A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth.There are two widely used and radically different types of compass. The magnetic compass contains a magnet that interacts with the earth's magnetic field and aligns itself to point to the magnetic poles. The gyro compass (sometimes spelled with a hyphen, or as one word) contains a rapidly spinning wheel whose rotation interacts dynamically with the rotation of the earth so as to make the wheel process, losing energy to friction until its axis of rotation is parallel with the earths. The wheel's axis therefore points to the earth's rotational poles, and a frame of reference is used in which the directions of the rotational poles are due north and south.A bearing compass is a magnetic compass mounted in such a way that it allows the taking of bearings of objects by aligning them with the lubber line of the bearing compass. A surveyor's compass is a specialized compass made to accurately measure heading of landmarks and measure horizontal angles to help with map making.The liquid compass is a design in which the magnetized needle or card is damped by fluid to protect against excessive swing or wobble, improving readability while reducing wear. Whether you are boating, camping, hiking, or just looking to add to your survival kit Outdoor Shopping has what you need to make sure you are always headed in the right direction.Commonly referred to as,navigation compass, navigation systems, GPS, compass navigation system, digital compass, digital compass watch, and electronic compass. Great for hiking, walking, running, climbing, jogging, canoeing, kayaking, driving, and mountaineering.