Coghlan’s Outdoor Compasses – Lightweight, Durable Navigation Tools for Hiking, Camping, Orienteering & Survival with Map, Wrist, Lensatic, LED, and Carabiner Options

I have a number of compasses. They never leave the house. Most of the time I have no need for one and if push comes to shove, there is always the cell phone. However, this one is different. It clips onto something with ease and on those occasions where it helps me to figure out where I'm headed, it is very valuable. I was in a state part the other day with only a sketchy map. There were lots of trees, so you couldn't see very far. I was trying to find ruins. By keeping an eye on my direction they were easy to find. Do you need a compass for that? No. Was it useful to have one? Yes. This thing works well, seems accurate enough for those small tasks, is well built, and is simple, small, and light enough that you might as well take it with you. When I go for a walk, I now take this with me, just in case. I'm not exactly on rescue missions and never really in an area where I could get seriously lost, but heading back to the parking, or re-calibrating which way I was headed has its uses.

This small compass is a great tool to carry as a keychain, and it accurately points to magnetic north. However, it only works well when left to settle—if you hold it while walking, it doesn't provide reliable readings. Overall, a handy and functional piece for those who need a portable direction guide.

The build is mediocre. Nevertheless it works surprisingly well. Points North. The needle is a Nervous Nellie continually trembling. But it points North. The degree rose printed at an angle is a nice touch. Makes it easy to read. Case is quite thin but works. The needle locks via a little locking lever. The gold strip you can see inside isn't a direction pointer but part of the locking mechanism. For the price it's worth getting for casual use. Pointing an OTA (Over the Air) antenna the right direction(s) to cut the cable. Unlike many of the inexpensive compasses this one points North.

I have two Silva compasses, and I ordered Coughlan's Standard Map Compass as an inexpensive alternative for my grandkids. I wasn't expecting it to be anywhere near as good as my Silva compasses, but I was happy to discover that I was wrong! Coughlan's Standard is absolutely outstanding in build quality, simplicity, accuracy, and durability, and I expect it to last for years.But I don't understand the significant price fluctuations over a period of about ten days. In early September 2023, it was a little over six dollars. A week later, it was less than five, and it was at that point that I bought four of them. I was so happy with it, I was planning to buy a couple more, but the price had gone up to over ten dollars! It started at 6.50, then 4.75, then 10.50. Or in terms of percentages, there was a 27% decrease followed by a 120% increase. Meanwhile Coughlan's DELUXE Map Compass is just over six dollars. This is just plain nuts! I guess I'll have to upgrade to the Deluxe version if I want to save money!One final note: Throw away the "directions" that come with the compass. Apparently they were written in French and very poorly translated into English. Even allowing for the language differences, they are needlessly complex, thoroughly confusing, and just plain wrong in places. "Be Expert With Map and Compass" by Bjorn Kjellstrom (3rd ed.) is a good introduction to using a compass.

Works perfectly. Great for clipping to a backpack or car keys. Reliable and accurate.

It’s a good size to hang outside a bag for a quick check but not so sure about it’s accuracy

Seems great so far. Oh, and I'm still found. Good for the price for sure.

I really like the design and size of this compass but it didn't make it past 2 outings on a backpack strap on my shoulder. It wasn't being knocked around and still appears new.It actually points almost directly south now and I confirmed it was pointing directly north before using it as a clip on.I did get rained on lightly, didn't wear any rain gear, so maybe that ruined it. It still appears to work, just points south now.