Choosing The Best Compasses for Hiking
There are various factors to help figure out the best option from dozens of compasses available.
Durability
Any piece of hiking equipment should last for years to make it worth investing in. This is even more essential if the gadget in question is responsible for safety getting you back to the campsite.
The best hiking compasses must withstand the unpredictable and often harsh conditions encountered in the wilderness.
A durable compass, constructed from robust materials like metal or rugged plastics, ensures it can endure drops, impacts, and exposure to elements such as rain, snow, and extreme temperatures.
This reliability is essential for maintaining accurate readings and functionality throughout your hiking adventures, providing peace of mind that your navigation tool will not fail when you need it most.
Adjustable Declination
Adjustable declination is a vital feature if you need precise compass navigation. Declination is a calibration factor used to adjust for the difference between magnetic north and true north. This shouldn’t be too critical for beginner hikers, but despite that, rough-and-ready explorers should have this to keep their navigation precise.
Liquid Freezing Point
Compasses that contain liquid are frankly more accurate, but you have to be cautious of its freezing point. Some compasses are more prone to freezing, and this is totally unacceptable. A top-notch compass should provide precise readings even in the coldest conditions.
Therefore, it is important to check the freezing point of your compass before venturing into a hike.
Stability and Speed
The faster the needle shows north, the better. Older compasses are slow and, therefore, slow you down. Even if you are not in a rush on a hike, speed is still important, especially if you are in the mountains in inclement weather. In such a case, you want to find your way down as fast as possible.
Glowing Indicators
Glowing indicators ensure visibility and usability in low-light or nighttime conditions. When hiking extends into dusk or darkness, these luminescent features allow you to read the compass without needing an external light source, which can disrupt night vision and be cumbersome.
They provide quick and accurate navigation, enhancing safety by allowing you to maintain your bearings and direction even in challenging lighting situations.
Compass Best Practices
Hold the Compass Level
Always hold the compass flat and level to allow the needle to move freely and provide accurate readings.
Keep away from Metal and Electronics
Metal objects and electronic devices can interfere with the magnetic needle, causing inaccurate readings. Keep the compass away from such items while taking bearings.
Practice Regularly
Familiarize yourself with using a compass through regular practice in various environments. This builds confidence and proficiency.
Check Compass Integrity
Ensure that the compass is in good working condition before setting out. Check for air bubbles in liquid-filled compasses and ensure the needle settles quickly and accurately.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Wipe down your compass after a taxing day to prolong its lifespan. Remove as much dirt and sand as possible from the baseplate to keep all the measurements easily readable. Maintaining your compass takes less than two minutes, but it pays off in the long run.
Best Compasses for Hiking FAQs
What Is the Best Type of Compass for Hiking?
Baseplate compasses, sometimes known as orienteering compasses, are a superb overall choice for trekking and hiking. They are invaluable tools for hikers because of their user-friendly design, precision, and versatility.
The transparent base allows for easy map reading and precise alignment with map features, making it simple to plot courses and determine exact locations. The rotating bezel enables accurate bearing measurements, and the often included rulers and scales help with distance estimation on maps.
Other than that, baseplate compasses are lightweight and durable and typically have additional features such as magnifying lenses or luminescent markers for low-light conditions.
Do I Really Need a Compass for Hiking?
While a compass is not absolutely necessary for every hiking trip, it is highly recommended for safety and navigation, especially in remote or unfamiliar areas. Unlike GPS devices, which can fail due to dead batteries or signal loss, a compass does not rely on technology and can provide consistent direction as long as you know how to use it.
Besides, in conjunction with a topographic map, a compass can help you understand your surroundings, plan your route effectively, and avoid getting lost.
Is Compass Obsolete?
A compass is a device used by people heading out for expeditions and into the wild. A digital gadget like a smartphone can run out of juice and cease working, but a traditional compass that uses magnetized needles for telling directions will work endlessly.
Conclusion
The best compasses for hiking instill a sense of self-reliance and confidence in the wilderness, enabling you to explore new routes and discover hidden gems. Do not underestimate the power of a compass-it is an indispensable companion for any hiking enthusiast.