User Review: Brunton 8099 Eclipse

Brunton 8099 Eclipse
Above: The current 8099 Eclipse, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Rating: rated 3 of 5 stars

It's a bit of an average compass for all the hoopla. The mirror used to take a sighting is small, and the degree readings are printed on cardboard and aren't visible at all in low light (not luminous). Also, the degree readings are reversed in the 8099's mirror which is a bit of a pain, and the declination adjustment is by friction only, not by geared wheel; slight slippage was a problem on mine and I had to keep checking it when in use. The orienting lines (used to orient the compass to map north) are tiny hashmarkes around the tsa and difficult to use - because the Brunton's style of declination adjustment rotates the compass dial relative to the capsule, they weren't able to put orienting lines in their usual position at the bottom of the capsule.

Biggest problem I found is the compass is clumsy and bulky when it's needed for use with a map or to wear around your neck. You must strip it of its rubber cover and all its cards and impedimentia to get the baseplate to work with the map, find a place to put everything, then re-assemble once you're done. It's advisable to keep the cover on the baseplate otherwise, since the ink markings appear to be simply printed on, not engraved, and have a tendency to wear off with use.

Where to Buy

Buy Online We found the 8099 Eclipse at 5 online stores:

StoreProduct DescriptionPrice

Campmor
Brunton Eclipse 8099 Compass$74.95Buy Now

Moosejaw
8099 Compass (Fall 2008)$95.00Buy Now

Backcountry.com
Eclipse 8099 Compass$94.95Buy Now

REI
Eclipse 8099 Compass$70.00Buy Now

Gear for Adventure
Eclipse Deluxe Compass #8099$69.95Buy Now

Similar Navigation Tools

Compare
See how the Brunton 8099 Eclipse stacks up against the competition: read more navigation tool reviews or more about Brunton.

Contribute
Have you used a Brunton 8099 Eclipse or a similar product? Write a gear review.

Discuss
Still have questions? Answers? Opinions? Join the converstation in the Trailspace Forums.

email this page