Discussion: A Compass for Beginners

The brands mentioned here may be different in North America, where I think Silva is marketed as Brunton.

For many years the Silva Mapguide compass http://www.mapsport.co.nz/mapguidesml.jpg was the compass of choice for coaches of beginner orienteers. The absence of degree markings was important for focussing attention on the map. The price was good too.

Silva stopped making them last year and stocks around here have now run out. What are people working with beginners (eg schools) using now? The next offering from Silva is twice the price for a baseplate with degrees, and then twice again for a thumbie.

Dammit, I was just talking to Erin about how cool these were at the weekend! I would very much like to hear if there are alternatives out there too.

I use a cork with a magnetised needle through it for that 'authentic' experience. Plus there are no bearings marked to distract from navigating using features. This works better when it's raining in case I fall and spill all the water from the saucer.

I also like that one a lot, but also the new SILVA 1-2-3 - I mean the one with the green 1, blue number 2 and a red 3.

Those clip-on compasses were also used by a lot of MTB orienteers, so they will be missed.

Silva make a model called Metro which only has basic NSEW markings. It comes in pretty colours and has a carabiner attached, but I don't know if it is available for Southern hemisphere. I'll ask the Australian Silva supplier to make some enquiries.

Andreais there's no such compass on the Silva website.

Gruver - over here we tend to set our beginners course so that it doesn't need a compass - and I'm also guessing our sun is more reliable than yours :-).

I don't like the clip on compass. It was very unsteady and not at all suitable for MTBO, which needs a fast settling compass. I still blame Fletch's clip on compass for my awful effort at the first sprint MTBO event I did at Clinkers Hill (sorry Fletch).

Well tRicky I wasn't saying that the clip-on was suitable for top-level MTBOers, but the average duffers like me find it useful.

Are you sure it wasn't your piece of lodestone on a cork that caused your stuff-up?

I hadn't learned to navigate outside of WA when I went across for that event.

Thanks Simmo, the Metro is on my Silva agent's list. Still seeking a coaching POV.

It's SILVA FIeld 1-2-3 http://silva.se/node/41
It does, though, defeat the concept of orienting your map first, pin pointing where you are, turning while keeping map oriented towards where you intend to go....

And I definitely agree with not introducing compass until mastery of map reading on easy courses... the same as not handing a calculator to kids who have not mastered their math facts (arithmetic)

Doesn't look like that model is available in Aus yet, the old Field 7 is still in our wholesaler's catalogue - but I will enquire. The Field 123 does look slightly more attuned for beginners with the degree markings less prominent, but it is likely to be priced the same as Field 7, which is around $10 more than the clip-on.

Gruver, putting my coaching hat on, I've found that it is quite easy to get kids to just look at the needle and use it to orient the map, regardless of the type of compass. But when they get to the next stage of taking bearings you need to spend some time with them one-to-one, including some practical activity.

GVOC bought a kit (28?) of Silva Micro racers but they weren't cheap. It looks like they may not be available now. We find them very good for having beginners using the needle to orient the map. See pic at http://www.wildfiresports.com.au/silva-micro-racer...

The Silva Micro Racers are the best I've used for beginners by a long shot. No markings, nothing to twist. And it is a thumb compass so when you wear it correctly and are holding the map correctly it is completely obvious that the point of the compass is to keep the map turned to north. Beginners, in my clinics, have a natural understanding of the compass and move right on to focussing on the map.

But like mellis said, I'm not sure they are available any longer either ;-(

I used to use an older model that was very similar to the Micro Racer. I loved the mechanical design. It was also a really crappy compass. Not such a big deal for a beginner, though.

Gale still shows both the Micro Racer and the Mapguide on his web site. No indication of supply though.

The Micro Racer has been discontinued along with the Mapguide. Of course there may be a few in the supply chain here and there.

I took a look at the Metro today Simmo. The pictures suggest the needle might be similar to the Mapguide/Micro Racer but I think it is smaller. I was hoping I might be able to attach a thumb strap somehow but I doubt it. The carabiner is a negative IMHO, that suggests "tie me on your belt" rather than "hold me on your map".

We have used Micro Racer, different plate compasses ... And now I don't think this was a good approach.

Why offer the beginner any cheaper compass? The routine the kids learn is difficult to change and many times also world class elite is stuck with bad habits they learned as kids.

If the youth wants to do orienteering competitive, then they need to switch to a good thumb compass in one year anyway. So - I would suggest to supply beginners with a decent thumb compass. Only this way they will be able to practice a good o-routine and - do you think they will listen to beginners advice on how to use a compass when they are "experienced" orienteers?

There are elite Moscompass models available for less than 35 EUR. This is probably less than start fee/travel expenses to one national competition.

Hmmm, around here the main o-shop sold the Mapguide singly at the box-lot price, as a service to families and the sport. This accentuates the jump to the Moscow thumbie.

Bubi, the main people I'm concerned about don't go to national competitions. They are the kids who come to local school competitions, as well as heaps of other sports. The demands on the family budget are huge. Same for the school sports budget. I'm searching for a strategy to prevent un-knowing people buying baseplates.

hmmm, last two posts imply that folks shouldn't be using baseplates. Why is that? Surely every elite doesn't use a thumb compass---or do they?

Carl, if not every elite, 99% of them do.

Except for Pasi Ikonen. He doesn't (well didn't) use one at all ;-)

I don't think there's a terrible problem with baseplates if you effectively treat it as a thumb compass and always hold it on your map. The problem with baseplates (and this is accentuated for beginners) is that the tendency is to put it away when you aren't specifically using it. It then comes out less often and you aren't looking at the compass every time you look at the map but rather only when you really need it for taking a real bearing.

The bigger concern though is that people by cheap compasses that spin super slowly and don't settle well. It just so happens that these tend to be baseplates.

There are a few elites that will use baseplate from time to time, but I haven't seen any elites only use baseplate.

Peter Gagarin uses a baseplate, and never holds it against the map. He may not be "elite" at this point, but he's also 70 years old and can still outnavigate just about anybody. Just sayin'.

Interesting--Ethan, started with a base plate, switched to a thumb for several years but than switched back to a base plate. (he'd forgot his thumb compass at an event and had to use a base plate and felt he orienteered "better" having the map and compass in separate hands).

With that said though, I can certainly see the advantage of giving beginners a compass capsule so there isn't confusion about rotating the dial, the arrow and lines on the base plate, etc.

@Bubi if it is budget and school kids who may do orienteering only once at field trips, I actually have the Chinese KanPas. As a small company doing field trips and school O, I preferred to use my limited means for SI equipment rather than a huge compass kit. They are designed as base plate that can be worn on the thumb. Unfortunately not great in stability because they are not liquid filled, but ok for having available for larger numbers of first timers who shouldn't focus on the compass anyway. Bought them through my friends in Taiwan while living there, have no clue if one can get them outside of Asia.

One of the reasons I advocate for the thumb compass for beginners is that most beginners are kids and the thumb compass is easier to carry and is always where it is needed. I believe it tends to allow the new orienteerer to absorb the use of the compass quickly, put it in the background, and focuses attention on the map.