User Review: Brunton 54LU

Brunton 54LU
Above: The current 54LU, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed November 1, 2004 by an anonymous hiker

Rating:
Price Paid: $55

The 54LU is a precision compass made by Silva of Sweden (NOT the branded Silva product sold in the U.S.) and marketed in the U.S. by Brunton. It is a very unusual compass. On the one hand it has a standard clear baseplate for use with a map (longer than most, to make drawing courses easier). But it also features an optical prismatic sight built into the top of the dial. Much easier to use than a mirror-sighted compass, the Model 54 can take landmark bearings to 1 degree accuracy with ease, great for use in deserts or open country with widely spaced landmarks.

It is built to the usual Silva of Sweden standard of quality, with engraved and ink-filled scale measurement markings (not just ink-printed to rub off after a couple of months), a quality jeweled bearing, bright luminous compass points, and is constructed to military standards of durability. The only downsides are a lack of adjustable declination and a 1:24,000 scale for use with standard U.S. topos.