I don't know what it is about these simple devices, but I love collecting them and having one on every trip I take. I own three that I am very proud of, they are all made by Brunton out of Riverton Wyoming. Extremely durable and accurate. The first one (#1: 8040G) is the one that I take out the most. It has a mirror, thermometer, Declination meter and doubles as a map reading compass. What type of compass do you use, and why? Here's my top three: #1: 8040G http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=112 #2: 6 Spectra http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=104 #3: 9020G http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=116
Don't quite know if I fit the term 'addict' but I have a compass for just about everything I do. I have a Brunton and a Silva Ranger that I carry with the hunting kit. [Both dummy corded to different parts of the bag.] My main compass is still the old standby USGI tritium lensatic. And I still have a few of the little ones I got as a kid in Cracker Jack! I still remember seeing James Garner in "The Great Escape" taking his hidden compass out of his collar. Still have a GPS that I don't trust! Must be too "old school"
It is a pretty easy skill to learn, it just takes practice,practice...practice! With a good instructor you could learn the basics in about 2 hours.