Compass needed If you are out there without a map

If you are out there without a map, and you don't know where you are, but you know that there is a road, trail, stream, river or something long and big you can't miss if you go in the right direction. And you know in what direction you must go to get there, at least approximately what direction. Then all you need to do, is to turn the compass housing, so that the direction you want to go in, is where the direction of travel-arrow meets the housing. And follow the above steps.
There are several types of compasses:
Accessory Compasses: The type found on keyrings or watches, or small round compasses with no base plate. They accurately point toward magnetic north, but are designed more for fun and quick reference than serious navigation.
Basic Compasses: Inexpensive, yet quite sufficient for wilderness travel; well-suited for beginners. They have all the essential components but lack some bonus features, such as a declination adjustment or a mirror. Example: Suunto A10 Partner II.
Specialized Compasses: Full-featured models with many extras (a mirror, magnifier, et al.). Well worth the added cost if you are a regular wilderness explorer, particularly one who regularly travels off-trail. Example: Silva Ranger Type 15 CL.
Tips for choosing a compass
Inexpensive basic compasses are quite adequate for wilderness travel; a specialized feature such as a declination adjustment, though, is worth a little extra money to experienced backcountry explorers.
Basic and specialized compasses share many features; more sophisticated models offer a sighting mirror, a declination adjustment, a magnifying lens and other extras.
A compass and a GPS receiver are complementary instruments; a GPS unit, however, does not replace a compass.
Metal, magnets and electrical fields can affect the accuracy of a compass.