Coming from an infantry and recce background back in the day and doing a lot of map and compass work, this was a straight forward survey explanation on how to read a compass and shoot some bearings and triangulate your position. GPS sure is great and more accurate, but if your phone has a need to connect to data for a maps app and can't, having GPS in your phone won't help much. Old school works. A good skill to have.
Agreed Mike Wood. A compass certainly doesn't need batteries. I was taught this stuff in boy scouts. It's rather simple if you apply it locally once or twice. Even in town. Get local map and give it a whirl. And learn how to use a compass without a map. It's life saving knowledge. Then again, the people complaining and confused in this thread are those who think their pork magically comes wrapped in cellophane at the market.
I carry both -- I was a boy scout then later in life a Marine so I understand how to use a compass but I do also love my gadgets - so I carry both but a compass is only really good with a decent map .
Hi, All I want is a liquid free compass with global needle that shows me accurately/precisely the magnetic north, that lasts, preferably a lifetime, does what I want exist? If yes, can you recommend me some products(brands, product names)? Thank you
@@incorectulpolitic Hey, I just got interested in compasses but I saw a video of a military dude recommend a Suunto compass. He said he went basically everywhere and that that thing is bombproof. I believe it is liquid as well. It has a useful bezel and a clip which you can hook to your watch or stuff.
I was super concerned about my brain after watching the video because I only grasped about half of it. Then, I went to the comment section and felt better that I was not the only dumbass that could not catch everything. Okay, I will watch a couple dozen times until I fully comprehend. Thanks!
Slowing down the playback speed has helped me a lot with fast taking videos. One thing I am sure about, if the video were two hours long, I would have never started.
Unfortunately if you’re confused, this was a really good explanation. The only way to get it, is to do it. I made a bunch of maps for my cub scouts in a large park with “treasures” for the course. It taught them how to take a bearing, follow a waypoint, etc. Working on a smaller scale makes it easier to practice. There might be an orienteering club in your area that does this.
This is a very useful video to get folks started in navigation! Buying a compass with an adjustment for declination takes a lot of guesswork out of navigating. But if your compass doesn’t have one, remember this rhyme: West is best; East is least, Add West, subtract East to the compass bearing and you’ll get the true bearing. Example: Known declination is 4 degrees W. Compass reads 50. True bearing = 50 + 4 = 54. Known declination is 4 degrees E. Compass reads 50. True bearing = 50 - 4 = 46.
I have been using hand-held compasses in my work for the last 30 years. Indeed, I have worn out about five of them. I watched this video and found it to be good basic information. I would add that orienting lines in the compass are usually lined up with UTM lines (black lines that form squares in most USGS maps) within the map, not map edges. Using a compass with a GPS unit is a powerful system to find your way through the wild. If you are going to be working/playing in the wild, a good working knowledge of both compass and GPS are not just a good idea, they are essential.
Magnetic declination adjustment was explained nicely. A few things to keep in mind: a) a 1 degree bearing error will result in being about 92 feet off course after walking one mile. A 4 degree bearing error will put you off course about 368 feet at one mile (92 x 4). This error can come from how accurately you read the bearing or from drifting left or right as you walk toward the destination. b) compasses like the Suunto M-2 typically are only accurate to 2 degrees. With practice using correct bearing reading technique you should be able to take a bearing within 4 or five degrees of accuracy. c) that is why it's important to understand magnetic declination and correctly account for it. In their example of 14 degrees east mag declination if it wasn't accounted for after walking one mile toward the destination you would be off course by about 1,288 ft. (14 x 92) or 429 yards. { actually to make the math easier & make it easier to remember just remember - a 1 degree error at 1 mile = 100 feet. Close enough} d) to get mag declination correct just remember that the north end of the needle should be right of the N on the bezel for east mag declination & left of N on the bezel for west mag declination. iow - imagine the 2 arrows of the mag declination diagram are printed on the top of the compass housing -- the 2 arrows originating at the needle pivot. One points to N on the bezel, & the other points to magnetic north. Thereby your direction of travel arrow on the compass base plate will be pointing in the correct direction when the north end of the needle is under the mag north arrow. e) if your compass isn't adjustable for magnetic declination the compass may still have a mag declination scale printed inside the compass housing. ( the scale will show upto 50 deg west and 50 deg east mag decl.) To use it - just let the north end of the compass needle point to the correct number of degrees on that scale, rather than pointing to the N on the bezel. Examples: 14 deg. East. Or 9 degrees West. f) fortunately mostly mag declination is only in double digits in New England (West ) or in the Pacific North West (East mag declination). If you live along a curving line running from NE Minn. through Miss. Mag declination is only 1 or 2 degrees and can be ignored, it will be less than the accuracy of the compass or your ability to read the bearing that accurately.
Why you adjust was explained well, particularly with the animation and moving the compass around the map. They missed mentioning how most topographic maps include an estimate of yearly variation. The declination will be as stated at the time of the last update. You then have a variation per year. This is how much magnetic north is drifting around.For example say you have a declination of 5 degrees West, a variation of 1/2 degree East per year and a map that is 6 years old then your current variation is 5W +( 6 x 1/2E) = 5W+3E = 2W. The older the map the less accurate the drift estimate is so if its really old checking for the current variation via other means is a good idea. Another thing that was implied but not accentuated is that the grid lines on the map point to true north, not magnetic. Thats another reason for having to figure out the current declination, the compass points to magnetic north and the alignment lines are aligned with the true north grid lines.
Actually the UTM grid lines do not point to true north, only the longitudinal meridian lines on the sides of the map point to true north. However, in most places true north and grid north are less than 2 degrees different. Not enough different that it would matter for most recreational navigation, with a compass that is only accurate to 1 or 2 degrees. (in only a few places, mostly very remote areas, do grid north and true north differ by 3 degrees or more.) And usually on a topo map there is a note by the declination diagram stating - UTM Grid and Magnetic Declination at Center of the Map. Or Magnetic Declination of x degrees at center of the map. So even the magnetic declination is not dead accurate over the whole map, and it varies a little daily or hourly, but only enough to be of concern to surveyors. Yearly change in magnetic declination is very important. You might find this interesting and enlightening. This morning I was reviewing or comparing information in Cliff Jacobson's book Map and Compass, Bob & Mike Burns book Wilderness Navigation, and Kevin Walker's updated book, Mountain and Moorland Navigation.The Jacobson book was printed in 2008, maybe it was not updated since original publication in 1997. It shows a diagram of magnetic declination across America, only in the continental USA. It shows the north end of the Agonic Line in Mich., and the Southern end in Fla. But for years now the north end of the agonic line has been in eastern Minnesota and the southern end in Louisiana. That shows how much magnetic declination has moved. The Burns book (2004 2nd edition) showed the Agonic Line about where it is today. A good illustration of why you should check the current value of magnetic declination.
@@TyJee28 The difference between UTM lines and true north are probably not discernible with a hand-held compass in actual use. I have been using UTMs as north in my work for decades and unless I am taking the time to be hyper accurate, can't tell the difference. Same with yearly variations on declination.
I took this class over the weekend and it is was great! I learned a lot and felt very comfortable and welcomed. I also loved looking around and seeing folks from many different ages, genders and backgrounds- all there with a common interest to be helpful and learn the application of the skill. Connecting with nature and doing it no harm is freeing on so many levels. Thanks REI!
Hi from SE England. I have to teach a group of teenagers how to use a compass tomorrow morning. I've looked at several youtube tutorials, and yours is by far the clearest explanation. So, thanks.
I have taken the REI course for land navigation a few years ago as a refresher. We practiced these techniques with the along with other activities. I recommend people taking the class so you are able to understand from a hands on perspective. Practice, practice, practice.
I learned how to to do this in the Air Force then immediately forgot it as soon as we moved on to other things in training. It is hard and takes total repetition to take root.
Honest comment. Learning a new language would require daily usuage and repetition like you mentioned about reading a compass with confidence. My brain requires the aforementioned 👍.
Save to your watch later list, or get a browser extension that helps you save videos for later. It will save data usage and bandwidth if you have to go over things again, or you need a refresher offline.
GREAT VIDEO!!! Thank you. Your video was easy to understand and straight to the point. Apparently, compasses seem to attract the Sheldon Coopers of the world and over the last hour I must have reviewed a dozen of thier "fun with compasses" type videos. I now know more useless crap about compasses than I ever wanted or thought possible. Fortunately, just before I was going to give up, I came across your video which simply and easily answered my quesitons about using the declination scale from a practical standpoint. Very Well Done.
I sincerely find this tutorial was put as very easy to understand. I know a little about the topic and can say that the technical details were right as well.
Always wondered how one navigated with a compass in the SOUTHERN hemisphere. A friend told me that down under one needs a "Tate's Compass" which has the other end of the needle magnitized, so it points to magnetic south. He said that, because if one used a Tate's Compass in the northern hemisphere they could die, international law REQUIRES that the bezel by engraved (not printed) with a large "T". That's where, he went on to explain, that old expression comes from: "He who has a Tate's is lost". ...Thanks a lot, Tom. Very helpful... (In truth, a regular compass works fine in either hemisphere. But I must admit, for a minute there, he hooked me like a trout...)
We definitely understand. Amazing how things can be simple & complicated at the same time. So happy this helped! We're all learning together 💚#HappyTrails
This may be useful to people who ALREADY kind of know how to use it. Otherwise, it's presented in a fast forward mode, with music in the background, and not too easy to concentrate on ...
Timestamps: 0:00 Intro sequence 0:03 Introduction 0:19 Contents 0:35 1. Parts of the compass 1:58 2. Setting declination 3:22 3. Taking a bearing from a map 5:06 4. Taking a bearing in the field 7:04 Endcard
First time ever seeing how a compass works. Watched the video twice and I understand how it works. Stop with all the negative comments and open your minds.
Wow! I didn’t realize all there was to a compass. I’m really excited to buy one and feel that false sense of security as I lose my way through the woods... I’m very worried.
Well, this is about as clear as you can get, really well done. Brief, precise, simple. Notice no one says anything here about 'first you have to orient your map'...because you DON'T have to (if you want to you can of course). Obviously there are other ways and means of using a map and compass too, but this is very good at laying out what it does here.
East is least, West is best. East declination subtract. West declination add. I like the Red in the shed, that's a good one. Also you could show how to use the sun and a stick to make a quick emergency compass incase your without one. It is so easy here is how to do that. Take a stick and stick it vertically in the dirt. Mark the tip top spot of the shadow from the stick. Now wait about 15 min or more. Now after some time has past now mark the tip top of the sticks shadow again. Now draw a line from tip top spot to tip top spot and that is East and West! 90° from that draw another line, There is North and South. works everytime! Go outside and try it, it's pretty cool. All you need is a stick about a foot or so long a place to set the stick vertically and the Sun.
"East is least, west is best" works only for obtaining a true bearing from a map and then applying it to a compass. Need to reverse that if going from compass to map.
Great tutorial ! I found it to be direct , informative , and taught with simplicity without a lot of needless vocabulary. Great coverage on basic procedures and highly understandable for any novice. Viewing multiple times could make compass use second nature. Great job on this one !
If you get lost, if you can find a creek or stream follow it down the way the water flows. It usually will take you to larger streams or a river and eventually to help.
This video is very well done and has excellent instruction on how to use a compass. It would be good to produce a video on how to adjust for declination with a non-adjustable compass using just formulas, both map to compass and compass to map with an easterly declination and with a westerly declination. There are times when you could find yourself with a non-adjustable compass and knowing the simple formulas to convert true (map) to magnetic (compass needle) and the reverse would be quite helpful.
That was great! Hikes for me are rarely that long, complicated, or distant/isolated that a compass becomes necessary. What is necessary for every hike is a map, and a watch. (And remember the camera can substitute as a watch, if need be.) I cannot imagine taking any hike without either one of those, they are as important as water.
Please keep in mind the magnetic pole has increased the speed of its movement, and may not be where an older map would indicate. Very important for some aircraft navigation operations.
This is bread and butter stuff for pre GPS grunts. It definitely takes some practice with good maps and a good pace count you can adjust for terrain. Not all compasses are equal for sure ...
Awesome video! I just added a video to my channel on what to take on a day hike, and of course I included a compass as an essential item. Now I can add a link to this video so my viewers can learn more. Thank you!
This is the most straightforward and efficient video on using a compass that I've found so far...good job REI! It'll take practice but I feel like I finally "get it" enough to not get lost and die :D
6:20 The red is not in the shed while pointing direction of travel at the object. This is probably editing mistake. If you are transferring the bearing to the map, the red should still be in the shed because that's how you got the bearing in the first place and now you are simply layering the true object, the true north and the map together. Granted though, the method is correct in the video; the bearing, after MD has been adjusted is only relative to TN and should be called TN bearing. However, it still bugs me that the red is not in the shed when it really should. What should be said is that, after you got the bearing which is simply the angle from TN line to the direction of travel line, you can move the map around, sit under a tree, and use the compass as a protractor to match up the angle on the map, then draw the line. This is why the needle doesn't matter anymore.
millenium2003 Learn about map scale and compass bearing then buy a topographic map consist of at least two visible landmarks (a mountain, a lake, a light House, etc) or you can print out a screenshoot from the google earth. Basically a navigation is determining a position using known objects on a map, we call it back traversing. All you have to do is to point your compas to a known landmark, measure the bearing then plot the bearing on the map. Repeat this step with the 2nd known landmark, you'll get your approximate position. If you add another landmark, the accurary would be slightly better. Since a compas uses magnetic bearing, the bearing you get from measurement is refered to the magnetic north and you have to compensate on map because maps use the true north. Differences between the north pole and the magnetic pole (varies depend on the time of year) we call it the magnetic declination, is shown on topographic maps.
An awesome compass trick is the back azimuth exploring. Let's say you see some juicy unknown woods at 30 degrees and want to explore without getting lost. Simple, walk a predetermined distance (lets say 2 miles), then add 180 degrees to the original 30 (giving you the exact opposite bearing), this will take you right back to where you started. If the original bearing is more than 180 degrees, lets say 270, subtract 180, giving you 90 degrees.
She is using a compass that can compensate for the declination. Remember if you don't have this type of compass you need to add or subtract declination for this example too work.
Thank you, I couldn''t figure what was going on. Now I kinda get it, my compass doesn't compensate and so this video is all but useless to me if not actually dangerous.
Joel, don't listen to Eric. You just have to hold your phone up high, maybe even stand on your tip-toes. They do it in the movies all the time and it works! Except for maybe the Mojave Desert...
Before I even take a hike, I note what trails I am to anticipate, how long those trails are. And I memorize those trails. Keeping in mind that it takes about 20 minutes to walk one mile (add 10 minutes going up-hill) then you have a good idea of how long the hike can be. A compass is not really as crucial as a map of the trails, no matter how rudimentary.
James Noon just wrote it before me, but i find you all people making video Absolutely AMAZING ...with the NEED to add Loud background music ..!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ponder, Why,...especially when willing to try to Teach something that requires a full brain' attention (not being distracted by having to do Two things at the same time; 1) Focusing on subject matter 2) Clearing/Fading Out unnecessary/unrequired/unrequested music beats..) Why..ohh .WHY, ALL of yous are attained with the same....sickness ..?????!!!?????
Excellent explanation thanks. It's a long time since I did any serious orienteering so it's good to have a refresher. Technically however, the magnetised end of the compass needle points to the South magnetic pole and the other end points to the North!
That was the natural sound of the wilderness. Every raccoon thinks he's a DJ these days, I'm afraid. I keep telling people not to leave their turntables outside where wildlife can get ahold of them, but nobody listens.
This becomes far more exciting when done in rain and fog.
Not when you’re soaked in it
Or knee deep snow.
Coming from an infantry and recce background back in the day and doing a lot of map and compass work, this was a straight forward survey explanation on how to read a compass and shoot some bearings and triangulate your position. GPS sure is great and more accurate, but if your phone has a need to connect to data for a maps app and can't, having GPS in your phone won't help much. Old school works. A good skill to have.
Well tell me I'm still Lost.
Agreed Mike Wood. A compass certainly doesn't need batteries. I was taught this stuff in boy scouts. It's rather simple if you apply it locally once or twice. Even in town. Get local map and give it a whirl. And learn how to use a compass without a map. It's life saving knowledge. Then again, the people complaining and confused in this thread are those who think their pork magically comes wrapped in cellophane at the market.
Mike Wood ry GE do
I carry both -- I was a boy scout then later in life a Marine so I understand how to use a compass but I do also love my gadgets - so I carry both but a compass is only really good with a decent map .
Most Millenial's would rather ask a bear for directions than give up their phone!
This video has actually helped me a lot...
It's taught me that I should never go in the woods...
🙃🤝
😂
Hi, All I want is a liquid free compass with global needle that shows me accurately/precisely the magnetic north, that lasts, preferably a lifetime, does what I want exist? If yes, can you recommend me some products(brands, product names)? Thank you
Amen
@@incorectulpolitic Hey, I just got interested in compasses but I saw a video of a military dude recommend a Suunto compass. He said he went basically everywhere and that that thing is bombproof. I believe it is liquid as well. It has a useful bezel and a clip which you can hook to your watch or stuff.
I was super concerned about my brain after watching the video because I only grasped about half of it. Then, I went to the comment section and felt better that I was not the only dumbass that could not catch everything. Okay, I will watch a couple dozen times until I fully comprehend. Thanks!
HAHAHAHA me too!! I'm kinda glad im not the only one that felt a little WTH after watching this
Slowing down the playback speed has helped me a lot with fast taking videos. One thing I am sure about, if the video were two hours long, I would have never started.
I hear you. I am one who has to be shown and do.
hah
same im thinking man i must be hella dumb until i read the comments esp yours!!🤣🤣
I'm going to have to watch this vid a dozen times
Alex Montalvo lol...I'm thinking the same....with a lot of pausing.
Stupid female narrator.
I did still don't get it!
REI.com sells GPS'
Can’t believe Christopher Columbus used this 500 years ago in order to navigate the Atlantic Ocean. Amazing.
Unfortunately if you’re confused, this was a really good explanation. The only way to get it, is to do it. I made a bunch of maps for my cub scouts in a large park with “treasures” for the course. It taught them how to take a bearing, follow a waypoint, etc. Working on a smaller scale makes it easier to practice. There might be an orienteering club in your area that does this.
Am I just able to pull up a map on my laptop or phone and practice using that?
@@4n-Dxit’s best to use a printed map or draw one.
I got lost in the wilderness once, and all I had was a compass. At least I was able to draw perfect circles...
How did you draw a circle if you only had s compass
He is referring to a compass! A regular compass used for drawing circles. (with a small pencil on the side). Math Compass!
xD
LOL, good one!! Did you use the pointy end to help with catching some survival food?? Doubt a bear, but maybe a mouse or squrell?LOL 😂
All else fails, read the compass.
Piece of cake as a 14 year old. 40 years later and I’d get lost in a shipping container.
You're not alone, brother.
😂
Haha, same here. Seemed so simple 50 years ago
Chris you need to get cybernetic implants
I like the way I shine my torch on it and then go get my glasses. Then come back and think Wow!! but have forgotten what I got the torch for.
make sure you save this video for offline watching before hiking anywhere
🤣🤣
The absolute state of teaching skills. A person knows a subject in depth, and they teach it to you like they're refreshing your memory.
This is a very useful video to get folks started in navigation! Buying a compass with an adjustment for declination takes a lot of guesswork out of navigating. But if your compass doesn’t have one, remember this rhyme: West is best; East is least, Add West, subtract East to the compass bearing and you’ll get the true bearing. Example:
Known declination is 4 degrees W. Compass reads 50. True bearing = 50 + 4 = 54.
Known declination is 4 degrees E. Compass reads 50. True bearing = 50 - 4 = 46.
Sweet!
Thanks been a few years since the military for me
I have been using hand-held compasses in my work for the last 30 years. Indeed, I have worn out about five of them. I watched this video and found it to be good basic information. I would add that orienting lines in the compass are usually lined up with UTM lines (black lines that form squares in most USGS maps) within the map, not map edges. Using a compass with a GPS unit is a powerful system to find your way through the wild. If you are going to be working/playing in the wild, a good working knowledge of both compass and GPS are not just a good idea, they are essential.
What is the name of this compass. Where will I get it. I leave in India
Magnetic declination adjustment was explained nicely. A few things to keep in mind:
a) a 1 degree bearing error will result in being about 92 feet off course after walking one mile. A 4 degree bearing error will put you off course about 368 feet at one mile (92 x 4).
This error can come from how accurately you read the bearing or from drifting left or right as you walk toward the destination.
b) compasses like the Suunto M-2 typically are only accurate to 2 degrees. With practice using correct bearing reading technique you should be able to take a bearing within 4 or five degrees of accuracy.
c) that is why it's important to understand magnetic declination and correctly account for it. In their example of 14 degrees east mag declination if it wasn't accounted for after walking one mile toward the destination you would be off course by about 1,288 ft. (14 x 92) or 429 yards. { actually to make the math easier & make it easier to remember just remember - a 1 degree error at 1 mile = 100 feet. Close enough}
d) to get mag declination correct just remember that the north end of the needle should be right of the N on the bezel for east mag declination & left of N on the bezel for west mag declination. iow - imagine the 2 arrows of the mag declination diagram are printed on the top of the compass housing -- the 2 arrows originating at the needle pivot. One points to N on the bezel, & the other points to magnetic north. Thereby your direction of travel arrow on the compass base plate will be pointing in the correct direction when the north end of the needle is under the mag north arrow.
e) if your compass isn't adjustable for magnetic declination the compass may still have a mag declination scale printed inside the compass housing. ( the scale will show upto 50 deg west and 50 deg east mag decl.)
To use it - just let the north end of the compass needle point to the correct number of degrees on that scale, rather than pointing to the N on the bezel. Examples: 14 deg. East. Or 9 degrees West.
f) fortunately mostly mag declination is only in double digits in New England (West ) or in the Pacific North West (East mag declination).
If you live along a curving line running from NE Minn. through Miss. Mag declination is only 1 or 2 degrees and can be ignored, it will be less than the accuracy of the compass or your ability to read the bearing that accurately.
Why you adjust was explained well, particularly with the animation and moving the compass around the map. They missed mentioning how most topographic maps include an estimate of yearly variation. The declination will be as stated at the time of the last update. You then have a variation per year. This is how much magnetic north is drifting around.For example say you have a declination of 5 degrees West, a variation of 1/2 degree East per year and a map that is 6 years old then your current variation is 5W +( 6 x 1/2E) = 5W+3E = 2W. The older the map the less accurate the drift estimate is so if its really old checking for the current variation via other means is a good idea.
Another thing that was implied but not accentuated is that the grid lines on the map point to true north, not magnetic. Thats another reason for having to figure out the current declination, the compass points to magnetic north and the alignment lines are aligned with the true north grid lines.
Actually the UTM grid lines do not point to true north, only the longitudinal meridian lines on the sides of the map point to true north. However, in most places true north and grid north are less than 2 degrees different. Not enough different that it would matter for most recreational navigation, with a compass that is only accurate to 1 or 2 degrees. (in only a few places, mostly very remote areas, do grid north and true north differ by 3 degrees or more.) And usually on a topo map there is a note by the declination diagram stating - UTM Grid and Magnetic Declination at Center of the Map. Or Magnetic Declination of x degrees at center of the map. So even the magnetic declination is not dead accurate over the whole map, and it varies a little daily or hourly, but only enough to be of concern to surveyors. Yearly change in magnetic declination is very important. You might find this interesting and enlightening. This morning I was reviewing or comparing information in Cliff Jacobson's book Map and Compass, Bob & Mike Burns book Wilderness Navigation, and Kevin Walker's updated book, Mountain and Moorland Navigation.The Jacobson book was printed in 2008, maybe it was not updated since original publication in 1997. It shows a diagram of magnetic declination across America, only in the continental USA. It shows the north end of the Agonic Line in Mich., and the Southern end in Fla. But for years now the north end of the agonic line has been in eastern Minnesota and the southern end in Louisiana. That shows how much magnetic declination has moved. The Burns book (2004 2nd edition) showed the Agonic Line about where it is today. A good illustration of why you should check the current value of magnetic declination.
Thanks for the very informative explanation guys!
Are you kidding ! This is why I bring Tonto!
@@TyJee28 The difference between UTM lines and true north are probably not discernible with a hand-held compass in actual use. I have been using UTMs as north in my work for decades and unless I am taking the time to be hyper accurate, can't tell the difference. Same with yearly variations on declination.
I took this class over the weekend and it is was great! I learned a lot and felt very comfortable and welcomed. I also loved looking around and seeing folks from many different ages, genders and backgrounds- all there with a common interest to be helpful and learn the application of the skill. Connecting with nature and doing it no harm is freeing on so many levels. Thanks REI!
You're so welcome! Thanks for coming out and checking out our classes. What will be your next class?
Ye I need a class and to be actually shown in person as this video pickled me😂
These simple tutorials can be life saving. Everyone should get outdoors but you have to be prepared. Great job REI!
Taking notes while watching helps tremendously
Hi from SE England. I have to teach a group of teenagers how to use a compass tomorrow morning. I've looked at several youtube tutorials, and yours is by far the clearest explanation. So, thanks.
I have taken the REI course for land navigation a few years ago as a refresher. We practiced these techniques with the along with other activities. I recommend people taking the class so you are able to understand from a hands on perspective. Practice, practice, practice.
I’ll be shouting help until I die then
without a doubt the best straight forward lesson in map and compass within the federation!!!
thank you so much for your time in doing so...iou
I learned how to to do this in the Air Force then immediately forgot it as soon as we moved on to other things in training. It is hard and takes total repetition to take root.
Honest comment. Learning a new language would require daily usuage and repetition like you mentioned about reading a compass with confidence. My brain requires the aforementioned 👍.
They must of phased this out because I never got any training like that and I joine Feb 2021
Thanks for your honesty. I found this truly confusing.
@@dillanparker4670 They were probably in SERE or something.
I was always so baffled by everything on my fancy compass. Now I'm a pro! Thank you!!!
people need to watch many times to get，that's why this video get so many views
I rather might download it once and watch it as many times i want.data saved. Thats why RUclips has download feature.
and so many dislikes from frustration
Save to your watch later list, or get a browser extension that helps you save videos for later. It will save data usage and bandwidth if you have to go over things again, or you need a refresher offline.
@@shardulshetty1789 RUclips has a download feature? That's a new one.
Halfway through the video, paused it and immediately ordered a handheld GPS
🤣🤣👍👍
One of the clearest and most practical videos on the subject! Thanks guys!
One of the better videos on how to use a compass. Thanks!
GREAT VIDEO!!!
Thank you. Your video was easy to understand and straight to the point.
Apparently, compasses seem to attract the Sheldon Coopers of the world and over the last hour I must have reviewed a dozen of thier "fun with compasses" type videos. I now know more useless crap about compasses than I ever wanted or thought possible.
Fortunately, just before I was going to give up, I came across your video which simply and easily answered my quesitons about using the declination scale from a practical standpoint.
Very Well Done.
I sincerely find this tutorial was put as very easy to understand. I know a little about the topic and can say that the technical details were right as well.
I'm glad that they make these videos. Being a Senior patrol leader for my troop, i need to know a lot, thanks for the valuable info
Always wondered how one navigated with a compass in the SOUTHERN hemisphere.
A friend told me that down under one needs a "Tate's Compass" which has the other end of the needle magnitized, so it points to magnetic south.
He said that, because if one used a Tate's Compass in the northern hemisphere they could die, international law REQUIRES that the bezel by engraved (not printed) with a large "T".
That's where, he went on to explain, that old expression comes from:
"He who has a Tate's is lost".
...Thanks a lot, Tom. Very helpful...
(In truth, a regular compass works fine in either hemisphere. But I must admit, for a minute there, he hooked me like a trout...)
We definitely understand. Amazing how things can be simple & complicated at the same time. So happy this helped! We're all learning together 💚#HappyTrails
This may be useful to people who ALREADY kind of know how to use it. Otherwise, it's presented in a fast forward mode, with music in the background, and not too easy to concentrate on ...
Yep, you understand. Thanks for the reality check.
What kind of questions did you have
Just head west, you'll get there. If you hit the beach back track a little.
If your here in Cali that'll work but if your in jersey you better get more food!
You should watch a movie called "Wagons East"
But which way is west 🤣
@@MsAnon4223 where ever the sunsets that's West
@@yoy58913 In a polar winter? In a cloudy night? At midday?
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro sequence
0:03 Introduction
0:19 Contents
0:35 1. Parts of the compass
1:58 2. Setting declination
3:22 3. Taking a bearing from a map
5:06 4. Taking a bearing in the field
7:04 Endcard
thanks
This is one of the best videos about a compass. Thank you!
I'm even more lost than before after watching this video.
Manzur
lol.lol..
indeed
The irony.
Find it.
I learned how to use a compass as a kid. This video was really helpful to brush-up on my old schools and learn some new techniques
I'd better pack a LOT of extra food.
Lol
No shit
blipco5 water bro water!!
Hahahahahhahahahah
dont forget charcoal!
This video made me so happy because the compass I pulled out happen to be this exact one
First time ever seeing how a compass works. Watched the video twice and I understand how it works. Stop with all the negative comments and open your minds.
Watching it second time makes lot of sense than watching it for the first time. If i go out there i'd definitely download this video to my phone.
excellent explanation of declination!
Paul Jackson what's variation and deviation? :) you need to be aware of both.
Your way of showing visually how declination changes is great, I would like to have seen it a little longer.
Wow! I didn’t realize all there was to a compass. I’m really excited to buy one and feel that false sense of security as I lose my way through the woods... I’m very worried.
If you do get lost, tell people you forgot your compass.
Nest comment! 🤣🤣
Well, this is about as clear as you can get, really well done. Brief, precise, simple. Notice no one says anything here about 'first you have to orient your map'...because you DON'T have to (if you want to you can of course). Obviously there are other ways and means of using a map and compass too, but this is very good at laying out what it does here.
East is least, West is best. East declination subtract. West declination add. I like the Red in the shed, that's a good one. Also you could show how to use the sun and a stick to make a quick emergency compass incase your without one. It is so easy here is how to do that.
Take a stick and stick it vertically in the dirt. Mark the tip top spot of the shadow from the stick. Now wait about 15 min or more. Now after some time has past now mark the tip top of the sticks shadow again. Now draw a line from tip top spot to tip top spot and that is East and West! 90° from that draw another line, There is North and South. works everytime! Go outside and try it, it's pretty cool. All you need is a stick about a foot or so long a place to set the stick vertically and the Sun.
Or 'dog in the doghouse', same thing.
Can't for get UNOS either!
"East is least, west is best" works only for obtaining a true bearing from a map and then applying it to a compass. Need to reverse that if going from compass to map.
Great tutorial ! I found it to be direct , informative , and taught with simplicity without a lot of needless vocabulary. Great coverage on basic procedures and highly understandable for any novice. Viewing multiple times could make compass use second nature. Great job on this one !
No matter where you go, there you are.
Excellent presentation. Clear, precise and to the point. Thank you.
I have this exact compass and a masters degree in electronics and have watched this video and I still have no idea how to navigate with this compass
Great video! This helped jog my memory on minor details forgotten from military days.
I just wander around.
Maps and compass will help me to avoid being eaten by a bear? Sweet!
Sacapuntas No, but a .44 magnum will! 😊
Mr. V
I think we passed each other. You pointed me in the wrong direction.
Woolval that was me.
I had just burned a fatty.....
My bad.
Glad you found it useful!🧭
If you get lost, if you can find a creek or stream follow it down the way the water flows. It usually will take you to larger streams or a river and eventually to help.
Streams where bears fish and drink? No thanks
I'm going to have to watch this a few times and then practice before I'm fully confident that I could use a compass in a serious situation
Jon A: Practice makes perfect :-)
This video is very well done and has excellent instruction on how to use a compass. It would be good to produce a video on how to adjust for declination with a non-adjustable compass using just formulas, both map to compass and compass to map with an easterly declination and with a westerly declination. There are times when you could find yourself with a non-adjustable compass and knowing the simple formulas to convert true (map) to magnetic (compass needle) and the reverse would be quite helpful.
TB = MB + (-/+ declination)
TB = True Bearing
MB = Magnetic Bearing
East declination = positive (+) declination
West declination = negative (-) declination
MB = TB - (-/+) declination (use this to compute your needed MB when measuring a bearing from map)
Example: (east declination)
MB = 140 deg
east declination = 3 deg
TB = 140 + (+3)
= 143 deg
Example: (west declination)
MB = 140 deg
west declination = 3 deg
TB = 140 + (-3)
= 137 deg
That was great! Hikes for me are rarely that long, complicated, or distant/isolated that a compass becomes necessary. What is necessary for every hike is a map, and a watch. (And remember the camera can substitute as a watch, if need be.) I cannot imagine taking any hike without either one of those, they are as important as water.
im currently in the woods... this video brought me to a pack of bears
You packed a lot of information into a short, concise video - well done!
How many times do I have to listen to this before I get it?
I always use to think that REI was for hippies and rich city folk. But, uh, this was a great tutorial. Your other videos are pretty good too.
Please keep in mind the magnetic pole has increased the speed of its movement, and may not be where an older map would indicate. Very important for some aircraft navigation operations.
Watched this video like 10+ times. Thank you!
This is bread and butter stuff for pre GPS grunts. It definitely takes some practice with good maps and a good pace count you can adjust for terrain. Not all compasses are equal for sure ...
This is the easiest explained tutorial I have found. Thank you. 👍
I guess I’ll end up in a gulag in siberia
Awesome video! I just added a video to my channel on what to take on a day hike, and of course I included a compass as an essential item. Now I can add a link to this video so my viewers can learn more. Thank you!
How are you certain that magnetic north is not the location of Santa's workshop?
Because it's not! Everyone knows that!
Pole shift I'm guessing lol
Good question. 😃
Because people like me followed it and found a sign saying HaHa!
One of the best tools ever created. So awesome.
This was great ! thank you
Have watched a few of these videos, this is definitely my favourite so far.
3:17 You should have shown her setting the declination on the compass.
Agreed. I'm sure a lot of people do not know how to do this even though they might have a compass with an adjustable declination feature.
This is the most straightforward and efficient video on using a compass that I've found so far...good job REI! It'll take practice but I feel like I finally "get it" enough to not get lost and die :D
6:20 The red is not in the shed while pointing direction of travel at the object. This is probably editing mistake. If you are transferring the bearing to the map, the red should still be in the shed because that's how you got the bearing in the first place and now you are simply layering the true object, the true north and the map together. Granted though, the method is correct in the video; the bearing, after MD has been adjusted is only relative to TN and should be called TN bearing. However, it still bugs me that the red is not in the shed when it really should. What should be said is that, after you got the bearing which is simply the angle from TN line to the direction of travel line, you can move the map around, sit under a tree, and use the compass as a protractor to match up the angle on the map, then draw the line. This is why the needle doesn't matter anymore.
THANK YOU. I was learning and was deeply confused by this.
Reviews are essential and important. Thanks for this.
the magnetic north makes it twice as hard to understand, thanks Canada
And I thought I knew how to use a compass and a map.
Great explanation, really useful skills!
still don't get it
millenium2003 Learn about map scale and compass bearing then buy a topographic map consist of at least two visible landmarks (a mountain, a lake, a light House, etc) or you can print out a screenshoot from the google earth. Basically a navigation is determining a position using known objects on a map, we call it back traversing. All you have to do is to point your compas to a known landmark, measure the bearing then plot the bearing on the map. Repeat this step with the 2nd known landmark, you'll get your approximate position. If you add another landmark, the accurary would be slightly better. Since a compas uses magnetic bearing, the bearing you get from measurement is refered to the magnetic north and you have to compensate on map because maps use the true north. Differences between the north pole and the magnetic pole (varies depend on the time of year) we call it the magnetic declination, is shown on topographic maps.
millenium2003 me too:(
Jack Busboom. Like learning spanish.
I K good for you, I still don't get it.
I K Teach me!! I probably go pick up at the library and learn.
This is very good to understand different compass
I'm sure this video is informative, but could we get a version without the loud music?
An awesome compass trick is the back azimuth exploring. Let's say you see some juicy unknown woods at 30 degrees and want to explore without getting lost. Simple, walk a predetermined distance (lets say 2 miles), then add 180 degrees to the original 30 (giving you the exact opposite bearing), this will take you right back to where you started. If the original bearing is more than 180 degrees, lets say 270, subtract 180, giving you 90 degrees.
She is using a compass that can compensate for the declination. Remember if you don't have this type of compass you need to add or subtract declination for this example too work.
Thank you, I couldn''t figure what was going on. Now I kinda get it, my compass doesn't compensate and so this video is all but useless to me if not actually dangerous.
when do you compensate using a compass that only has a declination scale? do you add the degree compensation onto the bearing?
This was a great video to relearn what I learned and forgot 14 years ago!
Thanks for watching! A quick refresher is never a bad thing. 😊
wow. this is why i don't travel without google. lol really useful skills to learn though. thanks!
Joel, don't listen to Eric. You just have to hold your phone up high, maybe even stand on your tip-toes. They do it in the movies all the time and it works! Except for maybe the Mojave Desert...
Before I even take a hike, I note what trails I am to anticipate, how long those trails are. And I memorize those trails. Keeping in mind that it takes about 20 minutes to walk one mile (add 10 minutes going up-hill) then you have a good idea of how long the hike can be. A compass is not really as crucial as a map of the trails, no matter how rudimentary.
James Noon just wrote it before me, but i find you all people making video Absolutely AMAZING ...with the NEED to add Loud background music ..!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ponder, Why,...especially when willing to try to Teach something that requires a full brain' attention (not being distracted by having to do Two things at the same time;
1) Focusing on subject matter
2) Clearing/Fading Out unnecessary/unrequired/unrequested music beats..)
Why..ohh .WHY, ALL of yous are attained with the same....sickness ..?????!!!?????
I was lost, but after this video
I triangulated myself.
This is the greatest video ever made.
What? I still don't get it.
Well, now we know why the mongol empire collapsed
Hang on Genghis, your lot just kept heading west!
I'd forgotten about true/ magnetic north lol. Thanks for the great video. Very easy to follow and really informative. Hoping not to get too lost now.
Music distracts
Agree.
I stopped watching as soon as I heard a dumb bitch's voice.
+google Lavon Affair
That's in your head and understandable as it would represent someone smarter than you
google Lavon Affair Stop hating your mommy, she loves you.
James Noon music on how to videos blows my mind, why?
Very nice Video! Covering all we need while navigating
This was so confusing!
this video saved me from ever getting lost in the mountains again, thanks!
I get lost in the same areas I’ve been lost before because it looks kinda familiar.
Excellent Content 👍 Thank you for sharing ✌️
The * * * boom boom boom * * * in the background makes it impossible to focus on the words being spoken in the video.
Excellent explanation thanks. It's a long time since I did any serious orienteering so it's good to have a refresher. Technically however, the magnetised end of the compass needle points to the South magnetic pole and the other end points to the North!
I wondered for a small moment why my compass doesn't have a declination line. Then I realised I'm in the UK... North IS true North. Get in.
The u.k is near standing room only....You'd need a compass here to find humans like a fish needs a bike.
Superb work, we need more videos like this.
Whats with the loud background music? Spoilt what would of been a great video. Shame.
That was the natural sound of the wilderness. Every raccoon thinks he's a DJ these days, I'm afraid. I keep telling people not to leave their turntables outside where wildlife can get ahold of them, but nobody listens.
@@stephenschwake524 😂😂😂😂pricless👌👏👍
Much better and easier to follow videos on RUclips