What type of compass should I buy?

I have a rubbishy £3.00 map compass - it's hard to read accurate bearings, and after 3 days it's already cracked on the dial... Not a great investment!

What type is recommended?

Hi There - I was asking this not long ago - check out Dizzy's advice at

viewtopic.php?t=952

Bought this on line and it is totally fabby!! Makes all the difference between finding boxes and not!

Hope this helps.

Crafty Jo wrote: Makes all the difference between finding boxes and not!

Couldn't agree more! We gave up using our 'ordinary' compass after seeing Jo use her sighting compass! We'll definately be buying one very soon!

James

A good sighting compass is worth every penny you pay for it, not only for letterboxing but also for general navigation.

i use a silva model 80, it is about the most accurate sighting compass available



only problem is that thay can be a bit pricey!

Hi,
Many people recommend the silva expedition 54. We use this and find it very good and accurate to half a degree.
try this link for the cheapest price We can find
http://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/Silva ... 54-compass

Jones family on tor wrote:Hi,
Many people recommend the silva expedition 54. We use this and find it very good and accurate to half a degree.
try this link for the cheapest price We can find
http://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/Silva ... 54-compass

That's the cheapest I've seen yet! I've had my faithful compass for over 12 years now and due to it getting a little old (not to mention the bubble floating around inside the bezel) I've just ordered one from your link.

Thanks

Dizzy

Rats - I paid £60 for mine plus a bit for postage - they saw me coming! But, I still think it is worth every penny! I will just keep selling those shop bought rubber stamps to help me pay for it - though I'd like to think my shop stocks a superior range. Think I may have a Teddy Bear measuring less than half an inch in diameter if Nik would like to buy it!!

Never mind Jo, £60 is still a good price to pay for it. A Teddy Bear stamp hey? Errm, I might just be interested. We could even do a teddy bear set of boxes to place at Bonehill!

Dizzy

A compass is worth what you want to pay for it - if it saves your life then it becomes priceless

however...

Think I may have a Teddy Bear measuring less than half an inch in diameter if Nik would like to buy it!!

I don't think so... but I do have a boxful of teddybear stamps which I want to put out for a charity walk one day - honest - it is a box ful of teddybears
I want to call the walk the teddybears picnic
I might want to have some help for this one day the charity would be the Medway MS society - or something like that

A Teddy Bear stamp hey? Errm, I might just be interested. We could even do a teddy bear set of boxes to place at Bonehill!

Now that DID make me laugh. I shall start searching the catalogues immediately for a fine set of extra mini teddy bear stamps - and they will all be named after Nik......Nik's waving teddy, Nik's happy teddy, Nik's favourite teddy........


And excellent - I think I've managed that 'quote' thing too!!

The Silva Expedition 54 Compass does sound good... possibly a bit pricy though - is it really worth that much? If I buy a cheaper one will I wish I'd got that one?

Will any sighting compass be good?

I'm only a trainee teacher so don't have much income at the moment!

I was looking out for a Expedition 54 a couple of years ago and wandered into Blacks in Southport where they had it wrongly priced at £29.99 needless to say it wasn't there when I left the shop, and you know the miserable buggers would not let me buy two at that price either.

I have tried the other sighting compasses the round flip out ones but prefer the silva

Probably time I got myself a new compass - I have three or four, all of which read slightly differently. One is definitely broken (the better one) and I can no longer mend it - dropped it, fell out of casing and have never managed to quite fit it in properly.

I might take a look at the Silva site.

Tina

rich.bradshaw wrote:The Silva Expedition 54 Compass does sound good... possibly a bit pricey though - is it really worth that much? If I buy a cheaper one will I wish I'd got that one?

Will any sighting compass be good?

I'm only a trainee teacher so don't have much income at the moment!

Yes, it is worth investing in a good sighting compass. We bought an average sighting compass when we started letterboxing and then upgraded to the Silva 54 and could not believe how many more boxes we found. I believe that if you want to participate regularly in this fabulous pastime it is worth every penny. If you buy a cheap compass you will almost certainly regret it. Once you have one it will last for years and don't forget the rest of your letterboxing comes virtually free probably the cheapest hobby you will find.

the silva 54 is not a true sighting compass,it is a base plate compass that can be used as a sighting compass. the only ture sighting compasses that silva do is in there marine range.


i have had a type 54, it seemed a bit like a cheepo compass for £50+

Hi Wires,
This is true, I notice you use the Silva 80 which is a probably better compass for letterboxing (hardier for a start) but we find the 54 is a better all rounder and we use it for several navigation applications.
But you must agree a good compass is essential?

oh yes i keep a type 7 in my bag as well! a sighting compass in no replacment for a base plate type. just an (accurate) addition?

This is getting way to technical for me - I just like my sighting compass - can't remember what number it is - but it certainly does the job pretty accurately!

My new compass arrived through the post box whilst at work today and what a difference! Bearing in mind (no pun intended) that I've been using my old Sylva Landranger Type 54 for over 12 years for letterboxing, but being scratched to bits, bubble in the bezel I ordered that new one for £52.

Compairing the old and the new, the sighting window is much much clearer to view the bearings, plus they have changed the shape and design a little over the years. The cover I bought for the old one still fits!
I can't wait to going boxing now!

Anyone want an old sighting compass, works ok.

Dizzy

I've ordered one as well and waiting for delivery - hoping it will improve my bearings when locating the remaining 4 boxes. If not, I'm sure someone will soon help me so clues can be updated.

Tina

Guess what!

We've just got a new sighting comapss as well!

Only ordered it online yesterday and it arrived today! Also treated ourselves to a Dartmoor digital map 1:25000, so look out Dartmoor for the new improved J&J!!!

Just need to get there though...................

All the best

J&J

Well done J&J, good to hear you got your new compass. Also the digital map! Which program have you bought? I use TrackLogs Digital mapping, really good for planning your walks.

Dizzy

Congratualtions James and Jenny on your two new bits of equipment. I want an update on how well you do locating boxes on your next visit. Trouble is now there is no blaming the inaccurate compass bearings - just the inaccurate bearing taker!

Crafty Jo wrote: just the inaccurate bearing taker!

Ho Ho Ho!

Dizzy wrote: Which program have you bought?

We bought the Anquet 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure map of Dartmoor. It was about £21 when bought online. Let me know if anyone wants the details. We looked at Memory map, but this was £80-£100, and the Anquet seems to have all the features. Only got it last night, so was playing with it into the early hours as was to be expected!

Now starting to cover the map with lots of little flags! Can't wait to use it with the compass!

All the best

James

Wow, where did you find to buy that? Anquet Maps are normally £100 per national park in the explorer scale. I have been dying to get one ever since they came out but can't afford £100.

Hi Dartmoor Pubhopper!

Here is the link that you need:

http://www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk/shop/An ... -9542.html

As you say, the National park maps are £100 (reduced to £75) each, but all the Outdoor Leisure maps are £21. I ordered mine Tuesday morning, and it arrived Wednesday. (I did pay £2-ish extra for First Class post as I'm just so impatient!)

Hope this is of help

Best wishes

James

My new compass arrived yesterday, so will use it at the weekend and hope my bearings are little better than my last attempts when siting my remaining boxes - apologies to everyone if I get it wrong - the box will be there somewhere ... lol

Tina

James&Jenny wrote:

Dizzy wrote: Which program have you bought?

We bought the Anquet 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure map of Dartmoor. It was about £21 when bought online.

I've just ordered one. I've got a Garmin TOPO but hopefully the Anquet will complement it.

Tina

Thanks to Dizzy I have a new (well, old!) Silva type 54 compass, and it's brilliant!

Thanks very much! Actually found some boxes using bearings today!

Thanks for the link James&Jenny I have just ordered one! Such good prices. I did Froogle them but even Froogle didn't show anything that cheap

rich.bradshaw wrote:Thanks to Dizzy I have a new (well, old!) Silva type 54 compass, and it's brilliant!

Thanks very much! Actually found some boxes using bearings today!

Not a problem Rich, enjoy and have fun!

Dizzy

I hope someone is getting commission for all the new compasses purchased - because of you lot, we have now splashed out on a new Expedition 54 (at £52.99), received yesterday!! Really looking forward to using it - why does the weekend take so long to arrive??!!

Many thanks for all the useful info. about compasses.

Hope to see some of you out and about on the Moors (we're trying Cosdon Hill on Sunday, as it's close to Mum in Okehampton).

Regards,
Howard n Sue

Watch out for Ticks on Cosdon Hill - I picked up lots from there last time I was out - none attached themselves but it was not a pleasant experience! I carry a dustpan brush in the car now - so I can have a good brush off before carrying unwanted visitors on a journey back to North Devon.