I don't have a GPS so I throw my compass in my pack when I'm going for a hike.  Also I used my compass when buying my house.  I wanted to know where the sun was going to be around dinner time so I wouldn't be sitting in the sun on the deck.

I am going to make a point of teaching my son how to use a compass and a map.  I am afraid kids will only know how to program the GPS and not be able to read a map.  What are they going to do when WWIII comes and the world goes kaput???

I still use a compass and carry one with us when we're camping. Compass and map skills are very important, much better than relying solely on GPS.

Even with GPS in the car and truck, we refer to maps on almost every trip. A GPS might get you there, but a map can give you the broad view of an area.

John

I've carried a compass for years, either fishing, hunting or just romping around in the boonies.  It was the military that really got me into compassing.  What has been amazing that even though I've tried to get my bearings when first arriving at some campsite, and before I got the compass out, what I had thought was north turned out to be something else, like maybe east. So first order of business is to get the compass out and get myself oriented when arriving at a new campsite.  Of course, with a compass located in the truck mirror, that makes it so much easier on entering an area to set-up camp.

I wasn't born with inherent sense of direction.  To me, a compass is a must.  What cracks me up though was the compass in my PT Cruiser.  As far as I was concerned, the only reason it was there was to show me what direction I was facing when I was lost.

A compass is fine.  A compass and a chart are amazing.  I learned my skills during SERE School in the mountains of Maine.  I hope to be teaching them to Josh this summer during some backpacking trips.

I'm lucky that my job lets me play with all kinds of maps, GPS units and other navigational tools; but I've always got my compass in my pack as well. When I'm out training a new hire, inevitably they ask why I carry it and paper maps along with a GPS and other electronic tools. They are then introduced to the battery-less, all-weather, easily-portable back up method of working and not getting lost.

With the new technology, Yes, Smart phone batteries can die, I use the apps for seeing my location and which way I want to go. I do agree, its new, and the old school works great as well!