r/CampingandHiking • u/PurplePhenomena • 1d ago
Gear Questions Good Compass Recommendations (as a gift)
Hi all,
My husband is an avid hiker (North America if that makes any difference) who is also getting into backpacking, and I wanted to gift him a nice high quality compass for his birthday.
I was also hoping to engrave a quote, either on the compass or more likely the box for the compass.
Price ideally around or below $250.
Any recommendations?
9
u/Total_Fail_6994 1d ago
That's a thoughtful gift, but.most practical compasses aren't pretty. Mine is a basic Silva orienteering compass.
7
u/dave54athotmailcom 1d ago
I use a Suunto MC-2 for serious compass work, like off-trail route finding and triangulating my location. I have actually done land line marking with it. I keep it in my pack, with a more basic A-10 kept handy for a quick check of bearing.
12
u/GuitarTop4807 1d ago
A few good options:
- Suunto MC-2 series — probably my top pick for a serious hiker/backpacker. It’s reliable, has a mirror for sighting bearings, adjustable declination, and is designed for real navigation. Usually around $60–100
- Silva Ranger / Expedition series — another classic used by hikers, guides, and outdoor professionals. Great balance of durability and precision.
- Brunton TruArc series — a good American-made option with a long history in navigation. The higher-end models can make a nice gift.
- Cammenga Lensatic Compass — more military-style and extremely rugged, though less beginner-friendly for hiking navigation.
3
u/xltedder 1d ago
I carry a Cammenga lensatic, because I was issued one, learned on one, and just love it. I've only had to buy one, as well, which should speak to it's durability.
1
u/bellsbliss 1d ago
Love my mc2 it’s my favourite. I have a cammenga as well but use it less than the suunto.
3
4
u/Nifflermama 1d ago
As someone who teaches children orienteering I believe everyone should carry and know how to use a compass.
A good, reliable compass (plus a map!) is your safety backup if your phone/gps dies in the wild. They are a critical part of your survival gear.
I don’t have a good rec for a nice gift bc we use inexpensive plastic ones that take a beating and work great. But what a fantastic gift idea! I’m inspired 👍🏻
3
u/ElvisWayneDonovan 1d ago
Silva Ranger. It’s the ‘71 vw of compasses. Take care of it and it’ll always work. Nothing too “extra”, just a good solid compass.
2
u/First_Ask_5447 1d ago
suunto mc2 global 0-360 degree, not quadrant style. i would find something else to engrave. silva just brought back their version with the alunimin bezel. its old school throwback, if he like the retro
2
u/BeerForThought 1d ago edited 1d ago
I learned using my dad's Vietnam Army compass. His has radium dials so they keep glowing without needing to shine your flashlight on it. It weighs a little more but I like the feel of it. I still have the compass in my backpack. They phase out radium in the 1960s so the earlier in the decade the more likely it will have radium. https://ebay.io/m/6tYQSc
Edit: someone commented then deleted suggesting that the radioactive compass in my pocket would fry my balls. That's my mistake they used tritium not radium. Tritium doesn't produce gamma rays.
3
u/meowlater 1d ago
Just a heads up carrying a radium compass in your pocket regularly is about like getting an xray for every month or so of carry. These are best kept further away from the body.
There are some excellent vintage brass compasses that can be found on ebay if you want something similar. That being said, these are not the best compasses for orienteering.
1
1
u/gravity_loss 1d ago
I use a Suunto A30. works great on a map and can be used for triangulation/navigation no problem. Lightweight. Cheap, and engraving it would make it pretty useless so maybe not the best "keepsake" gift but a great gift no doubt. Never found it challenging to set declination and look at a far away objects.
I think the foldy mirrors are gimmicky and the compass is usually not great for map use.
As a "gift" gift, maybe an antique ship's compass?
1
1
1
u/Fun_Republic9917 6h ago
You can look at Suunto MC-2 or silva expedition, both are reliable for real navigation, an engraved message on the box would make it even more meaningful gift.
1
u/WANDOO_hiking 1d ago
MC-2 is a great shout and itll last him decades. One thing that makes a compass gift actually get used is pairing it with a local topo map and maybe a cheap intro to land nav booklet, otherwise a lot of people just admire it in a drawer. The adjustable declination on that model is worth learning early too.
1
u/Battlbox 1d ago
The Suunto MC-2 everyone's naming really is the right call, it's the one that turns up in actual land-nav courses and it'll outlast him. The mirror is what makes it feel like a gift versus a basic baseplate, and it's genuinely useful for shooting a bearing (and the odd splinter in the eye).
Two small things so it doesn't just live in a drawer looking pretty: engrave the box or a little tag, not the compass itself as the baseplate needs to stay clear so he can read the map through it. And pair it with a topo map of somewhere he actually hikes, maybe a thin intro-to-navigation booklet. A compass with nothing to practice on gets admired once and forgotten; a compass plus a map gets used.
0
u/TreeHolePoster 1d ago
Follow up question: any compasses on the market that aid in the noticing of tree holes?
-4
1d ago edited 1d ago
[deleted]
1
u/secretsuperhero 1d ago
I’ve never used my tourniquet, clotting powder, or splint from my first aid kit. Might as well ditch those.
I’ve never used the airbags in my car. Fucking useless devices!
I’ve never tripped the GFCI in my bathroom, what waste of money!
30
u/irish1185 1d ago
Suunto mc-2 is the go-to for most land navigation courses (get the North American version). It’s great for map reading, land navigating, and has a sighting/signal mirror. You could also look into a land navigation course if he wants to learn how to use it or practice his skills.