Binoculars

Coldwood

Coldwood

Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
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I'm wondering if any of you think binoculars are a useful piece of survival equipment? I don't recall seeing them on any list of things to carry.

Of course they are very useful in open country for spotting game. In a theoretical event of civil unrest, they could be useful for scoping out the neighborhood for evil doers.

I'm kind of binocular freak, my favorite size is 7x50 and I have three pair, one in the truck at all times, one in the kitchen for bird watching, a third around here someplace. Primarily I use them for wildlife observation, in the field or at the beach. I also have a 10x50, but find the field of vision too narrow. Also a WWII folding monocular and a brass hand held telescope, but don't find them as useful as the binocs.

A monocular would be very easy to pack, my 7x50's are admittedly bulky, but I carry them afield anyway.

Any thoughts?
 
I carry my binoculars in my man bag. I figure, if I don't carry them I'll never use them. Mine are Nikon Sporter 1 10x36. I really like them. Not to big, nice bright field of view. Most often used at sporting events. I gotta get out and do some more hunting...

I don't know if they are a survival necessity. I just carry mine so they get some use.
 
I picked up a pair of Nikon Monarch 8 x 42s last summer and have been enjoying them ever since. Great optics at a fraction of the cost of Zeiss/Swarovski/Leica models. Excellent for path finding, game spotting, bird watching. Well worth the weight.
 
My eyes fight for dominance so binos are a nono . I do have some focus free binos that used to work great . Snce my short vision is going they are no longer comfortable .

I use a monocular sometimes . I find field of view pretty limited .
 
I have pair that I often stuff in my bag. The pair is a 1960's or so vintage German made binoculars, nothing that special but they are clear as can be.

Now, binoculars due take some space up. A monocular is very compact, and a workable quality mas produced monocular only costs $10 or $20 at any sporting goods store. I always like having one of those handy.
 
You'd also have another backup for making fire. I've got a monocular that I never thought to include with my survival stuff, but it is certainly small enough to fit without modifying anything, so in it's going.
 
I have a pair of no name 10X50s for the house. A pair of Simmons 8x25s in my main bag and have two older pair I don't use. I'd like to get a good pair of 6x30s. Used a pair hunting many years ago. Steiners I think and they were great for scoping out game in low light situations, as well as being lite weight and compact.
 
Coldwood said:
I'm wondering if any of you think binoculars are a useful piece of survival equipment? ...

... useful in open country for spotting game. In a theoretical event of civil unrest, they could be useful for scoping out the neighborhood for evil doers.

... my favorite size is 7x50 one in the truck at all times, one in the kitchen for bird watching, a third around here someplace. ... 10x50, but find the field of vision too narrow.

A monocular would be very easy to pack, my 7x50's are admittedly bulky, but I carry them afield anyway.
Click to expand...

For survival kit and field carry, I am considering a monocular with long
eye relief.

7X50's have an objective 50mm = 5 centimers = 2 inches
50's and 60's are for extreme clarity or low light conditions
and they are heavy!

In the western US, during bright days (most are), I prefer 8X30's.
In the desert, it is so bright that looking through 8X30's hurts the
eyes. Even without the 8x30's, the brightness can be uncomfortable.

The compromise I am considering, is that binos allow scanning a
larger area; I will give this up, so if some particular area interests
me, I will use a monocular.

You got me thinking of a night vision monocular as well.

You enjoy watching wildlife with binos, so why stop;
it is not a survival issue, it is part of the enjoyment of
the hike. If I were into birdwatching, I might take more optics
than you take.
 
Binos in all vehicles, BOBs and in the house. Nothing too crazy, just Bushnell Legends and H2Os. :thumbup:
 
I like Steiners.

I have a few pair of them, but take 8x30 Night Hunters just about everywhere.

Extremely durable, no need to focus, great optics. I don't know why more people don't use them. Maybe it is because Steiners are mid-range binocs, not really budget, but not high end either.

Scott
 
I agree with the steiners 8x30 military marines. THE best deal on earth for binocs, NATO issued quality for less than 200.

A new line is the marine, according to factory, same quality as the MM line, but made with out the cert process and a 10 or 30 year warranty depending on model. the 7 x50 marines are 300 and out perform most $1K glasses that i have seen. I put my leica's away when I got these.
 
I'm favorably impressed that you guys invest in high-end optics, I should probably do the same or at least investigate them. All of mine are under $100, the best being Bushnell Banner, but they all do the job. The cheapest, and it's a beater, stays in the truck. I'll definitely check out the Steiners.

I like the 7x50 because it has sufficient magnification, a wide field of vision and good light-gathering quality. When I went to a higher magnification, the Simmons 10x50, I found the field of vision narrower and the image shaky (which means I'm shaky ;) ) Of course they all have prisms and metal parts which makes them heavy. In my younger days I didn't mind backpacking them, but today I would like something I could slip into the pocket of a field jacket.
 
Field of vision just cracks me up some times. I use binocs for distance, not field of vision. You want to totally watch a football game using binocs get the 7x35. You want to see the sweat on the brow of the center hiking the ball get some 16x50's.

There is no "one" that is good for everything. You gotta buy them for what you plan on doing with them. What ever power (1st number) you select, try and go for 50 (2nd number) as that has the best light gathering capability/clarity (night vision)

They all have advantages and dissadvantages.

With some of the new rules about width and points of a buck deer, you better have a good strong pair to be able to determine a "legal" deer or you could be in trouble. Trouble comes when you check an illegal deer into a processing plant and they call the game warden.

My 16x50's weigh 2 pounds 6 ounces. Wifes 10x50's weigh an even 2 lb.
No we aren't sitting for hours on end birdwatching. But for Deer hunting I have no problem with the 16x. And if she is with me, she is most likely using the 16.

I have said before... go somewhere like Cabellas and check them out.
 
Yes, binocs would be in my BOB. The problem with binocs is that is hard to shop for them. You need knowledge to make a educated choice. Best way to shop for binoculars to to vist a place with Bass Pro, Cabela's, Sportsman Warehouse etc. where they have a very large line of binoculars in stock and available to look though. Even then, it's tough to make an informed choice.

I bought a pair of 8x42 Nikon Monach's and I'm very pleased with them. Sure beats the cheaper stuff that I used for years.
 
I served in a recon unit, and as such every patrol member carried a small pair of folding binos in his chest webbing or belt kit along with PSK and personal first aid kit. I still carry exactly the same kit- binos are very useful for survival, but mainly I just use them to enhance my experience of wilidlife in the bush, or save some walking if I'm checking out a possible route or campsite. Kinda like the yellow pages; "let your eyes do the walking". ;)
 
The original question was "binoculars for survival", and in most lists you won't find these.

I beg to differ. Depending on the SHTF situation you are in, one of the primary requirements is the ability to see and know your surroundings, be it an ice field, a desert plain, a burning building or a raging river.
Any binoculars are better than none, but I will join the chorus and nominate the Steiner 8X30 military style (Safari, Nighthawk, US or German Army surplus)
If weight is a consideration, there are many good mid range little folding binocs like Bushnell, Nikon etc that will do the job.

But I wouldn't be without my Steiners. Extended eyeballs are a good thing.
 
Note that the cheaper roof prism (Powerview)
weighs almost
as much as as the bigger porro prism (Legend).
I wonder if this is correct.

Good eye relief on both.

The Legend is also water/fog proof.

What do you think of 8X42 Powerview, $89.95 ?
...
# Prism System: Roof
# Prism Glass: BK7
# Lens Coating: Multi
# Field Of View (ft @1000yds): 351
# Close Focus (ft): 10
# Exit Pupil: 5.25
# Eye Relief: 18
# Eyecups: Twist-Up
# Weight: 26.8
# Water/Fog Proof: No
# Adapt To Tripod: No

Link to Powerview:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...178&sb=61&bti=1&sdir=xx&sortBySelectedIndex=0

Somebody complemented Bushnell Legends,12 x 50, $219.95
...
* Prism System: Porro
* Prism Glass: BaK-4
* Lens Coating: Fully Multi
* Field Of View (ft @1000yds): 290
* Close Focus (ft): 20
* Exit Pupil: 4.2
* Eye Relief: 17
* Eyecups: Twist-Up
* Weight: 28oz
* Water/Fog Proof: Yes
* Adapt To Tripod: Yes
Link to Legend:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4931620


.
 
I have a pair of 8x42 Leupold Pinnacles. They were recommended a couple of years ago in a Guns & Ammo article by Craig Boddington. They're not cheap if I remember right but they are a good value for what you get in my opinion. However if I had to do it again, I'd either step up to some Swarovskis and call it good for life or trade down for some Nikon Monarchs - which are an extremely good value in a binocular IMO.
 
I have a pair of Bushnell 7X50 in my car survival gear and I also have a pair of Steiner 10X50 "police" model that I can grab on the way out. It's nice not to have to keep on focusing with the Steiners...focus them once and they are in focus at any distance.(except up very close)

Ciao 4now
Ron :rolleyes:
 
As far as the survival aspect goes when I am out hiking I sometimes use my binoculars for route finding. Can I get up that steep ridge? Is it full of scree? Is there a path up there? Where does that trail go? Etc.

I either carry a compact 10x25 or a Nikon Monarch 10x35. The compact is great because I always have it with me outdoors even when I am concerned about weight and space unless I have the Monarchs. The clarity of the Monarchs is awesome. I prefer the 10 power because I want the most magnification I can get and still hold the binocular relatively still.

Sure, it would be nice to always have a large pair of high quality 10x50's but weight and space are always a concern.

Beyond survival, binoculars often improve my overall outdoors experience.
 
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