The Best Binoculars for Birders, With Picks for Every Trip and Budget

Travel + Leisure

3 days ago

After years living in South Africa and spending my weekends exploring the country's magnificent game reserves, I turned to birding as something to do when other wildlife were scarce. In the decade since, I've realized that it's one of those rare hobbies whose reward vastly outweighs the effort and cost involved. Wherever you are in the world, there are almost always birds to spot and enjoy and the only investment required is a good pair of binoculars. For this reason, I'm now a self-confessed bird nerd who, when given the choice between a raptor and a rhino, is always more likely to be focusing on the creature with feathers.
There are binoculars for all budgets and specifications, but the best magnification, objective lens diameter, field of view, close focus range, and size for you depends on your budget, the species you're most interested in, whether you typically bird on foot or from a hide or vehicle, and the type of habitat you most often find yourself in. To help you narrow down your options, our travel experts tested a wide range of binoculars while birding to give you the inside view.
We used the tripod-adaptable Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 ED Binoculars for hours of birding in national parks across Oregon and were impressed with their 8x magnification. A 42-millimeter objective lens diameter lets in plenty of light while also facilitating a generous 8.1-degree field of view. Effectively, this meant we could easily find and track flying birds as they moved across the landscape, using the conveniently placed focus wheel to sharpen the image as our subject got closer or further away. The binoculars use extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses made from a special glass designed to minimize chromatic aberration for high-contrast, high-resolution colors that are true to what you'd see with the naked eye.
The difference between ED and non-ED glass is especially noticeable at dawn and dusk, when many bird species are most active. In the bright Oregon sunshine, the binoculars' fully multi-coated, anti-reflective lenses helped to maximize light transmission and eliminate glare so that we could view birds at a considerable distance with very little detail loss. In terms of durability, these binoculars survived being thrown repeatedly into a backpack with no signs of wear and tear. The body is made from lightweight magnesium alloy with a rubber coating for impact resistance, while the interior is filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging when moving between cool and warm environments. They're also fully waterproof.
The Details: 1.5 pounds | 8.1-degree field of view | 6.5-foot close focus | 17.2 millimeter eye relief | 8x magnification | 42-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $260 at Amazon $293 at Newegg.com
The Athlon Optics 8x42 Midas UHD Binoculars combine 8x magnification with the 42-millimeter objective lens diameter and wider field of view often considered ideal for bird watching. They also boast ED glass and fully multi-coated lenses for a clearer, sharper image defined by the accuracy of its colors; while dielectric prism coatings maximize light transmission for increased contrast, color fidelity, and glare reduction. We were particularly impressed with the binoculars' precise focal range, which was easily adjusted as birds moved closer or further away.
While there is some very minor distortion at the edge of the field of view, it's virtually unnoticeable unless you're focusing on it. With the eyecups twisted so that they were flush against our face, we were able to use the binoculars in full sun without any light leaking in and causing glare; equally, image quality remained consistent in the low light of late afternoon. The binoculars are compact, light, and great for hiking. They're also waterproof, argon purged for fog protection, and come with a tripod mount for alleviating fatigue when focusing for long periods on a nest site or other fixed point.
The Details: 1.45 pounds | 8.1-degree field of view | 6.5-foot close focus | 17.2-millimeter eye relief | 8x magnification | 42-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $189 at Amazon View on Opticronusa.com
Competitively priced, perfectly packable, and lightweight enough to hold up to your eyes or carry around your neck for extended periods of time without getting fatigued, the Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 8x42 Binoculars are an excellent choice for the casual birder. They combine 8x magnification with all the clarity of a BAK4 prism with fully multi-coated lenses for maximum light transmission and minimum glare. We found the image to be sharp and bright with no noticeable distortion, even on a sunset birding session in low light conditions.
The focus wheel is ideally placed for making precise adjustments with one hand. Once focused, we were able to view birds on our feeder in minute detail. One thing to note—the field of view is slightly narrower than that of other options, making these binos best for environments that require minimal searching or tracking. They are sturdily made with a waterproof body, slip- and impact-resistant rubber coating, and nitrogen purged interiors for fog-free viewing in all climates. Twistable eyecups and a tripod adapter complete the list of features.
The Details: 1.5 pounds | 7-degree field of view | 7.5-foot close focus | 22-millimeter eye relief | 8x magnification | 42-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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The Pentax Binoculars AD are great for those planning a backpacking expedition, thru-hiking adventure, or any other kind of trip that requires you to prioritize lightweight equipment. Measuring just 4.3 x 4.1 inches, they are less than half the weight of our top pick and can easily be carried in hand or around the neck for extended periods of time. You won't be sacrificing any magnification, although the 25-millimeter objective lens makes for a much smaller field of view (5.5 degrees).
We found that this made it tricky to locate and track birds on the move. And while we were impressed with the binoculars' ability to capture details on distant subjects, the 9.8-foot close focus limit means they're not as useful for viewing birds at close quarters. However, a BAK4 prism and fully multi-coated, phase corrected lens make for a sharp, glare-free image with good contrast and color accuracy. We were able to focus easily and found the picture just as good on bright and overcast days. Nitrogen-purged waterproofing provides all-weather durability.
The Details: 10.5 ounces | 5.5-degree field of view | 9.8-foot close focus | 21-millimeter eye relief | 8x magnification | 25-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $449 at Amazon View on Kowaoptic.com
Backed by a 10 year warranty, the Kowa BDII42-8XD Binoculars are designed for adventures and built to last. Expect a lightweight, yet durable magnesium alloy body and rubber armor that feels both ultra-protective and comfortably soft to the touch. The binoculars are waterproof and nitrogen filled, and we found that they stayed completely clear in humid weather and in close proximity to the water. The sturdy, slightly weighty build helped us to brace the binoculars and keep them steady, but did cause some fatigue after long periods of use.
In terms of performance, the binoculars offer 8X magnification and an impressively wide 8.2-degree field of view that allows you to locate birds quickly. They can also focus down to 5.9 feet for viewing birds on a feeder or smaller insects and flora in exquisite detail. ED lenses allow for fantastic image quality with no discernible blurring or distortion. We tested them in a range of light conditions with similar results. We especially liked how the fully multi-coated lenses prevented glare even while birding from a boat in full midday sunshine.
The Details: 1.4 pounds | 8.2-degree field of view | 5.9-foot close focus | 17-millimeter eye relief | 8x magnification | 42-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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If you're looking for a pair of binoculars that can stand up to the elements, look no further than the Zeiss Terra ED 8x42s. Rated for temperatures between 5 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, they're equally at home in tundra or desert while nitrogen purging protects against fogging in birding destinations with high humidity. Best of all, a hydrophobic multi-coating reinforced with glass fibers makes these binoculars waterproof up to 100 meters, meaning you could swim with them around your neck and they should still function perfectly afterward.
They offer 8x magnification and ED glass for enhanced light transmission. We found the image clear and crisp all the way to the edges of the field of view and were impressed that there was no glare even when using the binoculars to scan for waterbirds on the Colorado River in bright sunshine. The intuitively placed, easy-to-operate focus wheel was a highlight, allowing us to make minute adjustments quickly. We also appreciated the 5.3-foot close focus, which meant we were able to get an incredibly detailed view of a tanager at close range.
The Details: 1.6 pounds | 5.3-foot close focus | 8x magnification | 42-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Ideally priced for beginners, the Nocs Provision Field Issue 10x32 Binoculars are compact and lightweight enough at just over one pound that we never felt shaky or fatigued using them. They'll also last well past your introduction to birding, with a textured rubber housing for maximum grip and protection, and a waterproof rating to a depth of up to three feet. A BAK4 prism with fully multi-coated lenses provides excellent light transmission, contrast, and color accuracy. We also found the oversized focus wheel easy to adjust one-handed while spotting.
We liked the crisp view and loved that we were able to see individual feathers on distant birds thanks to the 10x magnification. We tested these binoculars alongside the Nocs Provisions Field Issue 8x32 Binoculars and preferred the former's higher magnification; however, some may find the wider field of view offered by the latter preferable for scanning large areas. Additionally, the 8x32s have a higher relative brightness and may be a better pick for birding at dawn and dusk. Both come in a range of quirky colors and are protected by a "No Matter What" lifetime warranty.
The Details: 1 pound | 6-degree field of view | 9.3-foot close focus | 16.8-millimeter eye relief | 10x magnification | 32-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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The Hontry 10x25 Compact Binoculars are a budget pick, so you won't have to worry about your kids breaking them or losing interest in birding. On the other hand, with a BAK4 prism and fully multi-coated lenses, they are effective enough to last into the next stage of the hobby if your children develop a passion for it. We were pleased with the sharpness of the image, which was undistorted and showed enough detail that we were able to see the veins on leaves and individual feathers in an owl's nest.
With 10x magnification and a 25-millimeter objective lens diameter, the field of view is relatively narrow (6.5 degrees). But, the small lens size also makes the binoculars super compact and lightweight at just 9.6 ounces, making them comfortable for kids to hold. Ours were able to use them for extended periods without their arms getting tired, although our seven year old did need a little help reaching and using the focus wheel. Finally, the binos feel sturdy with a textured, non-slip grip and feature a carry case to help kids take care of them.
The Details: 9.6 ounces | 6.5-degree field of view | 10-millimeter eye relief | 10x magnification | 25-millimeter objective lens diameter Credit: Travel + Leisure
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