The Brunton TruArc 3 baseplate compass is a standout value choice: simple, accurate and very affordable, making it ideal for beginners and clubs running large groups on a budget. While it lacks advanced sighting mirrors and some premium features found on the Silva and Suunto models, its financial advantage and dependable basic performance make it the practical pick for recreational orienteering and teaching scenarios.
Global-ready needle
Translucent baseplate
Global-ready needle
Translucent baseplate
Review Summary
"Users rate the Brunton TruArc 3 highly as an affordable, accurate and lightweight baseplate compass with clear markings and reliable needle damping, making it excellent value for casual navigation and hiking. Advanced users note it lacks some pro features (mirror/sighting) but praise its consistent performance over time."
Budget-precision — surprise pro
Economical, rugged baseplate with clear map scales for everyday navigation.
Budget-precision — surprise pro
Economical, rugged baseplate with clear map scales for everyday navigation.
Skill Development & Mastery
Time-Saving Convenience
The Brunton TruArc 3 baseplate compass is a standout value choice: simple, accurate and very affordable, making it ideal for beginners and clubs running large groups on a budget. While it lacks advanced sighting mirrors and some premium features found on the Silva and Suunto models, its financial advantage and dependable basic performance make it the practical pick for recreational orienteering and teaching scenarios.
Global-ready needle
Translucent baseplate
Budget-precision — surprise pro
Economical, rugged baseplate with clear map scales for everyday navigation.
Simple rotating capsule with clear degree markings for straightforward bearings.
Global-ready needle
Translucent baseplate
Budget-precision — surprise pro
Economical, rugged baseplate with clear map scales for everyday navigation.
Simple rotating capsule with clear degree markings for straightforward bearings.
$20-35 USD
The Cammenga 3H Tritium Lensatic Compass is the best-in-class choice for demanding navigation because it integrates military-grade mil‑spec construction with self-illuminating tritium for guaranteed low-light performance. It outperforms the other lensatic compasses here on durability, magnetic stability, and field-proven accuracy, but commands a premium price reflecting its long service life and US-made quality.
Self-lit tritium
Mil-spec rugged
Self-lit tritium
Mil-spec rugged
Review Summary
"Built like a tank with reliable tritium illumination and military-accurate sighting; reviewers consistently praise its durability and long-term reliability, though note the higher price."
Glows like magic
Self-luminous tritium inserts provide continuous night visibility without batteries.
Glows like magic
Self-luminous tritium inserts provide continuous night visibility without batteries.
Skill Development & Mastery
Time-Saving Convenience
The Cammenga 3H Tritium Lensatic Compass is the best-in-class choice for demanding navigation because it integrates military-grade mil‑spec construction with self-illuminating tritium for guaranteed low-light performance. It outperforms the other lensatic compasses here on durability, magnetic stability, and field-proven accuracy, but commands a premium price reflecting its long service life and US-made quality.
Self-lit tritium
Mil-spec rugged
Glows like magic
Self-luminous tritium inserts provide continuous night visibility without batteries.
Rugged aluminum housing built to MIL-SPEC for durability and field use.
Self-lit tritium
Mil-spec rugged
Glows like magic
Self-luminous tritium inserts provide continuous night visibility without batteries.
Rugged aluminum housing built to MIL-SPEC for durability and field use.
$160-220 USD
The Suunto MC-2 G is widely regarded as the market-leading sighting mirror compass because it pairs a true global needle with a precision sighting mirror and clinometer-grade stability, making it the top choice for high-latitude and professional navigation. It commands a premium price but delivers technical advantages — superior needle behavior, luminous markings and refined sighting ergonomics — that outstrip the more budget-oriented Brunton TruArc models and even many Silva options for demanding field use.
Global needle
Clinometer-ready
Global needle
Clinometer-ready
Review Summary
"Users consistently praise the Suunto MC-2 G for professional-grade accuracy, a stable global needle, and robust mirror-sighting construction, though some mention its weight and higher price. Overall it is regarded as very reliable for extended field use."
Night-glow wink
Global needle calibrated for reliable use in both hemispheres.
Night-glow wink
Global needle calibrated for reliable use in both hemispheres.
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
The Suunto MC-2 G is widely regarded as the market-leading sighting mirror compass because it pairs a true global needle with a precision sighting mirror and clinometer-grade stability, making it the top choice for high-latitude and professional navigation. It commands a premium price but delivers technical advantages — superior needle behavior, luminous markings and refined sighting ergonomics — that outstrip the more budget-oriented Brunton TruArc models and even many Silva options for demanding field use.
Global needle
Clinometer-ready
Night-glow wink
Global needle calibrated for reliable use in both hemispheres.
Sighting mirror with direct-read capability and luminous markings for low-light use.
Global needle
Clinometer-ready
Night-glow wink
Global needle calibrated for reliable use in both hemispheres.
Sighting mirror with direct-read capability and luminous markings for low-light use.
$120-160 USD
Brunton's Tag Along Zip is a purpose-built zipper/gear compass that emphasizes convenience — it clips to zippers or gear and gives instant orientation for hikers and commuters. Its financial and practical advantage is affordability and hands-free use compared with full-featured baseplate compasses, though it trades some needle stability and fine graduations for that compact, attachable form factor.
Zipper pull design
Always on-hand
Zipper pull design
Always on-hand
Review Summary
"Buyers of the Brunton Tag Along Zip appreciate its tiny, convenient zip-/keychain form and decent short-term accuracy, but many note reduced precision and durability after extended use compared with larger compasses. It’s liked for casual use and travel but not for serious navigation. "
Zip that never quits
Small zipper-pull form factor clips to packs or jackets for convenient carry.
Zip that never quits
Small zipper-pull form factor clips to packs or jackets for convenient carry.
Time-Saving Convenience
Recreational Enjoyment
Brunton's Tag Along Zip is a purpose-built zipper/gear compass that emphasizes convenience — it clips to zippers or gear and gives instant orientation for hikers and commuters. Its financial and practical advantage is affordability and hands-free use compared with full-featured baseplate compasses, though it trades some needle stability and fine graduations for that compact, attachable form factor.
Zipper pull design
Always on-hand
Zip that never quits
Small zipper-pull form factor clips to packs or jackets for convenient carry.
Low-profile, lightweight design built for casual navigation and travel.
Zipper pull design
Always on-hand
Zip that never quits
Small zipper-pull form factor clips to packs or jackets for convenient carry.
Low-profile, lightweight design built for casual navigation and travel.
$15-30 USD
The Silva Expedition Global delivers rugged, expedition-focused navigation with a large baseplate, clear markings and a robust global needle, making it a go-to for backcountry travelers who need reliability in harsh conditions. It typically undercuts the highest-priced Suunto MC-2 while offering comparable field features, and provides a sturdier, more hiking-oriented option than the budget-friendly Brunton TruArc 15 and the more compact Suunto M-3.
Rugged build
Easy declination
Rugged build
Easy declination
Review Summary
"Buyers like its reliable global needle, clear baseplate and mirror for expedition use, and solid build quality; some note the plastics and declination mechanism feel less refined than top-tier competitors."
Expedition grin
High-visibility mirror-sight design with a global needle for all-terrain use.
Expedition grin
High-visibility mirror-sight design with a global needle for all-terrain use.
Recreational Enjoyment
Enhanced Physical Well-Being
Skill Development & Mastery
The Silva Expedition Global delivers rugged, expedition-focused navigation with a large baseplate, clear markings and a robust global needle, making it a go-to for backcountry travelers who need reliability in harsh conditions. It typically undercuts the highest-priced Suunto MC-2 while offering comparable field features, and provides a sturdier, more hiking-oriented option than the budget-friendly Brunton TruArc 15 and the more compact Suunto M-3.
Rugged build
Easy declination
Expedition grin
High-visibility mirror-sight design with a global needle for all-terrain use.
Integrated clinometer and advanced baseplate scales for technical routefinding.
Rugged build
Easy declination
Expedition grin
High-visibility mirror-sight design with a global needle for all-terrain use.
Integrated clinometer and advanced baseplate scales for technical routefinding.
$170-240 USD
The Silva Ranger 2.0 is a rugged, user-friendly baseplate clinometer compass with a large map-friendly base, practical clinometer markings, and solid sighting capabilities tailored to outdoor navigation and route-finding. It represents a value-oriented middle ground — more feature-dense for field navigation than the budget Brunton TruArc 15, but without the specialized precision and higher price of the Suunto PM-5/360, making it a strong choice for hikers and expedition leaders who need dependable clinometer functions without professional surveyor pricing.
Large readout
Magnifier window
Large readout
Magnifier window
Review Summary
"Buyers say the Silva Ranger 2.0 is a rugged, easy-to-use field compass with clear markings and a good mirror option, valued for reliability in outdoor navigation; some report minor QC issues or wish for a stiffer bezel. It’s widely regarded as a solid mid-range choice."
Glows at night
Large clear baseplate with map scales and built-in magnifier for improved map reading.
Glows at night
Large clear baseplate with map scales and built-in magnifier for improved map reading.
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
The Silva Ranger 2.0 is a rugged, user-friendly baseplate clinometer compass with a large map-friendly base, practical clinometer markings, and solid sighting capabilities tailored to outdoor navigation and route-finding. It represents a value-oriented middle ground — more feature-dense for field navigation than the budget Brunton TruArc 15, but without the specialized precision and higher price of the Suunto PM-5/360, making it a strong choice for hikers and expedition leaders who need dependable clinometer functions without professional surveyor pricing.
Large readout
Magnifier window
Glows at night
Large clear baseplate with map scales and built-in magnifier for improved map reading.
Integrated clinometer/inclinometer lines provide slope and angle checks on the go.
Large readout
Magnifier window
Glows at night
Large clear baseplate with map scales and built-in magnifier for improved map reading.
Integrated clinometer/inclinometer lines provide slope and angle checks on the go.
$70-110 USD