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Compasses

The best compasses, reviewed and curated by the Trailspace community. The latest review was added on May 22, 2022. Stores' prices and availability are updated daily.

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (4)
Brunton TruArc 5 Handheld
$30
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Suunto M-3D Leader Handheld
$65
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Suunto M-3 Handheld
$65
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Suunto MB-6 Handheld
$90 - $115
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Suunto M-3 G Global Handheld
$75
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Explorer Pro HV Handheld
$45 - $46
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Kasper & Richter Meridian Pro Handheld
$159
user rating: 4 of 5 (12)
Cammenga Tritium Lensatic Compass 3H Handheld
$110
user rating: 4 of 5 (6)
Suunto MC-2G Global Handheld
$95
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
Brunton TruArc 3 Handheld
$17 - $49
user rating: 3 of 5 (6)
Suunto Clipper Handheld
$20
user rating: 2.5 of 5 (5)
Brunton TruArc 15 Handheld
$60 - $69
user rating: 2 of 5 (27)
Suunto Core Compass Watch
$219 - $529
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Silva Polaris 177 Handheld
$15 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Casio Pathfinder PAG80-1V Compass Watch
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Recta Elite Sport Global Compass Handheld
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Expedition 15TDCL Handheld
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Lensatic 360 Handheld
$19 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Casio Pathfinder PAW1500-1V Compass Watch
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Brunton O.S.S. 40B Compass Handheld
user rating: 4 of 5 (6)
Silva Ranger CL Handheld
$50 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Casio Pathfinder PAW1300-1V Compass Watch
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Kasper & Richter Lumo Tec Handheld
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Casio Pathfinder PAW1300T-7V Compass Watch
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8096-AR Handheld
$38 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8010G Handheld
$18 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 10B Baseplate Compass Handheld
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Kasper & Richter Alpin Handheld
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Casio PRG270 Compass Watch
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Casio Pro Trek PRG-300CM Compass Watch
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Brunton 7DNL Handheld
$16 MSRP
 
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Coleman 30M Digital Sportswatch Handheld
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Brunton 9030 Trailbuster Handheld
$10 MSRP
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8096 GPS Eclipse Handheld
$38 MSRP
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (2)
Timex Expedition WS4 Compass Watch
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
Casio Pathfinder PAW1100T-7V Compass Watch
user rating: 3 of 5 (5)
Brunton 9020G Handheld
$12 MSRP
user rating: 3 of 5 (4)
Brunton 8099 PRO Eclipse Handheld
$106 MSRP
user rating: 3 of 5 (2)
Casio SGW100B-3V Compass Watch
user rating: 3 of 5 (1)
Sun Company MiniComp II Handheld
$10 MSRP
Highgear Axio Max Compass Watch
$150 MSRP
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton Nomad V2 Handheld
$78 MSRP
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton 8040G Handheld
$44 MSRP
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton Nomad Handheld
$78 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Brunton 54LU Handheld
discontinued
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Silva Expedition 4 Handheld
discontinued
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Suunto Observer Compass Watch
discontinued
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Suunto KB-14/360RD Handheld
discontinued

Recent Compass Reviews

rated 5 of 5 stars
Suunto MC-2G Global

Superb compass. I cannot imagine a better mirror compass. Many small details that make navigation a lot more fun. This mirror compass stands out among other mirror compasses with big names, but lacking the qualities of this superb Finnish product. Some details I like very much: the opening in the mirror with the notch in the middle makes aiming to the target a lot easier. Nearly all other brands have a ridiculously small opening in the mirror, making it very difficult to find that one landmark in… Full review

rated 1 of 5 stars
Suunto Clipper

Brand new Suunto Clipper compass leaks. I expected hell of a lot more from a Suunto compass than this. I just received it a couple of days ago and today a bubble suddenly appeared. I am in Florida so no cold weather affected it. Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
Suunto Core

14 years old and still going! Purchased this watch for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2007 and have been wearing it off and on ever since. This includes 14 years of rough military training.  Customer Service from Suunto was great after I failed to seal the battery cover and caused water damage at year two or so. They replaced the computer for $80 then bezel and bands for free. Yes, it was the same watch based on distinctive marks in the casing.  So hear I am, fourteen years later, just finding… Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
Suunto Clipper

A handy compass, easy to read, can be clipped on to backpack shoulder straps, bike packs, whatever. I've had my Clipper since 2009. I bought it from Brunton, where my niece and sister-in-law worked assembling the classic Brunton Pocket Transit, which I used many years ago for surveying along with a plumb bob, surveyor's chain, and of course, topo maps. My niece was the production manager at Brunton, and when they downsized she was the only one assembling the Pocket Transit, in Riverton, Wyoming. Full review

rated 4 of 5 stars
Suunto M-3D Leader

Very good well made compass. Hard to see in dim light. Nice choice for regular long distance navigation use. Unlike old model, new models lack outline box to center southern portion of needle over. I like the older model. Full review

rated 4 of 5 stars
Suunto Clipper

The Suunto IS available again. Good small compass. I put a small lanyard through the clip and put it in my pocket—not on a wrist. Excellent for general direction finding. I would have preferred the old "Comet" model, which was the same compass, but mounted on a small baseplate instead of a clip on. Takes a few moments for direction indicator to settle—not for racing. A great choice for backup of GPS, or ultralight backpackers. Unlike eBay knockoffs, markings are engraved (not just printed) onto… Full review

rated 4 of 5 stars
Cammenga Tritium Lensatic Compass 3H

An accurate and tough compass that will give a lifetime of service. The Tritium won't, but this can be replaced by Cammenga every 13 years or so. I have used this compass for the past year but have tried out a phosphorescent version for some time. I use the 3H mainly for navigating at darker times as we move to lookout areas for early morning calling. I do take it out on hikes and walks to keep skills up and really like the lensatic compasses for navigation. When they are quality built they are… Full review

rated 1 of 5 stars
Suunto Core

Watch is AWFUL. Suunto refused to replace it even though it was UNDER WARRANTY. Terrible company. Go with Garmin, more expensive but you won't have to replace your watch every 6 months. Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
Brunton TruArc 15

Very well made. And before you complain as many have done regarding the double bearings...LEARN THE COMPASS VERY WELL! Somebody has commented that the double azimuth is confusing and the mirror in this compass is placed wrong.  Well do not make a conclusion, unless you have made your homework very well.  Before a product is made, professionals are involved. So before your complaints...do your homework very well in learning the compass in this case. The destination arrow is black. Which means the… Full review