Pocket Binoculars for survival bag?

I carry 10X Bushnell or Simmons Monoculars in my Maxpedition Bag. I don't usually admire them so don't remember the manufacturer. To paraphrase Chief Dan George, "They're not for looking at, they're for looking through." :D
 
Most of the major camera manufacturers make decent compact binoculars and monoculars. I have a pair of Nikon's I bought years ago that have served me well. Do be aware that compacts have less light gathering power. If I had it to do over again, I would choose a higher power-- 10x rather than 7x or 8x, unless you are going to use them on a boat. This would be low on my list for survival items, but I could make a case for spotting trails, game, or people across a valley, distant planes, UFO's etc :)
 
Buy as good as you can afford. I kept a small pair of Nikons around. I don't recall the model. I used to carry them fishing for the occasional bird or animal sighting. They are fairly cheap and I was not impressed with the quality especially since I wear perscription glasses. These were purchased in Dicks as I recall and were definitely under $100 in price. They weren't up to my standards and as a result got used rarely.

I recently purchased a 6x Leupold Yosemite 6x30 bincoulars that I like for general use in the woods. They are a middle size and I really am pleased with them overall. They run about $100 and are smaller than my preferred Nikon Monach 8x42 binoculars (about $300). I like the Monarchs a lot and they work well with perscription glasses.

You will probably be judging the quality of binoculars in a store. I look at the close focus point, then focus as far away in the store as possible on boxes and try to read the lettering. Look in the darker areas of the store when evaluating. You want as much clarity as possible, image brightness and sharpness. Look at the $1000+ binoculars and compare the smaller ones to them.
 
By all means, include a pair! Since I bought a couple of pairs of high-quality compact binocs, I use them a lot. Last weekend, I back-tracked a half-mile to the trailhead at the start of a hike when I realized I left my compact Zeiss 10x25s in the truck.

My first pair of good quality compacts were Pentax DCF roof prisms with phase corrected coating. Then, I spent a little more and picked up the Zeiss. They are very light weight (7 oz.) and now the heavier Pentax sit at home. The Zeiss are small (4.7" tall) and light enough to put in your shirt pocket, and the optics are stunning.

With optics, I believe "you get what you pay for." Don't forget... all binoculars seem to give a good image when viewed alone. You need to compare a bunch side-by-side to see the real difference.

The suggestion to evaluate and compare by viewing dim areas and small lettering is a good one.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I use a high quality 5x zeiss monocular, $100, about the size of a fountain pen. Mostly i use it to identify trail markers.
 
I carry a small 10x, $10 bushnell monocular. It's done very well for the money. Small enough to give me a boost I need, powerful enough to be worth carrying.
 
I've a pair of Leica Compact BCA's that I've enjoyed for years. I've asked before...here goes again. Anyone have any opinions/thoughts about the Steiner compacts that show up regularly in Sierra Trading Post at what seem well-priced? Thanks.
 
What would you say the preffered magnification would be for general outdoor use?

I have used 8x with great success.
 
I've done the mono thing and I'm not really happy with anything except my Balscope 10x. I't s ab bit big, but I just don't get any USE out of the really tiny tiny ones.

The binocs that are in my pack all the time now are Meade Travelview 8-17 x 25 zoom. light, compact, no sweat. Not anything like my big binocs, of course. But nice
 
Carry a cheapo pair of simmons 8x in my hiking bag. They've worked just fine for several years, but I'd like to pick up a pair of 6x30s in a better glass.
 
Termite

if you mean the steiner 10X26's they are good. I have the predators and have used them for varminting nice. If your are looking for game binoculars are a major help. Tjese have survived being dragged in dirt and lain on many times. Low light is not great and they can be foggy around the edges - but a lot better than nothing. They fold up into my shirts cargo pocke or are easily slipped inside my shirt. They do need continual focussing though as the deprth of field is limited. I am not sure ot ehm as a survival tool more of a find your way spot game watch people type thing. In fact they are in the office with me now and I use them to look at ships on the bay occasionally through my window

I have just pought the 8X30 night hunters which will probably suit my low light hunting needs better and as are sports focus - do not need to be focussed for different ranges
 
Before you go out and buy a pair, consider if you will actually use them.
I've used a pair of Steiner 8x30 Military/Marines for over a dozen years. I take them along whenever I know I'll want binos. A couple of years ago, I decided I'd like to have a pair that were always there in case I needed them, and bought the Steiner Safari 8x22 compacts to keep in the bag(now backpack) that I carry into work, and accompanies me everywhere in my truck. Now, your personal uses will be individual to you, but the only time those 8x22s have seen actual use was when I lent them out at a college football game last year, as I was using the 8x30s.
There's nothing wrong with them, matter of fact I compared all the ~$100 and under 8x compacts I could get my hands on before deciding on them. I just didn't have any real need for them, hence they never get used, and sit in a drawer.
If you don't have any decent binos, and just want some for occasional use, by all means get a pair, but be advised that a mid to full-sized binocular will be a big step up in light-gathering, image quality, and comfort during use.

btw, when I was shopping for the 8x22s, I took several pairs outside a sporting goods store as the sun was going down, and compared them looking at everyday stuff, along with studying a nearby wooded area. They all look pretty much the same inside a store(to tell the truth, there wasn't a big difference immediately noticeable outside until focusing on distant objects and examining the edges of the field of view), but I recommend doing this regardless of what kind of binos you're looking at.
Magnification isn't everything, and for sporting events, I've often wished I had a pair of lower power binos like a 6x30, if not less.

termite, I actually bought my Steiner 8x22s for $79.95 on sale at Sierra Trading Post. They aren't particularly special, but comparable to the slightly higher priced Nikons, and better than similar Simmons, Bushnell, or any of the cheaper brands.
 
I keep a pair of modestly priced compact binocs in my possibles bag. The older you get, the more useful they are. :D
 
I was Kayaking off coast in southern Calif. a while back and I saw a sail boat sitting becalmed. With out my binos I would have missed the 3 lovely crew members who graced the deck. Further investigation revealed that they were in some sort of quandary. My new heading put me along side and I found that my assistance was kneaded with a fouled road. A quick dive and I spent the rest of the week end in the best of care as the days hero.
I have sense made sure that Binos were part of my every day gear.
 
for light gathering the size of the "exit pupil" is important.
basically it's the size of the objective / the magnification.
a pair of 7x50 bino's will have an exit pupil size of a little over 7mm(roughly the size of a human pupil @night)

the smaller bino's will be fine during midday but dusk & dawn light gathering will suffer.
 
Davyd, Thanks much for the info. 'Looking at ships out the office window' sounds like a good view. Not many ships to see here in Kansas:)
 
Thanks for the input.
I'm thinking these binoculars can be a help while hiking and emergencies.
I'm surprised how inexpensive the monoculars are.
 
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