Suunto’s Tandem clinometer & compass make an attractive package
By Mike Garlock
Suunto’s Tandem is a liquid-filled precision compass and clinometer in one compact brushed-aluminum housing. Suunto, a Finnish precision instruments manufacturer, designs high-tech tools for folks in the field. The Tandem would be an excellent tool for wildland firefighters and geographic information systems personnel—as well as surveyors, engineers, cartographers and geologists—just about anyone who needs to quickly measure directional indications, heights, vertical angles and shapes.
According to the manufacturer, the unit’s double-aluminum housing protects the Tandem against water, corrosion and impact. I didn’t, drop, dunk or otherwise abuse the unit in my test, so I’ll take the manufacturer’s word. The Tandem does, however, have the look and feel of a relatively sturdy and resilient unit.
The compass is designed to combine extreme accuracy with ease of operation. The card is supported by a jewel bearing and is immersed in a dampening fluid, ensuring smooth movements, free of vibration. The compass has been given permanent antistatic treatment and reads magnetic north, not true north. The scale is available in azimuth (0–360 degrees) or quadrant (0 +/- 90 degrees), with the option of declination adjustment (20 degrees east and west).
Operation of the Tandem is relatively simple, although for certain calculations and functions a working knowledge of trigonometry is helpful. Users sight objects by lifting or lowering the instrument until the horizontal hairline rests against the point to be measured. The position of the hairline on the scale provides the reading. Both eyes are used for sighting.
Both clinometer and compass are graduated in 1/2 degrees or 1 percent increments, and each is individually calibrated to an accuracy of +/- 0.25 degrees. An inch-scale is engraved on the back, along with cotangent and cosine tables to 45 degrees. The numbers are quite small, as are the numbers on the compass, so that users with less than eagle vision will have difficulty reading them. There is no backlight; the unit cannot be used by itself at night.
The Tandem costs $175 and includes a lanyard, instruction manual and carrying pouch with a belt loop, and features a threaded tripod socket. Overall, it is a reasonably priced, high-quality, relatively specialized tool that will have little appeal for casual users; however, for those who need a clinometer with an integral compass, the Tandem offers excellent quality and workmanship at a reasonable price.
Mike Garlock is a freelance writer living in Florida.
