Compare Hiking Compasses

A compass might seem like an old-fashioned piece of equipment to carry on the trail. Traditional printed maps and compasses have been largely replaced with GPS-powered navigation devices for most hikers. But the fact is that GPS devices can fail or be damaged on the trail and batteries can run flat – especially if circumstances beyond your control means your hike takes longer than anticipated. 

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our overall guide to the best hiking compasses. Check out our other guides: 

For this reason, it’s still widely recommended to carry a hard-copy map and compass as backup.   The good news is that adding this extra layer of security to your hikes does not need to cost a lot or attract much of a penalty in terms of extra weight or bulk in your backpack. Explore our comparison table to see and compare, at a glance, the key features of our top picks for best hiking compass. 

Product
SUUNTO MC-2 Compass
SUUNTO A-10 Compass
SUUNTO M-9 Wrist Compass
Cammenga 417 Official U.S. Military Tritium Lensatic Compass
SUUNNTO MB-6 Compass
Silva Ranger 2.0
Brunton TruArc 10 Compass 2021
Brunton Lensatic Military Style Sighting Compass
SUUNTO unisex adult Northern Hemisphere compass, USGS UTM, MC-2 NH US
SUUNTO A-10 Compass: Compact, simple to use recreational hiking compass, Hiking, Boy Scouts, Orienteering
SUUNTO M-9 Wrist Compass
Tritium 417 Cammenga Official US Military Lensatic Compass - OD Green
SUUNTO MB-6 Global Compass,Black
Ranger 2.0 Quad Compass-Black
Brunton TruArc10 Compass
Brunton Military Style Sighting Compass - Lensatic F-9077
Buying Options
Type
Mirror
Baseplate
Wrist
Military
Matchbox
Mirror
Baseplate
Military
Weight
2.6 ounces (74 grams)
1.05 ounces (30 grams)
0.56 ounces (16 grams)
7 ounces (199 grams)
2 ounces (57 grams),
4.5 ounces (127.5 grams),
1.7 ounces (48 grams),
3.4 oounces (94 g)
Size
4 inches (10.1 cm) x 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) x 0.7 inches (1.8 cm)
4 inches (10.4 cm) x 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) x 0.39 inches (0.10 cm)
1.61 inches (4.1 cm) x 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) x 0.55 inches (1.4 cm)
3.38 inches (8.6 cm) x 2.8 inches (7.1 cm) x 1 inch (2.5 cm)
2.6 inches (6.7 cm) x 1.8 inches (4.7 cm) x 0.9 inches (2.2 cm)
4.3 inches (10.9 cm) x 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) 0.75 inches (1.7 cm)
5.2 inches (13.2 cm) x 2.8 inches (7.1 cm) x 0.5 inches (1.2 cm)
3 inches (7.6 cm) x 2.2 (5.5 cm) x 1.2 inches (3 cm)
Increments
2 degrees
2 degrees
5 degrees
2 degrees
2 degrees
2 degrees
2 degrees
2 degrees
Luminous
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Region
Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Global
Northern Hemisphere
Global
Northern Hemisphere
Durability
Composite Materials, Protective Case
Tough Plastic
Acrylic, Velcro Strap
Aluminum, Waterproof, Metal Case
Plastic, Matchbox case
Plastic, Lid, Waterproof
Plastic
Protective Metal Case, Plastic, Waterproof
Ease of Use
Skilled
Beginner
Beginner
Skilled
Skilled
Skilled
Beginner
Skilled

Conclusion 

Compasses are certainly less of a common sight on the trail than they used to be.  But we think there’s still definitely good reason for hikers to learn traditional map and compass based navigation.  Not only does it add an extra layer of safety to your adventures if the GPS device many of us use for primary navigation fails, but it’s also an interesting new skill to learn that can help you get a deeper appreciation of how maps translate into the real landscape.  For sure, it can seem daunting at first – we think that most people will never have used a compass to navigate before – but the skills aren’t difficult to learn and we think they form an essential part of any hiker’s tool kit. 

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