🧭 Coghlan's Navigational Compass Review

Needle works well. It strongly strives for magnetic north and does not need to be wobbled. The compass is lightweight and attaches to a strap for easy access. However, the bezel rotates freely and doesn't hold the directional setting securely.

Trail compass deserves less than one star. Other models may be better. This compass really only has one NS needle. It has no internal directional arrow. The bevel is notched and an outer notch is white. It doesn't have enough liquid, so it will take some time before you can determine N.

I put it on my motorbike. When parking, I checked several times when I already knew my direction exactly, and each time I was accurate. I haven't tested it in motion, but my bike rumbles quite a bit. For my purposes, it's small enough to be seen while riding, and because I have it on the handlebars, the velcro partially hides it. I can actually stop if I get lost or trying to decide which direction to turn when my sat nav says go east. (vs go left or right), which of course is not a product of…

Surprised at such a price as this work. I keep one dangling in my wallet when I travel. Sometimes it's easy to get lost walking through unfamiliar cities, and this compass will help you stay on course. TO UPDATE:. I use this compass regularly for my current trip hiking/traveling in Nepal and Turkey. Really works. Better built than the cheaper whistle version (I had one too). Got my mind on Walmart. I noticed that Revain has now lowered the price.

This compass has a cheap look. The "rotating bezel” does not refer to the compass bezel, but to the unmarked green ring around it. I have no idea why anyone would want to rotate an unmarked green ring to even include it as a feature. I'm also not sure if the compass I have reliably points north magnetically, as each time I pull it out the needle makes two or three full revolutions back and forth before stopping and only slowly drifting.

Poor workmanship. Other than general direction, it would be of little use and nothing to rely on. If you want to hang something around your neck, the Coghlans Compass Knob Combo Whistle is your best bet. Then you at least have an alert method when you get into trouble. It has multiple features to play with. For a cheap compass that also comes with instructions and something to use and learn from, the Coghlans Deluxe Map Compass, which currently costs a few cents more, is a much better choice.

It's built well enough to carry in a bag, although the model I bought is plastic. However, it has a metal latch and a glass (or glass-like) screen. It folds easily and has a metal clip, but don't rely on a case. The screen is easy to read and I like the pop-up magnifying glass with the notch at the top center. The lines also help so I can read the numbers and know the direction very well. The only problem is that it is very slow to respond to reading the heading (direction). For example, when…

This compass is a bargain and a great value. I've bought several inexpensive (under $10) compasses and this one is by far the best of them all. And I personally prefer the fact that it's strictly magnetic and not filled with liquid. Although no longer made in Japan (now made in Taiwan), this compass is well made. It is lightweight yet strong and durable. It has a simple, attractive, easy-to-read dial and a luminous dial. The stop lock stays in place and really works (compared to other brands…

The official current US military version costs more than 10 times. This is a full featured lens compass with limitations; but perfect for backyard adventures or those wanting to learn lens compass techniques. The biggest and most obvious limitation is that the bezel doesn't stay where it's rotated. The phosphorescent direction indicators and frame markings work in semi-darkness and in the dark as long as they are lit. The magnetic map is pointing north as closely as I can tell, within a few…