I think you’ll agree with me when i say…

Finding a good survival compass is pretty hard nowadays….Because there are too many options available in the market and it seems confusing.

So in this post I’ll review some of the best survival compass of 2020. And i’m going to cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.

Best Survival Compass

 

1. SUUNTO Compasses-G Mirror Compass

navigator compassSuunto G mirror compass is an excellent compass to have among your gears. The compass has a compact design that is easy to pack inside a pocket without any issue. This is one of the best things to have in any survival gear.

The compass is made up of quality materials and has a very solid construction. It features a liquid capsule that provides an overall smooth and stable operation. The liquid is also non-freezing so that you can use it in extremely cold weather.

The compass consist of the global needle that works really well in the northern as well as the southern hemisphere. It also has 20 degrees tilt margin which makes it easy to read. Another great feature we like is that it has a small magnetized disk instead of a magnetized needle. It is placed on a gimbal and attached to the needle.

This way it prevents the needle from hitting the bottom of the compass. When traveling in the southern hemisphere. Additionally, it also dampens faster so that you don’t have to constantly conduct bearing checks.

Coming to the low light performance, it has a glow-in-the-dark dial. And bezel which is very helpful in the nighttime. The compass also consists of an inclinometer to measure various angles as well as heights of the mountains and cliffs.

Talking about the usage, it is very easy to use when compared to a lensatic compass. Everything is very clear and it is very accurate in both the northern and southern hemispheres. However, the mirror on the compass is a little small which is sometimes very inconvenient. 

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Pros
  • Accurate at different degrees of tilt
  • Well-designed with useful features
  • Robust and durable
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • A little bit costly The magnifying mirror is small

 

2. Cammenga 27CS Lensatic Compass, Phosphorescent, Clam Pack

cammenga compassir?t=unguidedsurvi 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07S5F5M34Cammenga 27CS lensatic compass is one of the best survival compasses you can buy in the market. It is the same compass that is issued to the military for a due to its features. The product comes with everything you need like a pouch, lanyard, belt clip, and instructions.

The compass has a clamshell design with military styling that makes it easy to carry and maintain on an outdoor trip. It is made from a high-quality aluminum frame for optimal durability and endurance. The frame is also powder-coated to protect the frame from corrosion and extend its life span.

The rugged construction of the compass makes it water, sock, and sand proof. Moreover, it features a non-liquid filled needle housing that is not affected by the change in the temperature. It can function from -50F to +150F with easy and provide you will accurate readings.

Instead of liquid needle housing, it uses copper induction damping housing. That slows the needle very quickly and makes its movement very stable.

However, this product is balanced for the northern hemisphere. The company charges a bit extra to get it balanced for the southern hemisphere. Additionally, it also features a sight wire, a magnifying lens, mils for accurate reading. And dial graduations in both degrees.

Talking about the low light performance, it uses phosphorescent illumination to light the dial. It illuminates adequately bright light that works for nearly 10 years. And also comes at a lower price than the tritium model. As far as usage, it takes a bit of practice to learn everything on how to use this compass at first. But after the initial hurdle, it is one of the best gear for some serious navigation. 

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Pros
  • More accurate compare to the baseplate compasses
  • Military-grade construction
  • Non-liquid damping mechanism
  • Sighting peephole for improved accuracy
Cons
  • Slightly heavy compared to baseplate compasses
  • Len is somewhat loosely fixed

 

3. Eyeskey Multifunctional Military Metal Sighting Navigation Compass with Inclinometer

navigation compass

Eyeskey multifunction military compass is a well designed and well-constructed survival compass. It works great for taking bearings and sightings while camping, hiking, hunting, scouting, and more. It comes packed with all the necessary features that you will need to find your way out in the unknown territory.

The compass is constructed from the high-quality aluminum alloy that is rugged to withstand the tough situations. The built quality of the compass is military level. And features a fully-sealed design which makes it waterproof.

The compass is also very compact and lightweight which makes it convenient to store in your pocket. Moreover, it features a liquid-filled needle housing with an integrated bubble level. This helps to deliver reliable and accurate reading relatively faster than its competitors.

The liquid used in the housing is also non-freezable so that you can use it even in extreme weather conditions. The sighting hairline on the compass can be used to align far away objects for marking the landmarks. The compass also comes included with the clinometer.

You can use it to measure the angle of the slopes, elevation, and avalanche hazards when skiing or hiking. Coming to the low light performance, it features floating luminous dial. And adjustable luminous marching line.

That makes it very useful during night time. Talking the usage, it is very easy to use compared to the lensatic compass.

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Pros
  • Sturdy and durable metal frame
  • Consist of various features
  • Suitable for extreme weather conditions
Cons
  • Slightly heavy for light backpacking
  • Quality control issue in some units

 

4. TruArc 3 – Base Plate Compass

survival compassir?t=unguidedsurvi 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B083M9GQ9STruArc 3 is simply a base plate survival compass that is used for basic orienteering and mapping. It is more of a training compass that is a good starting point for many beginners. But it can provide you with excellent navigation similar to a more expensive compass if used correctly.

The compass features a global needle system that functions in all the hemispheres and magnetic zones. It also provides good resistance to magnetic interference and not lose its polarity. However, the needle is not as drag-free as some of the high-end compass. But for the price, it is not a deal-breaker in any way.

Moreover, it features imperial and metric scale features as well as adjustable declination which is very useful for EDC. However, there are no cardinal points on degree markings which is a bit inconvenient. Otherwise, it is a reliable and accurate compass for any kind of survival.

Additionally, it comes with a nylon lanyard that makes it easy to access at all times when you are out and about. Furthermore, the compass is very lightweight and compact in size that can fit in your pocket for convenient carry.

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Pros
  • Comes at a low price
  • Global Needle System so can be used around the world Imperial and metric scales are useful for beginners
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Adjustable declination
Cons
  • Comes with few functions
  • No cardinal points on degree markings

 

5. Suunto MC-2 NH USGS Compass

compass

Suunto mc-2 NH USGS compass is a great compass to have among your gears. It is similar to the Suunto Global mirror compass but with few differences. The compass has a compact design that is easy to pack inside a pocket without any issue.

The compass is made up of quality materials and has a very solid construction. It features a liquid capsule that provides an overall smooth and stable operation. The liquid is also non-freezing so that you can use it in extremely cold weather.

The compass consist of the high-grade steel needle with jewel bearing that works really well in the field. However, it is only balanced for the northern hemisphere. And not for the southern hemisphere. Due to this, it is offered at a much lower price.

It features USGS UTM scales for the people who prefer this kind of scaling. Another great feature we like is that it has a small magnetized disk instead of a magnetized needle. It is placed on a gimbal and attached to the needle.

This way it prevents the needle from hitting the bottom of the compass when traveling in the southern hemisphere. Additionally, it also dampens faster so that you don’t have to constantly conduct bearing checks.

Coming to the low light performance, it has a glow-in-the-dark dial. And bezel which is very helpful in the nighttime. The compass also consists of an inclinometer to measure various angles as well as heights of the mountains and cliffs.

Talking about the usage, it is very easy to use when compared to a lensatic compass. Everything is very clear and it is very accurate in both the northern and southern hemispheres. However, the mirror on the compass is a little small which is sometimes very inconvenient.

Click here to find out more information.

Pros
  • Accurate at different degrees of tilt
  • Well-designed with useful features
  • Robust and durable
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • A little bit costly
  • The magnifying mirror is small

 

Things to consider before buying a Survival Compass

These are a couple of features you should look for while buying for a survival compass

Solid construction

One of the first things you should look at while buying a survival compass is its built quality. A survival compass should have a solid construction that can withstand even the roughest conditions. Pick a compass with well-built construction so that even if you drop it, it does not get damaged. 

Compact and lightweight

Whether it is a survival compass or any other survival gear, it is always best to get something that is compact and lightweight. Pick a survival compass that can easily be packed inside a backpack or carried in the pocket.

Water-resistant

It is always best to get survival gears that are water-resistant including survival compass. You never know when you have to swim across a river to get to a safer place. Therefore, pick a compass that is fully water-resistant or waterproof to avoid any damage.

Dry or liquid compass

Nowadays, you buy a dry or liquid compass for your outdoor trips. Both have their own pros and cons. You should choose the type of compass for you according to your needs and preference. Additionally, if you are buying a liquid compass make sure that it consists of non-freezing liquid.

Rotating bezel

A good compass consists of a rotating bezel or azimuth ring to assist you while finding your way out of the woods.​ ​The ring is marked with 0 to 360 degrees which encircle the outer edge of the needle housing. The smaller the interval of the degrees, the easier it is to navigate precisely.

Good baseplate

A survival compass that has a good baseplate with measurements to calculate distance is critical. The flat base is transparent and has a no. of navigational markings like a ruler, to measure map distances.

Luminescent Indicators

Luminescent indicators allow you to read your compass at night. This could be on the orienting arrow, magnetized needle, or the four cardinal points. Other survival gears survival flashlight, survival backpack, survival saw, machete & axe, survival bow, survival tent, bushcraft knife, boot knife, hunting boot.