Suunto KB-20 Compass

A compass that floats makes immediate sense on a boat, but it’s also reassuring beside a creek or at a lakeside campsite. The Suunto KB-20 pairs that buoyancy with rugged construction and an included lanyard. Suunto puts its weight at less than two ounces, so carrying a dedicated instrument for taking bearings doesn’t demand much space or weight in your hiking kit.

The useful part is the sighting setup. You aim at a visible landmark and read its bearing on the degree scale, with a globally balanced needle providing the reference. Alongside a phone, that gives hikers, orienteers, and campers a battery-free way to establish direction without relying on a screen. It won’t show your location on a map or choose your route, and holding it level while sighting and reading takes practice. Those are skills to work on before the weather turns or the trail becomes unclear.

Made in Finland, the KB-20 puts its design effort into a specific task: taking a bearing. For an outdoor kit built around a paper map as well as a phone, that focus makes sense. The floating body is the memorable detail; the sighting tools are what make it worth carrying on dry land, too.