Suunto A-10 Compass Unboxing & Review

From seasoned adventurers to weekend warriors, everyone needs a reliable compass. In this in-depth review, we check out the SUUNTO A-10 and give our honest feedback on this budget-friendly compass, plus some tips on how and when to use it.

Compasses come in many different configurations, but for the average hiker, camper or off-roader base plate compasses are by far the most popular. These kinds of compasses can be used in conjunction with a map for wilderness navigation, and this one is a great addition to any gear bag since it’s both reliable and affordable. This compass from SUUNTO is a robust, easy to use compact compass for general recreational use. And we’re going to give you a closer look, so you can see if it’s right for you.

The SUUNTO A-10 compass, is built as a general purpose, basic compass for hiking and orienteering. It combines simplicity with stability, embodying Suunto’s 80+ year legacy of reliability and innovation in outdoor navigation. The A-10 features a high grade steel needle with a jewel bearing, a fixed declination correction scale, a liquid filled capsule for stable operation, a detachable snap-lock lanyard and the Suunto limited lifetime warranty. A few of these specs to note are the plastic bezel material, fixed scale declination, and we’ll get more into what this means in a bit, and the liquid filled needle housing which is a must in any good compass

Key Features

As far as compasses go, the SUUNTO A-10 is really basic and that’s perfect for what it is. If you’re someone who has multiple gear or bug-out bags for you or your family or you want to keep a compass in your vehicles but you also don’t want to break the bank, this compass gives us a really economical option that doesn’t also sacrifice quality.

The A-10 is only $24, which is very affordable. And while that cost can still add up, there’s just no comparison to the quality that you get with this compass vs a cheaper off or even no-brand compass.

Cheap compasses around that $10 price point like you’ll find in big-box stores and in the dark corners of Amazon are just SO cheap. And with the cheapos – It’s not if they’ll break, but when. And for just an extra $15 you can own a well-crafted precision instrument that will last a lifetime, rather than a compass like object. I think that’s worth pointing out here.

As far as stand-out features go, this compass comes with a liquid filled capsule or needle housing which really helps the needle move smoothly without overshooting bearings – it’s a must and really excellent to see on a $24 compass.

Also I personally really love the way SUUNTO adds a small lip on the edge where the lanyard attaches so when you’re using your compass flat on a map as you do, the baseplate lays satisfyingly flat on the map without laying on top of your lanyard. Just a quality of life thing that I adore.

And lastly, we have a really easy to read high-vis scale on either side of the baseplate in both in and cm for map scaling etcetera.

Again, this is a really basic tool for navigation. But while basic, it doesn’t also sacrifice precision in the build quality. And to me, this is the beginning of where the entry level compasses should start.

Pros & Cons

So, how does the SUUNTO A-10 Stack up from our perspective? Let’s shoot a few pros and cons so you can take what you’ve heard here from me and make an educated decision.

Here are the pros from our perspective. First is price, $24 is a very reasonable price for a quality compass. The baseline build quality is up to the standard of even the nicest compasses out there. What you get is a reliable instrument that will always work when you need it.

The liquid filled capsule where the needle is makes for a very smooth operating compass and it will just spoil you if you’ve traditionally used older or lower quality compasses in the past. And finally, the feel of this compass is just soft and rounded and comfortable in your hand while also feeling very sturdy with just enough heft.

On the cons. We don’t have any complaints about the build or quality, but there are a few features missing from this compass that, to be fair, don’t generally show up on most entry-level compasses anyway.

First off, the lack of an adjustable declination correction is not ideal as constantly adjusting for your region’s declination can be a pain. Although, if you are a beginner you’re likely learning – and training yourself to account for declination could be a major benefit for you. But yeah, no set screw to adjust declination on the A-10.

And lastly, there are no glowing or luminescent markings for working in low light situations on this compass. You’ll need a flashlight to read the compass face.