The KanPas Focus 200

So here is the KanPas Focus 200. Actually the compass making orienteering easy. Maybe even too easy? - Sorry for that.

fig.1. What a beauty

First things first. Why is it called Focus 200?

For a good prospective map reading you would have to focus on the next 200 m to come. The cavity in the base plate provides you just with the area to focus on. The open area consists in a ring 2 cm wide which used on a 1:10K map is equivalent to 200 m IRL. Thus focus on the next 200 m.

Who does it work as a compass?

Easy. Place the tip of the red arrow to where you are now and the half circle on the other side of the cavity (or the virtual line between the two) to where you want to go. Then turn your body until the needle aligns parallel with the magnetic north lines on the map and then just run after the red arrow. Pro Tip: Double check that the ground below you is actually moving straight against the red arrow.

That is it?

Yes. Let the red arrow guide you. At the next map contact. You will exactly know, where to relocate on the map. Get used to advance the tip of the red arrow to your new actual position.

The compass makes the map work easy by providing you with the proper focus. It also helps you to keep the right direction at every point of your race. Direction is just baked in into your map handling.

How stable is the needle?

It is a rather small capsule, the needle is thus less perfect than others on the market. The developers of this beauty wanted a needle precise enough to lead you for the next 100 m or so. After about that you should relocate on the map anyway. Do you really want to engage in longer compass blind flights? 

Is counting steps back?

Maybe. From the tip of the red arrow to the center of the cavity there are 100 m. Proper direction plus a decent approximation of your step length would narrow down area to relocate in massively.

Well. I need a magnifier.

No problem. The Focus 200 geometry fits perfectly with the KanPas magnifier L-62. Mounted on the thumb band the magnifiers can be exactly centered over the centre of the focus area.

Who should use the Focus 200?

As the main audience we see younger (still flexible) developing athletes. By using the Focus 200 they can develop the right pattern in combining map, compass and terrain in the most effective way. As a secondary audience we see the experienced athletes, willing and able to improve beyond their habits.

This compass is useless for Sprint.

fig.2.  The use of the KanPas Focus 200 on a sprint map. (Note that the direction also somehow matters in Sprint :-P; Map not oriented)

To a certain degree that is true. The strength of the Focus 200 lies elsewhere. In urban terrain proper direction work is rather insignificant and also the cavity corresponding only 80 m is not ideal. On the other hand, relocation on the map still is facilitated with the focus area.

What do you think about the Moscompass GT?

It is actually nice to see, that the think about improving in similar lines. We just think our design is smarter and less prone to breaking. ;-)

So where can I buy this beauty, that will lift my orienteering to the next level?

ATM it is only available at the KanPas webshop but feel free to bug your local/national retailer about it.