Portable compasses are essential tools for surveying and navigation.

Types of Portable Compasses

Ball compasses : These are among the simplest and most commonly used compasses. They are used to determine direction instantly.

Marching (or orienteering) compasses : These compasses are designed for use in land navigation situations. Many have a magnifying glass for map reading, a distance scale, and a gyroscope or compensator for precise orientation.

Clinometer compasses : These are used to determine the inclination of a surface or the slope of a terrain, very useful in geological or land surveying contexts.

Digital compasses : These integrate modern technology and are often able to also provide data such as latitude, longitude and altitude, with digital readouts.