After a couple of hairy situations I’m changing my bailout bag. I’ve used a pair of Steiners in my main bag from the Great Grainger Goof of 2012 or so that a bunch of us jumped on, but I need a smaller pair for my smaller bag.

Looking at the Nikon Trailblazer ATB 8x25s. About $80. Anything better in this price point?

I have two pairs of these Leupold BX-1s - an 8x30 / 10x30 - they run about $100. They also make a 6x30 version as well. I have had mine for several years and take the 10x30 on work trips to look at the stars sometimes and they survive in my carry on quite well.


https://www.leupold.com/produc...-yosemite-binoculars

I think the leupolds May be too big. I’m looking for something pretty compact. Everything has to fit in a 5.11 Moab 6 that’s pretty stuffed at this point.

Take a look at the Carson brand on Amazon. I don't own a pair but two friends have Carson's and have no issues.

Yeah, I hear you. I've tried those foldable binos in the past and really hate every one of them.

whatever the smallest actually usable tube works for your eyes in that price range will be a discovery suitable for posting;

I've yet to find a satisfactory bino under the 8x30. Years ago a magnificent smaller but very clear set of shirt pocket Leica glass just did not have enough field of view for my casual daily use. Good luck.

In my EDC bag, I carry a monocular I bought 15 years ago at REI. It's not bad, a little more difficult holding it steady, but it works fine outdoors. And it is small, even in its carry pouch.



I don't think REI carries this particular one, but they have others.

Yep....if size is an issue, try a monocular. Vortex has several for your price range.

Monoculars are basically useless. Take a few months and save $50 to $100 a month. In 3-6 months you can actually buy a decent pair. Don't waste your $100 on something that is junk.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Monoculars are basically useless. Take a few months and save $50 to $100 a month. In 3-6 months you can actually buy a decent pair. Don't waste your $100 on something that is junk.

Chongo is looking for something small for EDC, reason I suggested one.

The times I have used it, it came in handy.
I carry one because no way in hell am I carrying a pair of binos 7 days a week, no matter the price or size.

While I have "Alpha" bins like Swarovski, when it comes to small pocket size I have continued to enjoy my surprising Pentax UCF-Mini 9x21 reverse porros that ran me $99 back in 1996 new. (I can't hold 10x and normally prefer 6x or 7x but these are steady, clear, and clean.) Pentax , Nikon, and Bushnell all offer similar reverse porro models, some better than others.

In the price range you're looking at porro prism designs invariably trump cheap roof prism (and many of those sport weak designed dual hinges). My "put" is to check the reverse porros out.

As an aside, if I were in the market today for an inexpensive solid pocket binocular, I'd be giving serious thought to the Pentax Papilio II 6.5x21. https://www.amazon.com/Pentax-...culars/dp/B00SKO4A8Q

https://www.birdforum.net/show...hlight=reverse+porro

https://allbestbinoculars.com/8x21-binoculars/

https://www.cloudynights.com/B...t-binoculars-bvd.php


Mine (3.4" x 4.1", 7.4oz, 6.3° TFOV for 330' @1m yds, 12mm eye relief):

REI is actively anti-gun anti-2nd amendment so I won't buy anything from them. I have a lot of high end binoculars, in my mind, Bushnell owns the low end $$ best performance niche.

30mm is about the lower limit of size I can use with 8x of magnification. The smaller lenses have so small of an “exit pupil” size, they’re very frustrating to use, particularly the 10x models.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Monoculars are basically useless. Take a few months and save $50 to $100 a month. In 3-6 months you can actually buy a decent pair. Don't waste your $100 on something that is junk.

Been using one at work for about 20 years now. Good to know...

Fast target acquisition, compact size, fits in a pocket. Handheld and discreet (most people can't see it from the side when I use it). At reasonable ranges, better and faster to use than any of the 4 pairs of actual binoculars of varying sizes that I own. I'd say that's perfect for a bail-out bag.

Ok, M9m. I will amend my statement and say in my experience a monocular has been they are pretty much useless.

Curious, what kind of work do you do where you use one. And are concerned about anyone seeing that you are spying on people?

It's above the OP's budget, but not by much and Steiner BluHorizons 10x26 Binoculars have been winning all of the reviews for compact binoculars. Might be worth a month or more of saving since they're 1/4 the price of Swarovski Pocket Pro and nearly as good.

Here is one of the reviews about them.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Ok, M9m. I will amend my statement and say in my experience a monocular has been they are pretty much useless.

Curious, what kind of work do you do where you use one. And are concerned about anyone seeing that you are spying on people?

Actually, I’m a Private Investigator. Have been for almost 30 years now.

What I figured and and am not a privi

Thanks.

I am sure there are good Monoculars. Not sure about a good one for $100 though. But maybe.

C, I have heard similar reports as Bald1 on the cheap Pentax. Also agree Bushnell also have decent cheap bino's. Not sure how compact the decent ones will be. I would recommend 6x30 or 8x32 as has also been mentioned.

quote:

As an aside, if I were in the market today for an inexpensive solid pocket binocular, I'd be giving serious thought to the Pentax Papilio II 6.5x21. https://www.amazon.com/Pentax-...culars/dp/B00SKO4A8Q

I bought a pair of Papilios for my wife for our anniversary, or was it her birthday?
Anyway, their chief claim to fame is that they focus to 1/2 meter, 20 inches. That’s why they are called “Papilio”: perfect for looking at butterflies, flowers, etc close up. In addition they are excellent, compact reverse-Porro prism binoculars for general use.

Now if someone wanted the very best compact binocular, money no object, then the new Zeiss Victory 8x25 or 10x25 is the way to go. I have 8x25’s and they are bright, have a wide field, good eye relief, can be used with or without glasses (unusual for compacts).

I have checked out some of the cheap ones at the gun show for clarity.

You should at least carry a pair in your patrol car. It is amazing what you can see stopped at a light or along the highway.

During 911, one Deputy was watching from across the road and I was attempted to wave.