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How to Choose a Compass

A compass is perhaps the most critical device a hiker can possess. Compass needles naturally point northward, offering boundless assistance to orient lost hikers. Choosing a compass is a duty no hiker or outdoor adventurer should take lightly. While Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and digital compasses provide expedient assistance in the same manner; traditional floating-needle compasses remain superior in one essential respect. The former must operate on electricity, while the latter require only the natural pull of Earth's magnetic field.

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a compass with a declination correction scale and agonic lines. Declination correction scales mark the distinction between magnetic and true north. Agonic lines provide numerical markings allowing users to note when the declination is zero.
- 2
  Look for colorful needles and a non-freezing liquid-filled capsule. Colorful needles are easier to see and read. Non-freezing liquid is part of many floating-needle designs. The liquid helps needles remain accurate in cold temperatures and/or at high elevations.
- 3
  Identify an azimuth ring and check its markings to ensure clarity and continuity. The azimuth ring pinpoints degree markings from zero to 360 degrees, offering a high degree of accuracy.
- 4
  Look for an orienting arrow, a smaller, non-magnetic arrow below the floating needle. The orienting arrow helps the user find true north and south lines.
- 5
  Compare accessory benefits. Consider a compass on a watch band or one that attaches to a key chain. Accessory benefits can make the compass easier to carry, and built-in devices allow you to have other conveniences, e.g., a clock, at your disposal.

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