Gear Review: Kasper & Richter Alpin Compass

The Kasper & Richter (K&R) Alpin Compass is a vital tool to have in anyone’s essentials gear when heading out into the backcountry. A map and compass (as well as the knowledge and skill to use both) are key in navigating cross-country whether one becomes lost or simply wishes to stay found. Whether following a bearing, triangulating a position, measuring slopes or simply orienting oneself in the outdoors the K&R Alpin Compass is a great device to use in backcountry exploration.

The K&R Alpin Compass has many features that standout. The standard red magnetic “North” Arrow rests on a sapphire pivot and has a luminescent tip. The sapphire pivot improves the rotational accuracy of the needle and allows for a quick needle response. The needle and sapphire pivot are enclosed in a thermo-elastic capsule. The thermo-elastic capsule is very flexible and is designed to keep bubbles from forming in the dampening fluid as well as prevent leaking hairline cracks from developing if the compass is dropped.

Case detail

The 360-degree, luminescent azimuth bezel is marked every 2-degrees and there are six red orienting lines in the base of the compass dial. The compass has an adjustable declination that is very easy to use. The inner part or the rotary has degree marks and four plastic teeth (two on each side of the dial). These plastic teeth make adjusting the declination very easy. One simply braces the outer rotary with two fingers then turns the inner rotary by applying pressure on one of the teeth. This is hands down one of the easiest declinations to adjust.

Case detail

The compass also has an integrated clinometer to measure inclination. Inside the dial at the base of the compass is a red inner scale (east-west declination marked every 2-degrees up to 90 degrees). Below the red, magnetic “North” arrow is a small, black arrow which indicates the inclination on this red, inner scale.

The K&R Alpin Compass has a transparent baseplate with four rubber feet, one in each corner. The baseplate has numerous red markings on the bottom surface that can useful for many different navigating tasks. The end opposite the dial (and running along one side of the baseplate) has a 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 roamer scale. Each side of the baseplate has ruler markings on it. One side has centimeters while the other has inches. There are three boreholes in the baseplate for map marking. Two of these are circular (each a different diameter) with cross-centers. Another borehole is triangular. There is a magnifying glass between the dial and the roamer on the baseplate and a luminescent direction of travel (DOT) arrow located next to the magnifying glass. There is a luminescent line bisecting the magnifying glass. A thin string attaches to the edge of the baseplate near the roamer. This string attaches to a plastic buckle on the lanyard.

Ruler detail

There is a black lid or case the snaps or locks down on the baseplate covering the majority of the baseplate. The case is pinned to the baseplate on one side so it can swivel 180 degrees. One side of the case has a ruler continuation of the centimeter baseplate ruler (extending the measurement from 9 cm, on the baseplate up to 17 cm). The other side of the case has a slope scale for 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 map scales for determining inclination. The outer cover has a degree-percent gradient table on one side and a small K&R logo in a corner.

Inside the case is a large aluminum mirror. The aluminum mirror is stronger than glass or Plexiglas for added durability. There is a bearing slot running vertically down the center of the mirror. Below the mirror is a small rectangular opening with a triangular marker which acts as a bearing/sighting device. Above the mirror is a small luminescent line. On the outside edge of the case is a raised edge with a notch sighting device.

Glowing bezel

K&R has a Triple Sighting System based into most of their compasses and the Alpin has this great feature as well. The Triple Sighting System combines luminescent sight lines, sighting points in the mirror and baseplate and the sighting slot in the mirror to ensure accuracy when orientating in the backcountry.

When navigating cross country I want a compass that’s accurate and take the abuse the terrain dishes out. The K&R Alpin Compass does a superb job of meeting my requirement for both precision and durability. Even with the scratches I have added to the baseplate the compass is no worse for wear and one of the first pieces of equipment I reach for when heading into the backcountry.

Manufacturer	Kasper & Richter
Some Features	Clinometer Triple Luminescent Sight Lines Thermo-Elastic Capsule Rules and Conversion Tables Cutouts for Map Marking
Weight	2.5 oz (70.9 g)
Price	$64.50

This story was originally posted September 14, 2010.