Just currious what other people use to navigate?

I use a Brunton 8096-AR compass and a Garmin 60GSX GPS.

USGS topo map and suunto baseplate compass, can't remember the model...

I use a topo map, the compass and the altimeter on my Suunto Vector wrist computer.

Generally I carry a Silva Ranger 27, a very compact sighting compass which conveniently doubles up as a mirror.

Suunto A-10 compass.
$12, 1 oz., all I could ever need.

Silva 2 Explorer and topo map of area.

Never did like GPS units.

cheers

Suunto GPS Plotter Compass. Has a UTM scale for my Garmin eTrex H. Also, the scale makes nice arrows which make it easier to sight the bearing, and the global needle allows me to tilt the compass up enough to read the bearing while quasi-sighting.

I carry a Garmin 60csx, full colour screen and top maps.

This isnt the lightest thing to be carrying but I really enjoy the calculations it provides (altitude, kms/h, distance travelled to name a few).

Perhaps the main reason I take this out with me is so that I can download the waypoints and load into Google maps. It's great to be able to see where I have been and to be able to share with others.

Also take a photo-copy from a map of the area...just incase technology fails me.
Cheers

Edited by markmclauchlin on 03/01/2009 18:03:20 MST.

Suunto MC-2 and USGS Topo maps. I've got a Garmin etrex Venture HC, but have never used it. Probably won't either.

Garmin Etrex HCx, Topo Maps, Silva compass.

Before a trip I upload as much information as I can into the GPS using Ozi Explorer (digitize trails and waypoints from various paper maps and upload to GPS). I also plot a Topo map with all of the added trails and points.

The GPS serves another purpose as well as navigation. A free download of GPicSync allows me to geocode my pictures based on my track log.

You can overlay your tracks and geo-referenced picture locations in Google Earth and see exactly where every one of your pictures were taken. You can also view the pictures by clicking the camera icon that is placed at the position that you took your picture from.

i almost always have a map, and almost always it's a topo

i've usually carried a compass along, but i don't think i've ever actually used one to navigate - always just used a map along with visible landforms for navigation, even when going off trail

I'm carrying an old Silva Boy Scout compass that I've had for almost 30 years. That and a topo map and I'm good. Recently, I've been playing with a Magellan Triton GPS. It's a fun toy, but my compass doesn't need batteries.

I use a 7.5 minute topo map. If I need the compass or GPS I am aready lost.

If I have a trail I use it. If not the sun moon and stars. When I am in completely unknown areas I might bring a map but usually not. I dont recall ever using a compass. I dont like to be rushed so I dont set too many expectations of where I want to go. I just let my body do what it feels like. Since I usually dont know where I am I never feel lost. Ali

Edited by barefootnavigator on 03/02/2009 10:42:57 MST.

Ali, the body navigator ; )

Garmin Vista C with topo map and UTM coords., and a paper topo map (with UTM grid). Sometimes I bring a UTM grid tool for more precision (like "Where's that darn water spring anyway?"). I also bring a Brunton 26 (small sighting compass) primarily for its mirror, and an itsy-bitsy Montbell compass/zipper pull on my lanyard.

But it's not really navigation; I could probably navigate without any of the above, since I stay mostly on-trail. However, and as others have pointed out, I enjoy the geographic snapshots I take, to know exactly where--and when--I was at any point on the trail, and to record special waypoints for future reference. Further post-processing of the GPS data meets all my mental masturbahtion needs: average rate, time/distance between points A, B, C, D..., and even break times.

I'm a bit dismayed that the latest GPS units are simply heavier and larger (OK, larger screens are good), which have delayed any thoughts of upgrading.

I wish I was technologically savy enough to post my trips on to google maps using my garmin 60gsx. I tried to do it before, but alas, I failed...

I use a map and my Suunto M-2D. I'd love a GPS, but there are too many other things to buy first and I'm not ready to go cross-country yet anyways. So really, I navigate by following the trail.

If you're practiced with your map and compass you should have no trouble going cross country. GPS is not required.

I have no problem navigating with a map and compass, however, I do like bringing my GPS as well. Not only is it helpful for obtaining your coordinates and location quickly (which you can cross referance to your map), but on a more entertainment note, it makes it easy to record your hikes. I use it to save the hikes I've done so I can come back to them in the future (especially if its an "off trail" track.) If I really needed to, I'm about 99% positive I could successfully navigate myself through the wilderness using nothing but a safety pin, a leaf, and a little bit of water... But that's just plain inconvenient.. ;-)