SUUNTO A-30L in Introductory Compass

I lost my previous compass, so given my positive experience with this same model before, I bought another one. This compass is perfectly adequate for my backpacking trips. The A-10 would also work, but for a little more, you get a few more features on the A-30 that I appreciate (glow-in-the-dark rotating bezel, magnifying glass). It does cost more than other similar brands, but my experience with cheaper brands results in a loose declination bezel or a compass that leaked out its fluid. I dont really want to cheap-out and risk a failed compass when this is such an essential back-country navigation tool. That being said, I do wish these were cheaper.

Considering the price, this is a great value. This is my first oil filled compass. A real advantage. Not only in movement dampening, but it also means that it is by definition it is not effected by water. Like all precision devices, protection from shock and impact is an important consideration.

The compass I received was the SUUNTO A-30 compass. Not sure if the A-30 and the A-30L are even the same thing but the one I received (A-30) does not have adjustable declination like it says in the description. It has a fixed declination correction scale which is completely different and not what I wanted. Sending it back.

There is by far a lot better one out there , but evey one should have one or two on them when out and about in the woods . so with that said . Get the one you can afford , that comes from a reliable company . Suunto is that company ....

I have bought cheaper compasses at sporting goods stores for less money. The jeweled bearing is not. Jeweled bearing indicates a precise machined tolerance between the direction arrow & post. Too much slop in this compass. This description needs to be changed to indicate this slop instead. I bought this compass explicitly for the Jeweled machined fit. My bad.

Great compass. this is my second one. Use my main one all the time, highly recommended

Perfect item.

This is a great compass for orienteering and general use. I purchased this compass for my son who is in the Boy Scouts.