Compass / Slope Meter

[Below Zero]

Do they sell these combos? Did a google search and couldn't find anything.

[cj001f]

yes, the Suunto X6/S6 "function" as both (not very well) . Most standard compasses can function as a clinometer, but aren't very precise. In the Analog world Suunto sells a compass/clinometer in the same housing:


I haven't seen any combos that weigh less, cost less, and function better than purchasing a compass and clinometer seperately.

Specifically:

is the tits. You can find buy one for ~$50 on eGay

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

I have the Silva Ranger Compass that has a built in slope meter that works as well as any that come with snowstudy kits, plus you only have to carry one piece of gear instead of two. Although for more money cj's looks pretty sweet and may work better.

[bio-smear]

I don't need a compass, since I had birds as ancestors and I just have a good "feeling" about which direction is north. So, I'd opt for a better, dedicated inclinometer. My bird genes don't estimate angles well.

[eirikainersharp]

My 'sighting' sunto has a slope meter not sure of the model though. Also some of the newer sunto watches have compases and slopemeters, neither are very accurate but accurate enought if you all you want is to get a slope and aspect for pit observations I think.

[nesta]

Specifically:

is the tits. You can find buy one for ~$50 on eGay

This is the one to get if you're serious about eyeing up slopes on approach, and BTW that is something well worth doing all the time to practice your eye as most people tend to be wrong in their estimates of slope angle. If you don't get one of these and you're just interested in equipment for snow profiles, I think a slope meter/ compass combo is the way to go, as you'll need the compass anyway for aspect. On the other hand a plain compass will suffice if you have the clinometer and you'll be more versatile and defintely more accurate with the slope angle of your profiles.

[Below Zero]

^^Yeah, I'm going to get one of those and sport it around my neck.^^

I'm going to be the Flava Flav of the backcountry!

Thanks guys.

[KBP]

The Ortovox S1 transceiver has an electronic compass, temperature information and measurement of inclination built into the beacon.

[eirikainersharp]

The Ortovox S1 transceiver has an electronic compass, temperature information and measurement of inclination built into the beacon.

Do you know what the accuracy of the slope meter is on that?

[Lurch]

Do they sell these combos? Did a google search and couldn't find anything.

I picked up a compass/clinometer at REI 2 years ago for $25. It's not very fancy or oil filled but it works well for me.

[Toby]

I've got a Suunto MC-2D with compass and clinometer:



Works pretty good. It's prolly not as accurate as cj001f's but it does the job to within a degree or two. In the picture the clinometer is the skinny black arrow.

[summit]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/brunton-...avalanche.html

I use this... very nice and still cheap at $25

[rossibandit]

Get the sunto inclinometer. As Nesta said "its the way to go". I use mine mainly for work, but you can quickly determine the slope angle. Make sure you learn how to use it first as it has slope angle in degrees and percent.

In no time you will be able to judge slope angle or build yourself an 8 percent ramp in a open pit mine, determine the height of trees and buildings, or determine the volume of gravel piles.

[coloradocouillon]

I picked up this one on ebay for $15. It was listed incorrectly, I love it when that happens!
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

[Below Zero]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/brunton-...avalanche.html

I use this... very nice and still cheap at $25

Thanks Bro. Just picked up this one. Good deal!

[gretch6364]

So I have a Silva Compass with an Incinometer built in kid of like the picture posted above that you are supose to sight down the top...I can not figure out how the fuck this works...obviously, I am an idiot....anyone care to explain?

Thanks

[mb2778]

So you take the compass, open up the sighting mirror cover (if it has one) and site down the long side of the compass/cover. There's a lot of different readings you can take, but essentially you put your eye up to one end of the compass housing (with the compass standing on edge, not flat like you'd hold it when using the compass itself) and site down the housing at a point in the distance. Since you'll be tilting the compass to get that point to line up along the housing, you're tilting the compass to the same angle as the slope between you and that point, thus if you read the number the little clinometer arrow is pointing at, it should be the slope angle. The clino arrow is the one that moves freely and always point straight down at the ground when you're on flat ground and you stand the compass on edge and tilt it up and down. This isn't the only way to take a slope reading though, it depends on what exactly you want a reading of (i.e. the average slope, the slope at the steepest point, the slope at a location of a pit, etc.), so if you're not familiar with the various types of readings and how they can be used, I'd recommend picking up one of the many avalanche books that are available... they usually do a pretty good job of explaining it.

[cmor]

So how come there are no digital inclinometers?

[Toby]

So I have a Silva Compass with an Incinometer built in kid of like the picture posted above that you are supose to sight down the top...I can not figure out how the fuck this works...obviously, I am an idiot....anyone care to explain?

Thanks

You mean it's a bit like my Suunto?:

If so, with mine I open the mirror lid so it forms about a 45° with the base. I turn the bezel so either E or W is facing straight up depending on whether I'm going to be holding it in my left or right hand. This "zeros" the clinometer readings.

I hold it with the base sideways, like you might (allegedly) hold a credit card to chop lines. Then sight along the compass base, lining up the matchmarks appropriately so you're sighting exactly along the middle of the base (so you're pretty much looking directly at the edge of the base, the one where the neck lanyard attaches in the picture). There are matchmarks all over the place, e.g. the semicircle cut out of the mirror has a luminous one and a notch in the black plastic, the mirror has a line running through it that lines up with the E and W on the bezel and a line running through the middle of the dial, the middle of the lanyard attachment is another.

If you then look in the mirror, it shows the readings for the angle off the little black arrow hand. The clinometer readings on the dial are mirrored specifically for this, so looking in the mirror you're reading them the right way . So you sight along the base, but make your readings off the mirror. If you play with it a bit it becomes obvious. Dunno whether the Silva works the same way but that's how the Suunto does it.

[Ccard257]

So how come there are no digital inclinometers?

I met an inspector with an inclinometer app on his iphone (also had a bubble level on there). I have no idea how accurate is was.

[Jonathan S.]

So how come there are no digital inclinometers?

There are -- but I haven't seen any that have a good sighting function.
(The models I've seen are good for just placing on a surface, like boot fitters use to measure to ramp angle inside a ski boot shell. And some models are for off-road vehicles.)

[cmor]

There are -- but I haven't seen any that have a good sighting function.
(The models I've seen are good for just placing on a surface, like boot fitters use to measure to ramp angle inside a ski boot shell. And some models are for off-road vehicles.)

I've seen the same but there's nothing useful in the field yet, there has to be some technical limitation. right?

There are range finders with built in inclinometers, anyone ever use one of these? But those are still bulky and can be very expensive. A simple scope with a digital readout would be ideal for work and play. I've never been horribly impressed by any of the current non-digital offerings.

[keksie]

Get the sunto inclinometer. As Nesta said "its the way to go". I use mine mainly for work, but you can quickly determine the slope angle. Make sure you learn how to use it first as it has slope angle in degrees and percent.

In no time you will be able to judge slope angle or build yourself an 8 percent ramp in a open pit mine, determine the height of trees and buildings, or determine the volume of gravel piles.

Nesta's pic url is broken/doesn't exist anymore.. is it the suunto PM-5 you're talking about? Or what's the best tool for measuring slope angles from distance?

[Hugh Conway]

Yes - Suunto PM-5.

Digital = useless cost and precision.

[MakersTeleMark]

The S1 has both of these features.