Compass Information

Compasses are wonderful things.  If you just want to know where north is, you can build your own by magnetizing a needle (passing the north end of a magnet over it several times), sticking it in a cork, and floating the cork in a pan of water.  The needle will point north.  If however, you are planning a trek through the wilderness, or participating in orienteering, the sport that combines fitness and map reading, something more sophisticated is needed. 

 We’ve carried simple $2.95 compasses for kids for years, but we also carry 'adult' compasses.  Randy, being the child of the woods that he was, grew up using and playing with them.  My most recent exposure to compasses is the dashboard mount my parents installed when they moved to North Carolina’s piney woods, where each road looked the same making it hard for my Mom to get her bearings (I think the compass has since been replaced with local knowledge and a computerized version that came with their newest cars!).  I needed to learn more about compasses in order to understand what we were selling and help our customers choose the compass that would best meet their needs. 

 The first thing I learned is that choosing a compass is a lot like choosing binoculars.  There’s a whole new vocabulary to learn, a lot of variations, and as the compass gets more sophisticated, detailed and useful, the price increases.  There is even variety in how they feel in your hand (although it’s not nearly the comfort and fit issue as it is with binoculars).  Some even come with bells and whistles—literally, we carry a simple compass with a safety whistle!).   I found some great books and nice web sites that will be very useful for anyone wanting to learn more about using compasses, orienteering, or using compasses in a classroom.  The following links will help you learn the lingo, learn more about compasses and orienteering.  Until we get our compasses on line, you can call us for advice, and to see what we might have in stock..

Compass Glossary 

USGS Compass and Map Intro

Kjetil Kjernsmo's Intro to compasses (he loves this stuff, and it shows!)

Orienteering Basics

Compasses in the Classroom