Silva — Swedish Compasses, Inventors of Liquid-Filled Navigation
Silva was founded in Sweden in 1933 by the Kjellström brothers and Gunnar Tillander, who invented the world's first liquid-filled baseplate compass — the design that became the global standard for terrestrial navigation. Two years later they launched the Zeiler headlamp.
90 years of navigation
Ninety years on, Silva still builds compasses, headlamps, running vests, trekking poles, and binoculars for both world-class athletes and everyday adventurers. "With our products, you can go anywhere you want, at any time of the day, and in any conditions." See Compasses for the full compass category.
The orienteering standard
Silva compasses are the standard for orienteering programs worldwide — including most U.S. Scouting and outdoor education programs. Pair with Navigation & Signaling for the broader nav-and-signal lineup.
If you've ever used a baseplate compass in scouting or orienteering, you've likely used a Silva. The Field model is the gateway — affordable, durable, and accurate enough for serious navigation.
