watch strap compass

[Man of Tanith]

Hi all
anyone here know where I can get hold of a watch strap compass?
the sort you thread onto the strap rather than a compass on it's own?
I had one made by gelert and well it wasnt um...rugged enough and basically fell apart-it was only a cheap plastic mount and button compass but it was handy for the general direction i was travelling in,
it bust about a month or two ago and I'm finding life very irksome without one.
If anyone could point me in the direction of a more abuseable one (I think last one was done in my constant jumper removal and general bashing) I would be very grateful
many thanks in advance
Regards
Sa,

 

[big_swede]

People who are in to the sport orienteering usually use thumb compasses, which are great and fast for navigating. Some of these guys however use wrist compasses. In the even more narrow field of bike orienteering (it exists! Weird, huh?) wrist compasses are the norm. If these suits your need is another question, but they are built tough and have scales adapted for fast reading. If you can find an orienteering shop the can most likely order one for you.

This is a wrist compass made by Moscompass, the model is called Moscow 8B and is made for bike orienteering, the pic is taken from an orienteering webshop called letro (letro.se). As you see, it's a pretty big difference to the ordinary field compasses usually used for outdoor purposes. It differs in use too, but once you have learned to use it, it's very fast and reliable. Personally, I prefer a ordinary compass (silva ranger range) or thumb compasses (silva 66 OMC).

 

[myotis]

A google on watch strap compass found a Silva model for a fiver, obviuosly I have no expereince of it, but might be worth a shot if no one suggests a model based on personal expeerience.

Graham

 

[Sainty]

£3.50 here.

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/Watch_Strap_Compass-48267042-62896491-p+.xhtml?sourceid=309

 

[myotis]

£3.50 here.

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/Watch_Strap_Compass-48267042-62896491-p+.xhtml?sourceid=309

Or, on the same page, £5.99 for the Silva one, but my initial google found them at £4.99.

Graham

 

[jungle_re]

the recta ones are good, and very useful to clip on the top of your map to use for orientating the map quickly

 

[forestwalker]

Silva has two watch strap models. One is a watch-strap version of their SERE compass, and is fairly crap IMNSHO (bubbles in short order). The other looks like one of their normal compasses, but with everything but the house cut away. I had one for years, but it did die and I never bothered to replace it.

 

[jungle_re]

this is the one http://www.ultimateadventurehardware.co.uk/item/Brand_Recta-Clipper_0_0_254_0.html?ref=froogle

had mine for a few years never had any problems and it lives on my watch which i never take off

 

[groundhog]

I've got the same one as jungle re and no problems so far reads the same as my silva and again clips on my watch strap.

 

[Kerne]

Does the closeness of the watch and all the electronic gubbins inside it affect the needle?

 

[Chinkapin]

I know that you said watch compass, but you might want to take a look at the Marbles pin on compass. It is made from a solid brass billet and has a crystal glass. They are not very expensive for what you are getting.

Watch out for Chinese knock-offs, they abound and are junk with plastic lens.

www.bestglide.com/marbles_brass_compass.html

 

[bushscout1]

I've got a watch strap compass (on my watch strap) which is the same style as the Silva one, but is not branded. I got it fairly cheaply, attached to a webbing keyring at the Eden Project, so is probably available from other tourist attractions.

I've not had any problems with it, and it was very economical.

 

[MartiniDave]

I've seen them for sale in the various outdoors shops around the Lake District, but usually find that if you compare a few, north is all over the place. Anyone else found this?

Dave

 

[Bravo4]

I've seen them for sale in the various outdoors shops around the Lake District, but usually find that if you compare a few, north is all over the place. Anyone else found this?

Dave

yes. Well, not in the Lake District but I do notice cheap-o's that point all over the place.

I sometimes use a wrist compass similar to the one shown by big swede, suunto model. It's got a 'side-reading window' and a card instead of a needle. You read the bearing through the side which means the card is reversed as seen from above, so not always easy to read. Kind of weird from what I am used to but is an ok compass.
http://www.suunto.com/suunto/Worlds...LDER<>folder_id=2534374302757916&bmUID=i46IQ2.

I've used both silva wrist models, both developed bubbles. That Marbles compass looks to be my next tiny compass.

 

[jungle_re]

My recta as stated lives on my watch strap and has done for the last few years and i never take my watch off (unless operating machinery), its still points to a coincident north with all my other compasses (as i teach nav that quite a few) including a silva 54 and recta DP6 which are not cheap compasses.

For the price (about &#163;4-&#163;6) just get one you wont be dissapointed

 

[ex Member swampy99]

five star cord do the marbel . Waiting for mine to turn up.

http://www.fivestarcord.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=196

No conection.

 

[Templar]

I use a Silva SERE40 slip on compass, had it for the last 5 years and still going strong, no bubbles, no diviation...I had it when I was still in the services and it goes with me everywhere..

Karl

 

[Man of Tanith]

hi all
i am toying with the idea of the suunto micro compass at the minute
i like the look of the recta but trhe cost of &#163;4postage for a &#163;6 purchase turned me into my old man and i shouted "how much"
now i just need to find a stockist
cheers all
Sam

 

[big_swede]

I'm sorry, I feel a bit thick now, I should have read the OP a bit more thorough. I thought you wanted something completely different.

 

[traderran]

The marbles pocket is great kit or if you just need a wrist one Marbles
makes one