Binoculars are sometimes referred to as field glasses but they are basically two refracting telescopes mounted side-by-side and designed to be pointed in the same direction. This allows the user to use both eyes while viewing objects at a distant. They can be very handy for a lot of different applications including sight-seeing, bird watching and hunting.
Buy binoculars can be complicated it but it doesn’t have to be. You should consider several factors with the most important being magnification. The magnification of a binocular is the number written next to the “x”. So if it says 20x for example, it means it magnifies the view 20 times. This means if the thing or person you are looking at is 2,000 metres away, it will actually appear as if it was only 200 metres away through those binoculars.
Here are some of our favorites.
Vortex Optics Viper HD – $525-$550
The highest performance pair of binoculars on this list but also one of the most expensive coming in at $525-$550 on average. Vortex Optics have become the top brand of optics including for firearms but as well as binoculars lately and they put in all their research into the Viper HD. These binoculars can be had in different configurations consisting of 10×42, 10×50, 12×50, or 8×42. Of course, the right configuration will vary depending on what you are looking to use them for but all of them will come with XR anti-reflective lenses and a multi-coating system that gives you an excellent picture in any light situation. Personally, I find these to have the most ideal weight ratio to where they are comfortable to carry but also do not feel cheap in your hands. As they are built by Vortex Optics you can rest assured you are getting a product that will stand the abuse of anything you can throw at them.
Carson 3D Series – $290-$300
Carson has been big in the 3D series of binoculars and produced excellent pairs of binoculars in general. Their 3D Series use a BAK-4 prism set up with high quality ED glass. Some key features to highlight are the fact that the binoculars are rubberized with waterproof armor protecting the entire package well. This is of course important if you are going to be using these outdoors or on the go. Even with all this they weigh in at roughly a pound and a half which is not bad at all. Configurations include 8×32, 8×42, 10×42, and 10×50.
Nikon Monarch 5 Kit – $250
The Nikon Monarchs have been around for a while now and are very popular amongst the hunting community. They are configured as an 8x42mm setup and feature light dispersion lenses while being completely water and fog proof. Some important features to highlight include the Nikon eco ED lenses, Dielectric high reflective multilayer prism coatings for the highest color contrast and reproduction, and turn and slide rubber eyecups. They offer a field of view of 110 meters at a 1000 meters.
Wingspan Optics Spectator Compact – $70-$80
Wingspan Optics has done an excellent job in bundling price, size, and quality into their Spectator Compact binoculars. They can easily be folded up and stuffed into anything to carry. They are configured as an 8x32mm setup featuring waterproof coating to protect them. They also include a fog proof layer on the lenses with a field of view of 362 feet at 1000 yards.
Bushnell Falcon 133410 – $35-$50
The budget pair of binoculars on the list coming in at an average of $35-$50. Bushnell is a great brand that has been in the optics game for a long time. In particular, the Bushnell Falcon 133410 are great because they offer fill size functionality and performance at a compact size. They are extremely lightweight and easy to move around while producing a high-quality image. Some important specifications include 7x35mm, Instafocus system for fast focus on moving targets, 20ft close focusing capabilities, and 12mm eye relief which allows for eyeglass compatibility.
