Brunton Compasses & Navigation Gear: 130 Years of Finding True North - Now at MJ Outdoors Gear UK

GPS fails. Batteries die. Phone screens crack. A Brunton compass doesn't care about any of that, and after 130 years of continuous refinement, it's still the instrument professionals trust when getting lost isn't an option. That's why we've brought Brunton's legendary navigation range to MJ Outdoors Gear UK.

• For beginners and everyday walkers: the Brunton TruArc 3 is a lightweight baseplate compass with a global needle and tool-free declination adjustment at an entry-level price.
• For serious hikers, DofE expeditions and adventure racers: the Brunton TruArc 10 or TruArc 15, which add magnified readouts, map scales and (on the 15) a sighting mirror and clinometer.
• For professionals, geologists and off-grid navigators: the Brunton TruArc 20 or the Brunton Model 9077, built for precision fieldwork and surveying-grade reliability.
• For scouting and wildlife spotting: pair any compass with the Brunton Echo Zoom or Lite Tech monoculars.

Now let's get into why Brunton has earned its place in your pack.

Brunton has been building navigation tools since 1894, when Canadian-born geologist David W. Brunton patented his revolutionary Pocket Transit in Colorado. His idea was simple but game-changing: replace a tripod-load of bulky survey instruments with one compact, pocketable device accurate enough for real fieldwork.

The design worked. By the turn of the 20th century, the Pocket Transit had become near-indispensable for geologists, mining engineers, and surveyors, so trusted that the US Army later adopted a modified version as its M2 artillery compass.

Today, Brunton is proudly back home in Riverton, Wyoming, where it has manufactured for over 50 years. In 2021, the company was purchased by the inventors of the Axis Transit, making Brunton a woman-owned, geologist-led family business for the first time since its founding.

When you buy a Brunton, you're not buying a gadget. You're buying 130 years of field-proven American engineering.

Brunton's signature magnetic needle tilts up to 20° to balance correctly in every magnetic zone on Earth the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere, and everywhere in between. Unlike standard needles that drag or stick when you travel, a TruArc works accurately worldwide without recalibration

Brunton uses premium cobalt steel and rare-earth magnets engineered to retain their accuracy for decades, not drift out of true after a season in your rucksack.

The difference between magnetic north and true north changes depending on where you are in the world. Brunton's tool-free declination system lets you set it instantly and correctly, so your bearings are right the first time a feature reviewers consistently praise, even on budget models like the TruArc 3.

Navigation is only half of the story. The Echo Zoom monocular brings distant ridgelines, trail markers and wildlife into sharp focus a lightweight alternative to binoculars, with tripod compatibility for steady, extended glassing sessions.
Best for: Birdwatchers, hunters, peak-baggers, tripod users.

Brunton's Lite Tech monocular delivers premium optics at an entry weight, wrapped in a tough black ergonomic rubber armour that shrugs off drops and weather. Perfect for gram-counting hikers who refuse to miss the view.
Best for: Ultralight backpackers, travellers, everyday carry.

A direct descendant of Brunton's surveying heritage a rugged, no-nonsense field compass with an extended straight edge that makes aligning with map grid lines and taking map bearings effortless. Built on the same philosophy as the original 1894 Pocket Transit.
Best for: Professionals who want Brunton heritage in a compact instrument.

A step up in readability. The TruArc 5 features tough, crystal-clear polycarbonate construction with larger degree markings, the sweet spot between simplicity and features for everyday navigation.
Best for: Weekend walkers and map-and-compass learners.

5. Brunton 91707 TruArc 15 Luminous Compass

Built for expeditions. The TruArc 10 adds a magnified readout, 1° resolution, reversible slide scale, GPS confidence circles and roamer map scales (1:10K, 1:24K, 1:50K and more) for fast, accurate work with Ordnance Survey and international mapping all driven by the TruArc global needle.
Best for: Duke of Edinburgh's Award, adventure racing, cross-country navigation, ML training.

The TruArc 15 pairs its global needle with a sighting mirror, clinometer, bubble level, and map magnifier, delivering 1° resolution in a mirror-sighting package trusted by field professionals worldwide.
Best for: Advanced navigators, search and rescue, geology and forestry work.

The perfect first compass or the only compass most walkers will ever need. At just 31 grams, it packs a global needle, 2° resolution, and tool-less declination into a compact baseplate that disappears in your pocket. Reviewers call it a compass they'll pack everywhere.
Best for: Beginners, scouts, ultralight hikers, backup navigation.

Still undecided? Work through these three questions:

1. Is Brunton a good compass brand? 
Yes, Brunton is one of the oldest and most respected compass manufacturers in the world, founded in 1894 and still making instruments in Riverton, Wyoming. Its Pocket Transit became the industry standard for geologists, and the US Army adopted a Brunton design as the M2 compass.

2. What is a global needle on a compass? 
A global needle is balanced to work accurately in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Brunton's TruArc needle tilts up to 20°, so it won't drag, stick, or give false readings anywhere on Earth.

3. What compass resolution do I need for hiking in the UK? 
For casual walking, 2° resolution (TruArc 3) is perfectly adequate. For Duke of Edinburgh's expeditions, hillwalking in poor visibility, or professional navigation, choose 1° resolution with a magnified readout (TruArc 10, 15 or 20).

4. Do Brunton compasses work with Ordnance Survey maps? 
Yes. Models like the TruArc 10 include roamer and slide scales that match common map scales, including 1:25K and 1:50K OS mapping, plus international scales for travel.

5. Where are Brunton compasses made? 
Brunton compasses are made in the USA in Riverton, Wyoming, the company's manufacturing home for over 50 years.

6. Monocular or binoculars for hiking? 
A monocular like the Brunton Echo Zoom or Lite Tech halves the weight and bulk of binoculars while giving you the same reach, ideal when every gram counts.

Brunton's vision is simple: a world where everyone can find their direction. Whether you're a first-time map reader or a field-hardened professional, there's a Brunton in our collection built for the miles ahead. Battery-free. GPS-free. Just you, your map, and 130 years of American craftsmanship.