If you are looking for a pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing that is lightweight and portable, you are in the right place. This is your ultimate guide to finding the best lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing.
A good pair of binoculars is an essential tool for wildlife viewing. When out on a safari trip, binoculars will bring you closer to wildlife and help you see greater detail that you can’t see with bare eyes. They will also give you a better look of the animals and birds regardless of how far they are and make your whole expedition more enjoyable.
The best binoculars for wildlife viewing should be lightweight for mobility convenience. But with the multitude of binoculars available on the market today, finding a model that meets all your needs is not an easy task.
In this post, we have done our homework and put up a list of the best lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing which makes a perfect companion for every safari and wildlife viewing expedition. Let’s take a look.
Best Lightweight Binoculars for Wildlife Viewing
1) Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars 8×42
Vortex is well-known for its good-quality optics and the Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars are no exception. These full-size binoculars are incredibly light and perfect companion for wildlife viewing. They also feature perfectly placed indents for comfortable, non-slip grip.
Featuring 8x magnification, these binoculars are perfect for viewing both close and distant objects. The high-density optical system provides excellent clarity and resolution, while the XR anti-reflective coatings give you bright and vivid images from dawn till dusk. Even better, these binoculars offer a wide field of view and a long eye relief for comfortable glassing.
In the field, this product will stand up to anything you throw at it. Its argon purged to prevent internal fogging and sealed with O-rings to prevent entry of dirt, moisture and more. Moreover, it has a rubber armored chassis for greater durability and a Armortek coating that shields the external lenses from dirt, oil and scratches.
Features
- XR anti-reflective lens coatings
- Locking right eye diopter
- Waterproof and fog free
- Rubber armored chassis
- Twist-up eyecups
- Ultra-large field of view: 409feet at 1000 yards
- Compact, lightweight design
- 18mm eye relief
- GlassPak harness included
2) Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular
Nikon makes excellent quality optics and the Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular is no different. It boasts a multitude of great features at a cost-effective price. It offers excellent low-light performance which makes it suitable for watching wildlife late in the evening or early in the morning. It also provides bright, clear and more natural images so you’ll get the most out of your viewing expedition.
Weighing just 1.3 pounds, this is one of the lightest binoculars in the Nikon family. The lightweight design makes it comfortable to hold and carry during long viewing sessions. The long eye relief provides comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses and with the wide field view, you will be able to monitor flying birds and moving wildlife with ease.
The 8x magnification brings distant targets 8 times closer, while the high eyepoint design provides a clear field of view for easy target spotting. Moreover, the binocular has a large central focus that’s simple and intuitive to use and a compact size for convenient portability.
When it comes to construction, the Monarch 5 is built for extreme usage. It has a durable rubber coating that shields it from impacts and falls, and gives you a secure, non-slip grip when your hands are sweaty or wet. Additionally, it’s fully waterproof to prevent water damage and fog proof for all-weather reliability.
Features
- Protective, rubber armor
- Long eye relief
- Ultralightweight design
- 8x magnification and 42mm objective
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Premium ED glass lenses
- Fully multi-coated eco-glass lenses
- Simple and intuitive central focus
- High eyepoint design
- Compact size and sleek design
- Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups
3) Celestron – Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars
As one of the best lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing, the Celestron – Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars is loaded with everything you need to make your outdoor activity better and more enjoyable. It offers the perfect combination of premium build, affordability and portability.
With a 6.5-foot close focus, this unit will help you see up close objects such as insects and crawling animals clearly. It has 8x magnification for viewing distant wildlife and a spacious field of view that helps you view fast-moving animals easily. Better yet, this binocular has fully multi-coated optics which provide bright, vivid and sharp as razor images even in low light situations.
Offering a robust housing, this mid-sized binocular stands up to the harshest field conditions. It’s fully waterproof and nitrogen filled to endure travelling without fogging up. More importantly, it’s designed with comfort in mind. On top of having a lightweight design, it has adjustable eyecups that make it eyeglass friendly.
Overall, it’s a durable and comfortable pair of binoculars that’s perfect for anyone who is passionate about watching wildlife.
Features
- Rubber armored poly-carbonate housing
- Waterproof and nitrogen filled
- 5 eye relief
- Twist-up eyecups
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- 5-foot close focus
- 8x magnification
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Phase-coated BaK4 prism
- Lightweight mid-sized body
#4) Celestron- TrailSeeker 8×42 Binoculars
The Celestron- TrailSeeker 8×42 Binoculars is a standout model that offers high-quality image clarity. It will give you an amazing performance whether you are observing wild animals, watching birds or looking at nature.
This product boats a versatile 8x magnification and a large field of view that helps you monitor your subjects smoothly without moving the binoculars around. Thanks to the fully multi-coated optics, you’ll get bright images with enhanced detail from dawn to dusk. Even better, this premium-quality optic has BaK-4 prisms that provide quality and color accurate images.
Another good thing about the TrailSeeker 8×42 Binoculars is the durable construction. They have a magnesium alloy frame that’s enhances the durability while keeping weight at a minimum. They are also fully waterproof for use in bad weather conditions and ergonomically designed to ensure comfortable handling in the field. Last but not least, this pair of binoculars has metal multi-stop twist up eyecups for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses.
Features
- Wide field of view
- Fully waterproof
- Durable magnesium alloy frame
- Fully multi-coated optics
- 17mm eye relief
- Metal multi-stop twist up eyecups
- Ergonomic and lightweight design
- Rubber armor
- 5 feet close focus
#5) Bushnell Trophy Bone Collector Binoculars
If you are looking for the best lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing for the money, look no further than the Bushnell Trophy Bone Collector Binoculars. They are low-priced but quality. The provide outstanding low light performance and great image quality from dawn till dusk.
The rugged design makes them perfect for field use and they are fully weatherproof so you can use them in any weather conditions. The high 10x magnification brings distant wildlife 10x closer, while the wide field view allows you scan through the horizon in search of game.
This product is made with beginners in mind. It’s not just lightweight for easy portability, but it also comes with a big focus wheel that makes it easy to operate. More importantly, it has a soft-touch rubber armor for comfortable handling and you can mount it on the tripod for hands-free viewing.
Features
- Intuitive and simple to use
- Lightweight and portable
- Modern ergonomic design
- Soft-touch rubber armor
- Tripod adaptable
- Multi-coated optics
- Adjustable diopter
- Non-slip design
- Twist-up eyecups
- generous eye relief
- 10x magnification and 42mm objective lens
#6) Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 Binoculars
When it comes to versatility and portability, you can never go wrong with the Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 Binoculars. These compact and lightweight binoculars are perfect for any outdoor trip. You can use them for bird watching, wildlife viewing and any other outdoor adventure activities.
Featuring 10x magnification, this optic brings your closer to your targets without moving physically. It boasts a large field of view which makes tracking moving game easy and a long eye relief that makes glassing snug even if you wear eyeglasses.
This pair of binocular provides steady images which is what you need when viewing wildlife. It has a large focusing wheel that makes image focusing a breeze and premium-quality optics that provide high-quality images. Better yet, it brings to the table hydrophobic lens coatings that shed water and dust for clear views in any weather condition. To top it all, the binoculars are waterproof and nitrogen filled to prevent internal fogging as you travel from place to place.
Features
- 10x magnification
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Hydrophobic lens coating
- Compact and lightweight
- Large field of view
- Durable construction
- Long 18mm eye relief
- Comfortable fast focusing
- 42mm objective lens
#7) VOVO 10×50 Binoculars
If you are looking for the best family binoculars for wildlife viewing, the VOVO 10×50 Binoculars are your best option. They are lightweight and ideal for both adults and kids. They have a powerful 10x magnification for bringing faraway game closer and a wider field of view for easy target spotting.
Featuring premium BaK4 prism, these binoculars provide great image clarity and brightness. The green FMC anti-reflective coating enhances light transmission and the large 50mm objective lens collects optimum light needed for clear image production.
These binoculars are well-made to give your many years of use. They have a waterproof design for all-weather reliability and a robust rubber armor that absorbs shock and provides an ergonomic, non-slip grip. Moreover, they have a wide focus knob that makes them easy to focus and you can mount them on a tripod for hands-free viewing.
Features
- Precise central adjustment wheel
- Moisture-resistant construction
- Anti-slip grip
- 50mm objective lens
- High-quality BaK4 prism
- Suitable for both adults and kids
- 10x magnification
- Green FMC anti-reflective coating
- Tripod adaptable
- Objective lens cover
- Rugged rubber armor
See Also
How to Choose the Best Binoculars for Wildlife Viewing
When shopping for the lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing, there are several important things you should consider besides weight. These factors are:
Magnification
Magnification is one of the most important factors you should consider when choosing binoculars for wildlife viewing. Your ideal magnification power will depend on whether you will be watching game up close or at a distance. Typically, binoculars with 8x or 10x magnification are the best for viewing wildlife. They bring distant wildlife closer and also give you a wide field of view for tracking moving game and flying birds.
Durability
When shopping for the best lightweight binoculars for wildlife viewing, it’s important that you consider the quality of materials used as they determine how durable the binoculars will be. The best binoculars are made from high-quality materials such as aluminum or magnesium alloy. Make sure that the binoculars are covered with a rubber armor for greater durability. It will be an added bonus if the binoculars are both waterproof and fog proof.
Image Quality
The binoculars will be of no importance if they provide blurred and poor quality images. Go for binoculars with ED glass and premium prisms as they produce the best image quality. Also make sure that the binoculars boast quality lens coatings as they help improve the brightness and clarity of the image.
Field of View
Field of view refers to the area you will able to see without moving your binoculars around. The larger the field of view, the better especially when viewing moving wildlife. It will help you spot the game smoothly and also keep you on track as they move around.
Field of view is inversely related to magnification. Binoculars with a high magnification have a narrower field of view while those with a low magnification provide a wider field of view. So, look for a pair that offers a good combination of wide field of view and moderate magnification.
Eye Relief
Eye relief refers to the distance between your eye and the binoculars eye piece. Eye relief is key if you wear eyeglasses. The last thing you would want is binoculars that require you to take your eyeglasses off every time you want to view an object. Look for a model that offers a long eye relief for comfortable viewing even with your eyeglasses on. Aim for an eye relief measurement that’s more than 15mm.
Types of Binoculars for Wildlife Viewing
Binoculars are classified into two main types; Roof prism and Porro prism. Each type has its unique features as well as pros and cons.
Roof Prism Binoculars
Roof prism binoculars have lenses and prisms standing right behind each other. This design makes the binoculars compact. With roof prism binoculars, you focus by moving the lenses. This ensures that no air gets inside and makes the binoculars less susceptible to dirt, dust, moisture and more.
Porro Prism Binoculars
In Porro prism binoculars, the lens and the eyepiece aren’t in line like in the roof prism counterparts. Instead, the images are transported through an N-shaped bend. This makes the binoculars wider. Porro prism binoculars have the advantage of providing a better depth perception. But they have a drawback of allowing dust and moisture in as you focus by moving the eyepiece.
FAQs
- What size binoculars is good for wildlife viewing?
Majority of people who engage in wildlife viewing prefer binoculars with 8x and 10x magnification. 8x magnification is best for close and mid-range viewing and 10x is better at bringing distant subjects closer. Both sizes provide a large field of view that’s much-needed for viewing moving game and flying birds and insects.
- Are 10×50 binoculars good for wildlife viewing?
It depends. While most 10×50 binoculars are too heavy for wildlife viewing, there are those models that have a manageable weight and perfect for viewing distant game especially in low light conditions.
- Are lightweight binoculars worth it?
Absolutely. Lightweight binoculars make the best binoculars for outdoor adventure activities. They are not only easy to carry around, but also easy to use. You can hold or carry them for many hours and they won’t weigh you down.
Conclusion
We hope that this post has been insightful and you are now able to make the right buying decision. Remember that a good pair of binoculars will make your wildlife viewing better while a poor-quality one will make less enjoyable. All the binoculars listed above are quality, versatile and great for other outdoor activities not just wildlife viewing.