I think what I appreciate about this video is how you encourage your viewers to practice it...."not just once, but many times....because we forget". You are concerned about people. You are NOT concerned about flexing your "knowledge" muscle to boast or brag. Thanks for that. Your as genuine as your work.
I’ve used this trick for years and taught it to my daughter when she was a kid. There’s also a fun trick for telling what time it is especially in the afternoon and how long you have left until nightfall!! It’s very useful in the woods for making best use of your time and how long you have to get wood and other things ready for camp! 🌲⛺️ 🔥
Are you referring to the hand method where you take your hand and put it horizontal under the sun and then another under and so on until you hit the horizon. That's how I was taught. The amount of hands is hours left till sunset. Or is it your first hand covering the sun horizontal then hands under that 🤔
I know due north where I live and have checked it many times with an instrument that points north (compass) and this works hands down! Trust me if you go in the woods and there is no path to keep track of where you are you need a compass or a watch like in this video. I have been lost in the woods and you walk in circles...over and over! Don't ask me why...but this could possibly save your life!
One thing to make mention of with the watch is that only works if you’re NOT in daylight savings time. So in other words if you’re between the months of March and November you need to fall the hour hand back one hour to make that work accurately.
Hi! Local time (24h format)/2= clock direction sun is shining from. Align clock hour to the direction where sun shines from. Multiple result by 30 to get degrees and add or subtract local variation to get magnetic direction. After aligning 12=North 3=east 6=south 9=west. For example: 16:00/2= 08:00*30= sun shines from 8 o clock and 240 degrees true direction. Cheers from finland =)
That makes no sense to me. The comment illustrates why video works better than text alone when explaining how to do a physical activity connected to some information.
You make grasping the concepts you advance easy to understand and remember. Best of all, you provide all the information you seek without any time wasted. Thank you thank you thank you. Please keep making these wonderful vids.
Wearing a digital watch, you can always draw a clock on the ground (or even better, on a piece of paper) and use that to guide you. Obviously it won't be as exact, but it's better than nothing.
The first stick will always be to the West - in both hemispheres as the sun moves from East to West but the method is slightly flawed - see my comment about 13 above this one
Good observation. I thought that he was in the northern hemisphere that would have put north on the crown side of the watch. Good lesson though, perishable skills land navigation and practice makes better.
Thank you for sharing this very informative video. It has taught me a valuable lesson that I so desperately need to teach my children in these harsh times that we are facing today.
Very cool, I learned two new methods! For a rough direction of North, I typically see where the sun is, and depending on the time of day (rises in the East, sets in the West), can figure it out from there.
I'd like to note that if the Marathon watch is a little bit much for people Seiko and Orient both make really really good automatic watches with amazing build quality and reliability and can typically be found for under $200. Also, if you don't like the typical large size of a dive watch it's worth looking at a women's dive watch, typically they're styled the same as the men's versions but are smaller.
+ 1 on this comment. LOVE the Marathon, but it's an expensive watch. Seiko's SKX (007 model) is a lot less, very reliable, and a great looking automatic.
I find measuring my hands in detail it really helpful. From the tip of my middle finger to my elbow i measure half a meter. My thumb is 3 cm and the rest of the fingers are 2 cm from which i can easily get 5 cm. My hand is 10 cm in width. My palm is 20 cm long. My foot is 30 cm long. In real life whenever I need to measure something I can really pinpoint dimensions . I advise people to do the same as you are a walking ruler.
Small caution with the Suunto clip-on that you are running. I've ran one on a few of my watches and have discovered that you need to be careful with magnetic interference from the watch that could throw your compass off. To determine if your watch interferes, take the compass off the band, and lay both on a wooden table (away from any screws or nails.) move the compass close to and away form the watch case. Watch carefully for any signs that the watch case causes the compass needle to deviate. I've seen this happen, depending on the watch, for just a few degrees, and sometimes over 20 degrees. I just take mine off when I need a reliable bearing... However, I've come to attaching them on my backpack straps now, away from any metal magnetic interference. Additionally, when using the watch as a compass, it's important to note that during daylight savings time, you need to use the 1 o'clock position, not the 12 o'clock position. Cheers!! Happy adventures.
For the exact and proven survival strategies that our ancestors used in time of need, you should definitely go ahead and google Trankors Survival Secret. There's no price for peace of mind, right?
N/A N/A No way, strong magnetic fields will affect an automatic movement just as badly or even worse than a battery operated watch. Historically, antimagnetic watches were developed early in the 20th century, including the Rolex Milgauss. Many automatic watches have a soft iron ring to help protect against magnetism. Today, Omega has developed a completely antimagnetic movement which needs no protective inner ring.
Believe it or not, you can do it with a digital watch if you have a piece of paper or something else to write on. Just note the time on the digital watch, then transfer the time to an analog watch face drawn onto the paper. Then use the drawing the way you showed us on your watch face.
John Cantrell: That's right.....you can also do the same thing without any watch at all.....you just need to know the GMT / UTC / Zulu time (from a radio or TV broadcast, for example) and then you can do the paper & pencil method..
You dont even need all those above , just see the sky and sun on daylight it will already tell you where east and west And if its night , just see the Northern Star and it will tell you which is West east North
I have been a subscriber for years. You fascinate me with your vast knowledge, reminding me of my departed Grandad. He was a Master Plumber but had general knowledge of many things. He taught me so much! As do you! Thank you! The Bigman
Sapphire crystal is more scratch resistant as it is more harder then mineral glass, however; mineral glass is more shatter proof as it is more flexible then sapphire.
However....the "halfway" mark you use to find "South", is different for AM vs PM. In the AM, you find the halfway-bisecting mark (south) going *clockwise* to find you bisecting point. In the PM, you count *counter-clockwise* to get to the halfway bisecting point ( that points to South). An important point to remember to differentiate morning from afternoon readings, for this method to work properly and give you the correct result.
@@user-bx7nw1ve6y ...What?...."obvious"..... sarcasm much?... the AM vs PM method is certainly not obvious to most reasonable people, and must be observed and done correctly to get the right answer. The bane of the internet....people acting like arses while being beligerent behind a keyboard.
You would make a great scout master, with all of your knowledge of woodcraft, proper use and care of tools, and how to be a good steward of the earth. I love all of your videos. You should put on workshops for young men and boys if you don't already.
Regarding quartz watches, I have been replacing my own batteries for years. It's really quite easy and costs me next to nothing. I see no reason to caution against it.
@@knpstrr but they don't require constant movement and keep more accurate time. If the watch is your only tool to measure time and find north and you are in a position of concealment or observation for any period of time, the automatic will fail
@@billymadison8036 from a power standpoint the automatic is superior. As far as accuracy you'd have more of an argument there, depending on the situation being off by a minute are two a month is generally not significant. And the superlative chronometers are quite accurate.
@@knpstrr I'm not knocking an automatic one bit. Both have their drawbacks. I've had both. I agree that mechanically speaking, a quality automatic is a more valuable time piece. But if I can only grab 1 watch when the shtf, I'm reaching for my Casio quartz diver.
@@knpstrr also, I wasn't trying to come across confrontational. When I went back and read my comment, it appeared I may have. In the end, what matters is what works best for the individual relying on it. I'm a collector of time pieces and I am fascinated with anything mechanical. My grandfather was a locomotive engineer and I have 2 of his Elgin pocket watch. The detailed craftsmanship amazes me.
I could be wrong but I believe that ring is used for diving. If a tank of air will last you 30 minutes, it makes it real easy to zero your time and you know when you are getting close to empty and need to come up.
The sun rises from east to west, so it’s reflection on shadow is in opposite direction As an odd function has rotational symmetry with respect to the origin
Also for the watch method, don't forget it only works in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, the 12 on the watch face points at the sun, and the N/S line is between that and the hour hand.
Aristotle said it, and you subscribe as well as I do, "What we must do, we learn by doing." People talk about book learning, and yes, it is possible, for those who can accurately model all the components in their mind. But it seldom works well, almost never supercedes experience... with the rare exception of Nikola Tesla or the like. Bravo.
Why does your compass on your watch points to North in the other direction? The arrow points north the 30 mark points south, hope nobody gets lost following your advice.
I would get rid of the Automatic watch and pick up a Citizen promaster eco dive(Solar) watch. It is lighter and more accurate time piece and will last for 20plus yrs! I enjoyed the vid!.
I'm watching this wearing my analog automatic watch on a 5-ring zulu band (as opposed to your three ring) also with a Suunto strap compass. As to the stick method.... I was screaming at the video to do this during The Edge (with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin) who were stuck in Alaska and couldn't figure out which way was north. I knew both these, and can list several others like moss on tree trunks, disparate melting of ice, or HEY, where is the sun setting right now! But you'd expect me to know these things. I'm the kind of guy who watches Wranglestar. Keep going, sir.
Excellent info! This is why people should join boy scouts, girl scouts, military, or any other outdoor info groups! Knowledge is power! Teach you're kids!! And get them off their phones!!
Tried this today, twice. In the am, about 10 I got a true south & true north no issues. This afternoon--moving the bezel and counting clicks just as instructed--1/2 way b/w the hour hand and 12 was in fact more S-SE per compass.
For digital watches, you can just make a watch face with sticks on the ground. Lay a small stick on the ground, pointed toward the sun, then have that set at what hour it is, then make the watch face.
Cool video. I think anyone watching this video and interested in learning will have already gotten a proper compass, especially if they're headed into the bush. Besides that, I'm on my second Suunto watch, which has a compass. It's a digital watch that allows super easy battery replacement. I still recommend learning the stick trick, and I still recommend understanding celestial navigation.
Just to note : If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, the bisecting line between the hour hand pointing at the sun, and 12 on watch face, will be due *_North_* ! Either way, you can do it with any watch, or in fact without a watch, you simply need to know the current time - you can then point imaginary hour hand to sun and mentally bisect the line showing due South (in Northern hemisphere) or due North (in Southern Hemisphere).
Not to devalue anything you've said in this video, but you could purchase the G-Shock Mudman which is an atomic watch that's synced for every time zone and has a compass. It's also close to indestructible; so much so that it could be used for recreational diving. They should be around $100-150 and will last a lifetime with free insurance for a replacement if they fail in the field. I've worn a G-Shock Mudman for 4 years in everyday life and for recreational outdoors ventures and it still looks brand new.
H C I bought a marathon tsar...sitting broken (conveniently just after warranty expired) in drawer. Marathon no help and independent repair company estimate almost as much as buying new. I won't buy anything but solar multiband Casio g-shocks now. Ps. But a couple of inexpensive lensatic compasses And keep them different places (pocket, backpack, vehicle, etc. your choice)
TSAR is NOT an automatic movement. If batteries or EMP/ magnetic fields aren't an issue then G-Shock is a ok quartz for the money. I have had three g-shocks FAIL in the field for different reasons. The guy with the Jap or Swiss Automatic was the only one still telling any kind of time :-)
In boy scouts we use a stick and the watch. First, set watch to standard time. Then put a thin stick in the ground and lay the center of the watch in the shadow. Then point the hour hand to the center of the stick. Halfway from the shadow to twelve is south. This doesn't work if the watch is set to daylight savings time.
Such a nice limited run marathon. Wsd actually just doing research on this watch last night very funny this video recommended to me today. If ur a marathon guy my respect for you just upped tenfold
My dad taught me the technique with the watch when I was a kid and I have used it many times. I didnt know the stick method though. Of course I used the variation for the southern hemisphere.
if you remember that the shadow will move east from the first one you can see how it all works you don't have to memorize it. the sun moving west moves the shadow east. if you understand that you don't have to memorize it.
Nice video. Just a quick note, the watch method of finding true north differs depending on if you are on the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. Cheers.
Before noon you go clockwise from the hour hand to the 12 to find South, and after noon you go counterclockwise from the hour hand to the 12 to find South. In Australia you flip that around (I think). And adjust for daylight savings time.
I used to be an army surveyor. Started as a private, maxed the tests, sent me to Officer Candidate school, then Survey Officer School. On the DMZ in Korea. Learned many ways to find north, no watch needed. Anyway, I now have an iPhone and an Apple watch. And Rockwell (truth in lending I worked for them) invented GPS. So this watch thing may be good (I did not last through the whole thing) for the last century, but times have changed. You know your cell phone can tell people where you are. I was in Dallas when a woman got lost in a snowbank, no one could see her, but her phone pinged off of three cell towers. and six engineers, from Northern Telecom, got in a room and figured out how to trilaterate her position from the delays in each cell tower ping. They saved her. That algorithm is used, worldwide today. So this reminds me of the boy scout days of how to orient a map. You still use a map? Does anyone use a map? I'm 81 years old and swear people stopped improving themselves. I'm waiting for the TH-cam on how to use the Yellow Pages.
I learned that as a teenager And ive used it many times. Thr my life just to give me a general sense of direction although i was a certified Scuba Diver at 16 years old and i got seed to wearing a small compass on my watch band and that was faster one time i was driving with my Mom in the car in a State I wasn’t very familiar with all the back roads but i knew the basic locations of the large highways My Mom. Asked me out of curiosity why i was. Looking at my watch. So frequently when i explained what i was doing i told her i knew if i stayed on a certain course i would cross the highway i knew would get us home of course that was years before the GPS systems were in every phone and automobiles
If you live in a very wet climate where it rains every day and cant see the sun because the rain clouds are obscuring your view then look for the moss growing on the trees. In the Northern hemisphere the moss always grows more on the north side of the tree. This is particularly relevant for places like Manchester in the UK but in the city the problem is finding a tree. lol. N.B. This method does not work at sea.
Love that Marathon watch, but I didn't have the coin for it a few years back, so I went with a Seiko SKX 779 Black Monster. Very similar, for about $250-, and it's a great watch at a great value point.
this works fairly well in wisconsin ,minn, and canada close to the equinox i.e. hunting season in texas or florida in the summer around noon useless use your boditch
I know most of you out there live in the Northern Hemisphere but we lucky ones live south of the equator where this all works at 180 degrees opposite, so the 60 minute pointer will point North.
I'm glad someone pointed this out. If you're making a "how to find direction" video, you SHOULD mention how it works on BOTH hemispheres. Likewise if you're explaining how to navigate by stars, you can't show the Southern hemisphere stars if you live in America, but you should point out AT THE START OF THE VIDEO that your method ONLY works in the Northern Hemisphere. Thanks for the video though.
Analog automatic watches can be used for navigation - digital quartz watches are better as watches. They are cheaper, offer more functions and can take more punishment.
another term for Zulu strap is Nato. It's a military design and I agree with the host of this video that it's the best way to go. Lose a spring bar and the watch will still stay attached to your wrist. Plus they're comfortable and inexpensive. I just bought a 4 pak for $13. Fantastic design
a zulu strap is similair to but not the same as a nato, a zulu is thicker an therefor has thicker and round hardware (metal rings etc.) and a nato is thinner and has square hardware. the zulu comes in both 3 and 5 ring and the nato only in 5 ring. just to let you know, have a nice day!
Augustus you are correct, this is a common misconception when it comes to watch crystals. While sapphire is scratch resistant, mineral crystals are actually more shock resistant, so they are actually best for field watches. Your more likely to crack a sapphire crystal on direct impact than a mineral
Good point, that's why most divers have mineral crystals, can take a direct blow better. What do a few scratches matter anyway to an outdoors man. I believe that quartz watches apart from being far more accurate are also more robust than mechanical ones. The Marathon series quartz watch has an end of life battery indicator and the watch can still run for a couple of months once it kicks in. Seiko and Citizen also have solar powered quartz divers with up to 80 days power reserve. Also servicing an automatic can be very expensive depending on the brand, and regulating them can also be a hassle. So on balance, for an outdoors person I would recommend a quality WR quartz watch with good lume. My Wenger Swiss Military 7290X is rugged and only gains around 12 secs/yr, also very affordable.
Art Mc Teagle I am more worried for the upcoming apocalypse caused by a solar storm and the consequent electromegnetic pulse than to be be lost in the woods. Good luck with your quartz watches, at least keep some inside a metal box (once isolated from it by a plastic bag)
thank you so much i watch many video about solar compass the dont tell that the first stick always point the west , and west is the best thank you so much i enjoy your video
As much as i love this channel, I am quickly learning Codys accessories are way beyond the means of your average Joe, watched this video, liked the look of the watch, but wow Amazon best price was $761.30, watched other video with the LX2 flashlight another $158.00, then the totally awesome Benchmade 940 $174.00, I love and appreciate quality, I honestly do! But wow, add this together these three accessory cost more than my annual clothing budget.
There is a much simpler way to find direction. All thats needed is the watch, no sticks or compass necessary. Hold your watch parrallel to the earth, point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Measure halfway between the the 12 oclock indicator and the hour hand, that point is due south, directly opposite that is north. Try it, very cool and easy if you can remdmber those steps
Reminds me of a funny story. Many years ago I was traveling on business with a colleague, we flew to our destination and picked up a rental car. We were unfamiliar with the city we were visiting, I was driving and my colleague was navigating. He looked at the map and said “turn East” I said “which way is that” he looked at his watch and then outside, it was about midday and we were facing the sun, he said “turn RIGHT”. I was confused as that did not sound correct, he still said turn right, I suddenly realized what the problem was. My colleague was born and raised in Argentina and had come to the USA to go to university, Argentina is of course in the Southern Hemisphere. In Argentina all directions regarding the Sun and East and West ARE REVERSED. I shouted to him “Pete, we are in the Northern Hemisphere not the Southern”, he wrinkled him brow in deep thought, then said rather sheepishly “Oh, sorry I forgot”. I turned LEFT and found our destination.
I want to mark one point. Usually, batteries quartz watches last at least two years. I f you remember to replace the battery once a year, you'll be out of trouble. I own a Citizen Promaster eco-drive solar powdered. With a light accumulator that, according to the Company, will last twenty years. I'm planning to buy a Marathon GSAR 41mm quartz by the end of the year. I already own a Marathon MSAR 36mm automatic, which is not very accurate in keeping time and is too small.
That's a lovely Marathon diver you've got there! A similar watch for a fraction of the price would be the Seiko SKX007 for those interested! It's an automatic diver with a workhorse movement renowned for its reliability. It doesn't have a sapphire crystal but these can be retrofitted if you really hate the idea of scratching the face. Retails for about $150 if you buy from the right website.
+Benjamin Caprichoso I doubt any watch that is under $400 has a sapphire crystal, with that said, sapphire crystal is more "scratch" resistant, but actually shatters more easily.
When you say a digital watch can't be used a compass, there actually is a way. All you need to know is the position of the hands and numbers. Not impossible
You can get a more accurate location from the watch face it's not 100% but it's a lot closer than the 4 cardinal points. There are 60 minutes in one hour and 360 degrees in a circle. Therefore. 360 divided by 60 equals 6. Every minute mark on a watch face is equal to 6 Degrees on a compass. Not 100% but more accurate than the four cardinal points.
I'm a hiker. Quartz with solar works just fine and if you're also a traveler, you can get time zones. Seriously, a unidirectional bezel for terrestrial use? I find the NATO straps itchy. Thanks for the video.
I used to find natos itchy as well, I think it's sort of like with glasses, your skin gets adjusted to the sensation after awhile. Now I only feel safe wearing automatics on a natos lol
Had to use the watch method one time when given inaccurate instructions. I knew both these methods from Special Forces training. At last, a skill that transferred to civilian status.
Finding the north with the sun depends if it's the morning, noon or the afternoon. Since the sun comes out from the east and goes down to the west, in the morning if you look at the sun then the north is to your left, at the afternoon if you look at the sun then the north is to your right. At noon you'll have to wait a bit to see where the sun is going to, you can use a stick at 90 degrees and track the sun for 15 minutes.
zerpBot I often find that when iI bail out of my space ship and land on some random point of the earth I just do not know what hemisphere I am in either.
Good for you. Meanwhile International viewers will know that all depends on the hemisphere they are. Hopefully when someone gets lost at other hemisphere than they are used to navigate, they'll know this technique won't work unless modified for the hemisphere they are at.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I love these old Wranglerstar videos.
Boy have things changed.
I think what I appreciate about this video is how you encourage your viewers to practice it...."not just once, but many times....because we forget". You are concerned about people. You are NOT concerned about flexing your "knowledge" muscle to boast or brag. Thanks for that. Your as genuine as your work.
Man, 9 year old video and ever so useful as it is. Thank you.
I’ve used this trick for years and taught it to my daughter when she was a kid. There’s also a fun trick for telling what time it is especially in the afternoon and how long you have left until nightfall!! It’s very useful in the woods for making best use of your time and how long you have to get wood and other things ready for camp! 🌲⛺️ 🔥
Are you referring to the hand method where you take your hand and put it horizontal under the sun and then another under and so on until you hit the horizon. That's how I was taught. The amount of hands is hours left till sunset. Or is it your first hand covering the sun horizontal then hands under that 🤔
I know due north where I live and have checked it many times with an instrument that points north (compass) and this works hands down! Trust me if you go in the woods and there is no path to keep track of where you are you need a compass or a watch like in this video. I have been lost in the woods and you walk in circles...over and over! Don't ask me why...but this could possibly save your life!
One thing to make mention of with the watch is that only works if you’re NOT in daylight savings time. So in other words if you’re between the months of March and November you need to fall the hour hand back one hour to make that work accurately.
If you are under DST, just use "1:00" marker instead of "12:00". That's all...
Hi!
Local time (24h format)/2= clock direction sun is shining from.
Align clock hour to the direction where sun shines from. Multiple result by 30 to get degrees and add or subtract local variation to get magnetic direction. After aligning 12=North 3=east 6=south 9=west.
For example: 16:00/2= 08:00*30= sun shines from 8 o clock and 240 degrees true direction.
Cheers from finland =)
That makes no sense to me. The comment illustrates why video works better than text alone when explaining how to do a physical activity connected to some information.
Amazing info pal. Do Finns have a name for this method?
That technique is used in the southern hemisphere.
You make grasping the concepts you advance easy to understand and remember. Best of all, you provide all the information you seek without any time wasted. Thank you thank you thank you. Please keep making these wonderful vids.
Wearing a digital watch, you can always draw a clock on the ground (or even better, on a piece of paper) and use that to guide you. Obviously it won't be as exact, but it's better than nothing.
I tried that at 14:30 but all I got was larger numbers.
Good to see a thinking person that trick absolutely works
if you have a shoe lace and 2 sticks it can be as exact as a wrist watch
Very astute. Surprising how many don't think to do this. Cheers.
A tip. He is in the northern hemisphere
In the Southern Hemisphere the first stick is east, don't get confused. Or lost.
The first stick will always be to the West - in both hemispheres as the sun moves from East to West but the method is slightly flawed - see my comment about 13 above this one
@@johnkothe4812 huh? so the southern hemisphere uses the same method or...?
What if you're on the Equator?🤔
Good observation. I thought that he was in the northern hemisphere that would have put north on the crown side of the watch. Good lesson though, perishable skills land navigation and practice makes better.
Thank you for sharing this very informative video. It has taught me a valuable lesson that I so desperately need to teach my children in these harsh times that we are facing today.
Very cool, I learned two new methods! For a rough direction of North, I typically see where the sun is, and depending on the time of day (rises in the East, sets in the West), can figure it out from there.
I'd like to note that if the Marathon watch is a little bit much for people Seiko and Orient both make really really good automatic watches with amazing build quality and reliability and can typically be found for under $200. Also, if you don't like the typical large size of a dive watch it's worth looking at a women's dive watch, typically they're styled the same as the men's versions but are smaller.
+ 1 on this comment. LOVE the Marathon, but it's an expensive watch. Seiko's SKX (007 model) is a lot less, very reliable, and a great looking automatic.
I find measuring my hands in detail it really helpful. From the tip of my middle finger to my elbow i measure half a meter. My thumb is 3 cm and the rest of the fingers are 2 cm from which i can easily get 5 cm. My hand is 10 cm in width. My palm is 20 cm long. My foot is 30 cm long. In real life whenever I need to measure something I can really pinpoint dimensions . I advise people to do the same as you are a walking ruler.
Small caution with the Suunto clip-on that you are running. I've ran one on a few of my watches and have discovered that you need to be careful with magnetic interference from the watch that could throw your compass off. To determine if your watch interferes, take the compass off the band, and lay both on a wooden table (away from any screws or nails.) move the compass close to and away form the watch case. Watch carefully for any signs that the watch case causes the compass needle to deviate. I've seen this happen, depending on the watch, for just a few degrees, and sometimes over 20 degrees. I just take mine off when I need a reliable bearing... However, I've come to attaching them on my backpack straps now, away from any metal magnetic interference. Additionally, when using the watch as a compass, it's important to note that during daylight savings time, you need to use the 1 o'clock position, not the 12 o'clock position. Cheers!! Happy adventures.
ExpeditionaryRanger Thank you. I"ll keep an eye on it,
True, however if the watch casing is made from a Ferris-Magnetic material, it will affect the accuracy of the compass while in proximity to the watch.
For the exact and proven survival strategies that our ancestors used in time of need, you should definitely go ahead and google Trankors Survival Secret. There's no price for peace of mind, right?
ExpeditionaryRanger I had the same problem with about 5°.
N/A N/A No way, strong magnetic fields will affect an automatic movement just as badly or even worse than a battery operated watch. Historically, antimagnetic watches were developed early in the 20th century, including the Rolex Milgauss. Many automatic watches have a soft iron ring to help protect against magnetism. Today, Omega has developed a completely antimagnetic movement which needs no protective inner ring.
Believe it or not, you can do it with a digital watch if you have a piece of paper or something else to write on.
Just note the time on the digital watch, then transfer the time to an analog watch face drawn onto the paper. Then use the drawing the way you showed us on your watch face.
John Cantrell: That's right.....you can also do the same thing without any watch at all.....you just need to know the GMT / UTC / Zulu time (from a radio or TV broadcast, for example) and then you can do the paper & pencil method..
You don't even need paper, you can use your shadow and align yourself as the watch hand.
You dont even need all those above , just see the sky and sun on daylight it will already tell you where east and west
And if its night , just see the Northern Star and it will tell you which is West east North
I have been a subscriber for years. You fascinate me with your vast knowledge, reminding me of my departed Grandad. He was a Master Plumber but had general knowledge of many things. He taught me so much! As do you! Thank you!
The Bigman
Sapphire crystal is more scratch resistant as it is more harder then mineral glass, however; mineral glass is more shatter proof as it is more flexible then sapphire.
However....the "halfway" mark you use to find "South", is different for AM vs PM. In the AM, you find the halfway-bisecting mark (south) going *clockwise* to find you bisecting point. In the PM, you count *counter-clockwise* to get to the halfway bisecting point ( that points to South). An important point to remember to differentiate morning from afternoon readings, for this method to work properly and give you the correct result.
Thanks captain obvious.
@@user-bx7nw1ve6y ...What?...."obvious"..... sarcasm much?... the AM vs PM method is certainly not obvious to most reasonable people, and must be observed and done correctly to get the right answer. The bane of the internet....people acting like arses while being beligerent behind a keyboard.
First time I've seen someone explain the bezel clicks so well. Thanks from UK!
You would make a great scout master, with all of your knowledge of woodcraft, proper use and care of tools, and how to be a good steward of the earth. I love all of your videos. You should put on workshops for young men and boys if you don't already.
Love the Marathon....great Canadian company. Been to the shop and talked to the owner...he will give you great service!
Regarding quartz watches, I have been replacing my own batteries for years. It's really quite easy and costs me next to nothing. I see no reason to caution against it.
The potential problem is a dead battery in the woods/stranded/etc
@@knpstrr but they don't require constant movement and keep more accurate time. If the watch is your only tool to measure time and find north and you are in a position of concealment or observation for any period of time, the automatic will fail
@@billymadison8036 from a power standpoint the automatic is superior. As far as accuracy you'd have more of an argument there, depending on the situation being off by a minute are two a month is generally not significant. And the superlative chronometers are quite accurate.
@@knpstrr I'm not knocking an automatic one bit. Both have their drawbacks. I've had both. I agree that mechanically speaking, a quality automatic is a more valuable time piece. But if I can only grab 1 watch when the shtf, I'm reaching for my Casio quartz diver.
@@knpstrr also, I wasn't trying to come across confrontational. When I went back and read my comment, it appeared I may have. In the end, what matters is what works best for the individual relying on it. I'm a collector of time pieces and I am fascinated with anything mechanical. My grandfather was a locomotive engineer and I have 2 of his Elgin pocket watch. The detailed craftsmanship amazes me.
I could be wrong but I believe that ring is used for diving. If a tank of air will last you 30 minutes, it makes it real easy to zero your time and you know when you are getting close to empty and need to come up.
The sun rises from east to west, so it’s reflection on shadow is in opposite direction
As an odd function has rotational symmetry with respect to the origin
The Sun Doesn't Rise From either direction. It's Stationary.
Solar analogue watches - accurate and only requires a small amount of light to keep it charged
Promaster Diver..and cheaper then the Marathon automatic
@@decoy807 Islander "SKX". An SKX but sapphire crystal, AR, solid bracelet, full lume, ceramic bezel, seiko NH36...... Love my Promaster though.
Also for the watch method, don't forget it only works in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, the 12 on the watch face points at the sun, and the N/S line is between that and the hour hand.
Aristotle said it, and you subscribe as well as I do, "What we must do, we learn by doing." People talk about book learning, and yes, it is possible, for those who can accurately model all the components in their mind. But it seldom works well, almost never supercedes experience... with the rare exception of Nikola Tesla or the like. Bravo.
I loved your second tip. that is something everyone should know. Tip of the year for me . Thanks
Why does your compass on your watch points to North in the other direction? The arrow points north the 30 mark points south, hope nobody gets lost following your advice.
i really like the stick way of finding north. I like that a lot cause it works with any watch
Genius! LOL
I would get rid of the Automatic watch and pick up a Citizen promaster eco dive(Solar) watch. It is lighter and more accurate time piece and will last for 20plus yrs! I enjoyed the vid!.
Good video! Thanks! I agree with your opinion regarding the strap.
I'm watching this wearing my analog automatic watch on a 5-ring zulu band (as opposed to your three ring) also with a Suunto strap compass.
As to the stick method.... I was screaming at the video to do this during The Edge (with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin) who were stuck in Alaska and couldn't figure out which way was north.
I knew both these, and can list several others like moss on tree trunks, disparate melting of ice, or HEY, where is the sun setting right now! But you'd expect me to know these things. I'm the kind of guy who watches Wranglestar.
Keep going, sir.
Excellent info! This is why people should join boy scouts, girl scouts, military, or any other outdoor info groups! Knowledge is power! Teach you're kids!! And get them off their phones!!
Enjoy seeing these videos of yours. Thanks!! GOD be with you
Tried this today, twice. In the am, about 10 I got a true south & true north no issues. This afternoon--moving the bezel and counting clicks just as instructed--1/2 way b/w the hour hand and 12 was in fact more S-SE per compass.
For digital watches, you can just make a watch face with sticks on the ground. Lay a small stick on the ground, pointed toward the sun, then have that set at what hour it is, then make the watch face.
thanks, I feel suitably admonished to go out and practise these methods.
Nice watch btw!!!
Good info I know it’s old but grateful I stumbled upon it. Thank you sir!
Cool video. I think anyone watching this video and interested in learning will have already gotten a proper compass, especially if they're headed into the bush. Besides that, I'm on my second Suunto watch, which has a compass. It's a digital watch that allows super easy battery replacement. I still recommend learning the stick trick, and I still recommend understanding celestial navigation.
I like your simple clear explanation.
I agree w others about the watch band but I still subscribed based on this video. Good job.
I have the same Leatherman and I don't go anywhere without it. Fantastic piece of equipment.
Very well presented! Appears to be for the Northern hemisphere only. I would think in the Southern hemisphere the directions are opposite...
As an Eagle Scout I learned Bothe these methods years ago. Great thing to know.
Just to note : If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, the bisecting line between the hour hand pointing at the sun, and 12 on watch face, will be due *_North_* !
Either way, you can do it with any watch, or in fact without a watch, you simply need to know the current time - you can then point imaginary hour hand to sun and mentally bisect the line showing due South (in Northern hemisphere) or due North (in Southern Hemisphere).
Thanks for this
Not to devalue anything you've said in this video, but you could purchase the G-Shock Mudman which is an atomic watch that's synced for every time zone and has a compass. It's also close to indestructible; so much so that it could be used for recreational diving. They should be around $100-150 and will last a lifetime with free insurance for a replacement if they fail in the field. I've worn a G-Shock Mudman for 4 years in everyday life and for recreational outdoors ventures and it still looks brand new.
Heath C and what happens if you lose it? lol
What, did you lose your hand too? Haha
H C I bought a marathon tsar...sitting broken (conveniently just after warranty expired) in drawer. Marathon no help and independent repair company estimate almost as much as buying new. I won't buy anything but solar multiband Casio g-shocks now.
Ps. But a couple of inexpensive lensatic compasses And keep them different places (pocket, backpack, vehicle, etc. your choice)
TSAR is NOT an automatic movement. If batteries or EMP/ magnetic fields aren't an issue then G-Shock is a ok quartz for the money. I have had three g-shocks FAIL in the field for different reasons. The guy with the Jap or Swiss Automatic was the only one still telling any kind of time :-)
Robbie CaptMilkbone Baxter what were you doing that caused the failure?
Beautiful Marathon piece!
Thank you Sir! I've seen this before on another Chan, but your explanation is probably going to be better understood by more people.
+Dano DeMano Thankyou.
In boy scouts we use a stick and the watch. First, set watch to standard time. Then put a thin stick in the ground and lay the center of the watch in the shadow. Then point the hour hand to the center of the stick. Halfway from the shadow to twelve is south. This doesn't work if the watch is set to daylight savings time.
Such a nice limited run marathon. Wsd actually just doing research on this watch last night very funny this video recommended to me today. If ur a marathon guy my respect for you just upped tenfold
Awesome man. Didn't know you know your watches too. The Skx007 or 009 are also some of the best pieces for the price range.
Incredible I learned this from my grandfather wen he got lost in the woods in Canada station there in the army right after World War Two
My dad taught me the technique with the watch when I was a kid and I have used it many times. I didnt know the stick method though. Of course I used the variation for the southern hemisphere.
if you remember that the shadow will move east from the first one you can see how it all works you don't have to memorize it. the sun moving west moves the shadow east. if you understand that you don't have to memorize it.
Great video, didnt know the watch method! I'll try right now thanks!
As a wood badge trainee. This has been of great help
it made me so happy when you said the morrison quote!
Try the watch trick in the tropics. It's complicated as the sun can be passing either north or south and near impossible around midday.
Thanks to you I am very in to NATO-style straps now. Just ordered one for my Omega.
Nice video. Just a quick note, the watch method of finding true north differs depending on if you are on the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. Cheers.
I just had a look at the JDD and it's beautiful...not quite 'cheap'...
Both pieces of information are just the best. Thanks
I haven’t watched your channel for a while but once more a superb and practical presentation. Thanks!
Before noon you go clockwise from the hour hand to the 12 to find South, and after noon you go counterclockwise from the hour hand to the 12 to find South. In Australia you flip that around (I think).
And adjust for daylight savings time.
Yes sir. You are correct. I really wish he would throw that in a re-edit of that video
I used to be an army surveyor. Started as a private, maxed the tests, sent me to Officer Candidate school, then Survey Officer School. On the DMZ in Korea. Learned many ways to find north, no watch needed. Anyway, I now have an iPhone and an Apple watch. And Rockwell (truth in lending I worked for them) invented GPS. So this watch thing may be good (I did not last through the whole thing) for the last century, but times have changed. You know your cell phone can tell people where you are. I was in Dallas when a woman got lost in a snowbank, no one could see her, but her phone pinged off of three cell towers. and six engineers, from Northern Telecom, got in a room and figured out how to trilaterate her position from the delays in each cell tower ping. They saved her. That algorithm is used, worldwide today. So this reminds me of the boy scout days of how to orient a map. You still use a map? Does anyone use a map? I'm 81 years old and swear people stopped improving themselves. I'm waiting for the TH-cam on how to use the Yellow Pages.
I learned that as a teenager And ive used it many times. Thr my life just to give me a general sense of direction although i was a certified Scuba Diver at 16 years old and i got seed to wearing a small compass on my watch band and that was faster one time i was driving with my Mom in the car in a State I wasn’t very familiar with all the back roads but i knew the basic locations of the large highways My Mom. Asked me out of curiosity why i was. Looking at my watch. So frequently when i explained what i was doing i told her i knew if i stayed on a certain course i would cross the highway i knew would get us home of course that was years before the GPS systems were in every phone and automobiles
If you live in a very wet climate where it rains every day and cant see the sun because the rain clouds are obscuring your view then look for the moss growing on the trees. In the Northern hemisphere the moss always grows more on the north side of the tree. This is particularly relevant for places like Manchester in the UK but in the city the problem is finding a tree. lol. N.B. This method does not work at sea.
Love that Marathon watch, but I didn't have the coin for it a few years back, so I went with a Seiko SKX 779 Black Monster. Very similar, for about $250-, and it's a great watch at a great value point.
Yes I explained this in the comments. Thank you.
this works fairly well in wisconsin ,minn, and canada close to the equinox i.e. hunting season in texas or florida in the summer around noon useless use your boditch
I know most of you out there live in the Northern Hemisphere but we lucky ones live south of the equator where this all works at 180 degrees opposite, so the 60 minute pointer will point North.
I'm glad someone pointed this out. If you're making a "how to find direction" video, you SHOULD mention how it works on BOTH hemispheres. Likewise if you're explaining how to navigate by stars, you can't show the Southern hemisphere stars if you live in America, but you should point out AT THE START OF THE VIDEO that your method ONLY works in the Northern Hemisphere. Thanks for the video though.
Presumably the first method only works if your watch is showing the correct time for the region you're in.
Analog automatic watches can be used for navigation - digital quartz watches are better as watches. They are cheaper, offer more functions and can take more punishment.
You spent more time selling the strap!
It's also just a damn nato style strap.
Not sure wtf a Zulu strap is...
A ZULU strap is essentially a NATO without the second piece.
@@AG.Floats I don't know but there's thousands of 'em.
Get involved! NATO/ZULU is only option!
I really like the stick method. Thanks. I'll give it a try.
Sir! Brilliant! Thank you. You are a very gifted teacher.
another term for Zulu strap is Nato. It's a military design and I agree with the host of this video that it's the best way to go. Lose a spring bar and the watch will still stay attached to your wrist. Plus they're comfortable and inexpensive. I just bought a 4 pak for $13. Fantastic design
Amazon.com
a zulu strap is similair to but not the same as a nato, a zulu is thicker an therefor has thicker and round hardware (metal rings etc.) and a nato is thinner and has square hardware. the zulu comes in both 3 and 5 ring and the nato only in 5 ring. just to let you know,
have a nice day!
Sapphire is NOT more durable than mineral or acrylic, just more scratch resistant
Augustus you are correct, this is a common misconception when it comes to watch crystals. While sapphire is scratch resistant, mineral crystals are actually more shock resistant, so they are actually best for field watches. Your more likely to crack a sapphire crystal on direct impact than a mineral
Good point, that's why most divers have mineral crystals, can take a direct blow better. What do a few scratches matter anyway to an outdoors man. I believe that quartz watches apart from being far more accurate are also more robust than mechanical ones. The Marathon series quartz watch has an end of life battery indicator and the watch can still run for a couple of months once it kicks in. Seiko and Citizen also have solar powered quartz divers with up to 80 days power reserve. Also servicing an automatic can be very expensive depending on the brand, and regulating them can also be a hassle. So on balance, for an outdoors person I would recommend a quality WR quartz watch with good lume. My Wenger Swiss Military 7290X is rugged and only gains around 12 secs/yr, also very affordable.
Art Mc Teagle I am more worried for the upcoming apocalypse caused by a solar storm and the consequent electromegnetic pulse than to be be lost in the woods. Good luck with your quartz watches, at least keep some inside a metal box (once isolated from it by a plastic bag)
thank you so much i watch many video about solar compass the dont tell that the first stick always point the west , and west is the best thank you so much i enjoy your video
A marathon? I see you are a man of class 😉
As much as i love this channel, I am quickly learning Codys accessories are way beyond the means of your average Joe, watched this video, liked the look of the watch, but wow Amazon best price was $761.30, watched other video with the LX2 flashlight another $158.00, then the totally awesome Benchmade 940 $174.00, I love and appreciate quality, I honestly do! But wow, add this together these three accessory cost more than my annual clothing budget.
I'm wearing a Marathon GSAR right now, Zulu strap by the bed. Excellent choice sir!
This IS the best tutorial of its kind and features a top notch watch!
doesn't matter how long the stick is, just straight and level. it still works.
Thanks. Just subscribed. Godspeed.
Hold on to that Marathon SAR. It's a classic now, and going up in the collectors market.
Love that you chose a Marathon watch. Strong as a ship! 🚢
There is a much simpler way to find direction. All thats needed is the watch, no sticks or compass necessary. Hold your watch parrallel to the earth, point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Measure halfway between the the 12 oclock indicator and the hour hand, that point is due south, directly opposite that is north. Try it, very cool and easy if you can remdmber those steps
That's literally exactly what he did in the video BEFORE showing the stick method :P
Reminds me of a funny story.
Many years ago I was traveling on business with a colleague, we flew to our destination and picked up a rental car.
We were unfamiliar with the city we were visiting, I was driving and my colleague was navigating.
He looked at the map and said “turn East” I said “which way is that” he looked at his watch and then outside, it was about midday and we were facing the sun, he said “turn RIGHT”.
I was confused as that did not sound correct, he still said turn right, I suddenly realized what the problem was.
My colleague was born and raised in Argentina and had come to the USA to go to university, Argentina is of course in the Southern Hemisphere.
In Argentina all directions regarding the Sun and East and West ARE REVERSED.
I shouted to him “Pete, we are in the Northern Hemisphere not the Southern”, he wrinkled him brow in deep thought, then said rather sheepishly “Oh, sorry I forgot”.
I turned LEFT and found our destination.
I want to mark one point. Usually, batteries quartz watches last at least two years. I f you remember to replace the battery once a year, you'll be out of trouble. I own a Citizen Promaster eco-drive solar powdered. With a light accumulator that, according to the Company, will last twenty years. I'm planning to buy a Marathon GSAR 41mm quartz by the end of the year. I already own a Marathon MSAR 36mm automatic, which is not very accurate in keeping time and is too small.
That's a lovely Marathon diver you've got there! A similar watch for a fraction of the price would be the Seiko SKX007 for those interested! It's an automatic diver with a workhorse movement renowned for its reliability. It doesn't have a sapphire crystal but these can be retrofitted if you really hate the idea of scratching the face. Retails for about $150 if you buy from the right website.
+Benjamin Caprichoso I doubt any watch that is under $400 has a sapphire crystal, with that said, sapphire crystal is more "scratch" resistant, but actually shatters more easily.
@@bobsmith-hk3eh Yes, ask me how I know, actually they are not too bad if don't drop your watch on a hard surface like ceramic floor like I did.
When you say a digital watch can't be used a compass, there actually is a way. All you need to know is the position of the hands and numbers. Not impossible
You can get a more accurate location from the watch face it's not 100% but it's a lot closer than the 4 cardinal points. There are 60 minutes in one hour and 360 degrees in a circle. Therefore. 360 divided by 60 equals 6. Every minute mark on a watch face is equal to 6 Degrees on a compass.
Not 100% but more accurate than the four cardinal points.
I'm a hiker. Quartz with solar works just fine and if you're also a traveler, you can get time zones. Seriously, a unidirectional bezel for terrestrial use? I find the NATO straps itchy. Thanks for the video.
I used to find natos itchy as well, I think it's sort of like with glasses, your skin gets adjusted to the sensation after awhile. Now I only feel safe wearing automatics on a natos lol
You're truly awesome dude!
Compasses tend to be attracted to certain metals. Move the compass further away from the watch and it should correct itself.
Had to use the watch method one time when given inaccurate instructions. I knew both these methods from Special Forces training. At last, a skill that transferred to civilian status.
Great, easy to follow advice. Nice job!
Greetings from Poland! Keep up the good work!
Finding the north with the sun depends if it's the morning, noon or the afternoon. Since the sun comes out from the east and goes down to the west, in the morning if you look at the sun then the north is to your left, at the afternoon if you look at the sun then the north is to your right. At noon you'll have to wait a bit to see where the sun is going to, you can use a stick at 90 degrees and track the sun for 15 minutes.
The watch technique depends on the emisphere you are so it may mislead you.
zerpBot
I often find that when iI bail out of my space ship and land on some random point of the earth I just do not know what hemisphere I am in either.
Good for you. Meanwhile International viewers will know that all depends on the hemisphere they are. Hopefully when someone gets lost at other hemisphere than they are used to navigate, they'll know this technique won't work unless modified for the hemisphere they are at.
Why do you have to wait 15 minutes at noon? The sun will be due south, or north depending where you are.
Except if you are in Ecuador or near.
Great information thanks a lot. I knew how to tell directions from analog watch, but not the stick thing....