Suunto M-3G Baseplate Compass Review

[Kfilly]

This is the main compass I carry in my pack. It is a baseplate style compass which makes it good for using on a map to determine bearings (has built-in straight edge, measuring tools, and magnifying glass). This model has luminescence on on the parts that matter to aid in night time navigation. One of the things I like best about this compass is that it has a global needle which means it can be used anywhere in the world. The way Suunto did this is they put a tiny pin on the needle that rides along the top of the display. This pin has an added benefit of making the needle more forgiving as far as use. What I mean by that is the compass does not need to be held as level as some other models, and the needle will settle on magnetic north. The needle has a strong magnet and it does settle very quickly on north. This compass has a few other features. The compass comes with a small key that allows the user to adjust declination setting depending upon where you are. For those who do not know what declination is, it is the difference between magnetic north and true north on a map. Declination varies depending upon where you are in the country as true north and magnetic north do vary a few degrees which could be enough to get someone really lost. The last feature I like about this compass is that it has a clinometer. A clinometer is device that can be used to measure angles. I can use the clinometer on my compass to estimate heights of objects (little math) and check hill grades before I start hiking. The compass also has a removeable lanyard. I do not like plastic clips so I permanently tied mine on. It still sits flat on a map. I also took clear nail polish and covered the degree markings and the luminescent paint on the baseplate itself. I learned the hard way. Let the nail polish dry before touching as I smeared my degree markings on one compass. For those who like mirrored compasses, Suunto also has a mirrored global version. This is a great compass for hiking! The needle settles fast and is very accurate. It also has a few other great features which I had already mentioned. Like pretty much everything else in my bag, I got it from Amazon, but it is not the cheapest compass on the market. This one is around the $50 range. Even though this is a great compass, I also carry a cheap button compass as people can question their compass after some time in the woods. The second compass is to prevent me from second guessing my compass.

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Overview of the compass. Measuring scales along the side of the compass. The small metal thing threaded through the lanyard is the key for adjust declination. It is a tiny flathead screwdriver to turn a screw in the compass back plate.

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Picture of the clinometer. The clinometer gauge is the black needle hanging down (since my photo got rotated, it is pointing right and slightly up.). The user tilts the base of the compass so the baseplate is aligned with the top of the object or parallel to the grade and reads the needle to get a reading.

[hawgrider]

Nice!

I have a few compasses. Ive got my old boyscout compass, My great grandfathers US compass and a newer one similar to the one you just reviewed.


Not mine pictured but just like it.
http://pbarp.homedns.org/compass/Waltham/Waltham1-1.jpg
http://pickerjunk.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WW2-Antique-Waltham-Pocket-Compass.jpg
https://img1.etsystatic.com/026/0/7860134/il_570xN.600697283_mmp8.jpg

[Kfilly]

Nice!

I have a few compasses. Ive got my old boyscout compass, My great grandfathers US compass and a newer one similar to the one you just reviewed.




Not mine pictured but just like it.
http://pbarp.homedns.org/compass/Waltham/Waltham1-1.jpg
http://pickerjunk.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WW2-Antique-Waltham-Pocket-Compass.jpg
https://img1.etsystatic.com/026/0/7860134/il_570xN.600697283_mmp8.jpg
Silva also makes good compasses. How easy is your baseplate compass to use with a map? The reason I ask is because my display where the needles are has the four red lines that travel through it (left to right in the photo where I am holding it in my hand). I can line those red lines in my display up so they are parallel with the north/south lines on a map when taking bearings. It makes it super easy take bearings off a map.

[hawgrider]

Silva also makes good compasses.Ive had that Silva since the very early 70's

[DerBiermeister]

this is a great topic that needs to be revisited from time to time.
I have the mirrored version of the M-3G. It is the MC-2. What I like about it is that all the scales are not metric. I also have several other good compasses like the Army Magnetic Card compass.

I did a lengthy post on compasses a few years ago: here it is. Pretty fascinating stuff

http://theoutdoortradingpost.com/showthread.php?1519-Compass-Navigating-101&highlight=compass

[Kfilly]

this is a great topic that needs to be revisited from time to time.
I have the mirrored version of the M-3G. It is the MC-2. What I like about it is that all the scales are not metric. I also have several other good compasses like the Army Magnetic Card compass.

I did a lengthy post on compasses a few years ago: here it is. Pretty fascinating stuff

http://theoutdoortradingpost.com/showthread.php?1519-Compass-Navigating-101&highlight=compass

I definitely did not go into as much detail as you did. Thanks for adding your post to the mix. It contains a lot of great information.

I also do not mind the metric system. It works well with my Ranger beads. I learned a cool trick from alfieesthetics YouTube channel on how to convert kilometers to miles. It works up to 99 miles. For everything above that, you can double or triple results etc.

Anyway to convert kilometers to miles is really simple to approximate. You take the distance in kilometers and divide it by 2. You then add the first number to your result to estimate how many miles that is.

Example you traveled 50 kilometers and want to convert it to miles.
50 divided by 2 equals 25. 25 + 5 (first number of kilometer distance)= 30
A mile is equal to 1.6 kilometers. 50 divided by 1.6 equals 31.25 miles.
My result was close enough for a crude field estimate that took seconds to do.

[Prepared One]

Thanks for the review. I have a few compasses but none that reach this level. I just ordered it on Amazon.

[Kfilly]

Thanks for the review. I have a few compasses but none that reach this level. I just ordered it on Amazon.

I do recommend putting a couple quotes of clear nail polish over the degree markings to prevent them from wearing off. Just do not touch the area where the polish is applied until it is dry (on either coat) as you can wear the numbers off or smear them. I did that once. It was an expensive oops.

I also hope you enjoy your new compass!

[Arklatex]

I also have the Suunto MC-2. It's a very good compass. Besides navigation it also has a few extra uses. The little magnifying lens will easily light charcloth. The mirror can be used for signaling or checking out facial wounds or ticks on your ass.