Bringing a pair of binoculars with you is a great way of getting a closer view of birds, other wildlife, distant landmarks or even the stars, but they can be bulky.
Luckily, optics manufacturers are well aware that not everyone wants to carry a heavy conglomeration of glass, metal and plastic with them everywhere, so have created many more compact pairs that are perfect for a coat pocket or shoulder bag.
And while modern manufacturing techniques have made it possible to create binoculars that are smaller and lighter than old-fashioned pairs, they are still at the mercy of the laws of physics, which limit how small you can make them. Binoculars gather more light than the human eye using objective lenses that are much larger than our built-in ones. This allows them to enlarge and focus the view without things becoming so dark that you can’t see anything. The larger the lenses, the more light is gathered, and the brighter the image created, something that is particularly important for stargazing.
Once you begin cutting down the size of binoculars, therefore, you lose the benefit of that extra light-gathering power, so compact binoculars are a convenient compromise. They’ll still magnify something that’s far away, but you might find you’re less able to discern details in the image if the sun isn’t shining. On a starry night, smaller binoculars won’t show so many dim night-sky objects.
But enough of the downsides. Having a pair of compact binoculars with you on a nature walk or trip out anywhere can help you to discern and identify many small or distant objects that otherwise might get lost in the background or exist only as a moving speck in your field of view. They’re ideal for giving to kids to help get them interested in the wealth of nature around them, and will open up a whole new world of detail when trained on aeroplanes, buildings, vehicles or people.
Best compact binoculars at a glance:
- Best for hiking and outdoors: Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 - £139, Amazon
- Best for a budget buy: Kylietech High Power 12x42 - £35, Amazon
- Best for higher magnification: Celestron UpClose G2 16x32 - £45, Amazon
- Best for rainy days: Levenhuk Karma Plus 8x25 - £71, Amazon
- Best for image stabilisation: Canon 10x30 IS II - £499, Amazon
- Best for spectacle wearers: Opticron Adventurer II WP PC 10x42 - £119, Amazon
- Best for the next step: Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 - £224, Amazon
- Best for when only the best will do: Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 - £1,190, Wex Photo and Video
Shop the best binoculars that are small and light while providing big views
Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42
Best for: hiking and outdoors
About those numbers. Having 8x42 after the name means these binoculars offer an 8x magnification, and have objective lenses 42mm in diameter. That’s pretty big for a pair of compact binoculars, so while these aren’t the smallest out there, they do offer decent light-gathering abilities and enough magnification to bring things closer.
They’re also pretty light, and have a rubberised body that can take a bump or two, so they’re perfect for taking with you when you head for the great outdoors.
Buy now £139.00, Amazon
Kylietech High Power 12x42
Best for: a budget buy
Not the smallest or lightest binoculars on this list, but the Kylietech High Power does have decent magnification and lens size. They also have a tripod socket and a smartphone adapter and case in the box.
This pair produces a better image than you might suspect for something so cheap. They’re often discounted too, making them even more attractive if you’re just starting out with birdwatching or stargazing.
Buy now £35.00, Amazon
Celestron UpClose G2 16x32
Best for: higher magnification
An absolute bargain, these roof prism binoculars offer 16x magnification, twice that of many compact models. They’re ideal for sporting events and concerts, as they allow you to focus on a very small part of the view, but also come with an armoured and water resistant exterior so can be used for birding or wildlife spotting too.
Buy now £45.00, Amazon
Levenhuk Karma Plus 8x25
Best for: rainy days
Smaller objective lenses such as these mean a more compact build, and can keep size, weight and cost down. There are certainly cheaper binoculars available if you shop around, but these from Levenhuk are waterproof, user-friendly, and offer a compact and modern roof prism design.
They’re a good all-rounder, and should offer great views of whatever you’re pointing them at.
Buy now £71.00, Amazon
Canon 10x30 IS II
Best for: image stabilisation
This pair is the compact and lightweight model in Canon’s range of stabilised binoculars, but the extra electronics added by the stabilisation system means they’re larger than many on this list.
However, if the idea of binoculars that don’t shake or drift nearly so much when you’re trying to observe something appeals to you, then the 10x magnification, Porro prism design and super spectra lens coatings mean these are an excellent choice. Just don’t forget to bring batteries.
Buy now £499.00, Amazon
Opticron Adventurer II WP PC 10x42
Best for: spectacle wearers
The eye-relief of a pair of binoculars tells you how far you need to hold them from your eyes to get a good view - for people who wear glasses, this can become a problem, as they may not be able to bring them close enough. Enter a long eye-relief pair such as these from Opticron, which also sport retractable eyecups for extra adjustability. They’re also waterproof, coated in rubber, and there's a tripod adapter socket if you need more support.
Buy now £119.00, Amazon
Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42
Best for: the next step
These roof prism binoculars from Celestron tick all the right boxes, with multicoated optics, a modern roof prism design, and a magnesium alloy frame which helps keep things light. They’re a class act all round, with a tripod connector if you need extra support, eyecups that twist to adjust, and sealed, waterproof tubes. A matching 10x42 pair is often available for the same price, so you can get a small bump in magnification without having to shell out a lot more money.
Buy now £224.00, Amazon
Swarovski CL Companion 10x30
Best for: when only the best will do
These are more expensive than even Canon’s pricier stabilised binoculars, but weighing just 500g, and with Swarovski’s proprietary Swarobright coating on the roof prisms they’re tuned for maximum clarity and light transmission. They’re also scratch resistant, with a wipe-clean coating that will shrug off whatever the woods can throw at them.
Buy now £1190.00, Wex Photo Video
Verdict
The Nikon Prostaff P3 is our pick for the best compact binoculars because of the way they combine bright images, sharp views and lightness with a feeling of value. They’re ideal for taking with you when you travel, and won’t take up much space in a bag or pocket. The combination of 8x magnification with 42mm objective lenses means they let in more light than many compact optics, leading to a better view of your target and an increase in versatility, as they won’t be put aside so quickly as the evening draws in.
There are cheaper and smaller binoculars on this list, and some have clever additions such as image stabilisation, or are so well made they can cost over £1,000, but you don’t have to spend that much on compact binoculars if you don’t want to, and any of the pairs highlighted here will make an excellent addition to a hiking or wildlife watching kit.
