Discussion: Question about magnifier

I use a Suunto Arrow 6 thumb compass...and it's time to get a magnifier.

Does anyone know about this Silva magnifier? It appears to attach through the compass's elastic thumb-strap slots, rather than bolting onto the compass.

Does anyone have any experiences with this one -- pros, cons, will it work with the Arrow 6, etc.?





https://www.all4o.com/compasses/accessories/silva-...

It may not work perfectly with your Suunto Compass without some modifications.

I use it with my Silva Compass which in addition to the thumb strap also has two holes in the base plate for two small "pegs" fitting in those holes. The pegs keep it from sliding on the base plate.

I keep mine without any aditional tape/glue since it´s held down by my thumb and stays in place without problem thanks to the pegs.
You may want to file them down and use tape or glue to keep it in place if you decide to go for this model.

The magnifier in itself is 3.5x and sufficient for me even on very detailed maps.

Thank you for the comments, bubo! I did more searching and found a magnifier specifically for my Suunto Arrow 6, but it costs twice as much as the Silva ($95 vs. $46). It might be cheaper to buy Silva compass + magnifier than to buy just the Suunto magnifer...

I tried using that style of magnifier a few times, and found it more frustrating than useful, so I've pretty much given up on it. I haven't found any alternative solution, though. And I guess it works for other people.

I have that magnifier. I bought it at the 2017 Team Trials and have used it ever since then. I have a Suunto Arrow 5, which looks like it's pretty similar to the 6. I've had no trouble with it. It was hard to attach because the slots are tight for getting the strap through; I did it backwards and so the tail end of the strap is next to the compass, which is annoying, but I don't want to bother to try to switch it.
I recommend it!

Moscompass include a magnifier in their accessories, and every thumb compass has a hole in the base designed to take the magnifier.

The Moscompass one is the specific one that I haven't had much success with.

I had much better luck with the Moscow magnifier after I replaced the dinky little original washer with a rubber washer from the hardware store. Then I could get it tight enough that it didn't move while I was running. They do snap occasionally so buy a couple spares and replace old ones before important races.

I should try that, but I also had a problem that I can't make my eyes do the right thing with the single lens. I might just need more practice.

Will one of these work for you? I bought one for my Moscow compass.
http://www.kanpas.com/search/?Keyword=magnifier

Maybe the Donald should slap a tariff on those kanpas copies!

I've been using a magnifier with my Moscow for about 10 years now, and I think it works great. It gets loose sometimes, but I just tighten it back up again. I've only broken it twice.

Thank you to everyone for the helpful input! Now I need to do some googling and shopping... :-)

I used a magnifier a long time ago. It was inconvenient and broke off. That was on a Moscow compass.

Then, I bought the reading glasses everyone was using in Finland at the time and first time wearing them I didn't even notice I had them on. If you're not wearing glasses, I'd suggest getting a pair of those...

Yes, maprunner suggested that to me, too (in an email). I trip and fall often enough that I would be concerned about breaking a $45-$90 magnifier. I will probably start with the much-less-expensive glasses.

I tried several variations of magnifiers, and the glasses, and while they all sort of worked, I never found something I was happy with. Then I tried the one contact lens trick (see other thread) and, at least for me, that made such a huge difference that now I don't even need a magnifier. Of course if someone were to hand me a 1:15 map I would probably have to eat those words.

fossil> ... if someone were to hand me a 1:15 map ...

Looks like that’s happening in 2 days, judging by the Harriman registation list. ;-)

I got a "new" Moscow Compass magnifier this summer and have found it to be really good. It is lighter and works better than the older model I had (which tended to move around a lot and was hard to adjust well). I used it throughout the events in the Yukon, definitely need it at 1:15000.

Yes, Moscompass have redesigned their magnifier - I wonder how long before there is a kanpas copy!

sigh, yes. Just learned that. Can't remember when I last ran with 1:15. This will be ... interesting.

As I recall, my personal difficulty with using a magnifier was that once I resorted to looking at part of the map through it, I adjusted to that and then the rest of the map was hard to read without it. I then proceeded to run the rest of the course looking at everything through it. That was ok for shorter legs but a real pita for the longer legs.

I guess I'll be digging through my bag to see if there's still a magnifier in there somewhere... to carry with me and try not to use. ;-)

The key to long legs is to look at the map without the magnifier, simplify your route using big features, then navigate using the magnifier. At least, that's what I try to do.

I guess this is a good time to try out my magnification options...

Are the new Moscow magnifiers less likely to break? Because that's all I care about

I agree with Janet. It takes some practice ... I think we'll all get some on Sunday.