If you enjoy camping or hiking in the wilderness then having a wrist compass is a great way to prevent yourself from getting lost.
With a wrist compass, you’ll never have to worry about losing your compass again as it’s attached to your wrist at all times. You’ll find it’s much easier to glance over at your wrist than having to constantly pull out a compass from your pocket.
Anytime I plan to go camping, hiking, or backpacking through the wilderness, I make sure to put on my wrist compass beforehand.
But which wrist compass should you buy?
Top 5 Wrist Compass
On the hunt for the best wrist compass, I bought and reviewed these 5 wrist compasses below to find out which compass I like best. And which one was the winner?
Let’s find out.
Coghlan’s Compass
The most affordable compass on the list is the Coghlan’s Wrist Compass.
Don’t let the price fool you either, this nifty little compass from Coghlan’s does its job fairly well. Although it may function at a slower pace occasionally, it points north just like every other compass on this list.
The Coghlan’s wrist compass is the only compass on this review list that has the degrees listed on the outside ring of the compass to help track declination. However, due to the small size of the compass, the degrees are listed in blocks of 30 so it won’t be possible to determine the exact declination.
The velcro bracelet that comes with this wrist compass is a fairly simple design but it’s highly adjustable so it can be attached to any size wrist. The velcro may get a little dirty if you’re camping outdoors or hiking through the woods, but if it gets too bad you can always throw away the velcro strap and transform it into a pocket compass!
This Coghlan’s compass can either be used as your main compass, your backup compass, or as a compass for your kids.
- Waterproof
- Impact-resistant
- Liquid filled
Sun Company WristTurtle
If you want to attach a small compass to your watch band or bracelet then the Wrist Turtle from Sun Company is the perfect compass for you.
Unlike the other compass on this list, the Sun Company WristTurtle is meant to be attached to a watch band or paracord bracelet. However, the strap opening is only 20mm so you have to make sure to choose an appropriately sized wristband.
Included with the WristTurtle is a protective cover to protect the glass on your compass from getting easily scratched and damaged. When you open the hinged cover the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s built very well and does not move around at all. This is great news as you can open the compass and leave it open if you want to.
The compass itself is filled with some kind of liquid and there are white and neon green letters & markings to make it easier for you to read. The neon green letters and markings also glow in the dark so you can even read the compass at night or in low-light settings! If you expose the compass to natural or artificial light the neon green will glow even brighter.
- PROTECTIVE HINGED COVER -WristTutle's hinged cover keeps compass protected and helps to prevent glare, making it easy to read. Its tactical design makes it a perfect wilderness accessory for hiking, camping, backpacking, or any outdoor activity you can think of!
- LUMINOUS COMPASS - 20mm Grade A liquid-filled compass is luminous so it can be easily read in low-light conditions. A great addition to any night time adventure!
- FITS MOST WATCH BANDS - WristTurtle fits snugly on most standard sized watch bands and can also be attached to homemade paracord bracelets. It is durable and reliable and is a simple addition to any watch or bracelet!
WEEKUU Compass Bracelet
If you want an affordable wrist compass with a paracord bracelet then the WEEKUU Compass Bracelet may be just for you.
What I immediately liked about this paracord wrist compass is how easy it is to read. The black letters, lime green arrow, reflective red line, and white backdrop all stand out from each other so you can easily read the compass from a fair distance away. And while some of the other more affordable wrist compasses are filled with a liquid and tend to move around a lot, this WEEKUU compass only moves clockwise and counterclockwise.
Another advantage of using this wrist compass is the adjustable paracord bracelet that comes with it. This paracord bracelet comes in 3 different color options (black/white, camouflage, and pine green) and can be easily adjusted to fit almost any size wrist imaginable (except for small kids).
The only thing I don’t like about the paracord bracelet is the extra paracord used to adjust the opening of the bracelet. If you have small wrists like I do it can be mildly annoying as it just dangles around.
Paracord can be used for many survival purposes such as hanging a bear bag from a tree, tying knots, catching fish (as fishing line), creating snare traps, etc.
- Compass: Large high-quality compass. Give you clear direction and keep your orientation at all times. The compass is water-resistant that can use in a wet environment.
- Stylish and Portable: The sports looking that fits both men and women. Wear it on your wrist and adjust the paracord to make it best fit your wrist.
- Adjustable Strong: The bracelet is composed of a heavy-duty paracord material. Strong and durable.
- Great Gift: It comes in a lovely gift box package and is an excellent gift for your family or friend who loves camping, hiking, or other outdoor activities.
- Guiding directions for your outdoor mountaineering, riding in the wild, etc., and play with confidence in the unfamiliar wild
Sun Company ArmArmour 1
The Sun Company ArmArmour 1 comes with a 22mm tactical strap that is highly adjustable and brushed stainless steel hardware to ensure it doesn’t break down on you when you need it most.
The compass itself seems to work fairly well, although the black face does make it a little harder to read at night and in low-light situations. Fortunately, the main directions (N, S, E, W) are colored neon green to make it a little easier to read. And the neon green letters (and triangle for North) will even glow (and I mean glow) in the dark when exposed to light for an extended amount of time!
And while this 27mm compass may be liquid filled, it doesn’t have as much unwanted movement as some of the more affordable options do. The protective hinged cover functions great as well and works just as it’s supposed to.
Sun Company has even stated that this wrist compass is water resistant up to 30ft, although I haven’t tried this out myself.
- PROTECTIVE HINGED COVER - ArmArmour's hinged cover keeps compass protected and helps to prevent glare, making it easy to read. A great, durable addition to any outdoor, survival or tactical gear.
- RUGGED TACTICAL STRAP - Widely adjustable tactical strap fits most adults and children. Strap is 22mm wide and is available in two colors: black and black/grey striped. Hardware is made from brushed stainless steel for a sleek look.
- LUMINOUS COMPASS - 27mm Grade A liquid-filled compass is luminous so it can be easily read in low-light conditions. The compass sits inside of the rugged ABS housing for durability and reliability. One of the necessary accessories for activities like hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and so many more!
SUUNTO M-9 Wrist Compass
The most expensive wrist compass on the list is the SUUNTO M-9, but is it worth the increase in cost?
I believe so.
Here are the three reasons why.
- Cool side window that allows you to see your bearing.
- The face of the compass glows in the dark when previously exposed to light.
- The dial is listed in 5-degree increments and numbered every 30 degrees to make it easier to use your compass.
You can even rotate the top of the compass dial so that the red arrow faces the direction you’re wanting to travel. The M-9 is also waterproof so you don’t have to worry about taking it off when you go into the water.
Unfortunately, I will admit that I’m not a big fan of the wristband. As a person with small wrists, I have to make sure to push the compass completely to the side of the band to prevent the extra band from dangling off the side and getting in the way.
You can buy another tactical wrist band to replace the velcro band that comes with the M-9, but it’ll have to be a very thin band. See image below.
- Wrist Compass: Suunto attachable compasses are particularly handy, when both hands are needed to get past the next challenge; Comes with a velcro wrist strap and is operable in low light with luminescent card
- Rugged Construction: Built to last, the M-9 is a handy and reliable sighting compass for accurate navigation in town or country; It is also waterproof and balanced for the Northern Hemisphere
- Stay On Course: Made in Finland, Suunto mechanical compasses help you safely and accurately navigate the great outdoors; Great for Alpine skiing, hiking, trekking, mountain biking, trail running and more
- Pioneering Exploration: Combining advanced engineering and thoughtful design with ultra durable materials, our adventure ready compasses are fast, stable, and simple to use; No batteries required
- Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years of high quality heritage craftsmanship, relentless accuracy, and pioneering innovation to our watches, compasses, and dive products
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the random questions I thought of or encountered while researching and reviewing wrist compasses.
Can You Attach a Wrist Compass to a Different Wristband?
Yes, you can attach a wrist compass to a different wristband. You just have to make sure the opening on the compass is large enough for the new band. I recommend buying the wrist compass first to check out the size of the opening if you plan on ordering a new wristband to go with it.
If you do want to replace your wristband, make sure to avoid using steel as it may result in deviation. Magnetic deviation is when there’s an interference in the local magnetic field by a nearby object.
Can You Wear a Compass on the Same Wrist as a Steel Watch?
No, it’s not a good idea to wear a wrist compass on the same wrist as a steel watch. The steel may cause deviation and interfere with the magnetic reading of the compass.
