If you want to enjoy and succeed at hunting and other outdoor activities, you must use your senses to the utmost. You have to build up your sense of hearing, touch, smell and sometimes even taste, but most of all – your sight. A heightened sense of sight is very important as you hunt, to be successful and to survive the challenges of the outdoors. This is where finding the best binoculars comes in. Having a keen vision is going to show you the signs of an excellent place on where to spot an approaching prey so you can communicate the information with your hunting partners, and your naked eyes need a helping hand.
It will be helpful for you to be able to focus on the prey on a discrete distance without having to move in to check them out. And you will never go wrong with compact binoculars. It’s best for those who wants to pack light for daytime hunting. Compact binoculars are also great for people who are just starting out in their hunting journey.
Here are some of the best compact binoculars worth trying out:
Swarovski CL 10X25 Pocket Binoculars
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Compact Folding Roof Prism Binoculars
Zeiss Terra ED Compact Pocket Grey-Black Binoculars
Leica Ultravid BR 8x20 Compact Binoculars
Nikon 8x25 Trailblazer ATB Waterproof Black Binoculars
1. Swarovski CL 10X25 Pocket Binoculars
Swarovski introduced the CL 10X25 Pocket Binoculars as their serious venture into the binocular business, and it’s no kid’s toy. It’s small as it measures 7.2 x 7.6 x 3.2, but it’s very much capable of keeping up with its full-size competitors. It’s a true Swarovski, so you won’t expect a cheap price.
This superb binoculars offer 10x magnification, with a 294-foot field of view that is large for its compact size. It weighs only 12.3 ounces, so it’s extremely portable. The glass and overall quality of the binoculars is in line with Swarovski’s strict standards in manufacturing. The optics are fully multi-coated, and delivers bright, high-contrast images.
This binoculars are equipped with twist-up hypoallergenic eyecups and 17 mm eye relief for comfortable viewing. Its focusing wheel is easy to operate and lets you quickly dial in your target area. It has a water-sealed aluminum housing and anti-fog nitrogen to ensure that the binoculars will still deliver a reliable performance even under rain and extreme temperatures.
The kit comes with a carrying case with zippered closure, a separate accessory pocket, strap, belt loop and ripstop nylon interior lining.
Pros:
- 10x magnification
- Lightweight
- Multi-coated optics
- Weather-proof housing
- Comes with carrying case
Cons:
- Expensive
2. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Compact Folding Roof Prism Binoculars
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Compact Folding Roof Prism Binoculars is a high-performing compact binoculars with a double-hinge design. It folds easily just like a handheld water bottle. It’s lightweight at half a pound, so you can easily pack it with your gear without added bulk and heavy weight. It measures 4.61” x 2.28” x 3.39” and is ergonomically designed for comfortable use.
It offers exceptional optics with its ED prime glass, which delivers amazing color resolution and contrast. It also has anti-reflection coating to allow the best possible light from the front all the way to the back of the eyepiece. This produces a super clear and bright images so you can easily see birds and your other hunting targets.
This product is sealed and nitrogen-purged to make it waterproof and fog-proof. Even if it rains and submerged in water, you don’t have to worry about water entering the lenses. It’s also easy to focus easily as you run and move to and fro.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Can fit inside the hand
- Double-hinge design
- Foldable
- Anti-reflection coating
- Waterproof and fog-proof
Cons:
- Eye relief is too short
3. Zeiss Terra ED Compact Pocket Grey-Black Binoculars
Looking for a set of binoculars you can bring for rugged hunting and even hiking? The Zeiss Terra ED Compact Pocket Grey-Black Binoculars is for you. From the maker of excellent photography gadgets, this binoculars has a great build. It is extremely compact yet powerful and durable. It can be folded into a packable size, making it perfect to bring as you travel.
This offers 8x magnification and a field of view at 1,000 meters. Its lens are fully multi-coated and can repel fog and water for clarity and precision under any weather condition. Made of a glass fiber with reinforced, watertight body, this binoculars is completely weatherproof and ideal for rough conditions. It has an ergonomic design with a smooth and easy-to-grip focus wheel.
All these are packed in a 10.9-ounce package, making it very light. This is one of the best compact binoculars you can find where you can expect high optical precision and large field of view.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Compact
- Foldable
- 8x magnification
- Multi-coated lens
- Waterproof
Cons:
- A bit pricey for the features
4. Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Compact Binoculars
The Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Compact Binoculars is a high-quality set of binoculars that offers many high-end features you can find in full-size sets. They offer a high level of optical and mechanical performance and is more compact and sharp than many other compact binoculars. It features 8x more magnification.
This set of binoculars come with adjustable eye cups, a quick focus wheel and a diopter for the right eye so you can adjust to achieve the perfect view, with one eye slightly different than the other. It has AquaDura lens coating on the outside to make it water-repellant.
It offers contrast, sharpness, clarity and a great field of view making it a perfect tool for birding during the hiking season. It’s a bit larger than a first aid kit and it barely adds weight as it weighs only 8.5 oz. This model also comes with a focusing wheel with maximum grip, thanks to its convenient design. It comes in a nylon case with a belt loop and plastic buckle.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Compact design
- 8x magnification
- Water-repellant
Cons:
- Setting the diopter can be a bit tricky
5. Nikon 8×25 Trailblazer ATB Waterproof Black Binoculars
Nikon is a global leading brand in precision optics – they are widely known for their cameras, but they are actually making binoculars ever since 1917. This is why the Nikon 8×25 Trailblazer ATB Waterproof Black Binoculars, you can assure that it is of good quality by just considering the brand. And for a price less than $100, this binoculars really pack a punch.
This set of binoculars come with a high-index BAK4 roof prisms and anti-reflection multi-coated optics that work together to maximize light transmission and provide bright, clear and high-contrast images with accurate color fidelity. Packed with a 25mm objective lens, it can offer up to 8x magnification. It’s a nitrogen-filled inert gas binoculars that can deliver clear images in bright or low light conditions. It also has Nikons Eco-Glass and layers of anti-reflective coatings.
At the outside, it comes with a rubberized armor coating that makes it suitable for rugged conditions. It’s also waterproof and fog-proof. It’s small and lightweight, weighing just below one pound and measuring 5.12” x 2.76” x 3.94”. This makes it an ideal companion for watching birds and wildlife.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Small size
- 8x magnification
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Anti-reflection coating
- Rubberized armor body
- Affordable
Cons:
- Eye piece tends to retract back