Suunto M-3 G Compass

Only used the compass once on a recent hike so too early to say if the Suunto is worth the price compared to Silva.The luminous bevel is a real plus for me as I do lots of night hiking, it really does stay luminous for hours.Build is very good but the bevel is a little stiff to turn. Might improve with use.

A necessity with a map to find greart trails

This fits in my pocket while hiking and even without setting declination, generally steers me in the right direction according to my newly acquired topo map. I'm trying to wean myself from AllTrails and find less popular hikes without getting lost. I may take an REI navigation class to improve my skills.

Disappointing quality

The compass needle has some pretty awful looking defects. It’s also the most important part of the compass so that seems like a really bad point of failure. It looks like the needle was clumsily stamped and the little strip of glowing tape they put on it is off-center. I don’t plan on doing a lot of night navigation, but it’s just ugly anyway. It is really important to have clean lines and fine points on instruments that rely on the human eye for their precision.Considering Suunto is a company whose heritage is precise and reliable surveying equipment, this is disappointing. Should not have passed a visual QA check. I have used other Suunto compasses/clinometers and had a great experience in the past, however.I am going to exchange it and hope for a better ... MoreThe compass needle has some pretty awful looking defects. It’s also the most important part of the compass so that seems like a really bad point of failure. It looks like the needle was clumsily stamped and the little strip of glowing tape they put on it is off-center. I don’t plan on doing a lot of night navigation, but it’s just ugly anyway. It is really important to have clean lines and fine points on instruments that rely on the human eye for their precision.Considering Suunto is a company whose heritage is precise and reliable surveying equipment, this is disappointing. Should not have passed a visual QA check. I have used other Suunto compasses/clinometers and had a great experience in the past, however.I am going to exchange it and hope for a better assembly next time.

Excellent, better than Silva counterparts

I bought this to replace a very old Silva I had which lacked declination correction. I had an opportunity shortly after I purchased it to compare it to several Silva compasses in a class. While the fit and finish of the Suuntos and Silvas were very similar, I found that the Suunto's declination adjustment was both easier to manage and easier to read. The Suunto's declination screw is better situated to allow the user to easily see and read the adjustment reticle, by comparison the Silva's set screw forces the user to place their hand over the declination reticle which makes it very difficult to read during adjustment. Furthermore the Suunto's declination reticle is far cleaner and precise which makes it easier to set declination precisely. The Silva's reticle was ... MoreI bought this to replace a very old Silva I had which lacked declination correction. I had an opportunity shortly after I purchased it to compare it to several Silva compasses in a class. While the fit and finish of the Suuntos and Silvas were very similar, I found that the Suunto's declination adjustment was both easier to manage and easier to read. The Suunto's declination screw is better situated to allow the user to easily see and read the adjustment reticle, by comparison the Silva's set screw forces the user to place their hand over the declination reticle which makes it very difficult to read during adjustment. Furthermore the Suunto's declination reticle is far cleaner and precise which makes it easier to set declination precisely. The Silva's reticle was quite sloppy, the box and interior line were very thick with paint bleeding out of the crevices of the box and line. I found this made setting a very precise adjustment to be guesswork at best.This is my first Suunto, I've only had an opportunity to use it in a class and on one hike.

Great compass, terrible price at REI

I have a different versions of this compass for more than 20 years, and it is the go-to for wilderness navigation, and I recommend it to all students in the many navigation classes that I teach. A couple of years ago, as this compass was about $30. As I write this in July 2022, you can buy those for around $45 on Amazon. So I ask you REI, why are you selling it for $73?!?! This is a very simple tool that has had no upgrades or changes and it should still cost around $30. Great compass but no way it's worth 73 bucks. REI, please get your pricing in line with the proper market.

Has gotten worse with "upgrade"

Just bought one of these for my daughter, I have the older model. The old model is really good, unfortunately the new model is worse in several ways. Whoever approved these "improvements" maybe doesn't use a compass? The steps backward compared to the old model are:1) The old orienting arrow (black side) had a small black feature that extended just to the tips of the red declination degree tics, making your declination setting easy to see. The new one for some reason extends both sides of the orienting arrow as well as the additional feature AND COVERS THE DECLINATION DEGREE TICS! I needed a magnifying glass and several tries to get declination adjusted.2) The degree numbers on the rotating housing are smaller on the new model than the old. Why would you do ... MoreJust bought one of these for my daughter, I have the older model. The old model is really good, unfortunately the new model is worse in several ways. Whoever approved these "improvements" maybe doesn't use a compass? The steps backward compared to the old model are:1) The old orienting arrow (black side) had a small black feature that extended just to the tips of the red declination degree tics, making your declination setting easy to see. The new one for some reason extends both sides of the orienting arrow as well as the additional feature AND COVERS THE DECLINATION DEGREE TICS! I needed a magnifying glass and several tries to get declination adjusted.2) The degree numbers on the rotating housing are smaller on the new model than the old. Why would you do that, especially since this is meant to be used in low light!?3) The fonts on the rulers are smaller on the new than the old. Why?

Knowledge is gold

The orienteering is a great introduction to the use of a compass and map. Our class covered the basics and applications to the China Camp area. The class was very fast paced and could have used more models to present topographic features and features of the compass. It would also be helpful if the class offered the compass for sale prior to the class. Most of the participants wanted a compass after the class.

One of the best compasses available for land navigation, and at a great price !

Excellent compass with great features ! Scales built-into the baseplate cover most standard scales used in UTM maps, and the magnifying glass is a feature I have always wanted in a baseplate compass. The needle settles into position quickly and is accurate. I love the fact that this is compass can be used worldwide so I will be ready wherever my adventures take me. The declination setting is quick and precise with the supplied tool or with any small screwdriver, and the deeply-incised markings will insure that they don't wear off and will be readable for a long time. I hope to use this as my primary compass for years to come !

Surpassed expectations

The Suunto M-3G is a good design and a thicker acrylic (pretty sure it’s acrylic) for its base than others I looked at. The graduations are well done and centering lines for figuring vectors on maps is in a good spot. The multiple glow in the dark points are in the right places if needed. Personally, I didn’t like the detaching clip for lanyard so instead attached the lanyard directly with a larks head knot at attachment point. I saw no reason to deduct any “stars,” for this personal preference.Well made, appears accurate for the testing I’ve done. Keep in mind it is sensitive around electronics within 12” or less (my mobile device.)

Top of the line price for top of the line performance

What a compass. If you have extra change to spare and can use its features, invest in this model.The compass is accurate out of the box as far as I can tell. Delineation adjustment and metric scales are my basic required features that many other basic models fulfill, but it's the rest that elevates this model. Global balance lets me use it worldwide; glow in the dark markings help during unexpected dark environment. I didn't think I'd appreciate the magnifying glass but I do for the low light conditions. That extra imperial scale came in handy with US maps. The clinometer could be useful if you ski backcountry and need to assess avalanche risk, but I've not had to use it yet, so I can't speak for the functionality. I don't hike in environments that require me to ... MoreWhat a compass. If you have extra change to spare and can use its features, invest in this model.The compass is accurate out of the box as far as I can tell. Delineation adjustment and metric scales are my basic required features that many other basic models fulfill, but it's the rest that elevates this model. Global balance lets me use it worldwide; glow in the dark markings help during unexpected dark environment. I didn't think I'd appreciate the magnifying glass but I do for the low light conditions. That extra imperial scale came in handy with US maps. The clinometer could be useful if you ski backcountry and need to assess avalanche risk, but I've not had to use it yet, so I can't speak for the functionality. I don't hike in environments that require me to navigate with far horizons so I don't miss the sighting mirror cover that the other high end model MC-2G provides, and I certainly don't miss that weight.Minor, but I do wish the orienting arrow on the azimuth ring came as both red and black boxes (my updated model only has the red "shed"). It makes backtracking simpler and thus reduces user error when readjusting bearings. We'll also see how long the non-skid silicone dots last; I'm not optimistic.Will report back for durability, whether aesthetic or functional.