Using the Compass
Unleash Your Inner Navigator
Navigate with Precision, Conquer Every Terrain!
The compass is an essential tool in orienteering, helping participants navigate accurately and efficiently through various terrains. While the map is your primary guide, the compass ensures you stay oriented and follow the correct direction to reach your destination.
Map reading is the cornerstone skill for any orienteer. In fact, you can often navigate a beginner-level orienteering course successfully without a compass. However, as you venture into more intricate navigation challenges and step off marked trails, a compass becomes an indispensable tool.
While compasses come in various designs, their core function remains the same: to guide you with precision. Choosing the right compass for your orienteering needs is essential, especially as you advance your skills.
When you first start out orienteering, most of your navigation will be on trail and a compass is only needed to orient your map. However, once you start going up in course difficulty and venturing off-trail, you will need something to help you figure out the direction you should head. This is where your compass will become a vital aid in helping you find a control that is off-trail.
Types of Compasses for Orienteering
Baseplate Compass
- Features a rectangular base with a rotating dial.
- Ideal for beginners and general orienteering tasks.
Thumb Compass
- Worn on the thumb for quick reference while holding the map.
- Preferred by advanced orienteers for fast-paced navigation.