Silva Lensatic 360 Compass

I've just received the "Silva Lensatic 360 Compass [Sports]." The hand doesn't point in the same direction. I, therefore, have no choice but to return the item.

First, let me tell you that I have never owned a compass, and I believe that I have only held one once before in my life. I got a $20 Amazon.com gift certificate from my brother-in-law and instead of buying a DVD, I decided to get someting a little more adventurous for an upcoming camping trip. So, I came up with the idea of buying a compass.

The compass selection ranges from many really low end, to one moderate priced, to many on the high end side. Since the gift certificate for for $20, I searched in that price range. The Silva Lensatic 360 was really my only choice for the $20 range.

When I got the compass, it looked and felt good. It feels solid for the price. The W points in the direction of where the sun sets in my backyard, and it points to E where the sun rises in my front yard, so the accuracy is good enough for me. I really feel like going for a hike in the wilderness, but since I'm a novice hiker, I should first read the book that I ordered w/ the compass ( The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors by Seidman).

A good general use compass no great faults good value for the money made in Taiwan for once something made in a democracy and not communist China.

Sometimes you can just pick up an object and you know it is well made. The Silva Lensatic 360 Compass is one of those objects.

The body is very solidly built aluminum. The pieces fit together well, and, most importantly, the hinges for the cover and the magnifying glass don't feel cheap, like they will snap off with repeated use.

The compass itself works great and "centers" in only a few seconds. The crystal is engraved with two sighting lines, so no worries about these lines wearing off over time. The bezel luminesces well at night.

The bottom line is that this is a great lower end compass at a great price and this guy will be in my pack for years to come.

I wanted a good compass for a reasonable price and this compass is perfect for me. Unlike my previous experience with compasses, it is very easy to use. I was impressed with how rugged the case is. This compass will come with me on all my hikes.