Scouting From Home

How to Use a Compass- REI.com

Finding your campsite, a spectacular viewpoint or your way back out of the wilderness won’t always be simple tasks. That’s why a magnetized compass and a paper map—and the navigational knowhow to use them—are part of the Ten Essentials.

This article covers the following concepts:

  • Identifying the basic parts of a compass
  • Understanding and setting declination adjustment
  • Using your compass to orient your map
  • Understanding bearings and how to use them