# Outdoor enthusiasts: reccomend a good baseplate compass
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 4, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696 "2012-10-04T14:35:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696/1 "2012-10-04T14:35:50Z")
I am in the process of learning wilderness navigation and need a good compass.
I recently purchased a Silva Ranger but was very disappointed. Out of the package the bezel was loose in the housing. I took it back to the store and tried to exchange it but all the Rangers had a similar flaw. Doing some research online it seems that Rangers were once top-shelf stuff, but they are now made in Indonesia and their quality is nowhere what they used to be.
So I need a compass. Baseplate (not lensatic or engineer), with adjustable declination, mirrored lid, and map scales. Clinometer would be nice but not a requirement. I’ve heard good things about Suunto, and am curious if anyone has experience with them.
Does any outdoor junkies out there have any recommendations?
Many thanks.
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### Author:  [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696/2 "2012-10-04T22:04:33Z")
I haven’t had the experience of using many different compass brands, but I do own a baseplate model Suunto, and am very happy with it, for what it’s worth.
[The Compass Store](http://www.thecompassstore.com/) stocks quite a wide variety of models, in many different price ranges. You might want to check them out.
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### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696/3 "2012-10-04T22:38:25Z")
Thank you very much for the link, **artemis**. I am also interested in getting a compass.
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### Author:  [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-enthusiasts-reccomend-a-good-baseplate-compass/636696/4 "2012-10-06T20:33:59Z")
Shoot, I came on to recommend a Silva Ranger. I’m shocked, those things used to be bullet proof. I carried and used mine daily for years and it’s still an excellent tool. Sorry to hear that they’ve gone to hell.