Joe Shmoe wrote:

mhagen wrote:


Geoff Kegerreis wrote:


Foresters:

I am looking to purchase a clinometer for another cruising
vest I'm putting together. I see that there is a $13
difference between the brunton and the suunto. I have a
Suunto now, but not a brunton. Anyone have any
experience with the Brunton one - Is it any worse for wear
than the Suunto is? Is the sighting aperature good
in it? Any advice is welcomed from those who have
experience with the brunton clinometer.

Thanks,
Geoff Kegerreis


You don't use a relaskop?




At 1/10 the cost (approx) a clino makes a lot more sense when wanting to
measure slope. A lot less bulky too. (It's been my experience that a
relaskop is best on steep ground with large trees - I don't really like
them on the smaller dbh trees (when doing variable radius plots)).

As for a comparison between the brunton and the suunto; I've used them both
and I can't really recommend one over the other. I've got suunto's that
are ancient and still work fine. We haven't had the bruntons for that long
so I can't speak to their longevity. So far, so good though. Personally,
I'd stick with the Suunto because they've worked for me for years.

If you're wanting to use the clino for tree heights, try a Vertex
hypsometer. They're sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Probably not what you wanted to hear.

Joe

My Suunto clino is more than 30 years old and still works fine. I just
try to reduce the number of gadjets tied onto me in the brush. An
r-skop is a cruising tool- if you're not cruising, definitely stick
with a clino or abney. As for Brunton - I've heard they now own the
Silva brandname. They have always seemd to be a few bucks cheaper than
the imports and have as good a reputation.

Been using an Opti Logic laser hypsometer/rangefinder for the last year
on big old growth timber in rough country. It's had to be fixed twice
but is worth it.