The 'Tools of the Trade'.

Orienteering Equipment - Map and compass Orienteering is a technical sport, you need some equipment - but not much. All you need to bring is a compass, a whistle. You need to be dressed for the forest, that means covered all over. Strong trainers help too. If you get serious you can get a real lightweight orienteering suit, tough gaiters (to protect your legs from undergrowth) and studded trainers like these WightO orienteers on a visit to the mainland. This crowd are modelling the WightO colours of blue and gold (as used for these web pages). Some of them are wearing control card holders pinned to their suits. These save having to hold it in your hand all the time, but you have to punch through the plastic of the holder.

Compasses come in all sorts of types and sizes to suit all tastes and pockets. Silva is the 'big name' in compasses, these and other orienteering equipment are available through Ultrasport, who often have a tradestand at major events in the UK.

When you register for an event you will be given a control card, a description sheet and possibly a map. At major events you will not get the map until you start. Here's a control card and description sheet, just so that you know what they look like!

A filled in control card for the WightO Web-O.

The description sheet for the WightO Web-O. At many events this is printed, stuck or stapled on the map. The first column is the control number, the second is the control code. We use two letter codes, other clubs often use three digit codes. the third column is the description of the control site. Bigger events often use pictorial IOF symbols instead of verbal descriptions. This makes international events possible!

So off you go back to map sales and registration. Don't forget to take your map, control card, description sheet, compass and whistle with you.

This website and all photographs and maps are © Wight Orienteers 1997