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.

Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass

$56.00

(10)

Item # 787189

REI Members get back an estimated $ 5.60 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

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

NOW PLAYING

An accurate and reliable mirror compass for the outdoor enthusiast, the Suunto MC-2 Pro compass offers mirrored sighting, adjustable declination and a clinometer.

Perfect for serious users, such as hikers, climbers and search-and-rescue personnel, the sighting mirror with V-notch allows you to take accurate bearings based on landmarks
Sighting mirror folds down to protect compass
Adjustable declination accounts for difference between true and magnetic north; lanyard key locks adjusted declination into place
2-zone geographical balancing system allows you to easily use compass in the northern and southern hemisphere
Luminous, 2-color bezel ring, silicon map grippers on base, and meridian lines help orient compass to map
Includes a clinometer to measure slope angles—useful to winter travelers to help estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes
Includes has an adjustable lanyard with snap lock and declination key

Imported.

Item 787189

View all Suunto products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass

3.3

(based on 10 reviews)

50%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Accurate (6)
Compact (4)
Easy to set up (3)
Reliable (3)

Cons

Inaccurate (4)

Best Uses

Backcountry camping (4)
Day trip (4)
Survival (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Outdoor enthusiast (7), Gearhead (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 10 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Nov

2009

(15 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Terrible Quality

By NWErikamp

from Seattle, WA

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Flimsy
Inaccurate

Best Uses

NEVER

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

DO NOT BUY. Please note that this is not a negative review against REI, but, rather, against the manufacturer of this compass, Suunto.

A large number of these compasses were ordered (I do not know if from REI or not) for a Pac NW search & rescue organization I'm a member of.

The failure rate was astonishing. Of the over 60 Suunto MC-2 Pro compasses purchased, over 50% failed outright. Their error rate was high (greater than 5 degrees) and their needles were "sticky." Some were completely non-functional, with non-moving needles.

My compass, which was one of the "functional" compasses also appears to have temperature issues at freezing temperatures-- the specifications say it should be functional down to -30F, but that is not the case.

I haven't used Suunto products before, and after this experience, will actively avoid anything carrying their brand. 60 compasses, 30 failed. How can I trust this product?

Mar

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Sticky at cold temps

By steith

from Portland, OR

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Inaccurate

Best Uses

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

My friend and I both purchased an MC-2 for ski mountaineering in the NW. Both of our compasses failed miserably in cold weather. I was able to turn around 360 degrees without the needle moving at all. I think that Suunto may have missed the mark on the fluid in these. We both had professional guides look at them as well, to make sure that we weren't missing something. Pretty scary. Thankfully we weren't in a situation where it mattered.

Dec

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Reliable Compass

By Patrick 2

from Madison, WI

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Set Up
Reliable Performance
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

I've had this compass for 8 years. I've used it while backpacking, hunting, and doing forest ecology field work. It is easy to use, the housing turns smoothly, and the sighting mirror works well. I have mostly used it in summer time temperatures, but it has also functioned fine when temperatures were well below freezing. My only complaint is that occasionally the hinge will become very squeaky, but a little oil fixes that.

Sep

2009

(3 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

WARNING! The "manual" is pathetic.

By norm3980

from Frisco, CO

About Me Gearhead, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact

Cons

Complicated Controls

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
River Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

The compass is impressive, but the manual is pathetic. Go get lessons from a pro before trying to take full advantage of the potential uses of this compass.

Mar

2010

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Sticky Needle

By steve podleski

from Mukilteo, WA

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Set Up
Simple Controls

Cons

Inaccurate

Best Uses

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

As another reviewer previously said, the needle is very sticky; you had to jiggle the unit several times before it moved freely. Luckily I only used it for a navigation course and did not rely on in the wilderness. Avoid this unit.

Apr

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Works Well

By Double O Negative

from Plymouth, MA

About Me Avid Adventurer, Gearhead

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Compact
Easy To Setup
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Antenna Azimuths
Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Survival

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

I feel bad for the reviewers here who have had issues, because my MC-2D has worked fine with never an issue in 3 years. I have a handful of Suunto products in addition to the MC-2 that have always been reliable (KB-14, Tandem, Core, and a PM-5). My MC-2 has always been reliable and although it isn't as smooth (or as fancy) as the KB-14 and Tandem, the bearing is spot on and this is the only instrument I have for orienting maps. I spend a lot of time hiking/camping/hunting in The Whites, NH and Adirondacks, NY - in addition I use these products for work - I work in the wireless industry and the higher end instruments are what we use to shoot antennas azimuths and adjust antenna downtilts (using inclinometer) to make sure the wireless coverage is going to go the direction the engineers want it to. I have sent things back to Suunto for recalibration annually as matter of practice with no issues and I'm sure if you had a defective product they would address it. About sub zero temps - I carry my MC2 when climbing Mt. Washington and Mt. Marcy in the wintertime with temps dropping to -30F to -40F without issues.....compasses are liquid filled and at some point below zero that liquid is going to fail (so are batteries in GPS units, phones, fuel canisters, water bottles, etc.)... if you are out in the bush in those kind of temps you should know enough to keep the compass around your neck and inside your clothes to keep it warm and close. I would agree with another reviewer that the instructions/manual could use some work, but Suunto has better ones available online for download as well as video instructions - if you are going to put yourself in a situation where you "need" a compass, please take a class. The class might not even cost you anything if you contact your local B. Scout troop, because part of the Orienteering MB is to teach orienteering techniques to others. Have fun, be smart, and stay safe. I hope this helped.

Feb

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Terrible Compass

By sardog

from Keller, TX

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Difficult To Read
Inaccurate

Best Uses

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

Suunto may have had a good name in the past, but their MC-2 compasses are now terrible. See my other reviews to find a better compass. I paid a lot of money and this compass is completely inaccurate and hard to read. I'm in Search & Rescue and this compass should be recalled. I'm surprised that REI would even sell this piece of junk, it could cost someone their life.

Dec

2010

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Compass

By OlympicMtnJeff

from Bremerton, WA

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Easy To Set Up
Strong Construction

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

Every member of my SAR unit uses these compasses and have had no problems (despite rough use, extreme temps, and freezing). Mine gets many hours of use every year and is holding up great.

Jun

2011

5.0

First Class Product

By Colorado Tony

from Colorado Springs, CO

About Me Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Easy to use
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

I use this compass for hiking and backpacking primarily in the Colorado Rockies. It is easy to set up with the adjustable declination arrow. The numbers are easy to read. I really like the way the sighting mirror is set up for easy use. It is almost 7" long with the mirror unfolded so it provides an excellent straight edge for taking bearings from topo maps. I also appreciate the easy to read inclination arrow to help assess slope avalanche danger in the Winter.

May

2011

5.0

Great compass

By SeniorShizzle

from Reno, NV

About Me Gearhead, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Strong Construction
Waterproof

Cons

Large

Best Uses

Day Trips
Hiking
Navigating
Survival

Comments about Suunto MC-2 Pro Compass:

I don't know what some of these bad reviews are about. My Suunto MC-2DLIN works great, and I love it's construction and specifically the gear studded bezel which is easy to grab with gloves or cold hands. Mine came with 2deg East error between the compass baseplate and the bezel, but the declination adjustment took care of it... Not the best thing in the world but I can live with it.