Compasses are navigational instruments which are used by a number of different types of people to find directions on the earth. Compasses consist of a magnetic pointer which aligns itself to the earth's magnetic field. They point to the four cardinal points: north, south, east and west and it is by identifying these points that navigation can take place. Many people may not consider compasses to be typical promotional items, but they are great for certain business types.



The kinds of people who use compasses are hikers, walkers, marine and military personnel as well as by companies wishing to market themselves. If you own a business that caters to people who are likely to use a compass, you can certainly use them to promote your brand name.

When compasses were first invented they revolutionized marine travel, making it much easier, safer and more efficient.

Before the invention of compasses, mariners would navigate by the stars and usually remained within easy sighting distance from land. After the invention of compasses mariners were able to travel further and to navigate even when it was cloudy or overcast.

Early compasses consisted simply of a magnetized needle floating in water and you can still make a very simple compass by rubbing a needle with another magnetized object, putting the needle in a cork and floating it in a bowl of water. The pointer will align itself with the magnetic north.

There are as many different types of compass on the market as there are different people who use them for navigation and orienteering. You can buy Field Compasses for field work and general navigation, compasses for boats that can also be mounted for use in cards, compasses for professional surveying, and digital compasses.

There are also a wide range of gift compasses for sale including compasses on keyrings and compasses in watches. These are more for novelty than serious orienteering however you can also buy very accurate compasses that are used by the military.

When people think of compasses they usually think about the kinds of compasses used for map reading. These modern compasses are also called protractor compasses as they include an arrow indicating direction of travel and the housing of the magnet has degrees around the outside, like a protractor. This allows the walker doing the orienteering to determine which direction they are travelling in.

There are two main types of compass available: liquid compasses and dry compasses. Liquid compasses work on the ‘needle and bowl' principal as described above, whereas dry compasses contain a magnetised needle on a pin which allows it to rotate, housed in a protective box or casing. The magnetised needle is placed above a base plate which has the cardinal points marked on it.

Most modern liquid compasses are suspended in a solution of oil, kerosene or alcohol. The liquid acts as a stabiliser to prevent the needle from vibrating too much around magnetic north so that it settles quickly. There are also digital compasses which range from the highly accurate for professional use to very small scale such as ones that can be found in mobile phones or watches.

There are compasses available for all needs, in a range of prices, suitable for everyone. From pocket compasses, gift compasses, or compasses for hikers or professionals. You are certain to find the compass to meet your requirements and your budget for promoting your business.