We consider reflection functors in the category of nilpotent groups satisfying certain exactness properties for which the Mal'cev completion functor and thep-cotorsion completion functors are prototypical examples. Each of these functors defines a generalized torsion theory, which in turn defines a closure operator on subgroups. This gives rise to the notion of a categorically compact group with respect to the closure operator which we characterize. This approach provides a unified treatment for the categorically compact groups with respect to the Mal'cev completion and with respect to thep-cotorsion completion, the latter being new. We also consider thep-pro-finite completion, suitably restricted to obtain a reflection functor, and characterize the compact groups so arising.