- MC-2 Compass: Top-of-The-line Compass for Professionals & serious Hikers

My best compass so far. If you want a quality compass with all the bell and whistle, this is it.

This review is from the perspective of the user of an old Silva Type 4 baseplate style compass (over 30 years!). I am impressed by the improvements made to compasses in general, but this is a real gem. The global needle really makes walking/hiking/etc easy while using the compass, as there is less of a need to really hold the base level. The needle just freely swings without any hangups. The built-in declination adjustment is very nicely done: a micro screw driver (on the lanyard with the compass) makes the adjustment from the back side of the compass. It stays put. If you're hiking the AT, then you'll need to make a few adjustments during your months of hiking, but otherwise, most people will likely leave the declination as it is for long periods. The built in inclinometer is nice and truly functional. The mirror system with notches at the top AND the bottom is a great modification allowing for easier sighting. The notch also allows altitude measurements in the field (height of trees and mountains), as long as you like doing tan calculations in your head... or carry a slide rule or pocket calculator with you. Good compass. I like it, and recommend it.

I've used a variety of Silva compasses and sadly they too often end up with air bubbles inside them in consequence of poor sealing. Suunto has a reputation for very sturdy manufacturing and so I decided to give their product a try. The reason this is a "global" compass is that in some parts of the world, notably the southern hemisphere, the Earth's magnetic pole will tend to "drag" the needle down as you stand with the compass level with your waist. This can lead to a false reading. So the global compass is designed such that it gives a clear reading anywhere. If you plan to travel outside Europe and North America it's worth paying a little extra for this design feature. Aside from that the compass works as all the good ones do: there's a mirror with a sighting window so you can take a bearing very accurately at eye-height. There's the grid lines so you can take a bearing (or find one) on a map. There's all the usual things you'd expect from a good compass plus a declinometer which can measure the steepness of the hill you're on. Personally I don't find this feature particularly useful not least because most hills aren't a steady incline but continually change. For me the combination of robustness with relatively small size means that although you have to be more careful taking a bearing off a map you get the advantage of compactness which provides easy portability. And the lanyard means you can tie it off to a button or other means of retention so that you don't lose it when crawling through the bush or when the wind is howling round the peak.

Very happy so far with this compass! Haven't used it much yet, but everything about it seems awesome and it's more compass than I probably need but it's a very important piece of kit and I'm happy I was able to get something so good for such a good deal. Only thing I'm concerned about at all is winter land-nav here in Michigan with it. I haven't seen a bubble yet, but last winter our temps even here in southeastern MI dipped below -15 degrees F many times and that's without even factoring in wind chill. I'm hoping any bubble that develops in this compass won't be bigger than 1/4" which I've read that as long as it is less than 1/4" you don't have to worry about it. Also, if I move back out west to the mountains I will be wondering how big the bubble gets at even moderate elevation combined with cold. But for most of the year I'm hoping this will work well for me here in MI and if I ever venture to the southern hemisphere or around the world I think this compass will give me Yeoman's service. I did toss the black clip and looped the lanyard through the hole. Much more secure and it doesn't affect the flatness of the compass on a map having it rigged like that. Only difference is you have to take the compass off your neck to use it on a map which is no problem to me. Maybe Europeans who are out orienteering are more concerned about the lanyard mussing up their hairstyle or something when they take the lanyard on and off their head! I can't think of any other reason why that could even possibly be considered as any kind of nuisance. Very happy so far, but I'll update my review if I have too much bubble-trouble with it in the cold. Don't know why Suunto doesn't de-gas the liquid they use in these. It would ameliorate this already great piece of gear.

Just perfect!

Excellent compass. Degree markings a bit small, but highly useable. I bought it because it has a good reputation. I paid extra for the 'global' version so I can use it in the Southern Hemisphere (someday....). It's not a compromise, I see no issues arising from this in Northern Hemisphere use. I'm experienced at using a compass: I'm home (from fog on the ocean, mountains, unmarked trails, etc...) I like using a mirror compass because I can more accurately site distant landmarks and use these more accurate angles on my map to find my exact location. I've got a similar Brunton that is battered after 30 years, this one will outlast me. The angle of declination, the local difference between magnetic north and true north, is set with a small screwdriver attached to the lanyard. This seems a good feature as the setting can't be changed by accident. I don't see any reason if for some reason this little screwdriver is lost that a knife tip or even twig can't be used instead. When I'm sea kayaking I prefer to use a handheld compass on my spray skirt instead of a deck compass. I can enter a 'setting' direction and then just keep the needle aligned. This is less expensive than a deck compass, more accurate, but harder to read degrees at a glance; still I find it better overall (deck compasses always seem to be working 'backward' to me.)

First class quality compass. Shook it, knocked it around a bit, always came back to zero nicely. Accurately aligns with other good compasses, always.

Muy buena calidad

磁気コンパスはピンからキリまで百円でも買えますがぁ・・・、こちらはピンです。 子供の頃からオリエンテーリング資料や、軍事雑誌の写真で見ただけで、本物を手にしたのは初めてで、それだけでも私にとって貴い品物です。 ミラー付きで目標と方位を同時に確認できるとか、天体観測に地上からの角度が測れたり、高機能なのも素晴らしい。 そして、タイトルにもしたフィンランドにある精密機器メーカーの製品である。マリメッコやムーミン製品も買って、ロシアとの闘いに協力したい。 フィンランド式サウナで整う前に、地図上で自分の位置を確認したい。「何様だ？」社会での自分の立ち位置が確認できない私です。

The product did not come with sealed package, hence don't know whether is a brand-new product?

Suunto MC-2 Compass is great - modern, feels solid, a lot of features integrated. Problem is not with compass, but with seller. The very web page (from Amazon AU site) does not specify if compass is for south or north hemisphere; at least, I have failed to find relevant info. Considering that it was purchased from Australian Amazon - Australia being south - and that delivery address is New Zealand - also south - I took for granted that SH variant of compass will be delivered. That was not so. I have received NH variant. It works, but needle positions at angle, where tip is touching compass case, and does not move freely - unless you keep whole compass at slight angle. Repacked and returned same day (Amazon return policy and service are great, must say - simple process, no questions asked, all paperwork provided). Once it is back with seller and my valet is credited, I will reorder global variant of this compass.