How to Use a Liquid Filled Compass

Liquid-filed compasses use a liquid capsule with a magnetic needle that always points north. The compasses are often manufactured with a base plate that includes a ruler. There can also have a dial with incremental gradations, a Direction of Travel arrow and luminous points. Finding your way with a map is the most common liquid-filled compass use.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the compass on the map with the bass plate edge connecting where you are with where you want to go. Set the compass heading by turning the compass dial until the "N" lines up with magnetic north on the map. Magnetic north is often labeled "MN."

    • 2

      Take the compass off the map and hold it level in front of you with the Direction of Travel arrow pointing straight ahead. Move your body so that the colored end of the needle is pointing to or laying over the Orienting Arrow pointing to "N" on the dial. The Direction of Travel arrow now points towards where you want to go.

    • 3

      Walk towards a landmark that you sight-in with the Direction of Travel arrow.

    • 4

      If you cannot sight a landmark, but know that you need to travel in a specific direction, simply keep the colored end of the compass arrow pointing North, and walk in the required direction guided by the orientation of the compass.