Karrimor Compass

[user24]

Saw this at the local Field and Trek which is shutting down (bargains!). It's the same as this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karrimor-Compass/dp/B00317841G

Priced at £3.99

To be honest I wasn't impressed. I use Karrimor boots and rucksacks and have always been happy. But the compass is not great. Just the build quality really. If I push behind the dial, it will pop out. Also when I turn the dial the needle follows it unless the compass is really very flat.

Should have listened to my heart and got a Silva instead!

 

[Barn Owl]

Keep mind the Karrimor name was sold off a few years ago.

Iirc only the special forces rucsacs were kept separate.

 

[user24]

Oh really? I did not know that. Thanks, that's interesting to know.

 

[JonathanD]

Bad things bad things bad things. Get a Silva.

 

[Shewie]

It sounds a bit iffy, probably not the best idea for navigation

You can pick up a basic and reliable Silva for just over a tenner

 

[user24]

Bought a Silva Ranger today for £12 down from £20 at the same place. So much better! Just goes to show that if you buy cheap you buy twice.

Karrimor: magnifier slightly better than the Silva one imho: 1 point to Karrimor

GITD features Silva: dot in centre of needle and on N side of needle, two dots on dial either side of north arrow, and one on the 'frame' too. Karrimor: One on frame, two static dots on dial, none on needle (at all!): 1 point to Silva

Build quality. I pressed my thumbs against the back of the karrimor and as I suspected, the compass popped out with not a lot of pressure. Same pressure to the silva and nothing happened at all: -2 points to Karrimor.

Needle reset time - spin both compasses around a few times, the Karrimor's needle is slowly moving back to North, the Silva's never left north: +1 to Silva.

Angle: By tilting the Karrimor one by less than 45 degrees I can get the needle to point south - it drags on the bottom of the dial. Cannot do that with the Silva: -1 to Karrimor.

Final scores

Karrimor: -2
Silva: 2

so the Silva's three times the price but well worth it.

 

[Laurentius]

Sounds a bit like the compass that had in Poundland a while back, I'll say this much for it though, it certainly glows in the dark, enough to worry the UKAEA I suspect.

You can't beat a good Silva, until you step on it, that is.

 

[user24]

Yeah I was thinking of getting one of the poundland ones just to see what it's like. I mean they all do the same job, but I just like to have things that can take a beating without falling apart. Not that I plan on abusing them, but just in case. Same reason I carry victorinox SAKs not some cheap knockoff, same reason I bought a SJAB first aid kit not a cheaper one. The cheaper stuff most likely will do the job just fine, but for my piece of mind it's worth the extra.

 

[user24]

the GITD is slightly brighter on the Karrimor. We're only talking a tiny amount though.