There are a few key features a good compass for outdoor life should have. But surprisingly there are very few compasses which has all of these. These are some necessary features to look for when buying one: A dial with degrees as well as orienting lines for taking out a compass bearing. Scales and rulers for measuring distances on the map. A mirror , which you use to walk in exactly the direction the needle is pointing. This mirror obviously has many other advantages, like when you are applying your contact lenses or signaling in an emergency. Adjustable declination correction. This is where most compasses fail. Magnetic declination is created because the magnetic north and the geographical north are not in the exact same location. Some maps have declination lines to make up for this misgiving. But far from all of them. If you have a compass with adjustable declination correction you can use any map, anywhere in the world and it will still give you correct directions. A ...