Best Small Binoculars [Updated 2023]

Zeiss Terra ED Pocket Binoculars

The Zeiss Terra ED Pocket Binoculars are a great size for hiking and backpacking. They weigh just 10.9 ounces and will slip onto your hiking day pack with ease.

These binos are made from a reinforced fiberglass body with a waterproof casing and are therefore pretty durable. You can wet them and drop them without much concern as they’ll most likely bounce back with ease. The sides have protective rubber-armored grips for a bit more protection too.

The lenses are hydrophobic and repel fog and water to ensure the images are always clear. It’s easy to zoom in and out but it can be a little tricky to set the distance as you have to use both your thumb and finger, rather than just your middle finger.

The 8x zoom with the 25mm lens gives you a great field of view and you can zoom in a far as you need. 8x is an excellent level for general animal watching.

Overall these are an awesome pair of light, durable, waterproof binoculars that still give you great image quality. They are pretty expensive though, and you’ll want to use binoculars often to spring for these.

Vortex Optics Diamondback Binoculars

The Vortex Optics Diamondback Binoculars are quite similar to the ones above just a little bit less expensive. That’s not to say they are cheap, you’re still going to have to spend well over $100 to get this pair.

These binos come with a 32mm lens and 10x zoom. The image quality is crystal clear and they are excellent for use at a shooting range and for spotting wildlife. Something to be aware of is that if you have shaky hands, you may find it hard to use binos with 10x zoom or above.

They come with dielectric multi-coated lenses that are great in low light conditions and really bring images to life. The FOV is also pretty huge for the size of these binos and allows you to scan with ease.

The argon purging and rubber armor provide enhanced waterproof and fog-proof performance in extreme weather conditions, so you can be happy staring through these in any weather, knowing they will be fine.

The only downside to these is that the center hinge can loosen on some of them and in the end, they can fold all by themselves. This is rare though.

Overall an awesome pair of light and small bincoulars, ideal for hiking and backpacking.

Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars

The Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars is ideal for anyone who wears glasses. They have extra eye relief that allows you to focus clearly through them while wearing your specs.

These binos come in a range of lens sizes and zooms but we do recommend the 8x zoom with the 32mm lens. This gives you enough zoom for checking out birds and animals but if you’re hunting you might want to step it up a few notches.

The lenses use ED glass for sharper and brighter images are do well in low light conditions. The outside is fully coated with some rubberized armor that’s both grippy and ensures the binos will bounce instead of breaking.

These binos are fully waterproof and fog proof, so no matter the weather you be able to use them. They come with a lovely carry case, neck strap, shoulder harness, lens covers, and a lens cloth. Everything you need to go into the bush immediately.

They are a little expensive and around the top end of the price spectrum as far as small binoculars go. They do come with an awesome lifetime warranty though, so you’ll never need new ones again.

Leica Trinovid Weather Resistant Binocular

If you want to spend under $500 on your binoculars, then look away now. These Leica Trinovid Weather Resistant Binoculars are pretty dam amazing but also incredibly expensive. They are tempting though thanks to their great features.

To start off with, they are incredibly light at just 8.05 oz, lighter than any others in the review. While being light they are packed full of amazing things. The 8x zoom with the 20mm lens gives you and crispy clear image.

There are also adjustable eyecups, a quick focus wheel, and a right eye diopter so you can get the perfect settings that suit you. This will ensure you get ultimate comfort when using these binos, even if your eyes aren’t the same.

They come in a waterproof sealed case that’s filled with inert gas to make sure it’s fog proof. You won’t have to worry about any internal fogging or wet weather using these. The lenses are coated in AquaDura that is excellent at repelling water so you always get a clear image.

Overall these binoculars have a lot to offer, especially for a pair that is so small. But, the high price does put it out of reach for most people.

Celestron Nature DX Binoculars

The Celestron Nature DX Binoculars do a great job of balancing affordability with great quality and portability. At just 18 oz, they are easy to throw into your backpack or carry on a long walk without you feeling any kind of discomfort.

With a 32mm lens and 8x zoom that can focus on around 6.5ft, the binos are a perfect choice for anyone who is into birding or wants solid pair that they can carry around.

The lenses are multi-coated to give you bright and crisp images, even in low light. They are great resolution and contrast too, allowing you to see all the details of your image.

The housing is made from polycarbonate and comes with rubber armor to protect them on bumpy roads or from the occasional drop. To add to their durability, they’re also waterproof and fog proof, so no matter the weather, you’ll be able to get clear, crisp images without any worries of damaging them.

Another great thing about these is that they come with everything you need. A carry case, lens caps, an eyepiece rain guard, neck strap, lens cloth, and an instruction manual are all included.

The only downside to these binos is that some find them tricky to focus, although you will get used to it, and the eye relief can be a little loose.

Other than that, these are one of the best binos in the review that hit every nail on the head in terms of durability, image quality, portability, and affordability.

Bushnell H2O Prism Binocular

Bushnell has been in the binocular game for a while now and has got a reputation for making world-class binoculars as well as excellent affordable ones too. The Bushnell H2O Prism Binocular are the first sub $100 binos to feature in the review, and while they might be a little less expensive they still deliver to a high standard.

The build quality is excellent with an armored rubber coating and soft texture grip, you can be sure they’ll bounce rather than break, plus the chances of them slipping out your hand is minimal. They are also waterproof and fog proof, so you can use them no matter the weather without any worries.

The 42mm lenses are said to give almost HD clarity and this is thanks to the BaK 4 prisms and multi-coated lenses that give you crisp images with some extra light transmission, although they aren’t the best for low light conditions, I guess you can’t have it all.

With 8x magnification and a 12-foot close focus distance, they are ideal for casual walks and hiking when you want to spot birds or other animals in the wild. They would be great on safari.

The focus now is easy to use, as are the twist eyecups plus if anything happens they are backed by Bushnells limited lifetime warranty.

Nikon Trailblazer Waterproof Binoculars

Nikon makes great optics and you only brave to pick up one of their expensive cameras or binoculars to see that. The Nikon Trailblazer Waterproof Binoculars are on the sub $100 affordable side of their optics but do an excellent job for the price.

At just 19 oz. they are light enough to take on a casual walk or throw into your backpack for a hiking trip. Made with lead and arsenic-free Eco-Glass, a rubber-armored body, and nitrogen filled to be waterproof and fog proof, these binos aren’t going anywhere soon and will handle the wear and tear of the trail.

They come with 42 mm lenses and an 8x optical zoom, which is more than enough for pair of small binoculars. The field of view at 1000 yards is 429 ft, almost 100ft more than others and the high-index BAK4 roof prisms deliver extra-high resolution images so you can see all the details.

They deliver excellent images in all conditions, especially in bright and low light. The only negative is that the eye relief is a bit loose and if you put too much pressure on them, you may find they move in naturally.

Otherwise, these are an awesome pair of binoculars that deliver exceptional quality for a small price tag.

Bushnell PowerView 2 Binoculars

If you’re just looking for a pair of good binoculars for occasional trips, then spending $100 or so probably isn’t that appealing. Don’t worry though, the Bushnell PowerView 2 Binoculars have got you covered.

For a sub $50 price, you do sacrifice image quality but you’ll still be able to see what you need to if you’re not taking it too seriously.

These binoculars are exceptionally light at 8.5 oz. and you’ll barely notice them around your next or in your bag. In fact, you could leave them in your bag for any emergency viewing opportunities.

They come with 2mm lenses and a 10x optical zoom so you can really up close and personal, just make sure your hands are steady. The optics are multi-coated and designed to create vibrant images in low light. The focus will is easy to use and you can get in on your target with ease.

In terms of durability, they are made with an aluminum chassis with soft rubber grips around the outside. They will take a few knocks but you should be careful with them.

The downsides are that they aren’t waterproof or fog proof, which is what makes them so affordable. Otherwise, if you’re a casual bino user on a budget, these might be up your street.