There is nothing worse than being lost! When in urban areas, finding the right way is as simple as asking for directions, or using a GPS system. Generally, people these days are not lost for very long, as technology is just too good. The reality is though, for people in the wilderness, they do not always have things such as GPS systems, and they might not see someone for days.
A pocket compass is usually the best option for someone that is out in the wild. They are also known as hand compasses, hand bearing compasses and in some cases, a sighting compass. Essentially, these items are a compact version of a standard magnetic compass, allowing users to use them with just one hand.
What do pocket compasses do then? A pocket compass will use its magnetic and mechanical features to locate exactly where a person is. Their sighting devices allow it to locate the exact bearing that it is in, giving the user a gauge of which way they need to go.
Of course, the quality of pocket compasses does vary. Some can be found in shops for a few dollars, whereas others can cost up to a hundred dollars. The more expensive products will include the likes of excellent sighting arrangements, high spec construction and of course, much higher accuracy than the less expensive items.
The pocket compass has been around for years, and has managed to get a lot of people out of many sticky situations. The term has been used by a lot of outdoor based professionals, including the likes of people in the forestry industry, where sometimes, locating a certain bearing is simply down to using a compass. Alongside this, it has been used by the likes of geologists as well.
Normal compasses have been around for hundreds of years, but the development of pocket compasses has been much more recent. Over the years, many companies have tried to patent the technology that the product produces, but instead, were only able to patent certain unique features relating to it.
While a pocket compass is still used by many on a regular basis, the reality is that they are becoming rarer by the day. Even if you normally use a GPS system out in the wilderness, having a pocket compass and knowing how to use it, can be a life saver!
