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Compasses

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Compasses

Buy modern compasses online

The compass is the classic tool for navigation – not only – in the field, which we at ASMC offer in various versions and are happy to help you choose the right model.

How to use a compass correctly on trips

Every compass shows the direction of north directly via its needle and provides new orientation within a second. Electronic variants differ from this, for example those that are part of a GPS system and therefore first have to be activated as a function. Determining your position using these methods can sometimes take significantly longer. Since a compass should always be ready to hand, it is advisable to purchase an additional pouch for easier use. This can be attached to your belt, for example, and can be matched to the intended use with a camouflage look or a plain design

Anyone who wants to be able to look at their compass at any time without explicitly holding it in their hand should use a wrist version. This is not only part of many modern digital watches, but can also be worn directly on the wrist as a standalone aid without a watch.

How do I find the best compass for me?

The most important criterion when buying a good compass is its intended use. Anyone who is traveling with a GPS-based navigation device and uses it, for example, for hiking or geocaching, can do without a separate compass. Without electronic equipment, however, the classic compass as an essential tool for orientation should be easy to use and quick to read, which may argue for attaching it directly to the body or stowing it securely in your luggage.

For night hikes in military environments or with scouts, compasses with integrated lighting are the right choice. Many models of this type now rely on subtle LED lighting, which is very economical and durable. For authentic determination of direction with the finest nuances, the use of analog compasses is also recommended, while compasses in electronic devices offer a more or less fine digital scale.

Whether the compass is worn on the wrist or attached to a carabiner or carried in a separate pouch again depends on the intended use and personal preferences. For all these variants, ASMC offers not only the right compass but also the appropriate mounting accessories.

Expert tip: Finding your way in the wild without a compass

The simplest method for areas in the northern hemisphere is to make use of nature. But even here you have plenty of options. We present a few tips. One method of determining direction without (technical aids), which became widely known not only through the Game of Thrones books, is to take a closer look at the growth on trees. On one side of the trunk, trees usually have more moss and lichen, which indicates the shadier and therefore more humid side of the tree. In addition, there are usually fewer branches on the same side, which are two indicators of the north side. The easiest way to check the number of branches is to look up the trunk from below. Of course, moss is harder or even impossible to see in winter, which is where another tip comes in: snow melts away more quickly on the southern side than on the northern side. In addition to orienting yourself using nature, it is advisable to carry a radio. In situations where natural clues are unclear, the radio provides a reliable means of communication, whether for coordination within a group or to contact the emergency services if you lose your bearings.

Questions: Compasses

How does a compass actually work?

Such a device measures the direction of north using the Earth’s magnetic field. A needle that is mounted as freely as possible aligns itself northward due to the Earth’s magnetic field.

Wildo – functional outdoor tableware from Sweden

Whether hiking, running, cycling, skiing off-piste, canoeing or sailing: to be able to determine the cardinal directions in unfamiliar terrain. For orientation during outdoor activities, the compass is the tool of choice. Its biggest advantage over modern GPS devices is, of course, its independence from a power source. On a weekend trip this may not matter much, but on a world trip or a longer break (sabbatical) it can definitely be a decisive factor. You usually also need a (hiking) map, on which you can find your way much more easily with the help of the compass. Speaking of which, you can find a good collection of tips on map reading here: http://www.kompass.de/magazin/kartenlesen.html

What different variants are there?

There are models adapted to specific conditions, but for most purposes a simple sighting or marching compass should be sufficient. Then there are digital compasses, so-called electronic “fluxgate” models. However, several factors come into play here again, which make their use more difficult, and of course they depend on a power source. Compasses are also often used as underwater navigation devices.

What is the so-called microtremor?

You may remember this from childhood, with the compasses you were often given as presents: you can’t hold it completely still. But this has nothing to do with too much coffee or the like; it is due to the natural body tremor that everyone has. Unfortunately, this quickly sets a compass needle swinging. A model with a damped and properly mounted needle will help here.

What should you look for when buying a compass?

First you should determine what you want to use such a device for – now and in the future – and how much money you are willing to spend on it. In addition, as mentioned above, it is important on which hemisphere of the earth, i.e. the northern or southern hemisphere, you want to use the compass, because you need different models for this (keyword “global system”). There are also sports watches with an integrated compass. If you only need a compass now and then and are, for example, already into running, this may be a good solution.

What is the so-called azimuth determination?

There are various explanations for this (for example in astronomy), but in the case of commercially available compasses it refers to how many degrees the deviation from true north amounts to. South, for example, would have an azimuth of 180°, with the angle measured clockwise.

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