Brunton - TruArc 15 - Compass

Have the multi scale metric Map Tool thing in my new kit, and was assuming that I would have to get a mile tool also. My compass came with the 1:24000 mile/feet units on the scales, like many usgs maps found around me. With both the map tool and compass, I can reasonably convert different scales and units with useful accuracy and not pull out the calculator. The picture doesn't show the effective clinometer, but it works fine. However, the adjustment for magnetic declination and angle of elevation uses the same scale, so keep that in mind. The bubble level was surprisingly accurate, meaning it's impossible to use hand held. But that's a good thing. The mirror is plenty flat to use as a signalling device, but need to put one of those plastic mirror dots on the outside cover to aim it better. Own a Silva Ranger for twenty five years. Both are equivalent in quality. Just depends on the features you want.

It works quite well for its intended purpose (hiking, pathfinder). For its price, it is somewhat plasticky and the quality of the plastic felt cheap. Nevertheless, the needle moves freely and accurately as that's what's most important in a compass. One major complaint regarding the outer ring, it is not very tight so it can be easily rotated by accident, a few times I thought I was looking at the right direction only realized that the ring setting has been knocked off so I was looking at the wrong direction.

I really like this compass as it is easy to use. I can hold the compass in one hand and adjust the bezel with just my index finger. It's very smooth. I like the magnified view for reading the bearings. Once I get used to having the bearing on the opposite side, I like that I can see my forward and back bearing in one view. Big plus there. I still want to count 2° graduations, but will quickly get used to the 1°. Overall, this is a great compass made in the USA. I highly recommend.The picture shown is not exactly what you get. For instance, the scales listed shows 1:24,000 in feet on the left side. Mine has 1:62,500 (1/10 mile) mile listed.

With the exception of the bearing scales, this is a nicely designed compass and the materials seem to be of good quality. If it worked the way it was designed, I would keep it and use it. Unfortunately, it has three major flaws that make it slow and hard to get an accurate, reliable bearing. In fact, they are bad enough that I'm going to return the compass. If you really need accurate sightings, you shouldn't depend on this compass. Here are the flaws that lead me to this judgement:- Bearings are difficult to read through the magnifying "bubble." Strangely, it is designed to be easy to read the reverse bearing, but the direction you are actually sighting is so difficult to read it is actually faster to just take the reverse bearing and do the math to infer the direction you are sighting.- The needle is so badly out of balance that it really helps to tip the compass off level to get the needle to turn freely. This works fine when holding the compass at waist level when you just need to know generally which way is north. It's a huge problem when trying to take an accurate sighting using the mirror. That's because the built-in level will NOT get the needle to turn freely. So you have to guess which way of NOT holding it level will work while looking through the mirror. And if you guess wrong, there's no visual clue. The needle is just sticking in the wrong position. It is really, really easy to get an inaccurate reading! This defect, in my opinion, renders the compass almost worthless for fast, accurate sightings.- Declination adjustments are nigh unto impossible. Several reviews complain about the tool free design. But I have an older Brunton of the same design, and that one works fine. The problem is manufacturing quality. The parts are slightly out-of-round which makes them stick tight in some rotational positions while being too loose in others. If the pieces were round and the clearances correct it would work fine--and it DOES work fine on my old Brunton. This is just a poor quality build.All in all, its a pretty good compass that's so badly handicapped by poor quality manufacturing and weird scales that it shouldn't be used in any situation where your safety is dependent on taking reliable, accurate sightings.

Closest sighting compass I have come across that will work. Not for beginners, unless you are really interested in learning orienteering, This unit does work for you and seems to be made well enough to be comfortable in the back woods. I would recommend the 15 for experienced outdoorsman. jw