Ideal for land navigation: orienteering, hiking, survival situations, military/field use, map reading and route finding. Marine Corps Training Command+1 Especially useful when you need to take a bearing on a distant landmark and navigate precisely — the sighting mechanism gives you that capability. For operations where reliability matters (no electronics, minimal battery dependency), a lensatic compass is a trusted backup. Good for any kit or vehicle where standardized, rugged navigation gear is required with minimal training time.