Using a compass for hiking means orienting your map to north, setting a bearing to your destination, and following that bearing while checking landmarks.
For the full breakdown, see our best Backpacking Compass guide.
When the trail fades or fog rolls in, a compass and paper map are tools that still work. Whether you carry a simple baseplate model or a mirror sighting compass, the core skills are the same: orient the map, take a bearing, and walk it with discipline. Here’s the method that works, step by step.
What You Need Before Starting
A baseplate compass with a rotating bezel and clear orienting arrow is the standard hiking tool. A paper map is the other essential—a compass without a map only tells you which way north is, not where you are. Keep the compass away from metal, electronics, and your phone, which can pull the magnetic needle off true.
Orient the Map to North
Before plotting a course, the map must match the ground. Lay the map flat, place your compass on it, and turn the entire map until the compass needle and the map’s north arrow align. Terrain features ahead will then line up with the map’s symbols. Once oriented, set your route: put the compass edge along the line from where you are to where you want to go. Rotate the bezel until the orienting lines inside the capsule run parallel with the map’s north-south grid, with the orienting arrow pointing to map north. Read the bearing where the index line meets the bezel—that number is your course.
How to Take and Follow a Bearing
With a bearing locked in, hold the compass level at chest or waist height, direction-of-travel arrow pointing straight ahead. Turn your whole body, not just the compass, until the red magnetic needle sits inside the orienting arrow or “shed.” You are now facing your bearing. Pick a landmark—a distinct tree, rock, or ridge—along that line and walk to it, then stop and repeat. This keeps you moving straight without staring at the compass.
Common Mistakes That Throw You Off
- Tilting the compass off-level — the needle drags and gives a false reading.
- Pointing the direction-of-travel arrow backward on the map, sending you the opposite way.
- Forgetting to align the needle with the orienting arrow before walking.
- Skipping landmark checks, which lets small errors compound into big drift.
If you take one thing, it’s the last point: a bearing gets you started, but regular map checks keep you honest.
Using a Suunto Watch Compass for Bearing Tracking
Suunto’s Core and Essential watches offer a compass mode that works differently. Rather than aligning a physical needle, you lock a bearing into the watch by pointing the direction-of-travel marker at your target and pressing a button. The display then shows arrows or symbols guiding you back to that bearing as you walk. The watch must still be held level and away from magnetic interference, but it removes the need to read a needle while moving.
| Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Baseplate compass | Align red needle with orienting arrow on a physical bezel | Map work and precise bearings on paper |
| Mirror compass | Same core method, with a mirror for sighting distant landmarks | Accurate sighting over long distances |
| Suunto Core/Essential watch | Lock a bearing, then follow display arrows | Quick checks without pulling out a map |
Practice Before You Need It
Compass navigation is a backup to map reading and situational awareness, not a replacement. The skill only helps if practiced before you’re lost. Set a bearing in a familiar park, follow it to a landmark, and check your position on the map. Repeat until leveling the compass, aligning the needle, and picking a landmark become automatic. Those steps, again: orient the map to north, line the compass edge from start to destination, rotate the bezel to match the grid, then walk with the needle in the shed while checking landmarks. That sequence, repeated, is the entire skill.
FAQs
Do I need a compass if I have a GPS or phone?
GPS and phones fail when batteries die, signals drop, or screens break. A compass and paper map weigh almost nothing, never run out of power, and work anywhere. Carrying one as a backup is standard for hikers beyond well-marked trails.
What is the difference between true north and magnetic north?
True north is the geographic North Pole; magnetic north is where the compass needle points. The difference is declination, which varies by location. Most topographic maps state it; adjusting for it keeps bearings accurate over long distances.
How do I choose between a baseplate and a mirror compass?
A baseplate compass is lighter, simpler, and easier on a map, making it right for most hikers. A mirror compass adds a sighting mirror for precise bearings on distant peaks, useful in open terrain. Your choice depends on how much precision you need.
References & Sources
- American Hiking Association. “How to Use a Compass.” Outlines orienting the map, taking a bearing, and following it with landmark checks.
- Suunto. “Suunto Mirror Compasses User Guide.” Details holding the compass level, aligning the needle, and sighting techniques.