Q&A for How to Use a Compass

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How do I know which arrow I should be looking at white or red?

Community Answer

It is the red one. Sometimes the red (magnetic) needle includes a little "N" letter which means North.

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Question

What arrow I should be looking at?

Community Answer

The arrow that moves on its own as you move is the one that points to magnetic north.

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Question

How do I know which direction the wind is coming from?

Community Answer

Turn so that the wind is blowing in your face. Use your compass to find which way you are facing. That's the direction the wind is blowing from.

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Question

My compass has a red arrow with North on it, but there is a bubble in the compass. What do I do with it?

Community Answer

Center the bubble in its circle. This will indicate the compass is level and free to move about accurately.

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Question

Does it matter where I stand when checking a magnetic compass?

Community Answer

As long as there's no metal near you, it does not matter where you stand.

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Question

Once I have my position using something found on the map, how do I find the GPS coordinates of my location?

Community Answer

A sufficiently-detailed map -- such as a USGS topographical map -- will have longitude and latitude scale markings on it. The markings are usually around the map's border. You will need to use a straight-edge from your location on the map and perpendicular to the longitude scale to read your longitude, and the same for latitude. If you're not exactly at a tick mark on the scale, you need to interpolate between the two nearest tick marks.

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Question

When is it useful to have a compass?

Community Answer

Compasses are most useful when you're in the wilderness.

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Question

What is meant by pitch and roll written at the left corner of a compass?

Community Answer

Pitch and roll generally refer to the orientation of a body or craft (boat, plane, vehicle) with respect to horizontal, and are typically not considered when orienteering on land.

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Question

When I take a bearing, do I need to travel straight when the needles are aligned or in the direction the needle is pointing?

Community Answer

The compass needle will point toward magnetic north (assuming you are holding the compass flat as described, and not near large metal objects). Therefore, if you travel in the direction of the needle, you will be going north. That is probably not what you want. If you have set up your compass correctly according to this wiki, you want to travel in the direction of the "direction of travel" arrow, which is the large arrow on the compass base. If traveling straight is not possible (due to terrain and/or obstacles), sight a near landmark in that direction and make your way to it. Once there, repeat the process.

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Question

What do the different arrows indicate on a compass?

Community Answer

The different arrows on the base of the compass indicate different directions, such as north, northeast, south, southwest ,west, east et cetera. The large, red arrow on the base indicates north.

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Question

If my compass doesn't have a glass plate around it, will that change how it works?

Community Answer

No it won't change, unless the needle has been bent too. The glass plate does not affect the direction of the needle. It only acts as a protection for the compass needle.

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Question

What’s the difference between this and the compass with a mirror and a cover and a wire? How do I take a bearing on the one with a mirror?

Community Answer

The compasses with mirrors and wires allow you to aim the base target arrow at a landmark while seeing the compass bearing at the same time.

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Question

How do I position items using a compass?

Community Answer

Holding the compass directly in front of you, point the direction of travel arrow toward the first landmark (L1) and rotate the compass dial until the black end of the magnetic needle points to “N” on the dial. Read the heading at the index line (which is the same as the direction of travel arrow).

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