The 7 Best Compasses for Hiking in 2024

Paper map and compass navigation is a lost art now that there are so many more convenient options, such as a Hiking GPS, a GPS Watch, and a plethora of Hiking Navigation Smartphone Apps. In addition, a hiking compass is crucial for safe navigation.

Going retro on a hike doesn’t mean you have to leave your GPS at home or make a haphazard route. The compasses of today are vast improvements over their ancient ancestors.

The following are 2024’s top picks for hiking and backpacking compasses.

Best Compass For Hiking & Backpacking 2024

1. Silva Expedition Global Compass

Think about getting a compass with a worldwide needle, like the Silva Expedition Compass, if you intend to go to any part of the globe. Having a universal needle means it can be used in any magnetic zones.

That’s not all, either. The luminous marks are visible for up to 4 hours in the dark after being triggered by sunshine or a flashlight, allowing you to utilize it even in low light settings.

You can use the compass with a paper map to determine how far you need to travel. It is mounted on a clear double-sided ruler.

A removable lanyard keeps the compass secure around your neck, and a slope card may be used with a topographical map to determine how far you’ll need to hike in order to maintain your current altitude.

In 2022, this is without a doubt the best Silva compass available and among the top compasses available elsewhere in the world.

2. Suunto A-10 Compass

The high-grade steel needle on this renowned Suunto A-10 Compass rotates on a jewel bearing, making it perfectly balanced for the Northern Hemisphere.

In addition to the compass, it has two rulers (one in centimeters and one in inches) that can be used in conjunction with a map to determine how far you need to walk.

As the map can be seen through the transparent ruler, you can use it as a compass without covering it up.

There’s a detachable snap-lock lanyard attached to the compass so you can keep it on your person and secure it in a pocket without worrying about it falling out.

It’s cheap and offers great value for the money. Take into account that there are actually two different models—one for the northern hemisphere (NH) and one for the southern hemisphere (SH).

3. Suunto MC-2 G Navigator Compass

Suunto makes another excellent global compass with a V-notch in the sighting mirror for pinpoint bearings using local landmarks.

This mirror also folds down to shield the compass from harm and save space when not in use.

Additionally, it possesses a number of additional desirable qualities. You can use the transparent ruler with its metric and imperial scales beside any map. The bezel ring also glows in the dark to aid the user’s orientation. Even if you have a torch, you might need it to read the marks on the ruler. It has a wrist lock and removable lanyard with a snap closure for adjusting the declination.

In 2022, this is without a doubt the Best Sighting Compass available.

4. Suunto M-3 Compass

When it comes to trekking and backpacking, this the best compass from Suunto is, in my opinion, one of the best available in 2022.

It has a clear ruler with both metric and imperial scales, and a globally balanced compass, so you can use it with a paper map to calculate how far it is to each stop along your route.

The built-in magnifying lens, the ability to alter the declination adjustment, and the illuminated markers for usage in low light are a few of the extra features that contribute to the overall price. A wrist lanyard that snaps shut is included, and the lanyard can be removed.

This Suunto model is the best hiking compass available in 2022.

5. Silva Ranger 2.0 Compass

When it starts to rain or if you’re carrying your waterproof gear when canyoneering, the  Silva Ranger 2.0 Compass is the ideal sighting compass to have on hand. The IPX8 grade for water resistance is extremely high.

Although it lacks some features that would be considered essential, it has many other useful ones. A declination correction scale, a removable lanyard, and a gripping, non-slip DryFlex socket are all included. As an added bonus, the fluorescent markings make it legible even in dim lighting, and it’s pretty big and simple to read.

There are two rulers, one on either side of the compass, that can be used in conjunction with a map. However, it should be noted that both rulers are in kilometers rather than imperial measurements, therefore this is not the optimal choice for the three countries in the world that still use imperial measurements.

You won’t need to worry about it getting wet because it is one of the best sighting compasses available.

6. Brunton TruArc5 Compass

The Brunton TruArc5 Compass may be more in your price range than the other compasses we’ve shown you.

Because of its worldwide needle, which provides reliable direction in both the northern and southern hemispheres, this compass may be taken almost everywhere.

The map magnifier and extra-large base plate of this compass make it a breeze to read and operate. And the angle of resolution is just 2 degrees.

You’ll need to be careful not to confuse the imperial and metric distance scales on your map, as they are located on the same side.

It is assembled in Riverton, Wyoming, in the United States of America. A lanyard is included, too, even if it isn’t visible in the picture.

This is the best global needle compass for the money.

7. Suunto Clipper L-B NH Compass

I think this must be one of the simplest compasses out there. It’s a simple compass without a baseplate that you can clip onto your watchband, backpack strap, or map to easily find North. The needle is made of hardened steel.

The Suunto Clipper Compass is an alternative if you’re seeking for a simple, ultralight compass that indicates north.

It’s the most reasonably priced option while still maintaining reliable Suunto standards.

If you’re going on a long distance hike and all you need is a way to find north, this is the greatest lightest compass you can get. Please be aware that there is no “Global” version of this product, only NH and SH versions for the respective hemispheres (G).

Buyers Guide

Before going out and purchasing a compass, there are few things you should know. The following information may help you decide whether or not to purchase a compass; however, I have not included a guide to using a compass (that is a pretty lengthy post that I am working on).

Sighting Compass Mirror

Some of the compasses evaluated here can double as sighting compasses thanks to an included mirror. Holding the compass at arm’s length from the body allows for a highly precise fix on the desired landmark when taking a bearing or return bearing. Use of a sighting mirror improves the reliability of compass readings.

The sighting mirror on my very first compass was a game changer. After some practice with a paper map and compass, I found that I preferred the simpler, lighter compass without a sighting mirror. Whether or not you need them is entirely up to you.

Rotating Bezel

The best compasses in our roundup don’t all have rotating bezels, but the most of them do. To adjust for the declination—the angle by which magnetic north differs from real north—the bezel must be turned. For the sake of brevity, I will not explain what it is or how to use the bezel (as mentioned above, that will be the focus of a whole in-depth article). You should note, nevertheless, that a rotating bezel is required for precise measurements.

Global Needle

Some compasses aren’t designed to be used in every country. You will need a compass with a worldwide needle if you plan on using it abroad. You’ll see the extra ‘G’ in the compass’s description quite a bit if this is the case.

Most compasses are only balanced for either the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, so you’ll need to know which hemisphere you’re in before you buy one.

The letters ‘NH’ can be found in the description of compasses that have been adjusted for use in the Northern Hemisphere.

Compass bearings that are Southern Hemisphere balanced are typically labeled with a ‘SH.

To indicate that a compass is suitable for use in any part of the world, the letter ‘G’ is included in the designation.

This is perhaps the most crucial piece of information to have before buying a compass.

Conclusion

So, if you want a compass that works well no matter where you go, the most important features to look for are an adjustable declination, a worldwide needle that can find north in any location, and a magnifying base plate. In any case, our list of contenders gives you lots of options.