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If you're considering buying a compass, you may find it an overwhelming endeavor. With so many compasses on the market, it can be difficult to get started. Do you need a traditional needle compass like the Brunton Classic Gentleman's Compasss or a sophisticated professional compass like the Brunton Pocket Transit line? It can get confusing quickly, as there are likely a lot of words and terms you've never heard of before. Even the most experienced hiker might need a quick refresher. That's why we've compiled this glossary of compass terminology.
Altimeter
An instrument that measures elevation by using barometric (air) pressure.
Azimuth
Same as bearing. Refers to the degree of bearing from your current position to a landmark or destination. Reversing the bearing would be known as a back azimuth or back bearing.
Baseplate
The see-through plate of an orienting compass onto which the compass housing is mounted.
Bearing
The direction of travel from your current position to a landmark or destination, expressed in degrees from 1 to 360. Also called an Azimuth.
Bench mark
A permanent object that is either natural or man-made with a known elevation that can be used as a reference point when navigating.
Bench mark
A permanent object that is either natural or man-made with a known elevation that can be used as a reference point when navigating.
Cardinal points
The four main points of direction on a compass--North/360 degrees; East/90 degrees; South/180 degrees; and West/270 degrees.
Declination
The difference in degrees between magnetic north (the direction the magnetic needle on a compass points) and true or geographic north (the direction maps are printed towards).
Magnetic north
The geographical region towards which all magnetic needles point. This point is approximately 1,300 miles south of true north.
Orienteering
Using a map and compass in the field to determine your route of travel.
Prismatic compass
A compass with a mirror designed to allow a user to see both distant objects being sighted and the compass face at the same time.
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