Selecting a Compass

The orienteering compass is a critical piece of equipment for outdoor travel.

A good orienteering compass has these features:

• Clear base plate that allows you to see the map underneath
• Straight sides for aligning two points or for drawing lines
• Liquid-filled needle housing that keeps the magnetic needle relatively steady when taking readings
• Two arrows: a direction arrow painted on the base plate (or you may use the edge of the compass) is used to point the compass from your starting point to your destination; an orienting arrow, located in the needle housing, is used to orient your compass to your map

“Red Fred in the Shed”: Using a Compass

Think of the rhyme “Red Fred in the Shed” to remember how to face north. As you perform the steps below, remember the following.

• To face north, move your body–not the compass.
• Think of the red magnetic needle as “red Fred.”
• Think of “N” (the north indicator) as the “shed.”
• Follow these steps to face north.
  1. Twist the dial until N is lined up with the direction-of-travel arrow.
  2. Keep the compass level as you point the direction-of-travel arrow directly away from your waist.
  3. Keeping the compass in the same position with your body, turn your body until the red needle aligns with the N (think of it as putting “red Fred in the shed”). You now face north.

Metal objects, such as knives, gun barrels, belt buckles, etc., will affect a magnetic needle.