10 Best Compasses Selections 2025 in the United States

The Orienteering Compass from TurnOnSport is a versatile tool suitable for a range of outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, and camping. It features a sturdy acrylic baseplate with a rotating bezel, ensuring durability and ease of use. The magnetic needle, housed in a liquid-filled, bubble-free capsule, provides fast and reliable north-pointing capabilities, making it ideal for field navigation. The compass includes a magnifying glass for detailed map reading and a ruler scale of 1:24000 for precise route mapping.

These features make it a reliable companion for both beginners and experienced users, including boy scouts and survivalists. Additionally, its lightweight and compact design (4 inches long and 2.4 inches wide) makes it easily portable, fitting well into pockets or backpacks. The inclusion of a lanyard enhances its convenience for carrying during trips.

Its lack of declination adjustment might be a drawback for those needing to calibrate the compass for different geographical areas. The plastic material, while lightweight, may not be as durable as metal alternatives. This compass makes a great survival gift for outdoor enthusiasts, but for advanced navigation or professional use, one might seek a model with more robust features like declination adjustment. The TurnOnSport Orienteering Compass is a high-quality, user-friendly device catering well to casual hikers, scouts, and beginners in navigation.

The Cammenga Lensatic Tritium Compass is a solid choice for anyone needing a reliable navigation tool, be it for backpacking, hunting, hiking, or military use. Its standout feature is its military-grade build quality, trusted by the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. The compass is shockproof and waterproof, enhancing its durability, and made of sturdy aluminum, making it resilient in harsh conditions. Additionally, it glows in the dark thanks to its tritium microlights, ensuring visibility without the need for batteries for up to 12 years. This feature can be particularly useful in low-light conditions or night-time navigation.

The compass is accurate and easy to read with its magnifying lens, sight wire, and dial graduations in both degrees and mils, which can help in precise navigation. However, it lacks a declination adjustment feature, which can be a drawback for users in areas with significant magnetic declination. The compass is relatively lightweight at 0.18 kilograms, making it easy to carry without adding much burden to your gear. Its compact size further adds to its portability.

Though the Cammenga lensatic tritium compass is a bit on the pricier side compared to other models, its reliability and durability justify the cost for those who need a dependable navigation tool. This compass is particularly well-suited for serious outdoor enthusiasts and professionals who require precision and reliability in their navigation equipment.

The SUUNTO SS004231001 MC-2 NH Mirror Compass is designed for serious hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who need a reliable and precise navigation tool. With its advanced navigational features, including a sighting hole and notch for accurate bearings and declination adjustment, this compass ensures dependable performance. The liquid-filled capsule offers stable needle movement, enhancing usability even in low light conditions. Additionally, the compass includes a clinometer for measuring slopes, which can be very useful in mountainous terrain.

Made in Finland, it reflects Suunto's long-standing heritage of high-quality craftsmanship and innovation. The durable plastic build ensures it can withstand the rigors of outdoor use, and its compact size (3.98 x 0.71 x 2.56 inches) and light weight (74 grams) make it easy to carry without adding significant bulk to your gear. For those unfamiliar with compass use, the learning curve might be a bit steep initially. While the build is generally durable, the plastic material may not be as robust as some metal alternatives. Despite these minor drawbacks, it is well-suited for various activities including hiking, trekking, and skiing, offering both metric UTM scales and an inch ruler for versatile navigation.