I used to carry a compass and map as a backup to my GPS. However, lately I am finding that orienteering is fun. I even made my own Ranger Beads to measure distance traveled. Now, I carry a GPS as backup to my compass and map.
I have been through a Search and Rescue academy as well as watching dozens of uTube videos. This is some of best basic advice I have ever seen. Remember advanced training is just perfecting the bacics.
I myself am a fellow bushcraft instructor in the Green mountain area of Vermont, with that being said I hope you would accept my biggest thanks for your channel. I found it about 6 months ago and I enjoy watching your ideas even so much as to show a few of them myself to my student. I always give the props to you and have informed them of your channel. Much thanks my friend
This is one of those skills that needs to be practiced often. It’s not like a bike. I haven’t used it for less than a year and have already forgotten so much. I know because you just reminded me of the half I forgot.
Anthropology_in_your_shrubbery That’s a great suggestion. It should be a part of your daily life. Just curious, what type of compass do you carry? Mine is the Suunto MC2 that I purchased to do a navigation course. I enjoy the versatility and multiple uses it provides with a mirror, magnifying lense and adjustable bezel.
A commenter pointed out that its not like riding a bike, which is very true. I picked up my Brunton a few months ago and was having some difficulty. There is definitely some muscle memory associated with it. Getting that confidence in your readings back during a bad situation would only compound the sudden problem at hand - no pun intended. Everybody, do yourself and your loved ones a favor, practice practice practice!
Sir, the way you break down information and your instructional ability is fantastic and very clear in your presentation. I am sure your instruction has kept many campers highly motivated but short on experience alive. I thank you. Here's a little conundrum of my experience that that my dad walked me through but I've simply forgot most of it. My father was a marine and he took me out one day I was pretty young about 9 years old. He took a stick and drew a circle around it. When the shadow pointed up, he identified it as the 12 o'clock mark. (remember, it was 5 decades ago, I am hoping you make sense of my shaky memories). From the 12 'high noon' position he designated it as 12 o'clock, I guess his anchor point.. As I watched the shadow change, it corresponded with the hour marks on the circle of a 12 hour clock..as long as we had daylight. He would look at the position of a shadow to the stick, No number marks, and tell the time within 20 or thirty minutes of my watch, (or better), using only the sun and a stick; maybe two, sticks I don't remember. He would draw a circle and seeing it's shadow tell the time. But ALSO, it told what is North... I became an off trail camper and learned some basic orientation markers, such as the direction rivers flow in whatever area, and maybe a 'Landmark'., a distant mountain range or..? In my uneducated somewhat superficial way, I knew if I needed to find a location in the wood I had general idea of North, East, South ,West and if lost, I had a general idea what direction certain rivers flowed; some north, others whatever; so I never got too lost. because knowing what is North, to find East I merely faced North and made a sharp right turn. I also believe we have a type of ' Spiritual' or Intuitive senses we can develop to bring us home. It also helps to know what direction a rivers flow in one's chosen area.. Please comment, as my memory is fragmented and hopefully you can make sense of my ramblings. Thanking you in advance..:
Cloudy days. I always shoot an azimuth whenever I step off the trail for a number 2! Had a few bad experiences not being far enough off the trail. Had a few bad experiences being far enough off the trail.
Thank you for your honesty. So many today misrepresent themselves on social media. They often show themselves doing workouts that they don't do themselves to achieve their results. It makes you think if I do this I will achieve similar results. The problem is you will spend your time and energy meanwhile the person is doing a completely different workout for themselves. Very deceiving even if not intentionally.
Excellent advice, such as I've heard many times on your channel. To add emphasis to your training, I cite my Brunton Pocket Transit. The manual has detailed instructions on holding consistently when not using the tripod mount. The instrument has a leveling bubble built-in. That is how important consistency is for readings. The more accuracy you want, the more deliberate your process.
These simple steps are so easy to overlook but they make all the difference in getting usable results out of your compass work. Thanks for the unpretentious basic refresher Dan, great stuff.
Just subscribed. I really like your videos. I'm an EX-Airborne paratrooper 11B rifleman. I always take my Govt Issue Tritium Land Navigation Military compass with a map of my hiking area.
Thanks for the navigation videos. I purchased a compass last summer, watched some confusing videos, then left it sitting in my office where it was doing amazing work... Now, I have a better understanding and will be keeping it with me and practicing more. I still need to learn to use it with a map if you have done that video. Thanks again.
You just have meat new watt to help students, thank you. I keep telling them to hold the compass "flat and straight," your breakdowns will be much easier for them to understand.
That is a great example of beginners compass reading. I was a land surveyor and when we were just trying to find property corners we would basically have to start out with the compass and that was my first lesson after that as I was learning to use the instrument which in the beginning Was An Old Mountain Transit I had to learn to use the compass on the instrument and then how to read the Vernier and so on and so forth so yeah I get this and it's a great beginning for beginners. Thanks a lot I appreciate that video that kind of brought back some great memories of course I'm retired from survey now but I certainly hope that all the people that tries to learn understands this very first lesson because it is vital to reading a compass. Thanks again for the video have a great day stay safe keep your powder dry!
Oooo, you are such a good instructor! You explain it so well. Thanks Dan. I am always glad to watch your videos. Always something there for me. God bless and take care.
Great tips. Basic stuff that many people never learn about their COOOMpass. ALSO, I placed 2 orders at your store, Great job! Products are well made and got my orders super fast! Like running to the corner store fast! Thanks
Dan, awesome video, enjoyed your much needed points for this critical tool. I'll look forward to practice these info and experience a better outdoor time. Thank you for sharing.
Great tips Dan. I don’t know where my compass is so I guess I’ll have to buy a new one and probably a bigger toolbox to hold all the great tools you keep giving me. Keep up the great work.
I think you should make how to use a compass a series, one on navigation using dead reckoning, another on understanding and setting declination, another planning a route with a map and compass...
for me its often a GPS to help with a bearing then it goes away and the compass gets used to take me there. Of course with SAR digital tracking and mapping is gaining a lot of ground so that does get used a lot but one always has a compass with you and typically still uses it to keep on course.
Awesome Dan! Thanks for helping us out with knowing how to use a compass. I don't use one but I'll get one and try it out . More tools for the toolbox Dan! Take care and stay safe my friend!
Also make sure to keep the compass away from any electronics which themselves can contain magnets. I carry my camera on one of my shoulder straps and if my compass (same one in this video) is within a foot of the camera the needle is deflected
Dan, what compass make and model would you recommend. I was looking into Suunto mc2 but was also unsure if I should get global or northern hemisphere. I live in Pennsylvania. Thank you greatly for all of your videos and knowledge.
Dan , you should have a basic land nav class to show compass basics. I'm 60 years old and have never learned to use a compass. I have never felt the need for but would like to learn.
GREAT STUFF!!! This actually should be the first thing taught even before the navigation part... it could make it sound too technical for novices though, but definitely necessary knowledge.
Great video and good tips Dan but please also teach students to treat a compass as a precision instrument - don't hold it in your hand whilst shaking your hand vigorously to emphasise a point and don't swing it round by the lanyard. If students see an instructor doing this they'll think it's ok for them to do the same.
I prefer the lymphatic compassion the military style from Camenga that's what I used when I was in the scouts my brother gave me his when he was in the Navy CB I learned how to use that compass that's why I like that compass God bless
I like my old US Army compass, it isn't the best, but it works for me. Something I would like to pass on to many of the younger viewers who grew up with GPS, and say they don't know how to use a compass and navigate a map. Yes you do... all the time - in gaming. Making the connection between a gaming compass/map and the real world compass and map? It takes some learning, sure, but it isn't an impossible challenge.
Just got this compass today at rei. But it doesn't have a magnifier. Didn't notice when I was looking over. Not until I got home to look around the map at some details
How do you evaluate a good compass. My (Ex) partner purchased more than one compass over the years and they went camping a lot. I have no idea how but the few compasses they had fell apart and such. They typically just purchased them from the Hardware stores and at least one from the "Sporting Goods" department at Walmart. Is there a way to know if you are getting a rugged and worthy compass and not some junk that will be broken after a few years?
There are a number of land navigation books available. Also several good bushcraft channels on RUclips (Coalcracker; Dave Canterbury; Corporal's Corner; etc) that have compass instructions including a recommended compass. As Dan said, Suunto is a quality brand. the MC-2 is really good (several variations - do your homework before purchase). The Cammenga Lensatic Compass is/was used by the military. A different skill set is used for that style. I have not seen it recommended by any YT bushcraft channel.
Hi Dan. I have some question, and i hope you, or someone, can help me. If i store few compasses in the same place, ou bag, or something, would they demagnetise each other?
I'm really struggling to find high detail topo maps. I'm looking for 1:10000 UTM for hiking, hunting, and land nav practice. REI, Sportsman's Wharehouse, USGS, don't sell them anymore. Please help.
Some great tips. Just remember that the magnetic declination is rapidly changing as the Earth's magnetic poles move and will eventually swap, possibly meeting around Indonesia and off the coast of Brazil or Argentina (South Atlantic Anomaly) in coming years (it has happened before). For more information check out the suspicious Observers RUclips channel disaster playlist.
I used to carry a compass and map as a backup to my GPS. However, lately I am finding that orienteering is fun. I even made my own Ranger Beads to measure distance traveled. Now, I carry a GPS as backup to my compass and map.
This is the best quick tips video ever
I have been through a Search and Rescue academy as well as watching dozens of uTube videos. This is some of best basic advice I have ever seen. Remember advanced training is just perfecting the bacics.
I myself am a fellow bushcraft instructor in the Green mountain area of Vermont, with that being said I hope you would accept my biggest thanks for your channel. I found it about 6 months ago and I enjoy watching your ideas even so much as to show a few of them myself to my student. I always give the props to you and have informed them of your channel. Much thanks my friend
It’s not his he learned from others
This is one of those skills that needs to be practiced often. It’s not like a bike. I haven’t used it for less than a year and have already forgotten so much. I know because you just reminded me of the half I forgot.
Anthropology_in_your_shrubbery That’s a great suggestion. It should be a part of your daily life. Just curious, what type of compass do you carry? Mine is the Suunto MC2 that I purchased to do a navigation course. I enjoy the versatility and multiple uses it provides with a mirror, magnifying lense and adjustable bezel.
@Anthropology_in_your_shrubbery thank you. Good to meet another fellow enthusiast. 🔥
A commenter pointed out that its not like riding a bike, which is very true. I picked up my Brunton a few months ago and was having some difficulty. There is definitely some muscle memory associated with it. Getting that confidence in your readings back during a bad situation would only compound the sudden problem at hand - no pun intended.
Everybody, do yourself and your loved ones a favor, practice practice practice!
Never thought of the whole lanyard aspect👍
Sir, the way you break down information and your instructional ability is fantastic and very clear in your presentation. I am sure your instruction has kept many campers highly motivated but short on experience alive. I thank you.
Here's a little conundrum of my experience that that my dad walked me through but I've simply forgot most of it. My father was a marine and he took me out one day I was pretty young about 9 years old. He took a stick and drew a circle around it. When the shadow pointed up, he identified it as the 12 o'clock mark. (remember, it was 5 decades ago, I am hoping you make sense of my shaky memories). From the 12 'high noon' position he designated it as 12 o'clock, I guess his anchor point.. As I watched the shadow change, it corresponded with the hour marks on the circle of a 12 hour clock..as long as we had daylight. He would look at the position of a shadow to the stick, No number marks, and tell the time within 20 or thirty minutes of my watch, (or better), using only the sun and a stick; maybe two, sticks I don't remember. He would draw a circle and seeing it's shadow tell the time.
But ALSO, it told what is North... I became an off trail camper and learned some basic orientation markers, such as the direction rivers flow in whatever area, and maybe a 'Landmark'., a distant mountain range or..? In my uneducated somewhat superficial way, I knew if I needed to find a location in the wood I had general idea of North, East, South ,West and if lost, I had a general idea what direction certain rivers flowed; some north, others whatever; so I never got too lost. because knowing what is North, to find East I merely faced North and made a sharp right turn.
I also believe we have a type of ' Spiritual' or Intuitive senses we can develop to bring us home. It also helps to know what direction a rivers flow in one's chosen area.. Please comment, as my memory is fragmented and hopefully you can make sense of my ramblings. Thanking you in advance..:
Cloudy days. I always shoot an azimuth whenever I step off the trail for a number 2! Had a few bad experiences not being far enough off the trail. Had a few bad experiences being far enough off the trail.
Playing with your compass is great way to learning to use it ! Thanks
Hi from Syracuse NY USA everyone thank you for sharing your adventures and information
Nice. No one has ever explained it to me as well as you have.
Thank you for your honesty. So many today misrepresent themselves on social media. They often show themselves doing workouts that they don't do themselves to achieve their results. It makes you think if I do this I will achieve similar results. The problem is you will spend your time and energy meanwhile the person is doing a completely different workout for themselves. Very deceiving even if not intentionally.
Excellent advice, such as I've heard many times on your channel. To add emphasis to your training, I cite my Brunton Pocket Transit. The manual has detailed instructions on holding consistently when not using the tripod mount. The instrument has a leveling bubble built-in. That is how important consistency is for readings. The more accuracy you want, the more deliberate your process.
These simple steps are so easy to overlook but they make all the difference in getting usable results out of your compass work. Thanks for the unpretentious basic refresher Dan, great stuff.
Just subscribed. I really like your videos. I'm an EX-Airborne paratrooper 11B rifleman. I always take my Govt Issue Tritium Land Navigation Military compass with a map of my hiking area.
Thanks for the navigation videos. I purchased a compass last summer, watched some confusing videos, then left it sitting in my office where it was doing amazing work... Now, I have a better understanding and will be keeping it with me and practicing more. I still need to learn to use it with a map if you have done that video. Thanks again.
You just have meat new watt to help students, thank you. I keep telling them to hold the compass "flat and straight," your breakdowns will be much easier for them to understand.
That is a great example of beginners compass reading. I was a land surveyor and when we were just trying to find property corners we would basically have to start out with the compass and that was my first lesson after that as I was learning to use the instrument which in the beginning Was An Old Mountain Transit I had to learn to use the compass on the instrument and then how to read the Vernier and so on and so forth so yeah I get this and it's a great beginning for beginners. Thanks a lot I appreciate that video that kind of brought back some great memories of course I'm retired from survey now but I certainly hope that all the people that tries to learn understands this very first lesson because it is vital to reading a compass. Thanks again for the video have a great day stay safe keep your powder dry!
Oooo, you are such a good instructor! You explain it so well.
Thanks Dan. I am always glad to watch your videos. Always something there for me.
God bless and take care.
Is it me or is our Dan morfin into inspector gadget before our very eyes peace and love from 1 leg UK England
@03:50 The word you were looking for is BISECT [divide (a line, angle, shape, etc.) into two equal parts] DISSECT is what we did in Science class.
Hi Dan. Having taught compass work for years I must compliment you on a great set of information! Stay safe. ATB. Nigel
Great tips. Basic stuff that many people never learn about their COOOMpass. ALSO, I placed 2 orders at your store, Great job! Products are well made and got my orders super fast! Like running to the corner store fast! Thanks
Great refresher on basic positioning! Always appreciate your videos!
Dan, awesome video, enjoyed your much needed points for this critical tool. I'll look forward to practice these info and experience a better outdoor time. Thank you for sharing.
great tips/skills! thank you! didn't know about the house or the reason for the line on the mirror. thank you!
Great tips Dan. I don’t know where my compass is so I guess I’ll have to buy a new one and probably a bigger toolbox to hold all the great tools you keep giving me. Keep up the great work.
Love these tips! I have a dead zone in my brain with a compass and I found this extremely helpful!
I think you should make how to use a compass a series, one on navigation using dead reckoning, another on understanding and setting declination, another planning a route with a map and compass...
Just what I was thinking. How is this skill important? Do you need a map? When can I use this?
Questions.......
for me its often a GPS to help with a bearing then it goes away and the compass gets used to take me there. Of course with SAR digital tracking and mapping is gaining a lot of ground so that does get used a lot but one always has a compass with you and typically still uses it to keep on course.
Great tips Dan! 8 literally just got the Suunto MC -2G in the mail today. 😀 Plan on using it when going off trail.
Great sound tip Dan, thanks 👍
Awesome Dan! Thanks for helping us out with knowing how to use a compass. I don't use one but I'll get one and try it out . More tools for the toolbox Dan! Take care and stay safe my friend!
Just checking your channel.. Thank you great video. 🇺🇸 Kingston NY
Bisect not disect..
That would be bad for the compass.
@@wmluna381 Loss of equity
Also make sure to keep the compass away from any electronics which themselves can contain magnets. I carry my camera on one of my shoulder straps and if my compass (same one in this video) is within a foot of the camera the needle is deflected
Thanks Dan!
This a skill I need! Thanks. Made it look easy and not intimidating
Good video. I’ve always enjoyed your videos. Thanks
Brilliant!
I love land nav videos.
Thank you!
Great tips Dan. Thank you,
Dan, what compass make and model would you recommend. I was looking into Suunto mc2 but was also unsure if I should get global or northern hemisphere. I live in Pennsylvania. Thank you greatly for all of your videos and knowledge.
Dan , you should have a basic land nav class to show compass basics. I'm 60 years old and have never learned to use a compass. I have never felt the need for but would like to learn.
Learned something…again. Always good stuff.
GREAT STUFF!!! This actually should be the first thing taught even before the navigation part... it could make it sound too technical for novices though, but definitely necessary knowledge.
Excellent. Learned some basic handiling of my compass. Thanks
I learn so much from the CC!! Thank you sir!
thanks for the tipps. forgetton some of them over time by useing only electroninc devices.
Thanks Dan. Great info. Always learning fresh new tips from you. 👍👍
Excellent! Thanks, Dan.
Thanks Dan!!! You’re the man!!!!!
Have you any footnotes for compasses without mirrors? For that is precisely the description of my faithful old Silva from the mid-90s.
Super tips & super vid... great reminders!
The consistency is good, eliminates all the little variables. Does not surprise me that you did not mention that the mirror is good for shaving.
Good Stuff. Stay STOKED.
Thanks for reminding me, I need to pick up a new compass. May the 4th be with you
Great video and good tips Dan but please also teach students to treat a compass as a precision instrument - don't hold it in your hand whilst shaking your hand vigorously to emphasise a point and don't swing it round by the lanyard. If students see an instructor doing this they'll think it's ok for them to do the same.
Great Video
I prefer the lymphatic compassion the military style from Camenga that's what I used when I was in the scouts my brother gave me his when he was in the Navy CB I learned how to use that compass that's why I like that compass God bless
I have that very compass and didn’t know those things. Thanks!
I like my old US Army compass, it isn't the best, but it works for me. Something I would like to pass on to many of the younger viewers who grew up with GPS, and say they don't know how to use a compass and navigate a map. Yes you do... all the time - in gaming. Making the connection between a gaming compass/map and the real world compass and map? It takes some learning, sure, but it isn't an impossible challenge.
Just got this compass today at rei. But it doesn't have a magnifier. Didn't notice when I was looking over. Not until I got home to look around the map at some details
Now a great topic would be where to find 1:50,000 topo maps!?!?
Great job, I liked it. I also recently started making videos about hiking and bushcraft and it's pretty good. Greetings from Belarus!
What model compass is that?
Thanks Dan. Good tips!
Thank you for the Video...I just learned something new 🥰
Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.
How do you evaluate a good compass. My (Ex) partner purchased more than one compass over the years and they went camping a lot. I have no idea how but the few compasses they had fell apart and such. They typically just purchased them from the Hardware stores and at least one from the "Sporting Goods" department at Walmart.
Is there a way to know if you are getting a rugged and worthy compass and not some junk that will be broken after a few years?
There are a number of land navigation books available. Also several good bushcraft channels on RUclips (Coalcracker; Dave Canterbury; Corporal's Corner; etc) that have compass instructions including a recommended compass. As Dan said, Suunto is a quality brand. the MC-2 is really good (several variations - do your homework before purchase). The Cammenga Lensatic Compass is/was used by the military. A different skill set is used for that style. I have not seen it recommended by any YT bushcraft channel.
Hi Dan.
I have some question, and i hope you, or someone, can help me.
If i store few compasses in the same place, ou bag, or something, would they demagnetise each other?
Great explanation love it
❤ Thank You ❤
I was told a long time ago that they put the mirror on the compass so you could see who's lost .
Awesome lesson... thank you!!
Some compasses go by degrees and some by mills. Which should I get?
Good stuff, thank you!
"When you're just at home on a rainy day, play around with your compass." That is exactly what is going on as I watch this video. Lol
Great tips! Thx!
I'm really struggling to find high detail topo maps. I'm looking for 1:10000 UTM for hiking, hunting, and land nav practice. REI, Sportsman's Wharehouse, USGS, don't sell them anymore. Please help.
Nice! Can't wait to get lost in a forest just to try out these new stuff.
Some great tips. Just remember that the magnetic declination is rapidly changing as the Earth's magnetic poles move and will eventually swap, possibly meeting around Indonesia and off the coast of Brazil or Argentina (South Atlantic Anomaly) in coming years (it has happened before). For more information check out the suspicious Observers RUclips channel disaster playlist.
Wow i didn't know any of this. I need to learn and then show my kids
What compass (brand and model) do you use?
Thank you very much.
Very helpful, concrete, information Thank you!
Bubble trouble with liquid filled compasses. Lensstic is the compass I recommend.
Where's the best place to get one?
Great basics
Could you please tell me what compass it is? Thank you.
When you turn your hat backwards are you the cool teacher that sits backwards in his chair 🪑
Keep in mind some things upset the compass, such as it's too close to a phone, my leatherman upsets the bearing. Just saying. Great content btw
I also use my wrist watch as a compass, if I don't have a compass on me ,works perfectly ( in sun up hours )
I'd love a basic compass instructional video please 😁
outstanding, more knowledge!
Thankyou
Hi can anyone tell me what will happen if I use my northern hemisphere compass in the southern hemisphere will it still work?
Cool vid. Very helpful, thanks. 😎
Great tips
Good video...... very very useful......👍👍👍
Great info 👍
Thanks 😊
what do you do if you don't have the reckting asalot of us do ?