Map measurer?

[Bill P]

Wondering if anyone can recommend a mechanical map measurer that is currently available to purchase. ( I have a new found need for this arcane practise. )

The device Im after is a hand held unit which has a small trundle wheel than you run around your map route, and the distance is given on a dial. The dial generally has scales to suit the map. I did have a plastic Silva one 20 years ago which i was not that keen on. (seemed cheap with a somewhat wonky trundle wheel) .

ive seen metal ones which were more precisely made which i would prefer. Any ideas?

[bernieq]

A piece of string?

Seriously, I've used both (back with the dinosaurs) and the string worked better for me

[Aardvark]

Scientific Instruments in Kelvin Grove Brisbane.
www.sios.net.au
cheers

[Franco]

A piece of string...
That is what I used the other day when my wife wanted to know how long was our morning walk. (13 KM)
But it would not be all that accurate.

[ChrisJHC]

Search for "Silva Map Measurer Plus site:au". Make sure you're sitting down when you see the price.

Note that I often use Google Maps for this purpose (moving the suggested route to match the actual route I plan on taking).

[johnrs]

You could use a compass, the circle drawing kind, just measure out the cms.
John

[ribuck]

Create a GPX route on a website like gpsies.com, and see how many km it is. Sites like gpsies.com can follow mapped tracks so you don't need to click on every wiggle.

[Bill P]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have found a nice vintage Swiss made unit . Apparently they're called Opisometers. I do like Google Earth for this kind of work- especially as you can get an elevation profile- but in this case I am working off paper maps.

[Neo]

I have a piece of string on my compass, its 3km long.