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Handheld Compasses

user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Kasper & Richter Meridian Pro reviewed Apr 11, 2024
discontinued
user rating: 3 of 5 (6)
Brunton 9020G reviewed Nov 7, 2023
$12 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
Silva NOR Thumb Compass reviewed Oct 18, 2023
$40 - $49
user rating: 2.5 of 5 (6)
Brunton TruArc 15 reviewed Aug 11, 2023
$65 - $79
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Ranger Type 15 reviewed Apr 7, 2023
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (5)
Brunton 8099 PRO Eclipse reviewed Apr 4, 2023
$106 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (6)
Suunto MC-2G Global reviewed May 22, 2022
$95
user rating: 3 of 5 (6)
Suunto Clipper reviewed Feb 21, 2022
$20
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Suunto M-3D Leader reviewed Sep 24, 2021
$65
user rating: 4 of 5 (12)
Cammenga Tritium Lensatic Compass 3H reviewed Sep 10, 2021
$98 - $117
user rating: 4 of 5 (6)
Silva Ranger CL reviewed Oct 10, 2018
$50 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (4)
Brunton 8099 Eclipse reviewed May 9, 2018
$78 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (4)
Brunton TruArc 5 reviewed Feb 19, 2018
$20 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Expedition 15TDCL reviewed Jun 22, 2016
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
Brunton TruArc 3 reviewed Oct 16, 2015
$24 - $49
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 10B Baseplate Compass reviewed Jun 17, 2014
user rating: 3 of 5 (1)
Sun Company MiniComp II reviewed Apr 6, 2014
$10 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Lensatic 360 reviewed Jan 10, 2014
$19 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Suunto Arrow 20 reviewed Jan 6, 2014
$67 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Brunton O.S.S. 40B Compass reviewed Jun 20, 2013
 
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Coleman 30M Digital Sportswatch reviewed May 27, 2013
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Silva Explorer Pro HV reviewed May 14, 2013
$45 - $49
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Suunto M-3 reviewed Jan 21, 2013
user rating: 1.5 of 5 (7)
Highgear TrailDrop reviewed Nov 17, 2012
$30 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Kasper & Richter Alpin reviewed Aug 14, 2012
discontinued
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Suunto MB-6 reviewed May 18, 2012
$56 MSRP
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (6)
Silva Ranger 15 CL reviewed Oct 5, 2010
discontinued
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Silva Polaris 177 reviewed Sep 27, 2010
$15 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Brunton 7DNL reviewed Jun 20, 2010
$16 MSRP
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Silva Expedition 4 reviewed Dec 12, 2009
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8010G reviewed Sep 4, 2009
$18 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Kasper & Richter Lumo Tec reviewed Dec 28, 2008
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Brunton 3DLU reviewed Dec 12, 2008
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Brunton 9030 Trailbuster reviewed Dec 12, 2008
$10 MSRP
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Recta Elite Sport Global Compass reviewed Dec 11, 2008
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Suunto M-3 G Global reviewed Dec 11, 2008
$75
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton Nomad V2 reviewed Dec 31, 2006
$78 MSRP
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton Nomad reviewed Dec 31, 2006
$78 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Silva Ranger Ultra 530 reviewed Dec 31, 2006
discontinued
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8096-AR reviewed Dec 16, 2006
$38 MSRP
user rating: 2 of 5 (1)
Brunton 8040G reviewed Dec 14, 2006
$44 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Suunto KB-14/360RD reviewed Dec 13, 2006
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (2)
Brunton 8096 GPS Eclipse reviewed Dec 12, 2006
$38 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Silva Wrist Sighting 424 reviewed Dec 11, 2006
discontinued
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Brunton 54LU reviewed Aug 11, 2006
discontinued
user rating: 3 of 5 (1)
Coleman Lensatic reviewed Dec 3, 2004
discontinued
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Suunto M-5 reviewed Nov 18, 2004
discontinued

In order to show you the most useful information, we have omitted some products.

Recent Handheld Compass Reviews

rated 3.5 of 5 stars
Silva NOR Thumb Compass

A completely clear thumb compass that's great for orienteering and adventure racing. Good for someone just getting into orienteering, an experienced orienteer may prefer a more stable needle. Ease of Use: Thumb compasses in general simplify and speed up navigation. Place it on your thumb, the direction of travel arrow is already set for you. Place the compass on the map with the direction of travel going from where you are to where you want to go. Turn around until the needle lines up with north… Full review

rated 1 of 5 stars
Brunton TruArc 15

Literally useless as a compass. Compared its bearing to a Cammenga Lensatic compass as well as two electronic compasses and found this to be off by almost 20 degrees sometimes. The bezel's two glow dots actually affected the needle itself, pulling it away from North and along with the direction of the glow-dots as you rotate and would actually pull the needle around off North. Not sure if this is a batch of lemons as I cannot understand how some people give 4-5 star reviews and others like me have… Full review

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 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 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

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