Cammenga Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass, Accurate Waterproof Hand Held Compasses with Pouch for Hiking Camping Navigation Survival Backpacking Orienteering

Appears to be the real deal, personally prefer base plate with adjustable declination screw so you adjust and be done. But land navigation course on east coast I have to use this so have to brush up on this compass. Plus have to recondition myself from easternly to westernly. Below is what A.I. says to look for when looking for authentic Cammenga. To distinguish a real Cammenga compass from a fake one, check for the following details: proper markings and engravings, a clear and consistent tritium glow, a well-built construction, the correct company logo, and purchase from a reputable seller; if you suspect a fake, closely examine the case back for accurate serial numbers and manufacturing information, as counterfeit versions often have inconsistencies or missing details. Key points to look for: Markings and Engravings: "Cammenga" logo should be clearly visible and properly aligned. Serial number on the back of the compass should be neatly stamped and legible. All markings on the compass face, including degree markings and north arrow, should be crisp and consistent. Tritium Glow: A genuine Cammenga compass will have a consistent, even glow from the tritium vials, visible in low light conditions. Uneven or very faint glow could indicate a fake. Construction Quality: A real Cammenga compass should feel sturdy and well-built with no loose parts or obvious imperfections. Check for a solid, secure closure mechanism on the compass case. Purchase Source: Always buy from a trusted retailer specializing in outdoor gear or directly from the Cammenga website to minimize the risk of buying a fake. What to be wary of in a fake Cammenga: Poorly engraved markings: Blurred or misaligned text, incorrect logos. Inconsistent tritium glow: Uneven or very weak glow, or no glow at all. Cheap materials: Plastic feeling case, loose components. Missing information: Missing serial numbers, manufacturing details on the case back.

Everything about this compass is much better than the imitation one that I already have. Wish I had bought it earlier.

I was an infantry officer in the US Army for 15 years. Before that, I backpacked in my high school and college years. In both cases I was comfortable navigating with topo maps and a compass or by terrain features and a compass. This exact compass is what I'm used to so it's what I bought to get back into backpacking. What I like about these lensatic compasses vs popular map compasses with built in protractors......... 1.) Precise. Super easy to get precise readings. Map compasses are not less accurate but harder to get precise readings from. 2.) No fluid! Fluid filled housings are an accident waiting to happen. The magnetic damping in this compass won't leak and it won't form a bubble at altitude or with temperature changes. It won't leave you stranded. 3.) Tough. The aluminum housing can be tossed in a pack, a pocket, or hung around your neck. It is not delicate. 4.) Trituim. This is one of the few if not the only compasses using radioactive tritium for night illumination. Again, reliable in any conditions. So what do you give up vs a flat plastic map compass..... 1.) The flat plastic protractor. No big deal. I don't need one but if you do, buy one for a few bucks. 2.) Declination adjustment. A nice convenience but hardly a necessity. I mean we're talking addition and subtraction of whole numbers here folks, not trigonometry. I'd rather have the more reliable compass. 3.) Size and weight. This is probably a little larger and heavier than most plastic map compasses but not dramatically so. The upside is it's also a lot tougher with no fluid to get screwed up. In short, this lensatic compass is a simple device that will last a long long time and give reliable, precise readings time after time. Isn't that what you want when you're cut off from civilization?

Excellent quality compass. You take it in your hands and feel the quality. All markers (sighting wire, line on glass, rear sight with lense) are aligned. Nothing is loose or dangling. The compass marks are glowing in green, this is obviously due to the tritium tubes. It's made to withstand harsh conditions, aluminum and durable, you shouldn't drop it, but accidentally can sit on it without any consequences. When the compass is closed, the north arrow lifts up and is removed from the needle, which is not the case with all cheap or fake/knock off compasses. This protects the compass mechanism from damage due to shaking or falling and wear and tear. What is disappointing: 1. Its price when you pay for it, but its really worth it. Other good quality compass manufacturers also sells their products in similar price 2. Bezel could be aluminum too, it is plastic 3. Degrees markers in 5 degree step

This is the real McCoy.

Okay I’m a glass half full type of guy, so let’s talk about why this is a great compass. I was trained survival aka the SERE method, and land navigation is imperative for azimuth and reverse azimuth readings. It’s spot on ! I’d expect nothing less from Cammenga especially a military spec 3H which is Tritium powered aka a nuclear isotope with low amounts of radiation discharge while having enough for radiation to make this SOB glow forever. My other issues 3H is going in 20 years and still glows perfectly. Now an important thing to also look at, and please fact check this and correct me if wrong. Inside the compass you’ll find a black 6-7 number sequence. This is important to gauge the age of the compass and to replace or, add another after 15 years. So mine for example reads 25 03 77, what this means is the 3rd month 77th day from the 1st of January, and finally the 25 is the year it was made so mine was made in March of 2025. That’s important to know. Also it has both general headings NSEW, but you can use mils or, clicks as well depending on your training. This is a sturdy compass without question. Now the only bad thing, and remember I have 2 other Cammenga 3H compasses. The other 2 which are military specs have a case that firstly has stamped on it “US” as in United States, that is the designation for military issue, secondly the belt attachment sucks. Plain and simple, the real deal has a sliding hinge and lock to place on your person, be it on a D ring on your pack or, belt, or really anywhere, and it’s 100% effective, I’ve been in some serious places, and never once had to think about it dislodging. I have the new case which effects the confidence to stay and not disconnect from a snap button enclosure. The back is actually a damn snap instead of the metal slide. So it’s not stamped US on the case (bag), and the metal snap is absolutely not as secure and the metal slide clasp (on the case). Overall the Tritium works, the compass is accurate, easy to use cheek to eye and center mass hold. Mils and degrees are on point. So my complaint is about the bag of all things ! I guess 20 years ago my issues compass was the same brand, under contract from the military. I’m hoping to be proven wrong about the button snap, be optimistic, and acknowledge price point as well as construction. It’s worth the money, but on the case that US symbol means something to us, and secondly I’m not crazy about the sliding mechanism for keeping this thing securely attached to my own person, my pack or, belt loop. Overall buy it ! It’s the real deal, and I’ve already proven it to be accurate, I’m just complaining about Symantec’s, but that belt sliding lock is better than the button snap, and I would have liked as shown in the photo description for the case to be marked with the “US” designation.

Solid construction and the tritium dots will be helpful in low light. Examining it this afternoon in the company of the civilian US Army land nav manual, a lot of my long-ago ROTC and active-duty training kicked into gear.

I was one of those guys who served in the the early 70's and trained on a similar lensatic compass with basically the same specs as the current (1992+) contractor (Cammenga.) Here's some caveats... 1. Tritium is not a neon glow which backlights your compass and can serve as an emergency flashlight or locator beacon. Only the basic indicator lines and East and West markers glow - faintly. The picture that most vendors (and Cammenga as well) use to illustrate the 3H Tritium lighting is grossly exaggerated. 2. Whoever posted "my compass was made in 1977" didn't bother to take the time to fact-check with the manufacturer. The date code on my Cammenga compass is 12-01-77. Per Cammenga, this indicates it was manufactured in January of 2012. The "77" is a standardized code indicated it was made for civilian market distribution. Simple as that. 3. Make sure you're capable of either learning, or are already skilled at the use of a lensatic compass. When you take a sighting it doesn't get held out in front of you, it goes up on your cheek. Also, if you suffer from any sight issues, as I do with reading glasses, bifocals, etc, you might have difficulty using the magnifying glass viewer. Using a lensatic compass with eyeglasses is a bit tricky. It's not designed for old guys who can't read their newspaper without 'playing the trombone' to sight in the print.. 4. The Cammenga 3H is the gold standard for compasses. Anything less is a dangerous compromise. Can you do without the Tritium? Sure. Until you need it. 5. Cammenga offers some great map & compass / orienteering resources, as does the US Army, for free. Don't pay for reprints which are available online for free. After all, your tax dollars helped to pay for the Army field manuals... why not use them? Simply Google "US Army Field Manual for [xyz subject]." There's lots of sources out there. Save yourself $15 bucks on a reprinted book. 6. The vendor who sold me the compass, OutdoorBunker.com, shipped it quickly and safely. Couldn't ask for more. Cammenga FAQ page explaining date codes: [...] Excellent orienteering resource can be found at: [...]

Scam from Ekti store

Hervorragender Marschkompas. Beste Nachtsicht durch Tritiumbeleuchtung. Leicht. Leider ist der Mensch bei diesem Kompasstyp der limitierende Faktor. Im Alter wird man Weitsichtig. Ausprobieren. Wenn es nicht funktioniert, anderen Kompasstyp wählen.

This compass is one of the best navigation tool i've ever bought... Keep in mind that GPS signals from satellites aren't available anywhere/everywhere and are always subject to being intercepted or jammed when a war begins or solar blasts erupts. When GPS batteries are going down or if you're in an area where satellites are not available, you'll be glad to have this alternative tool. U.S. Military made this compass with quality in mind when they've pass the contract to Cammenga. They didn't went with the lowest bidder and so this is one of the most expensive compass you can buy but there's a good reason for it. Frame is made from good quality aluminium and the housing is waterproof. CAMMENGA lensatic compasses slow the needle via induction dampening and avoid the problems associated with liquid fill. So it's ready for operations in our Canada's cold temperature! The lighting from the tritium is made to glow for around 10 to 15 years without being exposed to light. This is perfect for night navigation. If you're an amateur or professional hiker, survivor, police or military and need a good compass you'll keep for all your life and pass to your grandchildren, this is the best compass to buy.

Tritium: The one I received was dated 17-12. The radioactive tritium is a bit spooky, but really cool. I know it will fade over the years, but currently it provides enough lumination to read the dial in the dark. I don't personally need tritium, but this was cheaper then I could get a phorporous one. Weight: The compass is lighter than I expected it to be, which is a good thing. Fit and finish: The is a little bit of black paint missing at hinge. Also opening it up fully, it's not perfectly level, or maybe even along the bottom. The 0 graduation mark looks like it wasn't milled the same and is a little harder to make out compared to others. Maybe that's intentional? The hinge is currently working great. The scale marking do match up with a 1:50000 map. I personally care more about performance then fit/finish, but at this price range some might expect perfection. Accuracy: To test this a did four readings of the goal posts from the corner of a socket field, and uses Google maps satalite view to look up their location. After figuring it all out I got errors of -0.4, -0.5, 0.4, 0.7 deg. That's a pretty good result and might even be a bit of a fluke. But point is its accurate, and I have no hesitations trusting it. You can use this directly with a map if it's orientated correctly, or if you use the bezel, but I'm waiting for a protractor with these millirad units before taking it with me. Would be nice if it came bundled with something.

Fantastic compass, when in the field you need kit that feels right for you personally. I have tried cheaper lensatic compasses that were every bit as accurate as the 3H, but they did not feel right. This compass does what it says on the tin. The only negative I've heard of is that some Compasses are not watertight, thankfully mine is, so definitely check for this if you do buy one. Yes, it is expensive, but quality does cost, plus, I am pretty certain this compass will last my lifetime.