Importance of a Compass in Orienteering

Orienteering is a timed cross-country competition in which participants follow a course with only a map and a compass. A compass, obviously, is essential. Compasses provide bearings and enable you to orient the map for alignment with the terrain. Two types of compasses are the thumb compass and the base-plate compass.

  1. Base-plate Compass

    • The base-plate compass or protractor compass is a rotating compass situated in a rectangular base and marked with an arrow along the long base axis. The compass itself is marked around the bezel (the circle with the numbers) with degrees--360 degrees--forming a full circle. Inside the circle is an arrow used to align with the base plate and usually some lines that project out to the bezel, as well as the compass needle. Some base-plate compasses have a scale device on the base that allow you to determine distances on the map.

    Thumb Compass

    • The thumb compass is a smaller compass that can be placed on the thumb of the left hand and then placed on the map. A distinct feature of this compass is that the map and the compass can be read as a unit, allowing the map to be aligned more easily and freeing one hand. One detractor however is that maintaining an accurate bearing is more difficult.

    Significance of Compass Use in Orienteering

    • In orienteering the only legal device you may use is the compass. That means you must leave the smart phone and the GPS at home. Orienteering teaches you how to read the terrain and align your map and compass with the features you see in the terrain around you.

    Reducing Margin for Errors

    • Practice makes perfect, and orienteering is no exception. It is best to start in an area you know well and use often, or make your own topographical map to put your knowledge to the test. An exercise on a small scale in a familiar place will help hone your skills and build your confidence for getting out into the field.

    Benefits of Orienteering

    • Having the ability to use a map and compass to navigate out of wilderness is an essential skill if you do not have electronics, or if your electronics are damaged or lost. In a survival situation, such a skill can save your life. Orienteering can be learned by taking classes. To learn more about orienteering go to http://www.us.orienteering.org/.