Silva - Mechanical Map Measurer, N/A

This does the job it is meant to do, however it could be a lot better. Firstly the positives: it is simplistic in its function, manual and unpowered with no extra features means it is purely a map measured and therefore little can go wrong. It appears to be very accurate when verified with scales or a standard test rule. Ergonomically it hold well in the hand and can be Manouvered with relative easy (mostly). It will prove itself handy in the field as it requires no power, good for long term expeditions.The limitations to this device can become quite numerous depending on your intended use, this is what I have found: the gnurled wheel that runs on the map to measure distance is fine on paper maps as it grips reassuringly, however on polyurethane maps or if you like to laminate your own it slips or glides sometimes especially on tighter lines of travel, this leaves me intently staring at the wheel to ensure it’s always rotating.I do a lot of route cards with short leg journeys, mainly on 1:25000 maps, I find if your legs are under 1km the increments on the scale leave you estimating the distance, slightly defeats the point of using an accurate measured.The scales can require a second glance to double check what you are using. For example the 1:25000 scale is closer to the 1:50000 label meaning I have made a wrong reading a few times. (doubling the distance when calculated).I am left handed and find I have to hold the measured the wrong way round to ensure the needle goes clockwise around the dial, meaning I can’t watch the dial and confirm it is rotating.There is no reset nob which I felt the picture implied, you have to move the wheel until the needle is back to ‘0’.The construction feels a little flimsy however it hasn’t broken, so merely an observation.In conclusion I would say, if you are primarily using a particular scale map then I would purchase a dedicated measure for that scale, or a digital item that you select the scale and only see this read out. Be aware if using ‘slippy’ maps. This would make a good in field measuring device for someone needing the versatility it offers. For home planners and people using smaller scales where accuracy is of great importance go digital.

I see folk complaining about the wheel slipping, but the design must have been changed because mine has a serrated wheel and the mechanism is really smooth so no cause for complaint. It's really accurate, too, if you use the scales on the dial (but I rarely do that, I just unwind back to zero along the straight scale of the map).I bought this only because I couldn't find the old one (similar pattern, smaller dial, longer handle) that I had used for many years. Now I think I'm glad I lost the old one as this is a lot better !

I bought this in order to easily measure the distance of my walks on "Ordnance Survey" maps so as to check the accuracy of my pedometer. The screen is double sided, with large scales depicted on one side and smaller scales on the other. Very easy to use. and it arrived earlier than expected.

This map measurer would be fine, except the measuring wheel does not have any serrations to grip the map and there is a tendency on sharp turns in the road for the map to slide away. I have owned one previously where the wheel had serrations and it was much, much better.

The device shows eight different scales which is confusing and they are all in kilometres. If one side was in miles and the other in kilometres with two instead of four scales on each side it would be easier to read and more useful

Very Good ignore the reviews about it slipping on the map as Silva have taken advice onboard and changed it to a serated wheel and it is now very accurate with a clear scale..

While this product is cheap, it's not the easiest to use and I'm not convinced it's perfectly calibrated. I tried it a few times on a map and got slightly different results each time.It's fine if you want a general idea of distance but not if you're really looking for a deadly accurate reading.

Tends to cut into map.when measuring and not as easy as just using paper and marking each position until distance covered.