Selecting a Compass

The orienteering compass is a critical piece of equipment for outdoor travel.

A good orienteering compass has these features:

• Clear base plate that allows you to see the map underneath
• Straight sides for aligning two points or for drawing lines
• Liquid-filled needle housing that keeps the magnetic needle relatively steady when taking readings
• An orienting arrow, located in the needle housing, that is used to orient your compass to your map