Key takeaways
- A baseplate compass is a compass on a flat, transparent plate, designed for use with a map.
- Used to take and follow bearings, measure distances, and orient the map.
- Key features: clear baseplate, direction-of-travel arrow, ruler edges, and a rotating bezel.
- Affordable, light, and reliable — the standard navigation tool for hikers.
From its flat baseplate.
What a baseplate compass is
A baseplate compass is a compass mounted on a flat, transparent rectangular plate, designed to be used together with a map for navigation — taking and following bearings, measuring distances, and orienting the map. It’s the standard compass for hikers and orienteers.
Key features
- Transparent baseplate with straight ruled edges and scales (see the map underneath; measure and draw lines).
- Direction-of-travel arrow showing which way to walk.
- Rotating bezel marked in degrees, with an orienting arrow and lines inside.
- Magnetic needle — plus, on better models, a declination adjustment, lens, and luminous markings.
Fogged in with no landmarks, a hiker lays their baseplate compass on the map from their position to the next junction, rotates the bezel to the map’s grid north, adjusts for declination, then turns until ‘red is in the shed’ — and follows the direction-of-travel arrow on that bearing.
How to navigate with it
The core skill is taking a bearing from the map and following it: place the edge from your location to your destination, align the bezel’s orienting lines with the map’s north-south lines, adjust for declination, then turn your body until the needle sits in the orienting arrow — the direction-of-travel arrow now points the way. You can also orient the map and take bearings off real features, the basis of dead reckoning and all map-and-compass navigation.
The bottom line
A baseplate compass is the navigator's essential tool — a compass on a flat, transparent plate designed to work with a map for taking and following bearings, measuring distances, and orienting the map. With its clear baseplate, direction-of-travel arrow, ruler edges, and rotating bezel, it's affordable, light, reliable, and the foundation of map-and-compass navigation for hikers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a baseplate compass?
A baseplate compass is a magnetic compass mounted on a flat, transparent rectangular base, designed specifically to be used with a map for navigation. The see-through baseplate, with its straight ruled edges, a direction-of-travel arrow, and a rotating bezel (the dial marked in degrees), lets you lay the compass on a map to take, plot, and follow bearings. It's the classic compass used by hikers and orienteers.
What are the key features of a baseplate compass?
The transparent baseplate (so you can see the map underneath) with straight edges and a ruler/scales for measuring distances and drawing lines; a direction-of-travel arrow indicating which way to walk; a rotating bezel (housing) marked in degrees with an orienting arrow and orienting lines inside; and the magnetic needle. Better models add features like a declination adjustment, a magnifying lens, and luminous markings. Together these let you perform the core map-and-compass tasks.
How do you use a baseplate compass to navigate?
The core skill is taking a bearing from the map and following it. You place the compass edge on the map connecting your location to your destination, rotate the bezel to align its orienting lines with the map's north-south grid lines, adjust for magnetic declination, then take the compass off the map and turn your body until the magnetic needle sits inside the orienting arrow ('red in the shed') — the direction-of-travel arrow now points the way to walk. You can also use it to orient the map to north and to take bearings off real-world features. These map-and-compass techniques are fundamental backcountry navigation.
Sources
- Navigation & compass use — The Mountaineers
- Map & compass — USGS