User Review: Silva Ranger

Silva Ranger
Above: The current Ranger, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 11, 2007 by Propter Hoc

Rating: rated 4 of 5 stars
Price Paid: $55

I purchased one of the newer model Silva Ranger compasses after borrowing a friend's original model and falling in love. The differences are clear, but the newer product is still an acceptable choice (versus the original, which receives my top marks in all fields). Here's what I found:

--"Slop" of compass housing and degree dial in the baseplate represents a +/- 1 full degree margin for error in either direction in my sample. On further research, all samples on the shelf at the store exhibited similar slop.

--Declination scale and orienteering arrow requires constant attention and readjustment. In my sample, the declination adjustment moved between 2 and 10 degrees under minimal stress depending on the way the adjustment screw seated when the setting was made. It should be noted the adjustment screw is not a "stop down" type screw, but rather some type of slotted gear or modified worm gear. It activates the declination scale slowly in either direction but does not feature any mechanism to secure the scale in place once adjustment has been made.

The above two concerning findings are disappointing only because they represent inadequate attention to detail on the part of the manufacturer. They should, however, cause only minimal concern to the average user who can mitigate any potential for inconvenient results by utilizing good orienteering practices and checking his or her heading regularly (see example below).

Let's be honest, walking a straight line with less than 1-2 degrees margin of error is a challenge. This product is well suited for use as a recreational navigation tool or as a backup to a GPS device (meaning: nearly all recreational customers). It is not suited nor designed for precise map work off the semi-beaten path or for use in a professional setting where the margins for error are much smaller.

For those purposes, investment should be made in one of the many heavier, more costly, much more inherently accurate offerings available on the market today (and generally not found in a recreational equipment store).

Example: A one degree error of heading or declination would result in a 920-foot error off course after traveling a distance of TEN MILES. A five degree error of heading or declination would result in a position 4,600-feet off course after traveling the same 10-miles, according to the U.S. SAR Task Force Website. Anyone who travels 10 miles without checking their heading would result in a position on someone else's expedition, if I had any say in the matter.

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