Embarking on an outdoor adventure, whether it's hiking through dense forests, scaling rugged mountains, or navigating unfamiliar terrain, requires reliable tools to ensure your safety and success. One such essential tool is a compass. In this comprehensive review, well delve into the Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer a robust navigation instrument designed for both amateur and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. This isn't just any ordinary compass; it boasts advanced features like a clinometer, adjustable declination, luminous dial, and waterproof construction, making it a versatile companion for various activities including camping, hiking, hunting, backpacking, geocaching, surveying, and more. Lets explore the key aspects of this tool to determine if it lives up to its claims as a professional-grade navigation device.
The Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer is built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. Its exterior features a sturdy metal housing that provides excellent protection against bumps, scratches, and drops. The compass has a compact design (approximate dimensions: 3.4 x 1.7 x 0.9 inches) making it easy to carry in your pocket or backpack without adding significant weight. The dial is made of clear acrylic material with luminous markings that glow in the dark an invaluable feature when navigating at night or in low-light conditions. The clinometer, which measures slope angles, sits comfortably beneath the compass housing and can be easily adjusted for accurate readings. A convenient lanyard loop allows you to wear the compass around your neck or attach it to a belt for easy access while on the move. A magnifying glass is integrated into the design, allowing for more precise reading of map details. The clinometer scale has markings in both degrees and percent grades making it suitable for various applications like surveying and orienteering. The entire device feels solid and well-constructed, inspiring confidence that it can handle rough treatment while out on an adventure.
One of the standout features of this compass is its exceptional durability. The metal housing offers robust protection against impacts, making it ideal for outdoor use where accidental drops are common. The clinometer scale and markings are also designed to withstand wear and tear from frequent use. Beyond physical toughness, the Proster Compass with Clinometer boasts a waterproof rating (IP65) which means it can handle heavy rain, splashes of water, and even brief submersion though we don't recommend deliberately submerging it for extended periods. This makes it an excellent choice for activities near bodies of water like kayaking or canoeing.
The Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer is renowned for its accuracy in providing reliable directional information. The liquid-filled dial ensures stability and minimizes vibration, contributing to precise readings even when moving quickly. Here are some key features that contribute to the compass's functionality:
Here's a breakdown of the key features and specifications of the Proster Professional Compass:
The Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from users. Here's a summary of what people are saying:
The Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer is readily available online from retailers like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress. As of October 2024, the average price ranges between $15 - $25 USD. This makes it an incredibly affordable option for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a reliable navigation tool.
The Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a rugged, accurate, and feature-rich compass at an affordable price point. Its sturdy construction, waterproof design, luminous dial, adjustable declination, clinometer, and sighting mirror make it a versatile tool suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities.
The Proster Professional Compass is a versatile navigation tool designed for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, hunters, and anyone needing reliable directional guidance. It features both a compass and clinometer, allowing you to determine direction and elevation angle simultaneously. This makes it especially useful in challenging terrain or when planning routes.
Yes, the Proster Compass is designed with a waterproof construction, making it suitable for use in rainy conditions and near water sources. However, prolonged submersion should be avoided. We recommend rinsing the device with clean water after exposure to salt water.
The compass housing is made of durable ABS plastic which makes it sturdy and lightweight. This material provides excellent impact resistance while keeping the overall weight manageable for carrying during outdoor activities like hiking or camping.
This Proster Compass has been calibrated with precision to ensure accuracy, although slight variations may occur due to environmental factors. The clinometer measures elevation angles up to 90 degrees with an accuracy of +/-1 degree. As for the magnetic declination, it can be adjusted based on your location and map information.
The magnetic declination adjustment is located at the top of the compass dial. Use a screwdriver or similar tool to turn this knob until the compass needle aligns with north as indicated by your local magnetic declination value (which you can find on topographic maps or online).
Absolutely! The Proster Professional Compass is designed with user-friendliness in mind. Its clear markings and easy-to-read dial make it simple to use, even if you're new to compass navigation. Its also a great tool to help learn basic orienteering skills.
This compass is ideal for various outdoor activities like hiking, camping, hunting, backpacking, and geocaching. Its clinometer function makes it especially useful for rock climbing or mountaineering where precise elevation measurements are required.
Yes, the Proster Professional Compass includes a convenient nylon storage bag with an attached belt loop, making it easy to carry and protect during your outdoor adventures.
To measure elevation angles, simply hold the clinometer level (horizontal) and rotate the dial until the bubble inside the tube is centered. Then read off the angle on the scale below the bubble.
While the Proster Compass has been designed to minimize interference from nearby metal objects, using it close to power lines, large vehicles, or other sources of strong electromagnetic fields may affect its accuracy. Always keep a safe distance from such sources when using your compass for navigation.
Combining these two tools into one compact instrument saves weight and space in your gear bag. It also eliminates the need to carry multiple devices, making it more convenient during outdoor activities where every ounce counts. Furthermore, being able to measure direction and elevation simultaneously streamlines route planning and navigation.
A magnetic compass aligns with Earth's magnetic field while a gyrocompass uses a spinning gyroscope to determine true north. Magnetic compasses are more common for outdoor use due to their simplicity, affordability, and reliability in varying conditions. Gyrocompasses require power and sophisticated stabilization mechanisms making them unsuitable for most hiking or camping scenarios.
This Proster Compass is a mechanical instrument and does not require batteries! It's reliable even without electricity and wont let you down in remote areas where charging may be difficult.
Yes, the dial of the Proster Professional Compass features glow-in-the-dark markings that are visible in low light conditions, allowing for easy navigation at night or in dimly lit environments.
Your purchase includes the Proster Professional Compass with Clinometer, a nylon storage bag, user manual (English), and a small screwdriver for adjusting magnetic declination.
While we recommend using multiple navigational aids such as maps, GPS devices, or smartphones in conjunction with your compass, the Proster Professional Compass is a reliable backup option that can help you find your way when other technologies fail or are unavailable. It's always best to be prepared for unexpected situations during outdoor adventures!
Yes, this Proster Professional Compass is designed to meet the needs of professionals in fields such as surveying, forestry, and search & rescue operations who require accurate directional measurements and elevation data on a regular basis. Its rugged construction and precise calibration make it an excellent choice for demanding applications.
Basic orienteering skills like map reading, route planning, and triangulation are crucial for effective compass navigation. Familiarizing yourself with your local magnetic declination is also important to ensure accurate readings when determining direction. We recommend practicing these skills regularly so you can confidently rely on your compass in the field.