The NH M-3 is highly affordable, however, making the Leader compass a solid value given its build quality, great design, and excellent suite of features. The global model is a bit expensive, but if you're a globetrotter, that's the one you should get as the standard needle will not read properly when you're south of the Equator. Like many Suunto compasses, the M-3 is available with two needle options: One for the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and one for global use. You can always manually correct for declination while making your calculations, but the M-3 Leader's built-in adjustment makes this easier and gives you one less thing to worry about on the trail. Built-in declination correction is nice to have, as the exact location of magnetic north shifts around and is relative to your location. This allows you to correct for the difference between true north (the northernmost geographic point on the globe) and magnetic north (the magnetic pole towards which the metal compass needle is drawn). Made in Finland, the M-3 boasts an ever-important declination adjustment as well. Luminescent dial markings allow for use in low-light conditions, although you should still keep a good flashlight handy for using your map in the dark. ![]() The rotating bezel, or azimuth ring, is also marked in 360 degrees with two-degree increments to help you set a precise bearing. The clear baseplate has a handy magnifying lens along with scaled distance measurements in both kilometers and miles. Its baseplate design features a steel needle with a jewel bearing suspended in liquid for quick and stable readings. ![]() When researching compasses, Suunto is a name you're going to see a lot, and our top recommendation for most people is this historic Finnish company's excellent M-3 Compass. But unless you intend to actually use all of these features, it's generally a good rule to keep things simple. When choosing your first compass, you might be tempted to buy a high-end model with all the latest bells and whistles. The Suunto M-3 sets the standard for modern baseplate compasses with its quick and accurate steel needle, metric or imperial protractor measurements, and declination adjustment.
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