Binoculars recommendation for Alaska.

[Yehootu]

I have 2 small compact pairs, 10x25 and 6x20. Want to get a good pair, without going to big. Any recommendations?

Mahalo, Tim

[bonvoyagie]

I have two pair an 8x and 10x. one was a gift the other was purchased for our first AK cruise. To choose the ones for the cruise, we went to a local sporting goods store, the scope expert there had also been on an AK cruise and had a good idea of what we would be looking for and at what distance.

 

He escorted us to the parking lot with 4 different choices that were all in our price range. We picked out an object on the far side of the lot that he said was about the average distance to the shore from the ship. We tried all four scopes and picked the one we both liked - it turned out to be a Nikon 8x42. They were a good combination of size, weight, and gave enough magnification to be able to scan the trees for eagles.

[flatlander321]

I bought a pair of 8x42 Nikon Monarch 3 binoculars for our upcoming trip to Alaska. They work well with glasses and are designed for rough use.

 

If weight and size are a big factor, then you should handle several models in person. What do you not like about the 2 you have now?

[RickinStl]

We bought the Pentax 10x25 UCF WP from our camera store. I've used them at concerts and around. I think they were around 150.00

[Alaskanb]

I got these when they were on sale on Amazon -- fit me well. I have no place to try out lots of binoculars so have to predict what will work well from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-71344-Outland-Binocular-Green/dp/B00NJTN592?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

We also have some Bushnells that are similar and some 10 x25's that we use for backyard birding.

[Yehootu]

I bought a pair of 8x42 Nikon Monarch 3 binoculars for our upcoming trip to Alaska. They work well with glasses and are designed for rough use.

 

If weight and size are a big factor, then you should handle several models in person. What do you not like about the 2 you have now?

I typed wrong! Mine are 8x25, not 10. I was just curious what others had and if 8x was enough, or if I should go to a 10x. I've used the 8x25 bushnells for football games as well on other cruises for whale watching. Just figured this might be only time going to cruise Alaska ( guess ya never know ) wanted to get the best for the trip.

[guy999]

i'm looking renting some expensive binoculars for my trip, but they aren't cheap, more designed for hunting apparently.

[flatlander321]

I typed wrong! Mine are 8x25, not 10. I was just curious what others had and if 8x was enough, or if I should go to a 10x. I've used the 8x25 bushnells for football games as well on other cruises for whale watching. Just figured this might be only time going to cruise Alaska ( guess ya never know ) wanted to get the best for the trip.

 

8x is about the max recommended for boat or ship use, unless they are expensive, stabilized binoculars. How did the 8x25s work for you on previous watch trips?

 

The thing I worry about with Alaska is variable weather.

 

One recommendation is to look into Bushnell Excursion HD 8x42 binoculars. They perform well above their cost. I have the 10x42 version, but they are on the edge, field of view-wise, for use with my glasses. Without my glasses, they compare well to the Nikon Monarch 3.

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Excursion-Roof-Prism-Binocular/dp/B00M1S9L5O

Edited April 11, 2016 by flatlander321

[Alaskanb]

My understanding is that for an Alaska trip you need a wide field of view so we are leaving our 8/10 x 25's at home. I looked for waterproof / fog-proof ones that were not too heavy and large. The Celestron 71344 Outland X 8x42 Binocular ones fit me fine. I'm 5' 3" with small arthritic hands.

[Yehootu]

On our fishing boat we use 4x41 wide views. Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I might look for a wider view pair. Think my wife might get sick using anything stronger then an 8. She doesn't do to good on our 43ft boat even when she's not using the binos( makes for quiet fishing trips with the boys).

Tim

[onespots]

I have found for me the 8X42 are the best for stablization because the boat is moving or rocking in calm waters. Also on land I found the 10X42 difficult to hold steady. There are many brands available & you need to try them out to make a good decision. High price does not mean the best quality.

 

I ended up with a pair of Vortex 8X42

Wife liked the Bushnell XLT 8X32

These were purchased at an outdoor/sporting goods store after testing. They have served us well in Alaska & many more outdoor adventures.

 

Happy Travels, John

[dhmom99]

there are many good binoculars out there. My DH used to own a pair of Zeiss. But it was 7x35 and becoming increasingly blurry over the many years of use. We bought some Zen-Ray VISTA binoculars based on the recommendation on this board and couldn't be happier. We got one pair of 8x and one pair of 10x

 

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/vista.html

[donaldsc]

I have 2 small compact pairs, 10x25 and 6x20. Want to get a good pair, without going to big. Any recommendations?

Mahalo, Tim

 

Do you wear glasses?

 

DON

[donaldsc]

On our fishing boat we use 4x41 wide views. Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I might look for a wider view pair. Think my wife might get sick using anything stronger then an 8. She doesn't do to good on our 43ft boat even when she's not using the binos( makes for quiet fishing trips with the boys).

Tim

 

If your wife has sickness problems exacerbated by using binoculars, you might try getting her image stabilized binoculars. They are more expensive and heavier but they do provide good image stabilization.

 

DON

[Alaska0799]

My 25-year-old Leupold 10x42 binocular is still performing beautifully. While it's slightly heavier than the current Mojave line of Leupold, I'm so accustomed to it, that it's like an appendage now! Have spotted countless whales, other marine mammals and lots of birds with it on all of our Alaska cruises and will use them again on our 9th Alaska cruise in about 6 weeks. Saw the 10x42 Mojave at Cabela's recently for $300-$400. Cannot beat Leupold's lifetime warranty! Whatever binocular you decide to use, be sure to spend enough time using them before the cruise to be able to move quickly to zero-in on fast moving wildlife! If spotting wildlife is a priority, don't leave the cabin without your binocular!

 

Happy Alaska wildlife spotting!

[CalJas]

I just bought Zeiss 10X42 Terra ED and love them. They are fog and waterproof as well. The viewing is crystal clear and a great value for the Zeiss name!

[plenox]

For bear and eagle watching, we always packed our ZRS HD binoculars. On the boat, we use 8x binos.

[mytime53]

My advice for binoculars:

 

#1. Consider them a lifelong investment, not a once-in-a-lifetime use; buy the best you can afford.

 

#2. Educate yourself on what the numbers and other terminology used in descriptions of binoculars mean before you purchase.

 

#3. Go to stores and try out many makes and models, including ones that are above your price range.

 

#3. Once you purchase them, PRACTICE with them before you need them.

 

#4. Don't confuse magnification of binoculars with zoom on a camera. My 65x zoom doesn't begin to compare with my 10x binoculars.

 

 

My Zen-Ray ED2 have been around the world. I'm about to purchase a new pair of binoculars...not because there's anything wrong with what I have, but because I "need" another pair, to keep in the car/motorhome. I'll get Zen-Ray again, because they compare very favorably to the Zeiss and Swarovski that we have. But unlike those, we don't worry about traveling with them or letting the grandkids use them, because the price is so much less.

[lenquixote66]

I bought a pair of Nikon Monarchs 8 x 25. Luckily I live in NYC and was able to go to B and H where I tried several pairs. I liked them for ease of use, quality optics, lightweight and waterproof. My husband has a much larger pair of bins (10 x 42) that he uses with a harness. They are quality optics as well but very heavy. He is taking those to Alaska. I figured between my backpack, my camera case and these I didn't want to be weighed down any more so the extra weight became a deciding factor for me. I also read somewhere that when you are out on the water that sometimes a 10X pair can tend to make you seasick. Don't know if it is true but I was seasick once on a chartered fishing boat and I would have paid every last cent in my checkbook to get me off that boat. Don't want to feel that again. LOL

 

I lived in NYC when I bought my first binoculars .I have a Stellar Prestige Prism Binoculars (16x50) .They are the best I ever bought .

[Putterdude]

You don't have to mortgage the farm to purchase binoculars. I have a pair of 8X 50 Fujinon marine binoculars but at $500 a copy they are overkill for most peoples needs....bearing in mind they are likely going to spend most of their lives in the back of the closet. I would certainly stay with something that is 7X or 8X, that is the marine standard. When you get to 10X and higher you run the risk of motion sickness on a ship or boat and at least will make focusing hard from a ship or boat. I would shop around for something that is under $100; for instance I have a set of inexpensive 7X35 Bushnells that are kept in the car, cost something like $50 or $60 and are more than adequate for occasional use.

[knittingGal]

like many other posters mentioned, I don't want to spend too much on binoculars as we only use them less than a dozen times a year. To us, the $150 Zen-Ray VISTA is more than sufficient to us. We took it to local REI and compare against the Nikon binos that sell for $400. We could not find any difference between them.

 

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/vista.html

[Lisa77064]

And here I was impressed with my little Humvee 10 x 42 compact binoculars ruby red lenses for $23.50 for an upcoming Alaska cruise <laughing>. They'll probably be a one time use. I played with them outside and they sure as heck impressed me, the total novice.

 

What shocked me the most was that I am blind as a bat without my glasses and I used these binocs without my glasses and could clearly see the raindrops bouncing off a BBQ Pit at the opposite end of the street. Wish I could see that clear with my glasses on. Crazy.

 

Hopefully they'll be good enough to spot something wild and crazy in Alaska.