Silva Guide 426 Compass

Bought this compass a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this compass was for how inexepensive it is. Has a lifetime warranty in case of any problems, but it looks like it will last just fine. One of the few in this price range that included a mirror, which was important as this is purchased for backpacking and wanted the mirror to double for emergency signaling without adding another piece of equipment (and extra weight) of carrying a separate mirror. Recommended.

This is a good basic compass for general use. The compass itself is accurate. Opening the plastic housing to use the compass is a bit annoying, you have to push the plastic parts just right. However, the "lanyard" that came with it isn't what I would call a lanyard. This was really just a long piece of red string, which you have to figure out how to connect to the compass correctly so that it hangs evenly from your neck. If you plan to start orienteering or map hiking, although this compass does the job, you might want to look for a compass with a clear base plate so that you can see more of the map thru the base plate while taking a bearing with the compass. That said, it's a good compass in this price range (under $20).

I ordered the product for a specific job, the shipping was delayed twice past the date I needed it. I treid to cancel but it turned into a hassle so I have 2 compasses. This one is honest barely better than the $4 walmart one I ran out to purchase in a pinch. Very dissapointed with amazon on this one.

Shares a lot of good navigation features with larger more expensive models. Silva included accuracy on this compass by adding a few lines for sighting alignment

I use compasses a lot when backpacking, birding and sea kayaking. Taking a sighting using the mirror is an important feature for my use. Small errors can add up. I was a bit let down by both the Silva Landmark and Huntsman This compass avoided those shortcomings and is a great value at this price. You can spend $50 to $75 and you would be getting the same accuracy. You can not do that with the Huntsmen and Landmark because they lack the rear alignment mark that the Guide has (check the photos).

When I take a sighting I line up the hair line in the mirror with the index line on the front of the rotating bezel (mirror side of compass) and the virtual continuation of that line on the rear of the base plate (closest to me). These 3 points line up my target and the compass for an accurate reading.


Only shortcoming is I was suspicious of a flexible plastic hinge rather than a pin and hinge type. But it has held up very well in field use and I expect it to last a long time. It is well constructed. The fact that it is floats appealed to me since I sea kayak.

The numbers are easy to read and all the appropriate markings for aligning the mirror hair line with the front of the compass and rear of the compass on multiple points for proper alignment are there (unlike the Silva Huntsman and Landmark compass that lack them).

The degree numbers and alignment marks are easy to read.


For me the Guide is a better choice for accuracy than the Huntman or Landmark(in the same price range). It has the marks I made reference to, is a little larger and much easier to read. The Guide floats. The guide only weighs a few grams more than the Huntsman or Landmark.

While Huntsman and Landmark open with a hinge. The Guide has a flexible plastic hinge. The guide is slightly larger than the other two but this is a plus for me. Its a good size. I would recommend the Guide over the Huntsman and Landmark due to the ease of reading and accuracy. At this price its a no brainer. The Guide weighs only 1.2 ounces on my postal scale.

Any compass I have ever used (including watch compass)has been erratic and hard to find north. This Silva 426 really finds north, is lightweight, seems well made and easy to look at. A good item to keep in the car or in any situation where you'll need to find your direction.