10 Best Compasses In 2021

The Suunto MC-2G Navigator compass provides everything that an outdoor enthusiast needs – exceptional accuracy, user-friendly design, and an abundance of great features. It’s equipped with a Global needle and an adjustable declination scale which makes it the best hiking compass regardless of your location in the world.

However, the MC-2G is much more than just a compass – it also features a magnifying glass, rulers on the sides, a sighting mirror, and even a sighting scope. This makes it a real multi-purpose unit that has its purpose in a variety of situations. As a cherry on top, the metal bezel on these navigational compasses features illumination to make nighttime use a lot easier.

Thanks to its built-in inclinometer and sighting optic, the Eyeskey compass presents a true all-in-one tool on your outdoor adventures. It allows you to easily find direction, read the distance, and even measure angles of the slopes that you come across. All of this, along with its high-quality construction, ranks it among the best hiking compasses on the market.

The casing of this top rated compass for hiking is made from an aluminum alloy that balances perfectly between providing strength and keeping the weight low. The compass is waterproof, shockproof, and perfectly safe to use in extremely cold and hot conditions (-22 to 158°F).

If you’re after a reliable and budget-friendly pocket compass, check out the Sharp Survival compass for navigation. It provides exceptional accuracy so you can rely on it whether you’re in the woods or on the trail. Unlike most modern pocket compasses, this one uses a traditional design that many hikers and survivalists really enjoy.

Made from brass alloy, the casing of this small compass is incredibly lightweight. While it’s not particularly strong and impact-resistant, it’s the perfect compass for backpacking if you’re weight-conscious (only 1.6 ounces). Lastly, the 360-degree bezel features 2° increments and even allows you to rotate it so you can follow the bearing easier.

The heavy-duty zinc alloy casing of the Eyeskey Lensatic compass makes it a fantastic choice for survival situations and extreme conditions. While it’s fairly affordable, it has many features that you usually find on high-end models which is why it’s probably the best compass for backpacking in this price range.

The face of this top rated compass for hiking is bright and comes with dark 2-degree bezel increments that make it very easy to read. Besides the navigation device itself, you’ll also get a sighting scope, a bubble level, a lanyard, and a protective casing for carrying.

The SE CC4580 navigation compass is a fantastic model for people who go hard on their gear. The casing is made from tough impact-resistant metal and the compass will continue working even after you leave it in the rain or drop it several times. Because of this, many people consider it the best compass for orienteering, scouting, and training.

Besides the compass itself, this compact little package comes with an abundance of great features. For example, it has an adjustable sighting diopter lens, a magnifying glass on the side, and a table for easily calculating distance.

One of the things that separate the Cammenga military pocket compass from the rest is its tritium illumination. It’s completely passive (no charging) and keeps the bezel and dial illuminated for up to 7 years. Due to this, it’s probably the best hiking compass for land navigation in low lighting conditions.

The casing of this great compass is made from strong metal and features a sight wire, a magnifying lens, and a braided nylon lanyard. Lastly, with dimensions that measure 6 x 4 x 3 inches, it’s a great pocket compass that you can use for any type of outdoor adventure.

Owing to its exceptional build quality, the Suunto M-3 D Leader compass is the best backpacking compass for extreme conditions (snow and low temperatures). The rugged plastic housing withstands bumps and hits, while the steel needle in this Suunto compass provides top-level bearing accuracy regardless of the situation.

Like most other Suunto compasses, the M-3 D Leader comes with a liquid-filled capsule that makes the operation more stable. As for carrying, the hiking compass weighs only 1.62 ounces and comes with a detachable snap-lock lanyard so you don’t lose it.

In terms of convenience and functionality, the Suunto Clipper L-B NH is easily the best compass for backpacking that you’ll come across. Its unique design allows you to easily clip it to your watch band, map, or jacket sleeve, so you can quickly and easily read it. Despite being the smallest compass in our compasses reviews, it offers great performance as well as durability in outdoor conditions.

At only 0.18 ounces, the Clipper L-B NH compass for camping is one of the lightest models on the market and you won’t even notice you’re wearing it. If we had to point out a downside, it’s that these compasses for hiking come with 10° increments which some outdoor enthusiasts might find problematic.

Whether you’re an avid hiker or simply need a compact EDC compass, the Brunton TruArc 3 Global compass will stand up to the task. This high-quality compass comes with a Global needle system that allows it to give you incredible compass accuracy worldwide (both northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere). In addition, it doesn’t lose polarity and resist interference from other magnets which is why it may be the best orienteering compass to get.

Measuring only 2.5 x 3.5 inches, these Global compasses don’t require too much space and fit easily into any pocket. Their multi-zone needle, tool-free declination adjustment, and easy operation make them an incredible deal.

The thing that we really like about the Ueasy Prismatic hand compasses is that they’re equipped with a sighting telescope, a distance meter, and feature a baseplate design with a reference table. Thanks to this, it’s perhaps the best compass to get if you need to calculate distance often. This cheap compass is very popular for boy scouts, hiking, navigation, and even sailing.

For top-level performance, the Ueasy accurate compass comes with an oil-filled capsule as well as a floating dial. To make the deal even better, the manufacturer gives a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you have any problems with it.