Reading a Compass When Your Phone Is Dead

A compass is the backup that never needs a charger, but only if you know how to use it before the phone dies. The basics take ten minutes to learn and last forever.

Master the three moves that matter.

• Set the bearing by turning the dial to match the needle
• Walk the bearing by keeping the needle in the orienting arrow
• Take a bearing to a landmark to confirm where you are

Practice on a day hike before you need it for real. When the battery is dead, the compass in your pocket becomes the most valuable thing you carry.

Practice the bearing walk in a field until it feels natural. When the trail fades and the phone is dead, the compass has to be automatic, not something you puzzle over.