Krik, I watched several videos of "how to use a compass with a map" and yours was the only one that was articulated and demonstrated correctly. Your use of Close Ups, examples and details of each step makes sure that the audience is not left confused. Well done man! Thank you!

Wow ... so many haters in these comments. Why on earth would anyone watch a video titled "How to Use a Compass & Map [Compass Navigation Tutorial]" just to comment that they didn't need to know how to use a compass and map?!?! Anyway, great video.

Fantastic.. takes me back to 8th grade... when school actually taught skills you might need.

Excellent vid, sir!!! You did not get bogged down in jargon.. I would encourage whoever views this to practice at a local park....lots of landmarks and if curious onlookers want learn so much the better...don't ever buy a compass and stick in it in a rucksack thinking you know to use it....practice and have fun!!!!

As someone who knew almost nothing about a compass I feel so much more directionally empowered (I am awful with directions)! Thank you SO much. The info is very important to know so thank you for teaching me and sharing your knowledge with so many other people. God bless

Thank you for the kind words, Curtis. I'm glad the video was easy to understand. That was my sole purpose. -Krik

As someone who has zero sense of direction, and tends to stink at following even simple instructions, I figured I'd have one hell of a time learning to use a map and compass... However, this video is extremely informative, while still keeping it simple and easy for me to follow along!! Major thanks good sir!!

Its been many years since I last used a map and compass and as I am about to embark on a 3 week walking holiday in Scotland, your simple video has refreshed my skills. I have a GPS but prefer to use the map and compass. Thanks for that!

Very informative. After watching a handful of videos, I finally get it on this one lol

I know that I'm super late but I had to say that this is the best explanation I've seen for how to use a compass. Thanks for doing what you do.

thanks so much for watching and the kind words. and yes, we do have summer, but a lot of our videos are shot underneath the canopy, so the vibrancy of the sun is sometimes hard to capture. - stony

My students enjoyed watching your video AND learned the information they need to know. Thanks!

Thus is the kind of stuff kids should learn in school!!

Thanks for a very instructive video. Learned everything I sought to learn before buying a proper compass for my husband for Father's Day.

Good video. However don't forget to first get the declination for your area and correct the red arrow on your compass. Thats what the little screw is for. Also when sighting a baring keep an eye on the line down the centre of the the mirror. If you keep that line in the centre of the compass needle where the needle pivots while you are sighting through the hole at the base it will ensure your eye is looking through it straight on and not from a side angle. Just helps to increase accuracy.

Well, after watching a few videos about using a compass and not understanding anything, this video actually helpoed. Thank You!

Very well demonstrated, easy to follow

Good video in general. Thanks for posting! However . . . to the beginners out there who are still learning, there is a VERY crucial point that he didn't mention because it seems obvious, but beginners tend to miss obvious things. Understand, you can NOT just set your map down at random, in any old convenient spot (such as on the handy log in this video), in order to go through these steps. You MUST first align your map so that NORTH on the map is actually aiming NORTH in real life. Even if that means holding the map in some awkward way. North on the map MUST aim north in real life FIRST. If you skip that step, the rest of this will lead you in the WRONG direction. Guaranteed. Also, the "firearm sight" he refers to is not the gap near the hinge that he points to. Not all compasses have that gap. It is actually the notch on TOP of the mirror (but the concept is the same, so his advice on what to DO with the sight works the same either way). Having said all that, if you follow my advice first, and his advice for ALL THE REST, you will be well on your way to having a GREAT time orienteering in the wilderness! (Give this a "thumbs up" so the newbs will be "pointed in the right direction". Also, check out his other tutorials. He does a nice job.) Cheers!

Nice video. I really appreciate people like you who take the time to walk us through the process. Great pace, clearly spoken. A+

Before this video i was thinking navigating with map and compas was hard. But after your video i undrstand how it works and looks so easy. Good video. Thanx

Ive had a compass for some time, but I never knew how to use it UNTIL I came across your vid. thank you so very much! :)

1. Very clear, simple explanation. The distance being travelled in the example was not very far. If the distance is far, a person needs to learn about magnetic vs. true north and the concept of declination. Another concept that he was trying to teach is called "military crest". Sometimes, you cannot have a clear view from the top of a hill. If a "military crest" exists, you should be able to have a view from it.

I have just found your channel. Love the basic outdoor skills videos.

You made this very easy to understand. Some other channels that I watch have gone over this info and , well it was very confusing . Another good point that you used was the map. Strange how many people carry a compass but not a map. Once you get the compass set put the map in your pack; yes folks, take it with you.

thanks for the video. Your map doesn't need to be oriented to north when you're just looking for an A to B heading from the map. I find that people learn faster if you tell them they don't need to worry about the needle direction WHILE THE COMPASS IS ON THE MAP unless they are orienting a map (which is a different process with a different purpose).

It does! I signed up as an orienteering merit badge counselor for a boy scout troop. I'm so glad I found you on KZfaq. Between the BSA booklet and your videos, I just need to try it out on a topo map so I appear as if I know what I'm doing.

OMG - I GET it! I have had this compass in my backpack (ranger 515) for almost a year and your explanation of using it with map is superb! I took an online class and did not feel confident with it. I think I am ready to use it now!!!!!

Thank you very much. This helped with my science homework.

I have just watched this video and it was good to go back to basics!!! Many thanks for showing this.

Good video and short but to the point, perfect! Will be looking at some other vids of yours. Thank you!

A timely topic, learned in the Marine Corps. An extremely valuable skill

Thanks for the video explaining how to use a mirror compass. It's a big help.

Finally a navigation video that makes sense!

I write to you using a translator because I do not speak English! Sorry! But I found your video very interesting, and the use of the mirror taught me a lot, Thank you very much!

Thanks so much! I just bought a compass for my boyfriend (birthday gift), we do a lot of hiking and he's a much more traditional type of traveler and not too good with the techy stuff. He still knows how to take a reading on a sailboat with a sextant so this is right up his alley. I just bought a recta (basically the same version) and wanted to understand as well, the basics on its uses, so thank you. I hope to get a little bit more into the complexities of its use, but this is a good start!

This is a very straight forward and informative tutorial, the only thing I would change Krik is that bit at the end of the video where you included 'berate me'. I know it goes without saying that the internet is full of trolls and you can always find at least one ignorant statement in the comments section and a mature person who is sure of themselves would be unfazed by this however I probably wouldnt give them encouragement to do so. You might create some kind of Super Troll!

that sighting line..is fantastic... nice

Thank you!! With a little help from you hopefully I won't get lost archery hunting for the first time. Feel a bit better about navigation now. I will pass on to my little ones.

Thank YOU for the support and encouraging words. -Krik

I've watched a few videos on this topic and this has to be the best, easiest explanation I've seen. Well done and thank you!

Great refresher on navigation for me. Thanks very much for posting!

Really clear video! Thanks for the upload

Great video, informative and easy to understand.

Thank you! You really explained it well. I've been packing the Suunto compass for years. Never had the chance to use it, even to just practice. I'm heading out today with a friend and we'll be working on compass and map reading. We've got the perfect winter place to hike and practice this without getting totally lost..LOL..

Thanks for this video, it is a really in depth explanation of how to use a compass and a map.

Thank you for this video! I just bought a lensatic military compass (Cammenga). I'm a city folk who's trying to get into hunting and I am a newbie when it comes to woods and stuff. Your video, even though it's not the same compass, really helps me understand all the doodads on my compass

Thanks - very easy tutorial to follow and learn from.

THANKYOU this is the only video that helped

Thanks Krik! Got it now. Dig the use of reference point. Peace!

Best video of it's sort. Thanks man.

Kirk, excellent explanation of basic orienteering! You were very clear with the your examples, and using a hand drawn sketch with simple topological features was very effective. It was somewhat distracting for me when you shook the compass or waved your hands around as you were talking, but otherwise, great job.

This is an excellent video. I was pretty sure that I understood compass navigation beforehand - your video confirmed and strengthened my confidence. Thanks Krik!

Very helpful, thank you! I am a beginner and want to understand how to navigate without a GPS. Some other videos explaining the same thing use a lot of words I've never heard before and don't give a definition, which kind of renders the rest of the lesson useless. But you explained it in pretty simple terms so thank you for that. Some of these videos should really come with a vocab list lol

Disregard this person's feedback. Anyone who thinks you rambled in that video doesn't have the brain power to follow what you were saying; Which, by the way, was very clear and well articulated. Thanks ;)

Super simple and really good infromation!

very good ,thx for helping .you break down easy , that a good thing

Awesome video these skills will definitely come in useful this summer.

Thank you very much - great introduction!

amazingly easy to understand. thank you.

Glad you found the video helpful. I've had a number of people tell me they used the video for school. Accent? I don't what you're talking about. Ha. We're in south central Pa. Thanks for watching. -Krik

very simple and informative,thanks

Great job! Finally a real explaination...

You're very welcome. And I'm glad you found the video easy to follow and understand. That was my purpose for making this video. If everyone had a better sense of direction, we would all know where we're going! Ha. -Krik

That was the best compass/map guide I've been able to find. Simple and to the point. Thankyou Black Owl. Is there a topo map tutorial as you said you may do?

Your video WAS VERY helpful!!! I'm taking a forestry measurements class, distance learning right now, sadly... My professor is doing their best but lack the necessary media skills!!

@black owl outdoors Please do a video on how to navigate with a compass and a USGS topo 7.5 minute series map. Thank you...you channel is one of the best I've checked out! keep the videos coming bro.

Thanks! Easy to understand and simply helpful.

very well explained sir! thank you

Thank you, using a compas is way easier that i thought!

very good video. I'm a navigation newb, And your video taught me a lot. Thank you for making it..

good vid, simple and to the point.

An impressive video, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing slightly evaluation on this. And he in reality purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If possible, as you grow to be experience, would you mind updating your youtube channel with more particulars? Its highly useful for me. Big thumb up for this video put up!

Great video. Very informative. Camera a little blurry at times but I still understood and gained some information. Thank you!

6:05 I think it's just me, but it doesn't look like it's lined up with north on the map. It looks like it is pointing NNW in relation to the rose on the map.

Thank you for making it so simple and understandable!

Very astute observations. But we're filming in south central Pa. I did do a follow up video on magnetic declination. And thanks for answering Austin's question below. I don't always see all the comments. KZfaq doesn't always leave a notification. Thanks for the watching and commenting. -Krik

Hey man thanks for the kind words. I definitely see more map videos in the future. Stay tuned Anthony. -Krik

Great video! Slow and very explanatory. I feel like I could do this after watching your video, even though I know it will take some practice.

Nicely done. It helped me a great deal.

Great Refresher, thanks

Great video. Articulate and helpful.

Good video, easy to understand

EXCELLENT INFORMATIVE OUTDOOR VIDEO. THANKS.

Very useful video. Thanks a lot!

Very informative, thanks so much.

Very informative and easy to understand, well done!

Thank you this was great! I understood every step and feel much more confident to use a compass. I know you said these are the basics, but I wish you could do an advanced level one. I learned a bit about the magnetic north but it is confusing how it is used on the map.

I like this video! Nice demonstration, while utilizing your style is equally nice!

It was very helpful. Im planning on joining the US Military next month and need some land nav skills before I go.

If you're using a map and a compass, you also need to adjust your compass and orient your map to compensate for magnetic declination. Magnetic declination also changes every year for where ever you are... you need to go to the USGS website and can actually get the specific magnetic declination for where you are... or if you're going to travel to another location before hiking or canoeing... you can get the declination for that location. Unless you are where the declination is zero... you are going to be off. DO NOT RELY ON THE DECLINATION OF YOUR TOPO MAP, THAT DECLINATION IS FROM WHEN THE MAP WAS MADE. You can be seriously off... All the VERY BEST!

thank you that helped me a lot, I'm new in boy scouts and I did not know how to use a compass, I'm subscribing.

Great video, easy to understand

Great video, thanks for posting!

Easy to follow and very informative for a complete beginner like me, thanks Krik.

Thank you Carlos. It does feel like forever ago since we shot the first compass video. -Krik

Very good video and teacher 👍

Great video! Very clear and informative. Did you end up creating a video for using a topographical map? That'd be really helpful if you didn't already do so. Thank you

Outstanding video. Thank you.

Awesome video man it was worth the wait

Great video! Thanks Krik