COMPASSES (updated 25 Jun 10)

Specialist orienteering compasses! Many not available in downtown shops. Markup rate reduces as price rises to help you buy the best!

SILVA ORIENTEERING COMPASSES

• Best Beginner Compass
  Learn to orientate your map with a Silva Mapguide Compass (Type 19). Clips onto your map and turn your whole body on the spot until the needle agrees with north on the map - what could be simpler? Ideal for beginners, schools, or the club loan set. We don't like the way price rises have affected families, so we have given everyone the "box-lot" discount price of $27.
• Traditional Orienteering Compass
  Silva Ranger 3, best-selling compass in New Zealand, turnable needle housing in a rectangular baseplate; 20mmm magnifier; Swedish quality; $50. All-round "boyscout" compass suitable for tramping, adventure sport, getting your bearings in a strange city...
• Competition Compass
  Silva 5 Jet, traditional baseplate compass with the magnet mass concentrated near the pivot for rapid response, plus transparent stabilising disc keeps the needle steady. The World Champions use this needle; existing stock $170, price will rise.
• Thumb Compasses
  Most orienteers now prefer these as they promote better attention to the map; your compass, hand and map become one unit. The "Micro Racer" is a getting started thumby or spare compass; baby needle and no pointer or straightedge; price $32. The "Nor Spectra" is based on the original thumb compass with pointer and needle stability which exceeds the standard; plus colour key round the outside of the dial as a short-cut to maintaining a bearing; $120. These are designed for wearing on the Left hand.
• Advanced Thumb Compass
  Silva Jet Spectra Thumb Compass, Jet needle with stabilising disc, plus colour key round the outside of the dial as a short-cut to maintaining a bearing; $185. This model is available in either LH or RH versions.
• Do I Need the Jet Needle?
  It costs a lot more because the tiny twin magnets are made of a highly-magnetic material such as neodymium. This lets them be positioned very close to the pivot, the main contribution to speed and stability. You need this if you can read the map on the run, when you can't avoid bumping your compass at every step! If you stop to read the map, save your money and buy a cheaper model.
• Northern Hemisphere Compasses
  Did you know they are different? The earth's magnetism pulls one end of the needle down in the south, the other end in the north. So the little counterweight that ensures the needle swings freely has to be in a different place. For world travellers, we have brought in a few northern hemisphere LH Jet Spectra thumb compasses. Or see the Suunto M3-G below.
• Back of the Hand
  We sometimes have the Silva OMC compass, which is the Jet Spectra with elastic straps to hold it on the back of the hand. This is ideal MTBO or Adventure Racing; but they have disappeared from the Silva website. Please enquire.

SUUNTO ORIENTEERING COMPASSES

• Traditional Baseplates from Finland
  Suunto has basic compasses to rival Silva but their pricing is about $10 higher. If you have loyalties to Finland just ask and we can get them in for you. Models available are the A-10, A-20, A-30 and A-40. The A-30 compares to the Silva Ranger 3 but has a 30mm magnifier which is twice the size of the Ranger's one.
• Global Needle
  Suunto also has an advanced needle that works anywhere in the world. (Most compasses are balanced for a specific latitude.) But it's only available here in two models. The one that suits orienteering and adventure racing is the Suunto M3-G (Global). It's a baseplate compass with adjustable declination for topo maps. We have the M3-G at $120. (The other one is the MC-2 which is a sighting compass with flip-up mirror.)
• No More Arrows
  Suunto "Arrow" Competition Compasses. Needle speed and stability equivalent to the top Silvas. But they've stopped making them for the southern hemisphere, and they don't come with the global needle. They've also stopped making the thumby with the huge pre-focussed magnifier. But see the Silva thumb magnifier in Miscellaneous...

For mail order phone (04) 566 2645, or write to at 5 Atahu Grove, Lower Hutt 5010. We'll invoice with the goods, and you can pay by cheque, bank transfer, Visa or Mastercard. Prices shown include GST.