>>231926>VerificationAs others have said before, your needs largely depend on what you do.
I often hike in the mountains, i am always surrounded by plenty of landscape features (rivers, lakes, topography) and backed up by reliable and fairly detailed maps. Just like orienteering runners. Never need an accurately set course.
I only need a very approximate North, just so that i won't hold the map upside down. For that my watch and the position of the Sun will do just fine. On my trails compass is only needed when the sky is covered.
No fancy stuff for me, my criteria are:
-- it has to be the smallest possible,
-- light,
-- simple and unbreakable,
-- inexpensive.
For what i do any one of these will do just fine:
- on the left it's by Coughlan's. Just a simple compass, picked it up for $1.39.
- the grey one from Silva, still in the package, comes with a thermometer, a magnifier glass and a whistle, which you might find useful. Got it for $7.99.
- it's the Suunto that i always have with me attached to the strap of my backpack. I like the added thermometer and that's all i really need. It's well made, small, bombproof.
Happy trails!
