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. We've also absorbed the GST rise.
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...
Silva 1 Jet, traditional baseplate compass with the magnet mass concentrated near the pivot for rapid response, plus transparent stabilising disc keeps the needle steady; and a magnifier. The World Champions use this needle; price down $20 to $190.
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 co mpass; baby needle and no pointer or straightedge; price $33.
The "Silva Nor" is the original thumb compass with pointer and needle stability which exceeds the standard; price down $8 to $90.
The "Nor Spectra" is is similar with a colour key round the outside of the dial as a short-cut to maintaining
a bearing; down $14 to $110. These are designed for wearing on the Left hand.
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; down $20 to $170. Pretty much all the top orienteers use this compass. Usually available in either LH or RH versions, most people prefer the LH one.
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.
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.
We have specially brought in the Silva OMC compass, which is the Jet Spectra with elastic straps to hold it on the back of the hand. This is ideal for MTBO or Adventure Racing. Temporarily out of stock, please enquire.
Traditional Baseplates from Finland
Suunto also has an advanced needle that works anywhere in the world. (Most compasses are balanced for a specific
latitude zone.) 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, we've absorbed the GST rise. (The other global one is the MC-2 which is a sighting compass with flip-up mirror.)