NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Paul Dolkas
Date: 2013 May 27, 13:35 -0700
I’ve always liked the mirror-type backpacking compass, modified with a dot on the pivot axis. It’s easy to line up the dot with the line on the mirror and with the image of your target, and you can do so within about a degree. The mirror also allows you to read the bearing while you are lined up with the target.
Once you do that, the transparent base allows you to quickly draw the plot line on the map.
Paul Dolkas
From: NavList@fer3.com [mailto:NavList@fer3.com] On Behalf Of John H
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 12:53 PM
To: paul@dolkas.net
Subject: [NavList] Lensatic vs. backpacking compasses
Last fall I asked about the accuracy of hand-held compasses. I forget who put me on to it, but I purchased a lensatic compass based on recommendations.
Yesterday, I took it out on an orienteering race. While I *think* it's more accurate than the standard clear-base-plate backpacking compass, it's slower to use.
I found it took longer to take sights, and getting bearings from the map definitely takes a longer time. The back-packer compass allows you to take bearings without having to align the map. Also, a couple of times, the disk of the compass partially froze up on me.
For the accuracy of orienteering, I'd go with the backpacker compass, as it seems to be faster and easier to use. I do agree that the lensatics have a betting accuracy.
This is just a recitation of my experience. Maybe with more time with a lensatic, I can use it more rapidly.
