10 Best Kayak Compasses In 2023

The AOFAR AF-4580 sighting compass for kayaks is built with an optical eyepiece for recording a precise bearing or azimuth. It's equipped with both a 360-degree scale and a reversed 360-degree scale, you can take both forward and reverse bearings. Additionally, it has both a ruler and a measuring wheel allowing you to measure both straight and curve distances on maps.

Accuracy and Visibility

To ensure accuracy while your kayak is in motion, the AOFAR features a thermoelastic damping liquid-filled capsule that enables the needle to reliably point to the magnetic north. Further enhancing its reliability and visibility are an aiming line, adjustable prism lens, a magnifier, and a luminous arrow and dial.

Construction and Use

Made of a heavy-duty die-cast Zinc alloy, the AOFAR AF-4580 is a military-grade compass that is shake-proof, waterproof, and works well in all conditions. For convenience, while kayaking, it features a tripod screw hole on the base and comes with a waterproof pouch and a lanyard.

The Brunton 70P is the best kayak compass for permanent mounting. It's incredibly durable and fits perfectly into manufacturer-ready recesses resulting in a smooth factory-installed look. With features such as 5-degree graduations, a direct reading disk, and a reciprocal bearing that makes reading your back bearing a breeze, it's one of the best kayak compasses to consider if precision is a top priority for you.

Accuracy and Visibility

Though the 70P isn't as advanced as some of Brunton's other models, its accuracy is still top level. Thanks to the back bearing, 5-degree graduations, and direct reading disk, it provides reliable readings and headings and is very easy to read while seated in your kayak seat.

Construction and Use

Measuring 4 x 3 x 3 inches, the Brunton 70P is a low profile compass you can easily mount on your kayak's dashboard. Even better, you have a choice of bulkhead, dash, or surface mounting. Built for the long haul, it boasts Brunto's signature top-tier quality and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Lightweight and buoyant yet packed with handy features, the Suunto MCB Amphibian marine compass for kayaks is perfect for kayakers. The features include a fixed declination scale, a rotating bezel with 2-degree inclement, and a sighting mirror. For ease of orienteering with maps, it's equipped with a clear plastic base for laying over maps and charts and a map scale in inches and millimeters.

Accuracy and Visibility

Thanks to the liquid-filled capsule that steadies the needle, you will find the MCB Amphibian accurate and easy to read while your kayak is moving. It also features a notched 0 - 360 degrees rotating bezel that turns easily, a fixed declination scale for accounting for the difference between magnetic and true north, and a sighting mirror that locks at 60, 120, and 180 degrees.

Construction and Use 

As you can expect from Suunto, the MCB is an incredibly sturdy marine compass featuring a floating polypropylene lid, a tungsten steel needle, and a sapphire jeweled bearing pivot. To cap it off,  the detachable snap-lock nylon lanyard has a whistle which makes this compass even handier.

The Sun Company SeaTurtl is a full-size marine compass you can easily mount on your kayak deck so you have an accurate and easy to read a compass. With an anti-slip base and four adjustable elastic cords, you can rest assured it will fit snugly on a kayak. The good thing is that it comes off easily too and you can use it on multiple boats. 

Accuracy and Visibility

Being a full-size marine compass with a liquid damped needle, the SeaTurtl guarantees top-notch accuracy in determining the direction of travel. The standard size combined with the adjustable hood that prevents glare also makes the compass very easy to read from the cockpit. 

Construction and Use

With an anti-slip base and four adjustable elastic cords, the Sun Company SeaTurtl is easy to mount on any kayak deck. It's easy to take it off too and fantastic for using on multiple boats. Construction quality is marine-grade featuring rugged ABS plastic, foam pads on the base, and an adjustable hood that protects the compass when it's not in use.

The best thing about the TurnOnSport Orienteering compass for kayaks is that it comes equipped with a top-notch 1:24000 compass scale, a ruler, an Azimuth bearing with a 360 degree rotating bezel, and a magnifying glass. All these tools make it very easy to lay on a map and figure out which direction to go. Even with all these features, it's inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to use. 

Accuracy and Visibility

Despite the inexpensive price point, the TurnOnSport provides professional-level accuracy and isn't prone to wobbling. This is because it utilizes a high-speed precision magnetic needle in a liquid-filled capsule (bubble-free). On top of this, the numbers and markings are easy to read from the comfort of your kayak seat. 

Construction and Use

Another impressive thing about the TurnOnSport kayak compass is that the construction is military grade. It's made of heavy-duty plastic that can handle the rigors of kayaking. At the same time, the compass is compact and comes with a lanyard.

The Ritchie Navigation X-11Y is the best kayaking compass for night use. It's innovatively designed with a hole for inserting a small glow stick and comes with three mini glow sticks that provide illumination for hours. As for functionality, it is a simple compass that excels at pointing north and has an extended operating temperature range.

Accuracy and Visibility

The Ritchie Navigation X-11Y features a 2-inch direct-reading dial and big letters making it very easy to read. More importantly, the compass needle finds North slowly as the fluid dampens its movement well. Due to this, reading the direction while on a moving kayak isn't difficult.

Construction and Use

Featuring a rubber housing, a silicone case, and a brass-based dome, the Ritchie X-11Y is one of the most durable kayaking compasses out there. Additionally, a built-in roller diaphragm gives it an extended temperature operating range. Finally, the included lanyard is long enough to go around your neck and still have slack to tuck the compass inside a pocket.

Finally, the RITCHIE XP-99 Kayaker compass is possibly the best compass you can mount on your kayak. Besides superior accuracy and durability, what is special about it is that it has a movable bezel with a heading memory indicator. This means that it's capable of remembering the way. Beyond this, it looks nice mounted on a kayak and boasts an extended operating temperature range. 

Accuracy and Visibility

For superior accuracy, this top rated compass for kayaks features exclusive DirectiveForce magnets. The dial's rotation is smooth and the compass holds a steady bearing for accurate navigation even in rough seas. Furthermore, you can adjust the rotating bezel to set your heading and compensate for declination. As for visibility, it has a two and three-quarter inch reading dial and the numbers are large enough to read easily from a distance. 

Construction and Use

Even though the Kayaker XP-99 is a much more expensive kayak compass, the quality is unparalleled. Featuring composite construction and diaphragm and backed by a five-year warranty, it's a durable compass you can count on to provide accurate directions for years to come. This surface mount compass is also very easy to mount on the deck of your kayak as no wiring is required. Once the base is mounted, you can twist off the compass itself for safekeeping when you're not using it.