Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

LUMINOUS

Suunto M-3D Leader Compass

$25.49
$34.00^*

REDUCED PRICE You Save 25%

(10)

Item # 408150

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

A great all-around compass sized to slip in your pocket or hang from your neck.

Adjustable declination scale accounts for the difference between magnetic and true north; lanyard key adjusts the scale to match your location
Scales, rulers, and magnifying lens help in orienteering and mapping
Rubber feet keep compass in place while working with maps
Large, notched bezel is easy to turn; 0-360 degree scale is divided into 2 degree increments

This all-around compass includes declination adjustment and a magnifying lens in the base to enlarge topo lines and symbols during map reading or orienteering. Standard scales represented on edges.

Imported.

Item 408150

View all Suunto products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Suunto M-3D Leader Compass Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Suunto M-3D Leader Compass

4.7

(based on 10 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Accurate (10)
Easy to set up (8)
Compact (7)
Reliable (6)
Strong construction (5)

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry camping (9)
Survival (9)
Day trip (8)
Kayak / canoe / rafting (5)
Road trips (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Outdoor enthusiast (8), Avid adventurer (4), Gearhead (3), Professional (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

Reviewed by 10 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

May

2013

5.0

I would buy this product again

By Hiking New Mexico

from Albuquerque, NM

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Strong Construction

Cons

None

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

I had a Silva compass and it was junk. Big air bubbles with higher elevations. This compass gives me confidence, adjustable declination was easy but don't lose the key, red lanyard makes it easy to find if you drop it (once so far), and has all the features one might want except angle of terrain. I personally do not
like the fragile mirror sighting option on other models since I used those n the military. Magnifier is useful as well.

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

pointed in the right direction

By thefooddude

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

Used this compass a few times now going on hikes, easy to set and always accurate

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Outstanding compass

By Neosafe

from Fairview, Texas

About Me Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Glow Lights Nightviewing
Magnifying Glass
Strong Construction

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

Great compass. First thing I did was replace the included cord with a paracord strap. Included declination adjustment tool I just tied to the paracord so it would not be lost. I love the glowing indicators at night. Also a main reason I got this compass is the magnifying lens set in the base. Does it help on the map, yes! Does it also work to light tinder yes! Makes this compass a great survival addition.

Comment on this review

May

2012

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great compass

By gibsonfe

from Sacramento, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Easy to use

Cons

Can't be near metal
Must hold compass level

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

good to have on trips. GPS may not be as accurate and dependable. Compass a must in vehicle or hiking. No batteries needed.

Comment on this review

Sep

2011

(48 of 48 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

I teach map, compass and GPS together

By Robert Speik

from Bend, OR

About Me Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Easy To Set Up
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

I have taught basic to advanced mountain climbing skills for 40 years.

Comments: The Suunto M-3D Leader Compass simply meets my detailed traditional requirements! Here is why: 1. A reasonably long, transparent plastic base-plate for pointing the compass at objects in the field and for joining points on the map and it has a prominent index mark indicating the direction of travel. (The three little rubber feet help you use the edge of the compass to find and draw your bearing on the paper map.) 2. A big rotating compass needle housing marked in two degree increments. The housing has a transparent base which is marked with true north-south meridian lines which, together with the long compass edge, form a protractor for use on the map. (With one exception, the base plate compass is a protractor when it lies on the map - the needle is disregarded. The one exception is when the housing is dialed in to true north and the compass is placed on the edge of the map to orient the map in the outdoors, to north and south using the magnetic needle. 3. An adjustable "north indicator arrow" (the red shed), which is set independent of the true north-south indicator lines. Your compass can be adjusted for the magnetic declination in your area! You make your adjustment by turning a "micrometer" screw on the bezel, accurately setting you current declination to one degree using a separate scale marked on the reverse side of the bezel. This virtually eliminates dangerous math in the field. (The 30 year old Silva Ranger was, for many years, the only compass to have this special feature.) 4. The compass needle is designed for specific locations of the globe (M3D is designed for North America) and liquid dampened to slow oscillations and allow fast accurate readings. (Compasses designed for other areas of the globe may suffer drag from "needle dip".) 5. The big rotating compass housing dial is marked in 2 degree increments, from 0 to 360 degrees, clockwise (an azimuth compass). (Beware the engineer's "quadrant" compass marked in 90 degree increments which requires lots of dangerous math in the field) 6. The base plate edges are marked with mile (and meter) scales based on the USGS 1:24,000 quad map scale. 7. It has a base plate graphic marked with a scale for the 1:24,000 UTM/UPS (military) 1,000 meter grid system squares. 8. It has a magnifying spot for your bad eye. 9. The base plate is ergonomically rounded at the back end that is held in the hand (to discourage attempts to hold the compass backwards) and an adequate hole provided for a waist length lanyard to go around the neck (beware of choking!) The lanyard should also hold your loud plastic whistle, near your mouth. Lose the shorty red cord! 10. The Suunto M-3D Leader Compass compass is simple, well designed and made and light weight.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

I would buy this product again !!!

By skyjunky

from Back woods OREGON

About Me Avid Adventurer, Gearhead, Outdoor Enthusiast, Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Strong Construction
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
River Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

Very good compass better than a GPS at times. Has everything on it that you need to find your way

Comment on this review

Jun

2010

(1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Worked on Clouds Rest

By KRHIKE

from Denver, CO

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

Worked just fine

Comment on this review

Jul

2009

(23 of 26 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Easy to use and effective

By OscarKilo

from Boulder, CO

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Simple Controls
Strong Construction
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

This compass lived up to Suunto's slogan on the packaging, "Replacing Luck."

I was four-wheeling in Southeast Utah with six other friends not long ago. After setting up camp one afternoon, we had decided to hike up to a nearby ridge line that ran parallel to the dirt road heading past our site. We had flashlights and understood that it would be dark by the time we came down, but I was apparently the only one who realized that it might not be so easy to find our way back to camp. We would have hit the dirt road on our way down at some point, but there was at least a mile of dense brush to traverse with no moonlight; I took a bearing towards camp from the top before it got too dark, trusting that it would at least save us some time returning to camp. I led the group down and after a while most of my friends became skeptical, some of them saying how sure they were that I was somehow taking them off course. They reluctantly kept following, and eventually we hit the road. My friends were expecting another long hike along the road to get to where they thought camp was. Much to their surprise, we went only 15 yards down the road and arrived at camp. My friends apologized and were ultimately glad that I had led the way with the compass.

The compass worked when I needed it, didn't require much effort, and made my trip safer and more successful. There's no reason I wouldn't recommend it.

Comment on this review

Jun

2008

(9 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Almost perfect

By Hickory Jeff

from Las Vegas, NV

About Me Avid Adventurer, Gearhead, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
River Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

I love this compass. It has everything you need: declination adjustment, glow in the dark dials, scale, and rulers.... except a mirror.

I should have gotten one with a sighting mirror though. Now I carry a separate mirror as part of my emergency kit.

The dial has gotten some sand and debris and isn't turning as smoothly as it once did. After the abuse I've given this instrument, I am very pleased with its performance.

Comment on this review

Oct

2007

(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

good quality and well designed compass

By chpmmttn

from Upstate NY

About Me Gearhead, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Simple Controls
Strong Construction
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River Trips
Road Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto M-3D Leader Compass:

This is a great compass for use on and off of the trail. The declination adjustment is a great asset and it is very easy to use once set.

I can toss it into a pocket before going onto a hike and forget about it until I need to check my bearings.

The glow in the dark markings are very useful for when it starts to get dark and you aren't quite were you want to be.