Pirates used a spyglass back in the day to find islands and spy on other ships. Basically, they used the spyglass or handheld telescope to view faraway objects and places. Nowadays, binoculars have become more popular. It is commonly used by bird watchers, concert goers, people at sporting events, and outdoor enthusiasts to view things up close. They are also vital in terms of survival, which makes it important to choose the best binoculars suited for you.
You can use binoculars to spot intruders or other threats allowing you to defend your family and your property better. If you see black smoke, your binoculars will help you locate where the fire is so you know if you need to evacuate. When you’re living off the grid, binoculars will be useful when you have to hunt for food. You can also use it for scouting an area before proceeding in case you’re in a SHTF scenario and you have to be weary of threats such as zombies or terrorists. In other words, binoculars are useful in staying safe and in planning your next move similar to how the military use them in operations.
These are just a few ways how a pair of binoculars can help you survive a SHTF situation or any other kind of emergency.
How to Choose the Best Binoculars For You
Choosing a pair of binoculars depends on three main factors: what you need it for, who’s going to use it, and how much you are willing to dole out.
Once you’ve figured these things out, you then have to consider the size, magnification power, exit pupil, brightness, field of view, focus, lens coating, waterproofing, weather resistance, and fogproofing of the binoculars. You can get a clearer understanding of these factors here.
Best Binoculars of 2018
Autosports 10×25 Folding High Powered Binoculars
Those who want to have the best binoculars but can’t afford the high-end ones will be delighted to know about the Autosports 10×25 binoculars. For only $27.50, you get a lightweight and compact pair perfect for the outdoors. It’s especially useful if you’re out bird watching at night because it comes with low-light night vision.
It has a field of view of up to 1000 yards thanks to its 10x magnification and 25mm objective lens. It is also equipped with a multi-coated air of lenses. The foldable Autosports 10×25 is also waterproof and has an anti-slip grip.
Revival Gear Compact Binoculars
The Revival Gear company has its own affordable, compact, and lightweight (350 grams) binoculars. Its main feature is its ease of use as you can focus it fast and without much trouble so you avoid blurred and double vision.
The Revival Gear Compact also comes with scratch-resistant green film optics glass lenses, which allows you to see in weak light. Add to that its rubberized grip, foldable design, and affordable price ($29.97), and you’ll get why this is one of the best binoculars for concerts and sporting events.
Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Room Prism Binoculars
The Bushnell brand is a well-known name in the industry and it’s quite logical that a number of its products are some of the best binoculars we’ve seen. The Powerview Compact, for example, comes with rubber coating, non-slip rubber armor, 10x magnification and 25mm objective lens, BaK-7 prisms, multi-coated optics, center focus knob, and general-purpose roof prism. It’s also easy to lug around since it measures only 4.02 x 2.01 x 2.8 inches. Best of all, it costs only $31.11 on Amazon.
OMZER 10×42 High-Powered Compact HD Binoculars With BAK4 FMC Lens
If you’re taking a pair of binoculars out for a hike, you need it to be tough as nails. The OMZER 10×42 High-Compact HD Binoculars are wrapped in durable rubber. This protects the binoculars from impact. It’s also protected from water and other weather conditions. It’s also easy to carry since it weighs only 1.23 pounds (558 grams) and can be folded.
The scratchproof lenses measure 42mm and are capable of 10x magnification providing you with 307ft/1000 yards of field of view. The best feature of the OZMER is perhaps its high-definition lenses. The OZMER High-Powered Compact HD Binoculars cost only $49.98 on Amazon today.
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars
The Celestron SkyMaster Giant is one of the best binoculars around due mainly to its impressive focus. The diopter adjustment allows for very fine focusing. It also comes with multi-coated optics and a large aperture that lets you enjoy lying down on the ground and gazing at the stars. The Skymaster Giant is also equipped with 15x magnification and a 70mm objective lens. It is also affordable at $63.90 on Amazon at the moment. The SkyMaster Giant normally retails for $90.
Vanguard Orros Compact Waterproof Binoculars
At 9.9 ounces, the Vanguard Orros is one of the lightest in this list of best binoculars so far this year. It’s also waterproof and fog proof so it’s a great pair to bring to outdoor events and activities such as hiking. People at crowded events tend to get a little too excited so it’s a good thing that the Orros is equipped with non-slip rubber armor. It also comes with an offset focus wheel so you can make adjustments with just one hand allowing you to always have an eye glued to your subject. The Vanguard Orros costs $80 on Amazon.
Bushnell Falcon 133410 Binoculars
Another Bushnell that makes this list of best binoculars of 2018 is the Falcon. Among its best features is the Instafocus System, which lets you focus quickly on moving subjects. It also comes with non-slip rubber grip pads, fully coated optics, 12mm eye relief, and a 5mm exit pupil.
The Falcon also has a 420-feet field of view at 1000 yards thanks to its 7x magnification and 35mm lens diameter along with its auto-focusing Porro prism. The Falcon costs $98.88 on Amazon.
Nikon 8218 Trailblazer 10×25 Hunting Binoculars
As the name implies, the Nikon Trailblazer is one of the best binoculars for hunting. This $115 rugged pair is waterproof and fogproof so it’s easier to spot a target. It also boasts of long eye relief and an anti-reflective view courtesy of its coated Eco Glass lenses, which are free of lead and arsenic.
Nikon 8252 Aculon A21110-22×50 Binoculars
The Nikon 8252 Aculon is perhaps the most user-friendly of all the best binoculars on this list. It weighs only 3.06 pounds, measures 8.58 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches, and sports an ergonomic design making it easy to carry. The Aculon boasts multi-coated lenses that can adjust magnification from 10 to 22 power through its easy-to-reach Fingertip Zoom Control. It also features 50mm objectives courtesy of its famed Eco-Glass, and the BaK4 Porro prism system. Other features of the Nikon Aculon include a non-slip grip, Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups, and a reasonable price of $175 on Amazon.
Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 Binoculars
It’s a bit on the expensive side at $261.95 but the Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 is worth every penny. It is equipped with Nikon’s very own Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Glass lenses and a multi-layer prism coating. It also boasts of fully multi-coated Eco-Glass Lenses, which allow impressive light transmittance across the whole visible light spectrum.
Other amazing features of the Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 include the Turn and Slide Rubber Eyecups, Flip Down Lens Caps, and the Smooth Central Focus Knob.
These are just ten of the many impressive binoculars we have on the market today. You can check out the rest before you narrow down your choices depending on the factors mentioned earlier. At least now, you have an idea of what the best binoculars are like.
Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings onto you.
