Do they sell these combos? Did a google search and couldn't find anything.
Printable View
Do they sell these combos? Did a google search and couldn't find anything.
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:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...s_1918_9957467
I haven't seen any combos that weigh less, cost less, and function better than purchasing a compass and clinometer seperately.
Specifically:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._1918_49051354
is the tits. You can find buy one for ~$50 on eGay
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.
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.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by cj001f
^^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.
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by KBP
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Below Zero
I've got a Suunto MC-2D with compass and clinometer:
http://www.suunto.com/media/suunto/i...arge_200cb.jpg
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.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/brunton-...avalanche.html
I use this... very nice and still cheap at $25
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.
I picked up this one on ebay for $15. It was listed incorrectly, I love it when that happens!:FIREdevil
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH
Thanks Bro. Just picked up this one. Good deal!Quote:
Originally Posted by Summit
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
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.
So how come there are no digital inclinometers?
You mean it's a bit like my Suunto?:Quote:
Originally Posted by gretch6364
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmor
There are -- but I haven't seen any that have a good sighting function.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmor
(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?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan S.
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.
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by rossibandit
Yes - Suunto PM-5.
Digital = useless cost and precision.
The S1 has both of these features.
Oh yeah, I totally forgot my S1 has that.
But how about a digital clinometer with a sighting function? Sort of like a pair of binoculars. Get down close to the snow surface, sight the bottom of the slope, and simultaneously see the angle superimposed on the screen. (Okay, I know, not exactly the most important thing in the world, but would be an interesting tool . . . umm, gimmick?)
they sort of have that now afaik
search for "digital rangefinder inclinometer"
most of them are for golf or hunting, and stupidly dont display the angle, but will calculate horizontal distance from angle and actual sighted distance
some of them even have compasses and thermometers too...
id think someone out there makes what you said though.
edit
bushnell makes a scout 1000 arc with the angle displayed
though no compass or temp as far as i can tell
The clinometer on my S1 is largely useless, as you need to dig it out from under jacket and gloves, and once uncovered you have to push a bajillion buttons in sequence and even then it's almost impossible to sight it correctly. I've ended up using my old $25 Brunton instead.
I carry one of these.
http://thorvie.com/supplies/Angle_Finder.JPG
It is a little bulky at 4" x 5" x 5/8", but the large size is good for old eyes.
One edge is flat, the other has a v-groove so it lays nice on a ski pole.
Once the needle settles, just pinch it and that locks the needle in place so that you can move it up into easy reading range.
Cheap too - 6 bucks at http://www.jackstoolshed.com/product/PT-52137
Modifications:
Took out the magnet to avoid compass interferance.
Added a brass lanyard loop so that when dropped it it doesn't get away..
Used colored sharpies to mark Green/Yellow/Orange/Red angle ranges taken from my old life-link one.
Oh yeah, here we go:Quote:
Originally Posted by pechelman
http://www.adorama.com/NELRB4000CI.h...31206012620273
Seriously though, I'll go to some hunting stores to check out the more reasonably priced models -- still rather pricey but would have a great neat-o factor when teaching avy courses.
Neat because people can no longer read analog dials?
Yeah yeah yeah, I know, entirely unnecessary, but any gizmo that gets people interested in the whole concept of carefully measuring slope angles is potentially helpful. (Plus I like the idea that a device intended to help kill things in the great outdoors could potentially be used to help people keep themselves safe.)
For general touring around I don't think it would be all that useful, but for shooting alpha and beta angles it could be a big improvement. Many times a difference of one degree can matter a great deal. And for the general profiling of paths, it would not be useless cost and precision.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh Conway
I'll tell you that two experienced people shooting the same angle will vary there readings by at least a degree fairly regularly. And digital has potential to speed the whole process up.
For all the time people spend talking about their beacon's power supplies, inane accuracy tidbits, and etc., very little attention is paid to the accuracy of the much more important inclinometer. And even less practice associated with it.
heh. the Suunto is good to <a degree quickly for the practiced eye; a digital readout won't change the inherent accuracy of the measurement method.
I think a digital clinometer as part of some integrated digital data-logging system would be useful for professionals doing pitwork daily. Elevation, Inclination, Temperature, Pit profile, < hit save > repeat < download at end of day >
Well, perhaps digital isn't what I was really looking for. I could care less whether the final readout is digital or analog. But I think the user end design of the inclinometer could be improved. Similar to a rangefinder design. Because, again, I've seen very experienced people vary there readings by a degree before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh Conway
But as stated previously, I think the market would be small, in the avie world very small, so I don't expect to see much in the way of improvement.