Orienteering and Related Activities

To help those wondering how orienteering compares to adventure racing and land navigation, here's a quick summary in table format:

Aspect	Orienteering	Adventure Racing	Land Navigation
Purpose	Recreational and competitive navigational sport blending physical and mental activity	Multisport endurance race navigating via checkpoints	Practical use for hiking, military, search and rescue
Maps	Detailed maps (1:4000 to 1:15,000 scale); oriented to magnetic north so declination adjustment is not needed	Topographic or race-specific maps (1:20,000 - 1:50,000 scale); usually oriented to true/geographic north	Topographic maps; oriented to true/geographic north
Compasses	Thumb or baseplate compasses	Baseplate compasses	Lensatic, prismatic, mirror or baseplate compasses
Skills Emphasized	Understanding and using the map, with some compass use	Teamwork & multi-discipline (run, bike, boat, climb)	Using a compass, with some basic map work
Who Does It	Individuals or groups; outdoor enthusiasts, families, hikers, youth groups, adventure racers; all ages and all skill levels	Teams; adventure racers, outdoor enthusiasts, athletes; adults aged 25 - 50	Individuals; military personnel, adventure racers, outdoor enthusiasts
Where Are Events	Parks, forests, and cities	Remoter areas with rougher terrain	Forests, mountains, wilderness areas, military bases
How Long Are Events	Classic events: 0.5 - 3 hours; Sprint events: under 1 hour	Generally 8 - 24 hour or multi-day	Varies
Cost	$5 to $20 per person	Varies; often $50 to $200 per person	Varies; classes start around $85
Sources/Calendars	QOC [1], OUSA [2], Attackpoint [3], REI [4]	EX2 [5], USARA [6], REI [4], Attackpoint [7]	REI [4]

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