Suunto M-2D Compass

This looked like a very nice compass at a reasonable price.

I have used compasses as a Boy Scout and now as a Boy Scout leader for over 30 years, and always found the ones that are fluid filled to be the most stable and easiest to take a bearing from. Over the years I saw fewer and fewer (except the cheapest) that were not fluid filled.

So I was quite surprised when this compass arrived and is was not fluid filled. It seems remarkable stable for having no fluid, so I plan to keep and field test it. If it works out favorably, then it will have the advantage of never getting air bubbles which is how I've ruined 2 prior compasses, I assume by having them out in extreme cold or heat. I runined one other prior compass by having a bottle of bug spray leak on it which etched the surface of the plastic making it nearly opaque. This one looks to be the same material so there is still that risk.

Now as for its features. It arrived in a blister pack with a 3 paragraph set of instructions, which won't tell a newbie enough to properly use it, and is totally useless otherwise.

The lanyard is not attached in the package and it has a tiny piece of metal on it. It took me a while, bu I figured out it is a screwdriver for a tiny screw on the bottom of the compass. As I said the instructions are useless, so at this point I'm unsure what the screw is for and I'm not willing to experiment.

This compasss replaces one which was stolen. Very pleased with it. Very good quality for a good price.

This is a great compass for terrain association and handrailing. You really don't need much more than something simple like this, unless you're doing dead reckoning or an orienteering course. The base is a little small length-wise - I'd like it if it were about a half-inch longer, but I have large hands.

I also like the clear base and easily turned bezel. All in all, a very good compass for the money.