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.

I have ADHD and am absolutely horrible at directions. I got this to keep on my keys so I always have it, so if somebody tells me to go in a direction, I won't screw up. It works great, is the perfect size, and easy to read/see. It's also really sturdy- I imagine if you ran it over with a car it probably wouldn't like that very much, but if you're just carrying it around, I doubt you'll encounter any issues.

I bought this Coughlan Map Compass almost two years ago (in May 2014). I had no use for it immediately so I left it in its package until today, when I opened it to use to align my TV antenna.The good points are: (1) it's cheap, I paid five dollars and forty-seven cents for mine and now the price is only five dollars and two cents which is a real bargain for what you're getting; (2) it's 5.5 inches long -- plenty long enough to reach between most map points when plotting; (3) it has a magnifier lens in the middle to help you see small parts of the map in greater detail; (4) the bezel rotates relatively easily and stays where you set it; (5) it comes with a poly/nylon cord that's long enough to slip over your head and thin enough to not cause problems when using the compass on a map; (6) it comes with basic printed instructions in English and French; (7) the needle points North, moves freely, and so far hasn't gotten stuck; (8) it is very accurate.Now the bad points: (1) false advertising: it says "Liquid dampened needle" but there is no liquid in this compass; (2) the bezel rotates easily which COULD mean that it won't stay where you last set it, although for my needs I may never experience this; (3) false advertising: it says "Scales: inches" but there is no inch scale on this compass; (4) it does not have a magnetic declination setting so you'll have to make this calculation in your head or on paper when necesssary.I would have given this compass a 5-star rating if it weren't for the two "false advertising" points noted above -- especially the non-existent "Liquid dampened needle" since this was an advertised feature that made me decide to buy it. I hate it when manufacturers don't bother to update their product descriptions or flat-out lie about a product's features. Fortunately this compass has a LOT going for it, and in fact it works well enough -- even without the liquid dampening feature -- that it deserves a 4-star rating.When the manufacturer and Amazon stop making false claims about this product I may have a reason to come back and give it another star, but I honestly do not expect either of them to change a thing ... although it would be nice if they surprise me!

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.

Bought several to teach our Federation of North-American Explorers group orienteering. This is a good basic compass. A little big for the younger boys to easily hold in 1 hand comfortably but good for older boys, adults, etc. The lanyard is a nice-to-have to avoid having to hold or put in pockets when you want it close by but don't need it at the moment. Helpful to measure distances on a map, to enhance the value of learning the map-and-compass skill by the boys. The display is easy to read, and the needle is fully colored Red to point North (vs. just a dot on some other compasses I have seen). Does not handle declination, but that was beyond the scope of our lessons.I have recommended that each of our boys buy 1 of these for their day pack as one of the "Ten Essentials of Hiking!" A good item to have handy at a good price.

The compass illuminates via some small button batteries that are not secured in the body of this device. The battery cover pops open easily. I dropped my keys with this attached and the button batteries scattered. I have a four month old and this could have been dangerous. I would not order if you have children.

I bought a couple of these for emergency kits. I tested them against my Suunto MC-2 and 2 different GPS compasses. They were within +- 2°I made one into a bracelet so my mother can navigate hiking in the mountains. She usually goes ultralight as she is in her 60s and can't carry much. So this little compass is perfect for course corrections and basic orientation. The large font on the compass helps too so she doesn't need her glasses to read it. The glow is low, but readable in the dark. Pretty good for a few bucks. Test it before you trust it. Just like anything else you might rely on.