10 Best Compasses (Review) In 2021

When it comes to compass making Suunto are one of the best brands around so makes sense that we are kicking off our best compass review with something from their extensive range. Made in Finland, the company is known for producing high-quality, accurate orienteering compasses and super reliable navigation equipment. Suunto MC-2 compass is a fully global compass and has been modified so that it delivers a high degree of accuracy no matter where in the world you might be located. It has plenty of advanced features that the intrepid explorers among you will appreciate including a sighting mirror and a highly convenient wrist locking lanyard. One of the stand out features is that glow in the dark bezel which means you can navigate both day and night. There’s adjustable declination too, plus sighting holes which increase the accuracy of this device no matter what the conditions. Surely one of the very best orienteering compasses you can hope to buy, and for that reason, it gets our Best Choice feature today. If you love camping, check out our guide to the best large camping tents.

Up next we’re taking a look at the Eyeskey Multifunctional Military Compass which we can only hope performs as good as it looks. The camouflage detailing and rugged construction certainly seems the real deal, and it’s engineered from high strength metal so capable of withstanding punishing weather conditions. With its specially designed fluorescent lighting, you can also easily read where you’re going even in poor light conditions, and it’s highly accurate thanks to that built in a bubble level. While it’s durable and easy to carry or if you prefer, can be conveniently fixed to a tripod. It’s waterproof and shake proof and suitable a wide range of outdoor navigations needs from boating to mountaineering, hunting to motoring. With this magnetic compass by your side or in your backpacking backpack, you can’t get lost! 

If you take your orienteering and survivalist skills seriously and you are looking for a top-notch compass that’s premium in features and functionality, but that isn’t going to break the bank, then the Silva Ranger 515 might be just the ticket for you. With a highly visible luminous bezel that you can read and adjust whatever the light conditions, you can confidently use the Silva Ranger 515 both day and night. Not just that, but if you have to put your compass down, then with that bright yellow illuminated bezel, you’ll quickly be able to relocate it again. Being a mirrored sighting compass ensure that this is an accurate device and one which is perfect for supporting any adventures who love to head off the beaten track. The declination adjustment tool is conveniently located on a lanyard, so you won’t lose it and once set up, the compass will automatically adjust itself. Other noteworthy features of this exceptional compass include an inclinometer, multiple navigational scales as well as a magnifying glass. If you love nature and outdoors, check out our guide to the best sleeping bags.

We’ve cherry-picked this Brunton Tru Arc to be our Best Value compass choice because it is a seriously compact base plate compass, perfect for backpacking and hiking with simple but nonetheless accurate navigation. It features a global needle and is therefore calibrated to work the world over. The outer bezel reads in 2-inch resolution and portability, especially given the budget-friendly price point, it features an adjustable declination which can be interpreted as well as adjusted without the need for additional tools. In our opinion, this makes the Brunton Tru Arc one of the best compasses for hiking. If it’s important to you, then you’ll also be reassured to know that this compass is made in the USA. For compact reliability and pinpoint accuracy, this best value compass will take some beating. If you love camping and survival situations, make sure you bring a camping blanket as well.

Our next best compass for land navigation comes from Suunto again, and it’s their A-10 Recreational Field Compass. This one is lightweight and minimalist, compact and easy to carry. It’s not packed with extensive features but the ones it does have are functional and practical and what it does deliver is declination adjustment with an attractive looking black and white bezel. You certainly won’t get the same level of accuracy as you would from an orienteering compass but its inexpensive and competent and should still help you to get out of tight spot. This makes a good entry level compass for someone starting out learning to orient a map. Be sure to also check out our list of the best camping chairs for more great items like this.

This official military compass from CMMG has been licensed and produced for the United States military and has been designed to withstand all eventualities. It’s fully spec’d to meet military requirements and adheres to MIL-PRF-10436N certification plus it’s pretty much everything proof! We’re talking waterproof, sandproof and shockproof. If you want to take this bad boy, super accurate and reliable compass out into Death Valley, be our guest! Likewise, headed on a polar expedition and expecting temperatures of sub 50 and below, again, this CMMG Official Tritium Lensatic compass will be your ultimate guide. Featuring tritium microlights, you can navigate even in low light conditions plus it conveniently also comes with a magnifying lens, sight wire as well as precise graduations for accurate and straightforward navigation. Our handy guide to the best wearable sleeping bags features more great products like this.

Up next, again from popular brand Suunto, we have a wearable piece of navigational tech in the form of this direction compass designed to be worn around the wrist like a watch. The Suunto M-9 wrist analog compass is super handy and reliable too and can be read from the top or the side and is perfect for navigating both around town or out on country hikes. The reading window is clear, and that serrated bezel is easy to operate even if you are wearing gloves. While it does come supplied with a perfectly adequate adjustable black wristband, it can easily be removed to use either on its own or attached to another favourite strap you own. It’s also water resistant and features a luminous face. It provides a reliable reading in the Northern Hemisphere only and comes with a jewel bearing. It’s a great option for basic navigating and orienteering. Love this product? Check out our review of the best camping stoves for our top picks.

This next best compass from Cammenga is their Phosphorescent Clam Pack Lensatic which has been seriously tested to the most rigorous of conditions to ensure that it’s suitable for military grade operations. It’s excellent quality, durably constructed and features a hard aluminium casing that can more than take a pounding, no matter what the conditions you put it through. It’s also waterproof to significant depths so whether you’re pitting your navigational skills against the outback or the mountains, it won’t let you down. It’s shockproof and sand proof too. It delivers accurate results and comes with a bi-directional rotating bezel. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best tent heaters.

If you like the appeal of being able to attach your compass directly to your watch so that you have it quite literally on hand for all eventualities then take a look at this Suunto Clipper Compass. It’s lightweight yet durable and provides basic navigational information that will keep you on track or have you back on track if you’ve veered off course. It’s a functional analog compass, simple to use with no bells and whistles but it certainly does the job. There’s a rotating bezel, luminous directional indicators so that you can view in dimly lit conditions and it’s budget friendly too. If hands-free operation is the name of the game, then this Suunto is for you. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best camping cots.

Another military compass up next from the SE Survivor series. It’s their CC4580 Military Lensatic and Prismatic Sighting Compass, and it’s perfect for those emergency survival situations when you need something that is both rugged and reliable. Presented in its own convenient travel pouch, you’ll be able to navigate with ease thanks to this durably constructed compass which has been favoured for years by the military. Being Lensatic ensures more accurate and reliable readings, and while this compass might initially take a bit of getting used to, once you have you’ll never want to leave home on an expedition without it. There’s a rotating bezel as well as handy tripod screw holes on the base. It also features a sapphire bearing system with an integrated index line and magnifier for even more accurate results. Make sure you also have your emergency radio handy when going to the wilderness.