For this Spring 2016, San Francisco based specialty outdoor products company Prometheus Design Werx debuts their Expedition Watch Band Compass Kit on Friday, March 18@12noonPST. PDW introduces an EDC and field, magnetic compass designed to be worn on a nylon NATO style watch band, or with the accompanying silicone carrier, can be worn on anything from a pack’s sternum strap, to belt loops, and more. Unique and notable to their oil filled button compass found in this product, is the water resistant rating to a depth of 100M making it operational on land or underwater. The button compass component is cushioned in a Glow in the Dark silicone gasket and housed in a Type III hard anodized 6061T6 billet case,precision milled in the USA.
The EWBC Kit includes a complete compass and housing assembly, and a choice of one of three pictured colors in the silicone carrier. The button compass component is removable/replaceable from the billet housing and new units can be obtained by contacting the company’s Customer Service Department. This EWBC Kit will be and evergreen product for Prometheus Design Werx.
The Design and R&D Team at PDW states:
While we can use to great effect and marvel at the products of our digital age, there is still something substantial to be respected, acknowledged and said for analog and mechanical devices. The invention and introduction of the magnetic compass transformed the known world. Unreliant on batteries or circuit boards, a magnetic compass is the directional navigation tool in its most distilled and purest form. Our design process to create this modern classic drew inspiration from similar units as used and worn by UDTs, Combat Swimmers, Explorers and Adventurers from a different era. No less relevant today as it was yesterday, a compass that only needs the earth’s magnetic field to operate and is a tried and trued navigational device for anyone who spends time in the field.
Each compass case is precision machined in the USA. The Black ITS Tactical model features a slot on the back that’s laser engraved with the ITS shield and slides onto most NATO-style watch straps up to 22mm.
Includes: Button Compass, Silicone Compass Gasket, Billet Compass Case and Silicone Compass Carrier.
Button Compass Specs
20mm x 8mm
Oil Filled
100m Water Resistance
Black Face w/ High Luminosity Glow-in-the-Dark Markings
Glow-in-the-Dark Silicone Gasket
User Replaceable
Compass Case Specs
6061T6 Billet Aluminum
Measures 1.063” x .455”
Slot Fits Up To Most 22mm NATO-Style Watch Band
Black Type III Hard Anodized Finish (ITS model Only)
ITS Shield Logo Laser Marking (ITS model Only)
Billet Case Machined in USA
Compass Carrier Specs
Silicone w/ UV Inhibitors
Body Measures 4.75” Long x 1.170” Wide x .550” Tall
Loop for Girth Hitching onto Straps, etc.
Everyone who ventures into the backcountry should have a compass and know how to use it. If you prefer button compasses this is definitely one to check out. It is well made and offers several carry options.
The PDW Expedition Watch Band Compass Kit will be available for purchase on Friday, March 18, 2016 @ 12 noon PST via their website, prometheusdesignwerx.com. A Type III hard anodized black variant will also be available exclusively through their friends at ITS Tactical on the same date and time.
I dig it. I loved my Suunto clipper, but it didn’t take very long to disappear off my watch band, I like the closed loop in this case.
The clipper is meant to be clipped to a centerline opened zipper or the cuff of a sleeve and won’t even fit on the band of my Ambit. I made a tight loop of electrical tape looped back on itself so there’s no sticky facing out, slid that onto the band, then clipped the compass to that. I’ve made this clipper last since the first gen Ambit was new and it’s on my Ambit3 now.
Back to the item at hand… I want this.
In the very first pic showcasing the compass, what is the watch (and band while we’re at it I guess) that it is shown with?
That whole combination is exactly what I have been looking for…nice,clean,uncomplicated,and,best of all,functional.
It’s a Sinn.
Not sure about the strap though.
http://www.sinn.de/mobile/en/Modell/U1.htm#Link_Technische_Daten
With a proper mechanical movement.
Apologies for the double post.
Thank you,Dev.
The strap is a standard NATO strap, probably from Maratac/Broadarrow. If you want something functional (and still quality & automatic) for a fraction of the price, the Seiko diver (SKX007 or similar) is a pretty common choice that would suit you well.
Thanks Steve, I will look into that one now,as a matter of fact.
Much appreciated!
Looks to be a tegimented U1 from Sinn, on a NATO Strap Co Gray Matter strap. The Sinn U-boats are exactly as you describe, but like many quality items on SSD, they are not inexpensive. I have two Sinns a U1 and a U2, and love them both. They checked off every box I wanted for a tool watch.
Thats a German Sinn U.
Check it out here. http://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/U1_SDR.htm
They make great watches, I´ve got the EZM1, best watch ever..
Finally, a credible alternative to the Francis Barker Escape Compass.
Still no tritium 🙁
I wait, and I wait, and I wait, and still no one comes out with a tritium wrist compass with a movable bezel for setting azimuths.The Cammenga one seems to be the only thing available and that has no bezel, requires zip ties to fit to a watch and elec tape to cover the tritium when needed – not the most elegant of solutions to say the least.
As far as a 1st line E&E kit / survival tin / etc compass though, this thing seems to be a a nice new option.