ust Folding Map Compass, Black, One Size (20-02149-10)

This is a good beginner reflecting baseplate compass. It points north. Scales are handy and seem accurate, if a bit sparse on the ring. Ring has +/- 10 degrees slop. What sets this apart is the mirror. It's way better than the compact makeup mirrors in the budget isle of big box stores. It is even flat enough to be an effective signal mirror at up to a kilometer. Only tested a couple of them. Others may be more flawed. Basing my observations with the UST signal mirror for comparison, assuming a similar quality standard.If for no other reason, get this because the mirror folds into a reasonably durable protective case. And the baseplate has useable markings. The compass needle is a dubious bonus. Costs about twice what a cheap folding makeup mirror would, and is vastly superior in every regard (except for the close up).

Not the strongest needle. Other than that you can't beat it for the price.

This compass works very well, especially given the bargain price. I think it's a common issue, but I've found that when on the trail it takes a bit of care to get the compass held or placed in a truly flat orientation, the only way that the needle is allowed to swing freely and find north. That's the only reason it gets 4 rather than 5 stars.I bought another compass through Amazon, but it was so annoyingly heavy I bought this one as a replacement. I appreciate that this compass is inexpensive, works well, is well-made and appears strong, but also that it's light enough that I don't resent it in my backpack.

I wasn't expecting much when I bought three of these, so wasn't suprised.All three are 6-8 degrees off of true north as compared to my Silva Ranger, Silva Starter, Cell phone, and GPS. This is fine for teaching as I've simply written on the back the degrees east or west that this is off, so once you take a reading you add/subtract the variance to get your true reading.On one the declination set screw was completely missing, so I had to super glue the bezel in place. This is not an issue as where I'm located the declination is only 30 min east and for the purpose of these (training) declination is not a major concern.Pros:-Price-Clear easily read dial-Azimuth and Reverse Azimuth markings on plateCons:- Off by 6-8 degrees-Declination set screw is questionableI would not recognize this as a primary compass for anyone inexperienced but these would work for basic compass training, just not highly accurate courses.

I have three or four different packs that ,for the most part, I keep ready to go. Don't use a compass every time I go out, but when going some place new or trail pacing, I will use one. It is a skill every one needs to have. When you look at compasses,there are a few big names,[big prices too], and they are good. If on the other hand, you want quality at a good price with the basics , that you can count on, easy to use, than this is a good choice. It is a good pick for experienced navigators, as well as the beginners.

Nice product, bad description....recieved product is baby blue, not black

For the price it's a no brainer. Feels flimsy so be mindful of that but seems to work and will keep you in a slight line. The declination flat head screws driver is a joke because its so small but a blade tip or you multitool can work if you loose it.

It's a very helpful compass to teach my kids about the declination and how to adjust it. It will be a 5-star product if there is an easy way to store the included small screwdriver with the compass, so the screwdriver won't get lost and can be used to adjust the declination anytime as need.

reasonable priced compass

I am a forester with 4 years field experience in the boreal forest of Northwestern Ontario. I am always on the lookout for cheap equipment that I can have as a backup should I lose mine while working. When I saw this compass for $7 i had to try it. First and foremost, this is the only cheap folding compass I could find that enabled you to adjust for magnetic declination (adjustment tool IS included). For anyone seriously using a compass for navigation, I feel this is a must. The action for turning the compass face is a little tight but that may relax over time. I tested it against my more expensive Brunton type-15 compass (the equivalent of the Silva Ranger, which is the industry standard) and this cheaper compass sighted true. One downside I could see is that prolonged use might rub off the graduations printed on the base. Only other downside to this item is that it took forever to be shipped due to the item not being in stock. Definitely worth the buy if you can get it!

I had originally given this compass 3 out of 5 stars because although it was comparatively slow and the needle consistently caught on something internally, it was inexpensive, full featured, and could be said to point North (the only thing a sub $10 compass really needs to do). It ended up unused in my emergency kit, which for $10 was fine in my books. Today I pulled the compass from my emergency kit to double check if it was really as bad as I remembered. Net result is that I just threw it in the garbage. The needle sticks... quite badly... the end. Can it find North? Yeah, sorta, if you give it enough time, tilt it around, and tap the glass a few times. In an emergency, this would actually be dangerous to have. The only people who should buy this compass are people looking to understand how to use the complex features of a far more expensive compass (adjustable declination, rotating bezel, sighting mirror) but who don't actually intend to use the compass. Maybe in indoor map and compass course where it's more about the map and overall navigation theory. Spend a few more dollars and get an entry level Silva or Suunto with fewer features (no mirror or adjustable declination). I took the $20 Suunto A-10 into the woods for an orienteering course and found it a pleasure to work with. Whatever you buy, you need to trust that it will point North each and every time you use it. Owing to a design flaw, the needle on this sticks like crazy. Apart from the needle, this would be an amazing value.... but it's a compass that doesn't point North.

Brilliant!

For the price you can't do better. It has many of the features of top-end Silva and Suunto compasses. It is virtually a knock-off. The roamers on the base plate are the least confusing I have seen since infantry training. This is not a night navigation compass: Luminous material on the base are brilliant, but those required on the needle and bezel are non-existent (use a flashlight on night marches). The adjustable magnetic declination feature is similar to Scandinavian models. The clinometer arrow is not as visible as it could be (should be black). Bezel rotation is stiff which made "taking a bearing off the terrain" more tedious. Excellent for map and compass training of Boy Scouts: Troops could buy them by the batch. Materials seem as sturdy as Scandinavian models.