Compass

Martin Giles said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Thanks

Martin

Silva Expedition 4, not too expensive but a good size. Mike.
--

'02 GSF1200 in silver
Email address spamtrapped.
Remove "your clothes" to reply.

Martin Giles said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Hi Martin

You might find the advice at learn-orienteering.orgoldOpen ↗ and at
bushwalking.org.auFAQ Navigation.htmOpen ↗ helpful.

Regards Andrew

aushiker.comaushiker.comOpen ↗ - Aushiker: Hiking in Western Australia 2003 Bibbulmun Track End to Ender
President, Perth Bushwalkers Club - perthbushwalkers.asn.auperthbushwalkers.asn.auOpen ↗

A basic £10 Silva compass is what you need, it is the way that you use it that matters - not the
amount spent on it. Make sure you get good instruction on its use. Angus

--
Fantastic Self Catering Accommodation in the mountains of Andalucia.
Visit www.holiday-spain.biz

"Martin Giles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a
beginners one?

Thanks

Martin

"Martin asked :

Quoted message said:

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Although more pricey, there is a lot to be said for one which is adjustable for magnetic variation -
especially as a beginner paradoxically. This means you can set the magnetic variation in comfort
before you start, then don't have to worry about "add for mag" (or was it subtract ?) when the map's
flapping about in the wind, it's getting dark, closing time is becoming a pressing concern etc.

Proper makes are Silva, Suunto and Recta. Other than the magnetic adjust feature, I can't see
there's much to choose between the expensive models and the cheap ones - though someone may care to
englighten us both on this point. In my experience, there's little value in the mirror thing or
other sighting arrangements - if you can see well enough to triangulate off something - then you're
hardly likely to be lost !

I think I saw a suprisingly cheap Silva model with mag adjustment today in Stanfords (the map shop)
which was only about £15 though I could be wrong as I was only idly looking in the cabinet. Mine was
£40 odd, which grates a bit when a non-adjustable one is only a tenner.

One snag with getting an expensive one, is that after a couple of years, they seem to get a bubble
in them, making them next to useless. (as do cheap ones, but you don't then mind so much)

Cheers

Hywel

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

You need one that has a centrally pivoted magnetic needle that will swing freely and land with the
marked end pointing towards magnetic north.
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Street <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've always liked the romers, and since I have some 1 inch maps I need the 1:63360 ones too. It's a
pain having to shell out nearly £20 though to get a compass that has them on.

Make your own out of a redundant credit card!
--
Bill Grey billboy.co.ukbillboy.co.ukOpen ↗

In article <[email hidden]>, Fran <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

<G> Funnily enough... no. I've got one of the ones described above.
--

Is it well damped I asked.

"Yes" she replied "I dropped it in the river!"
--
Bill Grey billboy.co.ukbillboy.co.ukOpen ↗

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Street <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Make your own out of a redundant credit card!

I don't have transparent credit cards though!

A man of your undoubted ability........ What would Ray Mears say ?...:-)
--
Bill Grey billboy.co.ukbillboy.co.ukOpen ↗

In article <[email hidden]>, Fran <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Yes" she replied "I dropped it in the river!"

Ah yes, I was forgetting you'd walked with me before :-)

After Craig-y-Llyn, that should read "paddled with me" :-)
--
Bill Grey billboy.co.ukbillboy.co.ukOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Thanks

Martin

Silva Expedition 4, not too expensive but a good size. Mike.

Agreed. Cost about £20 from most outdoor stores but a compass that is easy to read and to use and
will give years of good service if looked after. You can find cheaper compasses from £5 upwards but
the Expedition 4 is worth the extra IMO.

Cheers Graham

Quoted message said:

One snag with getting an expensive one, is that after a couple of years, they seem to get a bubble
in them, making them next to useless. (as do cheap ones, but you don't then mind so much)

Never worried about the bubble... Still by thetime that grows the housing gets too stiff for
competitive use, and I relegate it to walking use. Sooner or later, I lose the damn thing too.

Richard Webb

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

You need one that has a centrally pivoted magnetic needle that will swing freely and land with the
marked end pointing towards magnetic north.

What, you mean they haven't got ones that talk to you in an electronically generated voice after
you've inputted the grid ref of where you want to go by offering helpful comments like "left a bit",
"right a bit" and "mind that sheep [censored] on your new Scarpas" as you stroll off? Thought they'd have
been a fiver in Argos by now.

www.holiday-spain.biz said:

A basic £10 Silva compass is what you need, it is the way that you use it that matters - not the
amount spent on it. Make sure you get good instruction on its use. Angus

I've always liked the romers, and since I have some 1 inch maps I need the 1:63360 ones too. It's a
pain having to shell out nearly £20 though to get a compass that has them on.

Mind you the other advantage of the more pricey ones is that they are larger and hence a little
easier to use than the smaller ones.
--
79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick -
looking at flat fields and that includes the castle.

Hi

Thanks for the advice all. Thanks for the web links too 🙂

Martin

"Aushiker" <Andrew@12345REMOVE_TO_8889999EMAILaushiker.com> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Martin Giles said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Hi Martin

You might find the advice at learn-orienteering.orgoldOpen ↗ and at
bushwalking.org.auFAQ Navigation.htmOpen ↗ helpful.

Regards Andrew

aushiker.comaushiker.comOpen ↗ - Aushiker: Hiking in Western Australia 2003 Bibbulmun Track End to Ender
President, Perth Bushwalkers Club - perthbushwalkers.asn.auperthbushwalkers.asn.auOpen ↗

Graham Ingram said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi

I am getting a compass, I know the basics, so can someone suggest a beginners one?

Thanks

Martin

Silva Expedition 4, not too expensive but a good size. Mike.

Agreed. Cost about £20 from most outdoor stores but a compass that is easy to read and to use and
will give years of good service if looked after. You can find cheaper compasses from £5 upwards but
the Expedition 4 is worth the extra IMO.

Here too - it's my main compass as well and well worth the money.

Quoted message said:

Cheers Graham

--
79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick -
looking at flat fields and that includes the castle.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

You need one that has a centrally pivoted magnetic needle that will swing freely and land with
the marked end pointing towards magnetic north.

What, you mean they haven't got ones that talk to you in an electronically generated voice after
you've inputted the grid ref of where you want to go by offering helpful comments like "left a
bit", "right a bit" and "mind that sheep [censored] on your new Scarpas" as you stroll off? Thought
they'd have been a fiver in Argos by now.

<G> Funnily enough... no. I've got one of the ones described above.
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

W. D. Grey said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Street <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've always liked the romers, and since I have some 1 inch maps I need the 1:63360 ones too. It's
a pain having to shell out nearly £20 though to get a compass that has them on.

Make your own out of a redundant credit card!

I don't have transparent credit cards though!
--
79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick -
looking at flat fields and that includes the castle.

On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 21:59:18 +0000, "W. D. Grey"
<[email hidden]> uttered:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Street <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've always liked the romers, and since I have some 1 inch maps I need the 1:63360 ones too. It's
a pain having to shell out nearly £20 though to get a compass that has them on.

Make your own out of a redundant credit card!

I make 1.50k romers out of OHP slides

a 20mm square with the numbers evenly spread along the top and right side.

www.acf-ai.fsnet.co.uk/Romers150k.doc

you could adapt it for the 1 = 1 mile romer.

--
Dewi,

(remove spin for email)

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Fran <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

<G> Funnily enough... no. I've got one of the ones described above.
--

Is it well damped I asked.

"Yes" she replied "I dropped it in the river!"

Ah yes, I was forgetting you'd walked with me before :-)
--
Three men walked into a bar; one turned to the other two and said, "No, I didn't see it either".