Brunton TruArc 3 Compass
A classic scouting compass with modern updates, the Brunton TruArc 3 Compass offers no-frills reliability that makes it an essential for any foray into the great outdoors.
- Tool-free declination allows for east or west declination settings to +/- 180°
- The Brunton TruArc 3 Compass features a global needle system, metric and standard scales, 2° resolution and scales in inches and centimeters
Made in USA.
View all Brunton Compasses| Best Use | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Analog or Digital | Analog |
| Increments | 2 degrees |
| Declination Adjustment | Yes |
| Global Needle | Yes |
| Liquid-Filled | Yes |
| Ruler | Yes |
| Lanyard | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches |
| Weight | 1.1 ounces |
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Accurate, light weight, good price.
Although no compass works with a lot of metal around, like in a car, this compass is very accurate and in some cases more accurate than others because the needle still is free to rotate when the base is not completely level. When using the edge of the base to draw lines between points on the map, like when calculating a bearing, I find the side of the compass a bit short. Not a good straight edge. But it is adequate and if you purchase something like the Suunto M3 you will pay more for a small inconvenience. I have instructed students with the earlier model of this compass and it was easy to use and I like that it is light weight and reasonably priced.
Solid budget compass
This is a nice, accurate budget compass, great for a starter compass or a backup. I have always found it to be accurate, and the global needle is a nice bonus feature. The build quality is fine, not quite rock-solid. Overall, about as good as it gets for the price range, and would be great for outfitting a group. Some features it doesn't have that would make it more useful: -more grid lines within the dial so it's easier to line up with a map (compare this to a Suunto face) -longer body -asymmetrical body so it's easier to distinguish one end from the other -glowing elements -magnifier
This really is a you need
Sure, you can get more bells and whistles in a compass, the the directional mirror, gives you a tad more accuracy in getting a field bearing, but for the price, and what a compass does, you just don't need more than this. A manual magnetic deviation, by turning the interior. Can't beat it and you don't need to spend more on a compass than this.
Not durable and comes apart.
I did not use if for navigating, I used it to give my photography an azimuth while geotagging them, I kept it in my camera case. A part that held the capsule and dial came off and now it all comes apart. Warrantee is only a year, other compasses have longer warrantee.
Does what it was designed to do well
This is a unique compass as its the lowest cost global needle one can buy in a no frills chassis. The body is a stripped version of the Brunton OSS 10B, which is a stripped Brunton Classic, which is a copy of the Silva Voyager. If all you need is a superb compass capsule in a rugged, easy to hold shell, this is it. The ruler markings on the side are the absolute minimum needed to estimate distance from a map. Pros Gobal needle design: a practical usage in the USA is the needle spins much freer as its optimal balance is maintained at more dip angles, to reflect compass zones. I tested this by using a small magnet to emulate another zone compared against a Classic and a Suunto MC-2G, a true global needle that uses a permanent magnet. The TruArc 3 will spin free at angles that would lock up the Classic but not the Suunto. The capsule is large enough to allow for 1 degree resolution A global needle is an optimal compass for world use, and for under $15 is a steal. A Suunto or Recta model with a Global needle runs > $50 The declination adjustment is typical Brunton, squeeze capsule and spin, easy to fix without tools Cons This design has all the flaws of the Brunton Classic, which is decades old, but if you accept that when you buy it its not a limitation. To repeat: There are no cardinal headings in the degree markings, they are on the side of the bezel which you can't see The capsule is not fluid filled so a fall can potentially dislodge the needle from the spindle, however it won't form a bubble either [ I have not had such an issue with my 20 year old Classic] The printed degree scale is off by ~1 degree. That is 0 and 180 degrees must be aligned precisely, and in many low cost compasses this is a common flaw as its offset by >= 1 deg. Since the degree scale is printed on top of the capsule, the design is prone to parallax errors when estimating headings
No direction home
The first day I used the compass, the fluid filled compass capsule fell out of the surrounding shell and was lost. The shell remained nicely attached to me by the lanyard around my neck. I now have an empty (and useless) compass shell.
Malfunctioning Compass
I'm sure this is fluke, but this compass did not work (a bit of an oxymoron) -- Due North was S SE. I thought I was going crazy. Had two buddies look at it, reset it with a magnet several times, and even took it to the outfitter we rented our canoes from before our trip. Compared it to several other compasses, and sure enough, N was pointing the wrong direction. While I'd like to get my money back, I'm also tempted to keep it as a wonderful practical joke. Haven't decided yet.
Good Standard Compass
Wanted a good reliable compass to wrap with paracord to put into my survival/EEE kit. Very large numbers and a brightly colored needle make this one easy to see and read. Provided cord is standard so might replace with paracord. Other than that I really like the looks of it and thinking of buying another to replace my old Sylva that I have hiked with ever since my Boy Scout years.(1970s)
Quality Compass
This compass functions as advertised. The declination is easy to adjust. If you're going to be plotting trajectories on the open seas you might want something with a longer edge, but if you're just using it to navigate lakes and trails this is a good lightweight and small option.
Good compass
I am not kind to gear and haven't had the durability issues others mentioned. Shoots true azimuths to/from known points on the 2 examples I purchased. Lightweight and easy, no brainer to carry everywhere. I don't love that the declination spins freely but just write the angle down on your map so you don't forget!