Silva Expedition S Compass

  1 of 19

  I purchased the Silva Expedition S as I had (temporarily it turns out) lost my original 1981 15TDCL compass which is its product ancestor. After a quality control issue (Silva's - not Woodlore's) and some product exchanges I received my final replacement today. The compass is well made, with components that are designed to work well in demanding navigation conditions. The model includes a full range of map scales and a magnifier in the base plate, there is a clinometer for accurate slope (or the dip of geological strata) measurements together with a useful slope card with which to quickly assess slope angle direct from a map. The sighting mirror has a smooth but firmly fixed hinge enabling it to be used for accurate following of a bearing. The luminous strips, once 'charged' in day light are well placed for use in the dark. The lanyard has a built in metal tag for adjusting the declination (there is a micro screw in the bezel housing for this) to accurately dial in local magnetic variation - and features a range of metric and imperial map scales for measuring route distance on maps. Whilst you can spend more on a sighting compass from Suunto, the Expedition S is a decent quality tool for navigating in all conditions. Finally I would like to add that Woodlore displayed very good customer service regarding the product quality control issues I experienced at first and I am very pleased to recommend them as a great company to purchase specialised outdoor living products from.  

  Tim Morris

  2 of 19

  Bought to replace a Silva compass / clino from my Geology student days that was nicked. Basically the same model after 30 years. Well built, good quality.  

  Malcolm Whyte

  3 of 19

  Excellent bit of kit. I have used both Silva and Suunto in the past and this is an accurate, clear compass.  

  Richard Hill

  4 of 19

  Great kit and bought in order to find geocaches on a bearing from a reference point. Lots of great features and far more accurate when walking on a bearing compared with a standard compass.  

  Kevin Bastow

  5 of 19

  Ray Mears Bushcraft had the best price and a trusted name. The Silva Expedition S is a brilliant compass. Great features set. Well worth the price and well built. Newbies must read the manual to understand all the features. The luminous parts are bright for low light situations. I've used it as a baseplate compass and it is good. Out doors you can use it for mirror sighting too. After much research, this is the one to go for. Five stars.  

  Jason Britton

  6 of 19

  I bought this to replace an older compass. Great product. Very accurate and easy to handle. Thank you!  

  Rimantas Avulis

  7 of 19

  The Silva S Expedition compass was delivered complete with advertised extras and is an excellent piece of kit. It is designed to be easy and reliable to use in conjunction with a map, following the instructions which are available to download from the Silva website. It is a sighting compass (more advanced than the basic compass in the Silva range) which enables a more precise bearing to be viewed. Its other functions are also as described in the product information and appear to be clear and easy to use in practice. I also like the lanyard which comes with the compass as it is a handy method of checking distance on a map, apart from including a gadget for adjusting declination according to one's locality in this part of the Northern Hemisphere. I expect this product to be serviceable and enjoyable to use for years to come.  

  Martin Vickers

  8 of 19

  I bought a compass, mail order from Ray Mears - it got lost in the post! It sounds like a line from the Edinburgh Festival but it's true. It took all my skills and 5 days to track it down (as well as a very helpful local postie) so I was very pleased when it eventually arrived. Opted for the Exped S because of the sighting function which may be a bit OTT (and adds both weight and cost), but given the price from RMB was the best by a long way, that's OK. The compass itself is as described and like most compasses of the type, very easy to use with plenty of measuring aids and scales, whilst remaining clear and easy to read. Let's hope it doesn't get lost again!  

  John E

  9 of 19

  This compass was well up to the standard expected from Silva and provides an excellent and rugged tool for the explorer and walks leader alike. The slope/gradient card is brilliant and the whole instrument is designed with the practical user in mind. Good purchase.  

  David F

  10 of 19

  Fantastic piece of equipment. This has now become my number one 'go to' compass and will be used and abused.  

  John Broadleday