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A map compass earns its place in the pack the day your phone goes flat and you still need to know which spur you're standing on. For proper map work, look for a scale and a straight edge. The multifunction survival compass has an engraved scale and baseline, and the army map reading compass folds open to a dual dial. The army green model in metal and glass is listed as accurate to within 1 degree. Keep whichever you choose in a top pocket with the rest of your survival gear.
Pocket compasses are simpler. The vintage military compass in gold hangs on a chain round your neck, while the copper and acrylic survival compass and the hand-held model with a magnetic needle both slip into a shirt pocket. They give you north in a second, which is often all you need at a track junction. Pack one next to a first aid kit and a printed map and the basics are covered for a day walk off the marked trail.
Some people would rather have the compass on their wrist. The watch-style survival compass has an ABS case, a rubber strap and a dual display that's quick to read. The sports watch adds a backlit digital screen and a barometer, and the military watches come in black, army green, khaki, blue, red or grey. The 7-in-1 emergency compass goes further again, with a whistle, thermometer, mirror, magnifier, LED light and a small storage compartment on a cord. There's also a survival whistle that pairs a compass with a neck lanyard. These are handy for checking direction. For plotting a route across a map, carry a compass with a scale too.
The marine compass is made for boats and vehicles, with a black finish that sits on a dashboard or deck. Whichever style you pick, learn to use it before the trip. Magnetic north and grid north on a topo map don't line up, and the gap changes from one region to the next, so read the declination notes in the map margin and practise taking a bearing in a local park first. A short length of our paracord turns any of these into a compass you can wear round your neck.
