COMPASSES (updated 30 Mar 26)

Specialist orienteering compasses! Most not available in downtown shops. Markup rate reduces as price rises to help you buy the best! Magnifier attachments and compass cases are listed on the Miscellaneous page.

MOSCOW ORIENTEERING COMPASSES

• A minor tragedy, some major brands seem unable to make orienteering compasses that work properly in New Zealand. A major tragedy is that Russian compasses work well but Russia is embroiled in conflict in Ukraine. See the news page for our views. Prices were increased in Jan 2023 to recognise the NZ Govt 35% import duty, and in May to reflect increasing costs of the whole supply chain. And then we ran out. Some more arrived later in the year but we warned of further interruptions.

  The news page records that we ran out again in March 2025. We received very small shipments of Moscow thumbies in June, August and September. Amazingly the price in euros hasn't changed, but the exchange rate has slipped about 12%. We've adjusted the prices to cover the landed cost, including 35% "Putin duty", but kept our dollar margin the same. We dont seek to profit from these external factors. New prices are shown below, but further fluctuations are likely.

• Moscow Model 22 (Beginner)
  With the demise of the clip-on compass, beginner coaches have said "just get them into a thumb compass straight away." So we've brought in the cheapest compass from Moscow. The needle isn't specially steady, but neither was the clip-on. It points north! And as with the clip-on, we'll sell individual compasses at the box-lot price to help families. The costs of getting stock out of Russia, slipping exchange rates and the 35% Putin duty raises the price to $59. Remember you get the same reduced margin as a school buying 10! You can get a LH or a RH version, it goes on the hand you hold your map with.
   
• Moscow Model 8 (the "Toyota")
  The Moscow Model 8 is what we call the "Toyota" of the compass world. It has a very capable needle and damping, and it has the rainbow segments round the outside. It suits the majority of orienteers, including secondary school students. We've got LH and RH thumb compasses, a baseplate and a wrist version. Hole to attach magnifier. The costs of getting stock out of Russia, slipping exchange rates and the 35% Putin duty raises the price to $125. There's also a Moscow magnifier attachment, see the miscellaneous page.
   
• Moscow Model 3 (the "Subaru")
  Exactly the same mechanism as the Model 8, just without the rainbow segments round the dial. It's got degrees instead, which makes it more useful for tramping/AR on topo maps. Both the 22, the 3 and the 8 have a turnable capsule, for "setting" by traditional methods. LH and RH thumbies, and we also have the baseplate and wrist versions. Hole to attach magnifier. Price is $125 incl Putin duty.
  
   
• Moscow 9* Elite (the "Ferrari")
  Moscow has several combinations of speed and stability, we've tried them all in NZ conditions. And the 9* Elite comes up trumps! Er, I'll re-word that, comes up tops! If you can read while running you'll appreciate the steadiness of this needle, it's superb. LH and RH thumb versions, or baseplate or wrist. Hole to attach Moscow magnifier. The costs of getting stock out of Russia, slipping exchange rates and the 35% Putin duty raise the price to $168. But hey, no more than the big brands were decades ago!
  
  
• Left Thumb, Right Thumb, Hand or Wrist Available
  A cool feature of the Moscow range is that all capsules (the needle housing) are interchangeable with the bases. As well as the boyscout-style baseplate and the orienteering-style thumbie, you can get a wrist holder which is a boon for skiers, mountain-bikers and adventure racers. The capsule of your choice will fit. The price of the base is built-in to our prices, and extra bases are just $20 incl Putin duty. Here are instructions to swap capsules including turning a LH thumbie into a RH one!

SILVA ORIENTEERING COMPASSES

• For several years we've experienced various problems with Silva thumb compasses. A new batch appears to fix them, but another one crops up. At present we do not have stock we are confident in. Silva was the pioneer of the orienteering compass, we started in business to supply the (then) new-fangled thumb compass, and we hope it can solve its quality issues. But until we are sure, we will not supply, sorry. The headings below are kept in the hope that the problems will be fixed.

  The problems have not affected the popular tramping compass the Ranger, and we can get some other models which the agent brings into NZ. Please page down for other compass brands which we stock.
   

• Traditional Tramping Compass
  Silva Ranger, best-selling compass in New Zealand, turnable needle housing in a rectangular baseplate; degree markings; 20mm magnifier; Swedish quality; Dec 2019 price reviewed downwards to $65. All-round "boyscout" compass suitable for tramping, adventure sport, getting your bearings in a strange city...
   
• Competition Baseplate Compass - Not currently available
  Silva Race Plate Zoom, traditional baseplate compass with the Jet needle technology and a big magnifying lens.
  
• Mid-Range Thumb Compasses - Not currently available
  Most orienteers now prefer these as they promote better attention to the map; your compass, hand and map become one unit. The mid-range "Nor Spectra" is not currently available.
   
• Top Thumb Compass - Not currently available
  Silva Race S Thumb Compass, Jet needle with stabilising disc, plus colour key round the outside of the dial as a short-cut to maintaining a bearing. The top-of-the-line "Silva Race" is not currently available.
   
• Do I Need the Jet Needle?
  It costs a lot more because the tiny magnets (there are two) 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 - Not currently available
  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, talk to a kiwi who has orienteered in Europe, or search online for a retailer in the Northern hemisphere.
   
• Back of the Hand - Not currently available
  The Silva OMC has a jet needle in a housing which straps in the back of the hand. This is "handy" for MTBO and adventure racing.

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 and A-30. The A-30 compares to the Silva Ranger but has a 30mm magnifier which is twice the size of the Ranger's one.
  
   
• Global Needle - Back Again!
  Suunto also has an advanced needle that works anywhere in the world. (Most compasses are balanced for a specific region.) The model that suits orienteering and adventure racing is the Suunto M3-G (Global). It's a baseplate compass with adjustable declination for topo maps. (The other global ones are sighting compasses with a flip-up mirror.) The price has been up, then down, and now its about the middle of the yoyo - $130.
   
• 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 magnifier attachments in Miscellaneous...

For mail order phone 027 232 4310, or write to at 23 St James Ave, Lower Hutt 5011. We'll invoice with the goods, and you can pay by bank transfer. Prices shown include GST.