Binoculars

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What are binoculars for?

Binoculars are essentially made of two telescopes mounted on a single frame. They are useful for a variety of activities, including bird watching, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, stargazing, sports events, opera and more, as they allow people to view faraway objects up close.

What should I look for when buying binoculars?

When buying binoculars, there are many things to consider, including what you intend to use them for, magnification power, extra features and accessories, optics, and more. For example, do you want things like fog resistance, rubber coating, fast focus (common for hiking binoculars), or a water-resistant or waterproof model? Also consider the size and weight, as you’ll want something compact for backpacking and hiking while this might not matter so much for birding. There are three types of binocular sizes: compact, midsize, and full-size.

In terms of magnification, you’ll need maximum magnification for stargazing but want to stick to lower magnification for steady viewing when paddling or whale watching. Lower magnification increases the width of the field of view, while high magnification decreases it while providing a closer and more detailed look.

To get into even more detail, there is also the objective lens diameter, the exit pupil size (where higher numbers mean brighter images), eye relief (the distance between the eyepiece and your eye), and other optics details like prism type and lens coating.

It's always a good idea to test binoculars in person so you can get a real feel of how they’ll work for you in your intended setting.

If you’re looking for more items for an outdoor trip, browse our selection of Camping & Hiking supplies and Hunting gear.