Staff's Picks - Our Recommendations

Our Categories

• Best Birdwatching Binoculars
• Best Budget Binoculars
• Best Compact Binoculars
• Best Astronomical Binoculars
• Best Rugged Binoculars
• Best High-End Binoculars
• Best Hunting Binoculars
• Best Marine Binoculars
• Best Hiking Binoculars

 

Best Birdwatching Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Magnification of 8 times
• Colour rendition and extra-low dispersion lenses

Winner 1: Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 Binoculars (Our Price: $1899)

Birdwatchers need to pick up the hardest-to-see details on their quarry. These binoculars have glass that limits chromatic aberration, giving you a sharper image and true-to-life colours. The wide aperture and high transmission coatings makes the image brighter, meaning these binoculars will continue still be useful when others have given up for the evening. And they're Zeiss!

Winner 2: Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x42 Binoculars (Our Price: $749.95)

For true-to-life colours and clarity to find the most subtle fieldmarks, there's not much better than these binoculars. German-made, robust and innovative, the SkyHawk focuses quickly and has a wide field. Clever eye shields prevent stray light from behind from ruining the brilliant views you will get. These binoculars will make you a better birder.

Runner up: Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Binoculars

 

Best Budget Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Budget of <$100
• Suitable for General Purpose

Winner: Saxon 7x50 Wide Angle Binoculars (Our Price $64.95)

Nobody should say that binoculars have to be expensive. The saxon Wide Angle 7x50 is a basic, but full-sized binocular without the features you might not need, and certainly don't want to pay for. The views from the large lenses are bright, giving you good views even in low light.

Runner up: saxon 10x50 Wide Angle Binoculars 

 

Best Compact Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Lightweight Pair of Binoculars (<500g)
• Aperture of less than 25mm
• Suitable for General Purpose

Winner: Leica Ultravid 8x20 BR Binoculars (Our Price: $1049)

With its tiny size, this binocular will go wherever you go. The Leica Ultravid 8x20 is small and light enough to fit in a pocket, handbag or backpack and be ready for use at any time. And, as is typical of Leica optics, the views it delivers are sharp, clear and of unrivalled quality.

Runner up 1: Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 Binoculars

The pocket sized Zeiss has LotuTec - a hard protective coating on all outer lenses, which repels dirt, water and resists scratching. The 25mm objective brings in a good amount of light to provide you a great image, regardless of conditions.

Runner up 2: Steiner Safari Ultrasharp 10x26 Binoculars

The Steiner Safari ultrasharp is a rugged compact binocular, suitable for all uses. Its innovative sun shields protect your view from light from the side. 

 

Best Astronomical Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Large objectives >70mm
• Mountable on a tripod

Winner: Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80 Binoculars (Our Price: $469.95)

The Milky Way is out there waiting to be explored, and this binocular is the right way to do it. With its huge objective lenses, the SkyMaster gathers enough light to show the dark, hidden secrets of the galaxy. The binocular easily mounts on a normal tripod, meaning you can watch nebulas, galaxies and other wonders in the comfort of having both eyes open.

Runner up 1: Celestron Skymaster 20x80 Binoculars

Runner up 2: saxon 15x70 Night Sky Binoculars

 

Best Rugged Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Built to take shocks
• Waterproof and fogproof

Winner: Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars (Our Price: $439.95)

Whatever you do with your binoculars, these will take it. Ruggedly built, with armour and a lifetime unconditional VIP warranty to match, the Diamondbacks are built to be dropped in sand, covered in mud, bumped against trees and stuffed in a backpack. And even after this treatment, the optics punch above their weight, giving you high-contrast views of your targets.

Runner up: Bushnell Trophy 10x42 Binoculars

 

Best High-End Binoculars

Key Criteria:

• Simply the best in optics

Winner: Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 Binoculars (Our Price: $4799)

This is the pinnacle of quality in optics. This binocular provides the best of all aspects. The optics are unrivalled, and combine the best lenses, prisms and coatings. Aberrations are minimised and colour response is accurate. The construction is rugged but the ergonomic design means the binocular won't cause you fatigue, even after a long day in the field. Suitable for birdwatching and hunting, these binoculars is highly recommended for all professional and recreational users who are simply looking for the best. 

Runner up 1: Zeiss Victory SF 8x32

Runner up 2: Leica Noctivid 10x42 Binoculars

 

Best Hunting Binoculars

Winner: Leica Geovid HD-B 3000 10x42 Rangefinder Binoculars (Our Price: $4299)

Long-range hunting requires pin-point accuracy in aiming, but also requires calculations of how the bullet is going to travel. Enter your ballistic information into the binocular via your computer, and the binocular can measure range and angle to the target, atmospheric temperature and pressure, and calculate how you should adjust your sights. What's more, these binoculars are of the highest optical quality, and will provide accurate target identification at long range.

Runner up 1: Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42 Binoculars,

Runner up 2: Vortex Viper HD 10x42 Binoculars

 

Best Marine Binoculars

Winner: Steiner Commander 7x50 Marine Binoculars with Compass (Our Price: $2149)

Marine environments are no place for ordinary binoculars. The weather can be foul, the deck moves, dusk hides hazards, and all directions look the same. Steiner Commander binoculars handle all these, giving you stable, bright views, as well as a magnetic compass readout and a reticle to calculate distances using lighthouses and other navigation lights.

 

Runner up: Steiner Navigator Pro 7x50 Binoculars

Best Hiking Binoculars

Winner: Vortex Solo 8x36 Monocular (Our Price: $249.95)

If you’re into hiking then you’ll understand the importance of weight. The Vortex Solo is like having a half a binocular your pocket. A generous sized aperture will give good performance in low-light, and the 8x magnification is good for both wildlife and terrain watching. And because it’s a Vortex product, it’s built tough, with a lifetime warranty to match.

Runner up: Steiner Safari Ultrasharp 10x26 Binoculars

 

Note:

Prices were last updated on the 16th of February 2021 and are not indicative of the live prices. Prices are subject to change without prior notice and may not be quickly updated on this listing.