Orienteering tests both your physical endurance and your mental sharpness. You must navigate unfamiliar terrain using only a map and a reliable compass to find specific control points. A good map shows you the landscape, but your compass ensures you are actually moving in the right direction.
Selecting the proper equipment is a critical step for beginners and seasoned land navigators alike. Using the wrong tool can lead to costly navigation errors, wasted time, and frustrating detours. You need a device that suits your specific racing style and skill level.
To help you make the right choice, this guide explores the three most popular types of compasses available on the market. We will review the features, advantages, and drawbacks of the three main types of compasses used for navigation. By understanding these different types of compasses, you can hit the trails with confidence and improve your race times.
Baseplate Compasses
Also known as a protractor compass, the baseplate compass was invented by the Kjellstrom brothers during the World War II era. It remains the most common types of compasses for beginners and recreational navigators.
Key Features
A baseplate compass features a liquid-filled housing mounted on a clear, flat piece of plastic. The clear base allows you to read the map details directly underneath it. These tools typically include straight edges for drawing lines between control points, ruler scales for measuring distances, and a rotating bezel marked with 360 degrees. Some models of these types of compasses even feature a small magnifying glass for reading fine topographical details.
Pros and Cons
Because of the clear baseplate and built-in straight edges, these types of compasses make taking accurate bearings a breeze. You can easily align the edge with your current location and your destination on the map. The rotating bezel helps you dial in your bearing and follow it precisely across open terrain.
However, baseplate compasses require you to hold the map and compass with two hands for the best results. This can slow you down if you are running through a fast-paced orienteering course.
Thumb Compasses
In the mid-1980s, a top Swedish orienteer revolutionized the sport by reshaping the traditional baseplate and adding a strap. The result was the thumb compass. These types of compasses are designed specifically for high-speed competitions.
Key Features
As the name suggests, this compass attaches directly to your left or right thumb. It has a much smaller baseplate and often lacks the rotating bezel found on traditional models. The needle housing is placed directly over the map, and the needles are usually designed to settle incredibly fast.
Pros and Cons
These types of compasses allow you to hold your map and your compass in one hand. Because the compass sits right on top of your map, you can keep the map oriented to north at all times with a simple glance. This leaves your other hand free to push branches out of the way or carry a water bottle. Elite racers in orienteering strongly prefer this style because it enables them to run and read the map simultaneously.
On the downside, taking a highly precise numerical bearing is much more difficult without a rotating bezel and long straight edges. You must rely on rough bearings and strong map-reading skills to navigate effectively.
Lensatic Compasses
Lensatic compasses are types of compasses often referred to as military or sighting compasses. These types of compasses are built for extreme precision and durability. While less common in fast-paced orienteering competitions, they are highly valued in survival navigation, surveying, and rugged backcountry travel.
Key Features
A lensatic compass features a robust, folding case that protects the glass face. It includes a sighting wire in the cover and a magnifying lens in the rear sight. Instead of a clear baseplate, these models use a floating dial that displays the degree markings.
Pros and Cons
When it comes to pinpoint accuracy, the lensatic compass excels. By looking through the sighting slot and aligning the wire with a distant landmark, you can capture an exact bearing. The heavy-duty casing also makes these types of compasses nearly indestructible in harsh environments.
Unfortunately, types of compasses are heavy and bulky. You cannot see through them to read a map, making map orientation a slower process. Because of this, they are generally not recommended for standard orienteering races, though they remain an excellent tool for specific wilderness navigation tasks.
Choosing the Right Tool
Selecting the right gear depends entirely on your goals. If you are just learning the basics of map reading and want an affordable, versatile tool, the baseplate compass is your best option. It teaches fundamental navigation skills that will last a lifetime.
If you plan to compete in timed races and want to shave minutes off your score, a thumb compass is the way to go. It forces you to rely on terrain association and keeps your hands free for fast movement.
By familiarizing yourself with these three types of compasses, you can tailor your gear to your exact needs.
Master Your Map and Compass
Technology constantly evolves, but the magnetic compass remains the ultimate, fail-safe navigation tool. GPS devices can lose battery or signal, but a reliable compass will always point you toward magnetic north.
Take the time to practice with your chosen tool in a local park before heading into deep woods. Join a local orienteering club, participate in a beginner course, and test your new skills. With the right equipment and a bit of practice, you will be navigating complex terrain like a professional in no time.