Do you own a compass?

[Polk County Hillbilly]

I DO NOT go to the woods without at least 2 also saltwater eather. Have over 20.

 

[cotton top]

Can't depend on a GPS in really cloudy weather. They are good on a clear or not too clear day or night. I had my GPS fail for this reason a couple of times this year.
I always keep a compas in my pocket or pack. Good insurance, JMO BSM

 

[Backcountry]

does the one of my iphone count? if so it's with me everytime i go in the woods. and yes i have used it b/f. those pine thickets in the dark are tricky

 

[dturnersr]

Yes, since 1968 cira Boyscout issue Silva, then another in 1978 thanks to U.S. Army 1/29th Rangers

 

[BOWHUNTER!]

Yep, sure do. I use it just about every time I hang a new stand.

 

[Ohoopee Tusker]

I take one while in remote locations, but for the most part I just use the hands on my watch.

 

[Gentleman4561]

I have one for backup to the gps...even learned how to use it in scouts

 

[FishinMech]

Always have one in my bag when i go out just in case i do get lost.

 

[bfriendly]

Yes I have two! One was getting stuck so I immediately went and got another one. Thing is, they ain't no good if ya dont know which direction you should go.........Got to have a map

 

[Mechanicaldawg]

I own several.

One of them belongs to Arrow3.

 

[JNW]

In an emergency, I'll use my watch. It's possible to determine your orientation using an analog watch (i.e., one with hands) in place of a compass. The direction will be correct if the watch is set for true local time, without adjustments for daylight savings time.

This picture I found can help me explain it better.

In the northern hemisphere, hold the watch horizontal and point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Bisect the angle between the hour hand and the twelve o'clock mark to get the north-south line. North will be the direction further from the sun.

Just thought I'd share this information with others. Hope it's not too off topic.

 

[Tenkiller]

Yes. More than one even.

Me too, and the batteries have never went dead.

 

[DYI hunting]

Army Land Nav course taught me how valuable a compass was. I have one in my hunting gear, bug-out bag, and web gear.

 

[GeorgiaGlockMan]

Several.

A good one that I rotate around and several cheap-os (with little thermometers) strapped to every hunting pack that I own.

 

[dawg2]

More important.....if you own a compass....do you know how to use it?

"North" is always up

 

[elfiii]

Yes and yes. Batteries wear out, antennas break, circuit boards fry. Magnets are mostly forever.

 

[ambush80]

Silva orienteering compass in my day pack and a small one on the whistle around my neck.

 

[Quickbeam]

I've had three quality compasses rendered useless because the magnet got demagnatized. Sent them back to Silva and were replaced free of charge. but even compasses can quit working.

 

[bull59]

If you are really lost a compass isn't much good without a map. You could take off in the right direction and still miss the trail, road, creek ridge or what ever and still be just as lost but going in the "right" direction.

 

[meateater]

Own a few

Never go in the woods without one.
Learned how to nav on land, on the water and under the water before handheld GPS became popular. Navigating under water at night, now thats the fun one!