Silva Guide 426 - Compass

by Silva

Product Features

• Rugged sighting compass with polypropylene body that floats in water
• Full-size sighting mirror with vee notch
• 2-degree graduations on the dial, fixed declination scale
• Graphite color with easy-to-read yellow text for the inch and millimeter rules
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A great choice for sighting all outdoor activities, the Silva Guide 426 compass features a polypropylene body enabling it to float in water--adding security to rafting and canoeing trips. It has a full-size sighting mirror with a vee notch and a vertical sighting line to aid in accurate sightings. Other features include 2-degree graduations on the dial, inch and millimeter rules, a fixed declination scale, and a neck lanyard. It comes in graphite, with easy-to-read yellow text for the inch and millimeter rules. It measures 2.25 by 2.75 inches and weighs 0.9 ounces.

Product Description

Looking for a sighting compass that's great for any outdoor activity? The polypropylene body of this compass floats, giving you added security while trekking, canoeing or rafting. A full-size sighting mirror with vee notch lets you take quick and accurate readings on distant landmarks. A dial with 2� graduations and declination scale makes turning from map bearings to field headings easy. Available in graphite, with easy-to-read yellow text for the inch and millimeter rules

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EQ81SS
• Item model number: 2801149
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,688 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #33 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Compasses
  • #47 in Sports & Outdoors > Accessories > Electronics & Gadgets > Compasses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent compass for the price, May 16, 2007

By 

TNIC "TNic" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Silva Guide 426 - Compass (Sports)

Shares a lot of good navigation features with larger more expensive models. Silva included accuracy on this compass by adding a few lines for sighting alignment

I use compasses a lot when backpacking, birding and sea kayaking. Taking a sighting using the mirror is an important feature for my use. Small errors can add up. I was a bit let down by both the Silva Landmark and Huntsman This compass avoided those shortcomings and is a great value at this price. You can spend $50 to $75 and you would be getting the same accuracy. You can not do that with the Huntsmen and Landmark because they lack the rear alignment mark that the Guide has (check the photos).

When I take a sighting I line up the hair line in the mirror with the index line on the front of the rotating bezel (mirror side of compass) and the virtual continuation of that line on the rear of the base plate (closest to me). These 3 points line up my target and the compass for an accurate reading.


Only shortcoming is I was suspicious of a flexible plastic hinge rather than a pin and hinge type. But it has held up very well in field use and I expect it to last a long time. It is well constructed. The fact that it is floats appealed to me since I sea kayak.

The numbers are easy to read and all the appropriate markings for aligning the mirror hair line with the front of the compass and rear of the compass on multiple points for proper alignment are there (unlike the Silva Huntsman and Landmark compass that lack them).

The degree numbers and alignment marks are easy to read.


For me the Guide is a better choice for accuracy than the Huntman or Landmark(in the same price range). It has the marks I made reference to, is a little larger and much easier to read. The Guide floats. The guide only weighs a few grams more than the Huntsman or Landmark.

While Huntsman and Landmark open with a hinge. The Guide has a flexible plastic hinge. The guide is slightly larger than the other two but this is a plus for me. Its a good size. I would recommend the Guide over the Huntsman and Landmark due to the ease of reading and accuracy. At this price its a no brainer. The Guide weighs only 1.2 ounces on my postal scale.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compass that really works, May 9, 2007

By 

FreddyB "FreddyB" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Silva Guide 426 - Compass (Sports)

Any compass I have ever used (including watch compass)has been erratic and hard to find north. This Silva 426 really finds north, is lightweight, seems well made and easy to look at. A good item to keep in the car or in any situation where you'll need to find your direction.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good compass for general use, May 3, 2008

By 

H. Laurin "always looking for good deals" (Havertown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silva Guide 426 - Compass (Sports)

This is a good basic compass for general use. The compass itself is accurate. Opening the plastic housing to use the compass is a bit annoying, you have to push the plastic parts just right. However, the "lanyard" that came with it isn't what I would call a lanyard. This was really just a long piece of red string, which you have to figure out how to connect to the compass correctly so that it hangs evenly from your neck. If you plan to start orienteering or map hiking, although this compass does the job, you might want to look for a compass with a clear base plate so that you can see more of the map thru the base plate while taking a bearing with the compass. That said, it's a good compass in this price range (under $20).