Random — A Compass

Which way is North? An age old question, that great minds have answered with various tools. You can go simple with a magnetised needle and a bowl of water or complex with a GPS device (complex, because it requires a space program). They're fascinating devices, and I have a few.

I saw this on kickstarter and loved the idea of a floating compass, so I ordered a couple, one for me and one for Fin. I've had it since November, but couldn't use it because Fin's was a Christmas present. Christmas came and went so here we are.

The bottom plate is a chunk of machined titanium with a 'bug eye' ball holding the compass. The compass has two ways to look at it. Look straight down onto it and the directions are marked on the top of the ball, hold it up at eye level and look at the edge and the point you're looking at is the direction of travel.

The compass feels great when you hold it. I'm not sure how much of a navigator it is... But it's a lovely thing to hold and observe. The base feels great and the etched compass on the bottom has a lovely laser cut texture.

The ball of the compass rolls about in the eye in a very satifying way, there's no bubbles in the ball and the movement is nice and smooth. Tha compass fills the ball and looks good. The flash has picked out some of the glue holding the ball in place, in real life you can't see it. Another one that I've not yet tied a lanyard for, I've tried a couple and can't got one to look right on it.

The base of the compass is 45x40x14mm there's a lip round the ball that sits 3mm above the top of the base. The ball is about 15mm above the top of the rim on the base. It weighs 67gr. The printing on the ball is clear and easy to read.

I'm a tiny bit disappointed with the glow in the dark markings on the ball, they glow, but not brilliantly, aside from this tiny point the compass is a big hit with me. Fin loves his too!

Like I say I'm not sure it'll get much use as a navigation tool, for this, I don't think you can beat a Silva Classic. Just for the love of a picture, here's mine.

It's a very basic compass, but it does everything you need a compass to do and nothing else. I've had a couple of these, not because they stopped working, because I'm clumsy and lose things! If you want a compass for navigation, then get a classic. If you want a nice thing to have in your pocket that feels like a premium fidget toy, get a bug eye.

A Compass

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