Discussion: No Scale on New Silva Thumb Compasses - How to estimate distances?
in: Orienteering; Gear & Toys
May 13, 2018 5:10 PM
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Hi all,
I have recently purchased the new version of the silva race jet spectra thumb compass. I have seen that new models do not have any scale, which is required for calculating distances and then use pace counting.
Do you know whether there are some add-ins or something to use as scale for new Silva compasses? Why they have decided to remove this, is it maybe because now with more detailed maps pace counting is no longer used?
I am new to orienteering and I do not pace count, I just get a feeling of distances as the course goes, but I was thinking of starting doing it to have more info in some controls with few clear references. But for that I need a scale on the compass in order to be a bit accurate.
Maybe more experienced orienteers can give their insights which will be very helpful for me. Thanks in advance!
I have recently purchased the new version of the silva race jet spectra thumb compass. I have seen that new models do not have any scale, which is required for calculating distances and then use pace counting.
Do you know whether there are some add-ins or something to use as scale for new Silva compasses? Why they have decided to remove this, is it maybe because now with more detailed maps pace counting is no longer used?
I am new to orienteering and I do not pace count, I just get a feeling of distances as the course goes, but I was thinking of starting doing it to have more info in some controls with few clear references. But for that I need a scale on the compass in order to be a bit accurate.
Maybe more experienced orienteers can give their insights which will be very helpful for me. Thanks in advance!
May 13, 2018 6:03 PM
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I use a permanent marker to add my own "customisation" for pace counting...
May 13, 2018 8:30 PM
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Good tip. I was thinking putting a transparent sticker with the scale. I still do not know why they removed it.
Maybe because thess way people can add their own most frequent scale (1:10000, 1:7500) hehe
Maybe because thess way people can add their own most frequent scale (1:10000, 1:7500) hehe
May 14, 2018 10:11 AM
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A strip of masking tape notched every cm (or .75 cm, etc) is good enough. Transparent tape even better. Use a pen with waterproof ink, of course.
Your idea about when to pace count -- going to controls with few (or no) clear references - is absolutely correct - like along trails or other handrails with no definite feature where you want to leave it or along a hillside or from a definite attack point to a small feature, etcetera.
The need to measure and count the distance for every 'leg' is one of the worst bit of instructions I see being foisted on young orienteers.
Your idea about when to pace count -- going to controls with few (or no) clear references - is absolutely correct - like along trails or other handrails with no definite feature where you want to leave it or along a hillside or from a definite attack point to a small feature, etcetera.
The need to measure and count the distance for every 'leg' is one of the worst bit of instructions I see being foisted on young orienteers.
May 14, 2018 10:31 AM
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In my opinion pace counting only has conceptual applications to orienteering unless you are training for places where its 100% green and really need to use this. Over time you will get used to the speed in which you run and how it correlates to each different scale on a map.
Focus on reading the map, not on your running -- pace counting focuses on running
Focus on reading the map, not on your running -- pace counting focuses on running
May 14, 2018 3:01 PM
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I wonder if my compass has a scale on it. I imagine it probably does...
May 14, 2018 9:51 PM
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A clean compass—�less interference, map priority
It’s easy to add a couple of ticks to the straight north edge, which you can use as a scale/pace count.
It’s easy to add a couple of ticks to the straight north edge, which you can use as a scale/pace count.
This discussion thread is closed.