Suunto MB-6 Matchbox Compass

This is Suunto's version of the tried and true Swiss Recta compass. Small and protected when closed, it provides a long sight line when open. The markings on the bottom of the compass are in mirror script, so the image in the mirror is very easy to read. The mirror can slide back into the box for working on a map, and the flat bottom and long sides make taking readings on a map easy. Declination is simple and quick to adjust with the little screwdriver attached to the lanyard. Unless you need to go into combat or are a total klutz, this compass will last a lifetime.

The Suunto MB-6 compass works for both the recreational user and the serious orienteer. It is accurate, reliable, easy to quickly read and its matchbox case protects the compass and provides a small footprint that fits easily in a pocket or can be conveniently worn on its lanyard around the neck. Moderately priced (list $60). This is a great all-purpose compass for those wanting more than a $10 toy and less than a $200 "professional instrument."

Since I have some other Suunto products, I honestly expected that I was going to be blown away by this and would give it five stars. I am not. Don't get me wrong - it's a good product and I'd buy it again, but it's not quite as good as I thought. First, the good. The compass compacts into a very small box, is very light, and seems to be very sturdy. It won't break if you sit on it or throw it into your backpack together with pans and pots. It is readable and easy to use. It will likely last a lifetime (except for the lanyard). The lanyard can be replaced with some work (see below). The ok: the open-close action is a bit clunky, does not feel very precise and requires some amount of force and wiggling. The mirror slides in and and out every time you tilt the compass lengthwise. The mirror image of the compass while aiming at something is exactly what I'd call great, but it works. The bad: the lanyard is made of some very flimsy, semi-stretchy material and is on the short side. This will definitely not last as long as the rest of the compass. The compass comes with a tiny screwdriver to adjust the declination. That screwdriver looks like it's very well made, but is of extremely flimsy quality and twisted into a corkscrew immediately. I replaced the lanyard immediately by something better. Here's how. What you need: - A very small flathead screwdriver that is NOT MAGNETIZED - It helps to have a small pair of needlenose pliers or large tweezers to pull the new lanyard through. - If you want to install a lanyard that's much thicker than the original, you will need a drill with an appropriate drill bit to expand the original hole. The original hole is about 3 mm, and 5.5 mm is about the biggest you can go. How you do it: - Open the compass and turn it face down - Remove the three screws from the bottom. Use a screwdriver that IS NOT MAGNETIC. A magnetic screwdriver may ruin the compass. - The original lanyard is held in place by a knot on the end. Note that the two ends are knotted together and folded over to one side. - Pull the lanyard out. - Put in your own lanyard. I installed one made of Kelty Triptease guyline which reflects in the dark, so I can find the compass more easily. You may need to drill out the original lanyard hole if you install something thicker. I found that 5.5 mm is perfect for Kelty Triptease guyline. That's also probably about as big as you can go. - Also note that there is space on *both* sides of the hole. If you have a thicker than original lanyard, you may not be able to install it like the original (ends knotted together and stashed to one side). Instead, make two independent knots on the each end of the line, and put one on the left, and one on the right. The compass even has grooves in the reinforcements to allow that.

Bought this as a gift for someone who does allot of traveling. It hangs off their carry on bag so the case makes it a perfect travel companion. Was told it's a nice compass ( replacing a cheap carabiner style ) and it's holding up nicely

The Suunto MB-6 Matchbox compass is an excellent compass, rugged enough and compact efficient functional design, well done! I recommend this product as a primary navigation tool or as a backup to GPS'.

Amazing. Simple, reliable, easy to read, compact, protected in the nicely designed sleeve.

I choose this rating because I did not receive the correct one as shown on the picture. Instead I received a complete black one. But still it met my expectations and did the work.

AFAIK the MB6 = the Recta DP 6 compass. Compass was made in Finland. Suunto purchased Recta in 1996 and moved production from Switzerland to Finland several years later. I like the stow way box design, the sighing points on the top ( like aiming a pistol) and the stretchy lanyard, the guide points glow wonderfully in the dark. The sighting mirror below the compass is very cool and I find it easier to use than the mirror on top type of sighting compass. I really like the sighting system. Comes with a small screwdriver to adjust magnetic declination, its brass, round and has a hole drilled in it, and it's not attached to the lanyard when received, so put it on a lanyard asap to avoid loosing it . However, I am thus far puzzled why it reads 6 degrees east from my other compasses. I sight a stop sign 200 yrds from my yard as a test. The MB6 reads 124˚ +/- 2˚ vs my Cammenga 3H, Silva 54 and Brunton 9077 that each read 130˚ +/- 1˚. Or a Brunton 8099 that consistently reads 133˚. Thus minus 1 star for this 6˚ difference which is significant if using the compass with a map. If not using a mag then who cares, it doesn't matter if you are only tracking your own rambling directions. From the Suunto web site the MB3 has a 3˚ accuracy and a 2˚ resolution. { just an update, after using this compass for a while, I realized I got the largest error when I am measuring an azimuth near East or West. This puts the magnetic needle crosswise in the reflected image from the mirror and I think this is where parallax is the greatest. The small size of the compass module, 41mm/1 5/8 in, probably enhances the reading error. with more experience using the compass I have learned which side to favor the centering of the mag needle inside the orienting arrow ( Red in the Shed) to more accurate readings at azimuths near 90˚/270˚ +/- 25˚. } Really I wanted the Recta DP6G, which has the global needle, ( an original Recta patent and probably why Suunto purchased them) but I could not find one easy to order. Suunto doesn't appear to make an MB6G, though they did at one time ( 10 years ago) make an DP 65 Global , that appeared to = the Recta DP6G. But it has been discontinued. IMO , even if you will never go to the southern hemisphere, it is worth having the global needle just because it is more tolerant of not being perfectly level when taking reading. ( Which is why I have a Suunto M3G, after originally having a M3 for a year. ) Seller delivered the compass quicker than expected.