Suunto introduces stable and fast AIM compasses for competitive orienteers

The AIM-30 baseplate compass and the AIM-6 thumb compass are developed in cooperation with Sprint Orienteering World Champion Mårten Boström

Suunto launches two new orienteering compasses targeted to competitive orienteers. The Suunto AIM-30 baseplate compass and the Suunto AIM-6 thumb compass developed together with Sprint Orienteering World Champion Mårten Boström feature an extremely stable yet fast needle and navigation aids specifically designed for speed and flexibility.    

Inspiration drawn from Suunto’s heritage

The new AIM compasses adequately celebrate Suunto’s 80th anniversary and follow the footsteps of Suunto founder Tuomas Vohlonen, a passionate orienteer himself, in his pursuit of improving precision and creating the best outdoor equipment possible.

The new, more stable needle of the Suunto AIM compasses makes them easier to read while running. The needle also settles quickly which means less waiting when lifting the compass up from a map. Simplified design reduces interference with the map. Suunto AIM compasses also support the different bearing taking techniques used by orienteers, making them versatile tools for competitive orienteering.

Innovative design improves usability

The AIM compasses were developed based on feedback from the Arrow compasses and the Finnish professional orienteer Mårten Boström was invited to join the design and test team. “Mårten’s feedback really helped us improve the stability of the new AIM compasses. Also the compass symbols and baseplate layout are very much his design. All in all the product would have become very different without Mårten’s professional input,” explains Suunto Mechanicals Business Line Manager Henrik Palin.

The cooperation resulted in many improvements to the compass usability. The new line across the magnifying lens on AIM-30 means less need to move the compass to check map details. Fixed direction sectors with large symbols are easy to read while maintaining the direction and rotating compass capsule allows for orienteering with the rotating capsule method.  

The Suunto AIM-30 baseplate compass and the Suunto AIM-6 thumb compass are first introduced to the public at the Jukola Orienteering Relay in Lappeenranta, Finland on June 17th. An optional accessory, a magnifying lens for the AIM-6 thumb compass is also brought to markets at the same time.