MM10602 Digital Map Measurer

Pros: None
Cons: Complicated, didn't work well

Like so many of today's electronic gadgets, this one has too many unnecessary features (do you really want to know the time in different time zones?), confusing and poorly written instructions, too many steps and buttons, and was generally too difficult...

Pros: Once set can give detailed results.
Cons: Battery. Complex. Not many clicks on the wheel.

In the back country, when your lithium batter dies, you have nothing. Buttons are little. Setup is difficult. For everyday use, I suppose it's a good idea. But for the occasional user, get a nice analog device.

Pros: Small
Cons: Loses accuracy with increase in map scale.

I mostly agree with the previous review but I would highly recommend this item for backcountry use or in adventure races. An adventure racer's time is very precious. Anything that can quickly estimate distances on a map is very valuable. There may be better tools than the Brunton Map Measurer but this one is small and easy to operate once you've used it a while. On routes with twists and turns it tends to underestimate distances however.

Pros: Handy extra features: mini compass, LED light, clock, digital thermometer.
Cons: Difficult, non-intuitive buttons & controls, flimsy construction.

This gadget requires you know the scale of the map you are measuring and input it before measuring. That is not unusual for a mapwheel, but the controls on this one are not intuitive so it becomes more difficult.

If the map you are using does not show the scale (ex: 1:24,000), then you must compute & enter it IN INCHES! Do you know how many inches are in a mile? You must compute that, then multiply the number of miles per inch on the map you are using, THEN enter that number into the gadget.
As an example: there are 63,360 inches per mile, multiplied by 20 miles per inch on your map, equals 1,267,200 inches per inch measured on the map.

You must enter that number before you can start using the measurer. It only remembers ONE scale, so if you change maps & scales and then go back, you have to remember the number or compute scale all over again.

Some measurers allow you to save multiple scales or merely enter a number of miles per inch, and then start measuring. Much easier.