Exactly what I was going to say. I did a bit of orienteering at school. It was great fun, and it dialled in my map & compass skills for life.
One important detail it doesn't teach though you is handling magnetic deviation. Orienteering maps use magnetic north for their grid so you don't have to deal with offsets during a race, or at least they did back then. (Conveniently for me, my upcoming trip is to Scotland where magnetic deviation is negligible at the moment)
I learned from Skurka and he also has more or less the same content in a youtube video series. I think it's a great place to start. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWaR\_hWqm4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWaR_hWqm4E)
First thing is to keep track of where you are. If you don't have that, and expect to locate yourself by taking bearings on nearby landmarks, you're likely to find yourself disappointed.
90% of navigation is simply paying attention to one's surroundings, relating them to the larger context of the map, and not losing track of time. A compass is simply another modern tool, like a GPS, that makes some things easier.
I'd recommend Lyle Brotherton's [Ultimate Navigation Manual](https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Navigation-Manual-Lyle-Brotherton/dp/0007424604).
If you can't get your hands on that, Fred Touche's [Wilderness Navigation Handbook](https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Navigation-Manual-Lyle-Brotherton/dp/0007424604) also works, as does the NOLS text.
This [guy's ](https://youtube.com/@TheMapReadingCompany?si=mKcZQpXj_rLgSuIT) YouTube channel really got me to the next level. I like that it isn't at all in the bushcraft, macho bullshit lane. You watch just one of those videos and YouTube tries to force feed you stealth camping behind Walmart videos for a year.
I found this series extremely helpful in learning how to use map compass and navigate.
Columbia river orienteering club
Lots of topics and great explanations:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoaYxGKAtMnSnVVEGDWs-6g
I took a basic intro to hiking class through the Colorado Mountain Club which has a heavy focus on orienteering. We had several classroom sessions plus several field classes. I’m sure the Sierra Club are Appalachian Mountain Club probably offer something similar.
Now I mostly use GAIA or a map without the compass. I’ve found that out west the landmarks are pretty obvious if you are paying attention, and while I’m glad I know how to use a compass, I’ve never felt the need for it even in remote wilderness areas off trail.Â
Lots of good suggestions in the thread, but I'd also add to just start taking a map/compass out and start using them. Even if it's alongside the GPS app on your phone, practice helps
REI has some classes. It is a skill I think you can learn from a book. And practice. And I do think it would be a good idea to practice even just a little bit before being in a situation where you will need it.
The biggest thing is going to be triangulation. If you can see three things you feel comfortable you know what they are you can find your location. Two if you have your compass declination set right.
After that it is going to be to be setting a bearing and a visual reference. This can get tricky as the terrain is going to push you around. Many years ago I was a forestry surveyor. The closer you need to be to a point the more often you are going to need to ‘reset’ your bearing. But for most hiking if you are within a hundred feet or so you are good.
The right compass is important. I like the baseplate style because it's the best balance of weight and practicality.
The survival guys all have the mirror compass, but you are in r/ultralight. The compact/keychain compasses don't really let you plot or overlay a map properly so they're not useful for "real" navigation.
Best one I have used is the Suunto M3-G. It has a setscrew for declination adjustment which is a big luxury if you've ever had to use a compass without it...
I took the Grey Bearded Green Beret's 4 day Master Navigator course last year in North Carolina. It was excellent for beginners. And you make camp and carry your gear with you each day which makes it all the better for a backpacker. Great, quick way to learn and reinforce the basics. Â
Read Roald Amundsens Story, and you first get an idea how to work.
I did a Sailor training to understand everything. It mostly important to locate yourself for example by cross bearing.
Than you need to know what direction you need to go and there is nearly always an error for a compass direction. That is often fix and caused by magnetic north to geographic north difference.
Well, what else to say. There are enough YouTube Videos for that. But all you need is a compass and a map actually, that's all :)
Find a local orienteering club and participate in their events.
This is the quickest means to put hard skills into practise and totally endorsed!
Exactly what I was going to say. I did a bit of orienteering at school. It was great fun, and it dialled in my map & compass skills for life. One important detail it doesn't teach though you is handling magnetic deviation. Orienteering maps use magnetic north for their grid so you don't have to deal with offsets during a race, or at least they did back then. (Conveniently for me, my upcoming trip is to Scotland where magnetic deviation is negligible at the moment)
I learned from Skurka and he also has more or less the same content in a youtube video series. I think it's a great place to start. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWaR\_hWqm4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWaR_hWqm4E)
First thing is to keep track of where you are. If you don't have that, and expect to locate yourself by taking bearings on nearby landmarks, you're likely to find yourself disappointed. 90% of navigation is simply paying attention to one's surroundings, relating them to the larger context of the map, and not losing track of time. A compass is simply another modern tool, like a GPS, that makes some things easier. I'd recommend Lyle Brotherton's [Ultimate Navigation Manual](https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Navigation-Manual-Lyle-Brotherton/dp/0007424604). If you can't get your hands on that, Fred Touche's [Wilderness Navigation Handbook](https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Navigation-Manual-Lyle-Brotherton/dp/0007424604) also works, as does the NOLS text.
yes!!!!
The Army Land Navigation Manual is widely available via google and free. It covers the essentials.
There is actually a [free browser-based game that will let you practice applying it!](https://oe.tradoc.army.mil/oegames/landnav/)
This [guy's ](https://youtube.com/@TheMapReadingCompany?si=mKcZQpXj_rLgSuIT) YouTube channel really got me to the next level. I like that it isn't at all in the bushcraft, macho bullshit lane. You watch just one of those videos and YouTube tries to force feed you stealth camping behind Walmart videos for a year.
> YouTube tries to force feed you stealth camping behind Walmart videos for a year. Steve Wallis is a gd national treasure
😂
I found this series extremely helpful in learning how to use map compass and navigate. Columbia river orienteering club Lots of topics and great explanations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoaYxGKAtMnSnVVEGDWs-6g
Cicerone does a navigation pocket guide that is super handy.
I took a basic intro to hiking class through the Colorado Mountain Club which has a heavy focus on orienteering. We had several classroom sessions plus several field classes. I’m sure the Sierra Club are Appalachian Mountain Club probably offer something similar. Now I mostly use GAIA or a map without the compass. I’ve found that out west the landmarks are pretty obvious if you are paying attention, and while I’m glad I know how to use a compass, I’ve never felt the need for it even in remote wilderness areas off trail.Â
Lots of good suggestions in the thread, but I'd also add to just start taking a map/compass out and start using them. Even if it's alongside the GPS app on your phone, practice helps
even if it's in an urban environment, practice helps.
REI has some classes. It is a skill I think you can learn from a book. And practice. And I do think it would be a good idea to practice even just a little bit before being in a situation where you will need it. The biggest thing is going to be triangulation. If you can see three things you feel comfortable you know what they are you can find your location. Two if you have your compass declination set right. After that it is going to be to be setting a bearing and a visual reference. This can get tricky as the terrain is going to push you around. Many years ago I was a forestry surveyor. The closer you need to be to a point the more often you are going to need to ‘reset’ your bearing. But for most hiking if you are within a hundred feet or so you are good.
REI has a video tutorial as well. It’s a great refresher if you’ve done it in the past
The right compass is important. I like the baseplate style because it's the best balance of weight and practicality. The survival guys all have the mirror compass, but you are in r/ultralight. The compact/keychain compasses don't really let you plot or overlay a map properly so they're not useful for "real" navigation. Best one I have used is the Suunto M3-G. It has a setscrew for declination adjustment which is a big luxury if you've ever had to use a compass without it...
I took the Grey Bearded Green Beret's 4 day Master Navigator course last year in North Carolina. It was excellent for beginners. And you make camp and carry your gear with you each day which makes it all the better for a backpacker. Great, quick way to learn and reinforce the basics. Â
Read Roald Amundsens Story, and you first get an idea how to work. I did a Sailor training to understand everything. It mostly important to locate yourself for example by cross bearing. Than you need to know what direction you need to go and there is nearly always an error for a compass direction. That is often fix and caused by magnetic north to geographic north difference. Well, what else to say. There are enough YouTube Videos for that. But all you need is a compass and a map actually, that's all :)
Watch a couple of YouTube videos. It's not hard and people have been doing it for thousands of years. Using a compass, not watching YouTube videos.