Review on 🧭 SUUNTO MB-6 Matchbox Compass: Your Go-To Tool for Precise Navigation by Alex Pollard

As I own several other Suunto products I honestly expected them to surprise me and give me five stars. Not me. Don't get me wrong - this is a good product and I would buy it again, but it's not as good as I thought it would be. First, good. The compass folds into a very small box, is very light and feels very sturdy. It won't break if you sit on it or throw it in your backpack along with pans and pots. It is readable and easy to use. It will likely last a lifetime (except for the tip). The strap can be replaced with a little work (see below). All right: The open-close mechanism is a little clumsy, not very precise and requires some strength and wiggling. The mirror slides in and out each time you tilt the compass lengthwise. Mirroring the compass when hovering over something I would say is great, but it works. Cons: The tip is made of a very thin, semi-elastic material and is on the short side. It definitely won't last as long as the rest of the compass. The compass comes with a small screwdriver to set the declination. This screwdriver appears to be of very high quality but is very flimsy and instantly twists into a corkscrew. I immediately replaced the tape with something better. Here's how to do it. What you will need: - A very small flat head screwdriver, NOT MAGNETIZED - Small needle nose pliers or large pair of tweezers will be helpful to pull the new band through. - If you want to mount a strap much thicker than the original, you will need a drill with a suitable bit to widen the original hole. The original hole is about 3mm and 5.5mm is the biggest you can make. Here's how: - Open the compass and turn it face down - Unscrew the three screws from the bottom. Use a NON-MAGNETIC screwdriver. A magnetic screwdriver can damage the compass. The original cord is held in place by a knot at the end. Note that the two ends are knotted and folded to the same side. - Pull out the cord. - Insert your own cord. I installed one of the Kelty Triptease expresses that reflect in the dark to help me find the compass. You may need to drill the original hole for the lanyard when installing something thicker. I found the 5.5mm perfect for the Kelty Triptease. It's probably the best you can do, too.- Also note that there's room on either side of the hole. If you have a thicker strap than the original, you may not be able to attach it like the original (the ends are tied and tucked to one side). Instead, make two independent knots at each end of the string, tying one on the left and one on the right. The compass even has grooves in the reinforcement for this.