TRU-NORD BUTTON COMPASS
THE ONLY BUTTON COMPASS I TRUST MY LIFE WITH
Many years ago I bought about four of these compasses after searching for a quality button compass that would not fail when you needed it the most. It was so long ago that the built in declination (17° East) from the OEM has long since become null from the natural shift in Magnetic North.
But the great thing about this button compass is that you can set the declination yourself or remove it completely, although I don’t recommend doing so as it’s harder to work with since there is no easy way to compensate for the declination off it’s dial which is in 10° increments.
While the Tru-Nord gives you more options and better accuracy than any other button compass I’ve ever seen, it’s still an emergency compass, not a primary navigation tool like a Cammenga or base plate model.
There is no method for a quick azimuth like on my Cammenga as shown below and while it’s much better than a NWSE indicator, it’s not a real compass replacement.
Being able to know that it’s adjusted to the declination of your map/area is what sets this button compass apart from any other in it’s form factor. You don’t have math to worry about or trying to align a map to your declination with only 10° increments available on the button and without a traditional straight edge on a full size compasses.
Almost 15° declination (my AO) is a HUGE offset that will surely get you off track if not accounted for. You can not use a map with a compass without accounting for declination and expect good results. Orienteering is an exact science when done correctly, but just knowing the theory and having the ability to make gross dissections can be the difference between life and death in times of trouble, which are the times you would likely be using a device such as a button compass. Probably because you damaged or lost your “real” compass and still have your map.
REMEMBER:
The map represents the ground orientation of items we see in the field.
The accuracy of that orientation is dependent on an accurate accounting of the declination.
The more accurate you can make that adjustment, the more precise you travels will be.
Again, the Tru-Nord is not a primary compass but an emergency backup. Still, being able to visualize your NWSE on the ground off a map or just knowing your area allows you to then go directly to it for plotting your travel azimuth or establishing a rough back intersection to locate yourself more accurately on the map.
If I can see two offset mountain tops or other known terrain features and have a button compass with the declination already accounted for, I need only +/-180° to match the grid map without the complexity of subtracting (or is it adding?) 14.5° on top of that.
The point is that when you need this backup the most, doing map math is not a good thing as it’s likely you are in a bad position and not mentally at your sharpest.
When I bought mine 20 years ago they were $40 ea. today they are $87 ea. which is ridiculous IMO but they still hold a niche place in navigation as a last ditch navigation tool and I keep one in my E&E Fanny Pack which is always with me in the field.
To put things in perspective though:
Tritium Cammenga costs $99
SUUNTO MC-2 is $70
Silva Ranger 2.0 Compass $50.
All top end compasses, but much larger.
Packing a second Silva would be a bit cheaper and your level of navigation would not be reduced, so that’s something to consider for sure. For me the button has it’s place and I would likely buy one at that inflated cost even today.
You need to practice with a Tru-Nord button compass, as with all compasses, for best results. Realize you are going to be at a handicap if it’s all you have. Any other button is a waste of time IMO as the video shows even the (SERE Compass) one that is suppose to be good did not consistently point North, and like following a GPS blindly, likely to hurt more than help.
If you don’t want to mess with the declination as I showed in the video, you can always send it back for OEM tuning for the life of the compass.
Anyway, that’s my bit on a unique compass and the ONLY button compass I would trust in the field for anything more than NWSE navigation.
Good explanation of what these tools are good for. Don’t grab a ball peen to drive 16p nails!