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10 Best Lightweight Birdwatching Binoculars (2020 Review)

best lightweight birdwatching binoculars
10x42 Binoculars for Bird Watching - Professional HD Quality Roof Prism Bird Watching Binoculars for...
  • 💎 COMPLETE KIT WITH ALL ACCESSORIES - Everything you need is included in our premium gift box...
  • 💎 CRYSTAL CLEAR OPTICS - Our powerful professional grade binoculars boast high definition FMC...
  • 💎 MULTI-PURPOSE & PORTABLE - Built with an ergonomic soft rubber body design, our binoculars are...

Noptix 10 x 42 Binoculars for birdwatching

  • Weight: 2.44 pounds
  • Magnification: 10x

While this is a pricier selection, you aren’t only buying the binoculars themselves. They come with plenty of accessories, such as a phone adapter and a tripod. This tripod would eliminate the need to get a lightweight pair of binoculars if that’s your concern! It’s a small investment piece, but well worth it!

Lightweight Birdwatching Binoculars with the Most Range of Features

Sale
SkyGenius 10 x 50 Binoculars for Adults Powerful Full-Size, Clear Durable Binoculars for Bird...
  • [Professional Powerful Binoculars] SkyGenius 10x50 Binoculars Designed with 10X power magnification,...
  • [Weak Light Vision with Quality Optics] Design of Aspherical lenses and multi-layer coating...
  • [Durable, Solid, and Anti-slip Grip] Binoculars adopted durable structure with odorless rubber armor...

SkyGenius 10×50 Binoculars

  • Weight: 1.75 lb
  • Field of vision: 367 ft/1,000Yds
  • Angle of vision: 6.2º
  • Exit pupil: 5mm
  • Adaptable to tripod: Yes

This pair is great if you need a pretty lightweight pair of binoculars with a large field of vision. They’re also really durable for their weight! This pair would be perfect for bird watching where there’s a lot of walking required or a terrain that’s a bit rougher than your average park scene.

Sale
Celestron – Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars – Outdoor and Birding Binocular – Fully Multi-Coated...
  • Nature Dx 8 X 42 Binocular; 10 x 42 Exit Pupil
  • 10 x 42 Exit Pupil
  • 8 x 42 Exit Pupil

Celestron Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars

  • Weight: 1.75 pounds
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm (1.65”)
  • Field of View (degrees): 7.4 degrees
  • Field of View (feet @ 1000yds): 388
  • Lens Coatings: Fully Multi-coated
  • Prism Glass (Type): BaK4
  • IPD (mm): 56-74
  • Prism Coating: Phase Coating
  • Close Focus Distance (feet): 6.5
  • Eye Relief (mm): 18
  • Environmental Protection: Waterproof
  • Tripod Adaptable: Yes

These are a pretty light pair for the features. Although they’re a little pricier than the rest of them, they likely provide the clearest view of all the binoculars. This pair is coated in rubber and is waterproof and fog proof. You can bird watch in all types of conditions! You can also cover the lenses with a little screw-on cap.

Sale
Barska Crush 10x42 Shockproof Lightweight Colorful Binoculars Fully-Multi Coated for Hunting,...
  • Crush Binoculars: The crush binoculars features 10x magnification, suitable for all kinds of outdoor...
  • Premium Optics: The binoculars comes with fully multi-coated optics, 42mm objective lens, and BAK-4...
  • Rugged Design: The binoculars are protected with shock-absorbing rubber armor with a variety of...

BARSKA Crush 10×42 Shockproof Binoculars

  • Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Prism Type: Roof
  • Prism Glass: BAK-4
  • Close Focus (ft/m): 6.56ft/2.5m
  • Eye Relief: 13.6mm
  • Field of View (ft@1000yds/m@1000m) 305ft@1000yds, 102m@1000m
  • Optical Coating: Fully Multi-Coated
  • 10x Magnification
  • 42mm Objective Lenses
  • Fully Multi-Coated Optics
  • Fold-Down Eyecups
  • Large Center Focus Knob
  • Shock-Absorbing Rubber Armor
  • Attachment Point for Tripod Adapter
  • Included: Carrying Case; Neck Strap; Lens Cloth

This option is sort of a cross between a heavy-duty (yet lightweight) pair and a smaller, more portable version. It is shockproof, so built for drops on rougher expeditions, but stylish enough that it comes in various colors (unlike the majority of binoculars). BARSKA also has a line of binoculars with the same dimensions but different weights, depending on your needs!

Best All-Around Lightweight Binoculars for Birding

Sale
Nikon Aculon A30 10x25 Black Binocular (8263) | Dual Hinge Design, Fully Multi-Coated Lightweight...
  • Multicoated Lenses
  • Smooth Central Focus Knob
  • Weighs less than 10 ounces

Nikon Aculon A30 10×25

  • Weight: 0.63 pounds
  • 10x Magnification
  • Smooth Central Focus Knob
  • Weighs less than 10 ounces
  • Wide FOV: 262 ft at 1000 yds
  • Close focus distance: 8.2 ft
  • Eye relief: 10.6 mm
  • Roof prism

Nikon lives up to its reputation with this all-around winner for binocular picks. Combining clear picture, moderate price, and plenty of features wrapped into one, lightweight pair – Nikon takes the cake. You can watch birds near and far with this pair and feel like every capability is there. This pair of binoculars are perfect for the everyday birder.

Amazon’s Best Seller List of Lightweight Birding Binoculars

SaleBestseller No. 1
Aurosports 10x25 Binoculars for Adults and Kids, Large View Compact Binoculars with Low Light...
  • 【Upgraded 15mm Large Eyepiece Binoculars】 With 15mm large eyepiece, Aurosports 10x25 binoculars...
  • 【High-Definition 10x25 Binoculars】 10x power magnification, helps quickly catch long range...
  • 【Compact Lightweight Binoculars, Only 0.5lb】 Compared with other large and heavy binoculars,...
SaleBestseller No. 2
Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars for Adults and Kids - Large Eyepiece Waterproof Binoculars for Bird...
  • 【HIGH-POWERED LARGE EYEPIECE BINOCULARS】 This binoculars for adults has 12x magnification, 25mm...
  • 【ADJUSTABLE EYE CUPS FIT EYEGLASS WEARERS OR NOT】The binocs can be pull down the rubber...
  • 【FMC BROADBAND COATING TECHNOLOGY】The lightweight cruise binoculars is cover with BAK4 prism...
SaleBestseller No. 3
Binoculars for Adults, 12x42 Waterproof and Durable Binoculars with Multi-Coated Optics and...
  • 【𝟏𝟐𝐱 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝...
  • 【𝟐𝟑𝐦𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞...
  • 【𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧...

How to Choose Binoculars for Bird Watching

What Kind Of Binoculars Should I Get For Birdwatching?

Technical aspects

The primary way to determine what you’ll see through your binoculars is through the way they’re described. They’re defined by a pair of numbers on their labels, such as the aforementioned 10×25 and 8×42.

When deciding which pair to get, analyze what you are looking for. The way the two numbers are organized is:

  • The first number, which is the magnification
  • Then an x, which is simply shorthand for by
  • The second number, which represents the aperture

Magnification

The first number represents magnification or “power.”

These numbers aren’t just a random scale; they also inform you of how zoomed in or how much closer the object appears than if you were just looking at it directly. For example, an 8 power magnification means it’s 8 times closer than you would see with your naked eye.

Typically, you buy birdwatching binoculars with a preset zoom. However, you can adjust the zoom yourself with a more advanced type, called zoom binoculars. Zoom binoculars don’t look as clear during the day compared to regular, preset ones.

It’s best to have two pairs with different zooms, depending on what the situation calls for.

The issue with magnification is that anything too high (like 12x or more) will mean you need to hold the binoculars incredibly still. Otherwise, the magnified image will be too blurry.

It’s best to have a tripod alongside your binoculars if you really want to zoom in on a specific bird.

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