[pct-l] compasses for backcountry use

[John Abela]

Kinda have to agree with the others on this one - unless you have
honed your orientation skills (and have no intentions of doing so), go
with the Suunto A-10. It is a sub one ounce (27g) baseplate compass
that will give you the basic compass and is under 15 bucks.

Personally, I never leave home without a Suunto MC-2G Global compass -
a 2.65 ounce and $80+ compass that does pretty much anything, but
these days that is far beyond what the average pct hiker has a need
for, especially if you plan on group hiking.

The nice aspects of a more powerful compass:

Adjustable declination
Clinometer (helpful for places like the sierras when solo hiking)
A mirror (helpful for shaving, putting needles through blisters on
your feet, and of course using your compass)

But in the end, yeah, find yourself a Suunto A-10 on REI for under 15
bucks and call it good.


On Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 1:21 PM, Martin Clark <martin.m.clark at gmail.com> wrote:
> Anyone have a compass in particular that they are fond of? I was thinking
> of using a suunto either m3 leader or m3 global?
>
> I was able to find a navigation course on the east coast in virginia that
> I'll be taking this weekend as a preparation for the PCT. For AT thru
> hikers, its actually in Daleville near the I-81 interchange! I'm so amped
> about it, but need to find a compass with adjustable declination for use in
> the course. Thinking that the m3 global may make more sense so that I wont'
> have to buy a compass again down the road.
>
>
> thanks in advance for the wsidom and guidance
>
> --
> Space-Dots
>
>
> Martin M. Clark
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