Nocs Provisions just launched a snazzy new pair of high-power, waterproof binoculars aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, and I climbed to the top of Washington State’s Little Si Mountain to test their durability and optical performance.
Perhaps best known for its appearance as the smaller mountain in the cult classic TV show, Twin Peaks, Little Si is a fairly manageable 1,500-foot climb from base to summit. The payoff is sweeping views of the Snoqualmie Valley and the Northern Cascade Mountain Range.
And thanks to mild temperatures and clear blue skies, I was able to see with epic clarity and detail for miles and miles through the new Nocs Field Issue 42 binoculars, priced at $199 via Nocs directly.
My new gold-standard hiking optic, below are the five biggest reasons why I may never hit the trails again without the new Nocs Field Issue 42 binoculars around my neck.
1. Incredible zoom and clarity in a compact (ish) package
There are two variants of the Nocs Field Issue 42 binoculars. They both are roughly the same size and weight, but one offers 8x zoom, which is what I tested; the other boasts 10x zoom.
For a pair of full-sized binoculars, these bad boys are impressively lightweight, clocking in at around 1.3 pounds with a length of around 5.5 inches, which just so happens to fit perfectly in my hands.
The first time I held them up to my eyes, I was literally blown away. Despite a little bit of afternoon heat haze, I was able to see the mountain peaks several miles across the valley with amazing clarity and no visible distortion of aberrations.
The next day, I pointed them at Mount Rainier, our local, active, stratovolcano, which is situated roughly 60 miles from my home in Seattle. Dear readers, I was seriously floored by the amount of detail visible on the mighty mountain's northern face.
For the first time, I spotted geographic features I'd never laid eyes on, including crevasses on the Carbon Glacier, intricate and jagged ridgelines, possible avalanche debris fields, and more.
2. Playful and practical design
Nocs has a reputation for making easy-to-carry, tough-built optics in aesthetically pleasing colors, including the more compact binoculars shown on the left in the image above. And the latest Nocs Field Issue 42 is no exception. Choose from Eddy Blue, Jade, Sage, or Brick Red.
The Field Issue 42 is also packed with useful features, like built-in lens covers and attachment points for the included (and comfortable) neck strap. Meanwhile, an oversized focus adjustment knob at the center of the Nocs turns with a satisfying amount of resistance.
Meanwhile, the exterior of the binoculars is coated in a grippy, rubberized material that features a textured 'ToughWave' design, making it easy to hold even in cold/wet conditions.
3. Impact-resistant and waterproof
The Nocs Field Issue 42 binoculars are water and fog-proof, carrying an IPX7 rating against moisture. This translates into the ability to survive complete immersions, albeit for short periods of time.
The interior of the optics is sealed and filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging and other forms of distortion that may occur from shifting temperatures and/or humidity levels; meanwhile, the exterior is designed to take bumps, bruises, and abrasions like a champ.
The exposed glass is fairly well protected on either end, but also boasts a scratch-resistant design for added durability. The elements additionally feature a mix of coatings to combat internal reflections and other optical uglies, like chromatic aberrations (purple/green fringing).
4. Accommodates glasses with ease
Again, similar to other optics in the Nocs family, like the fantastic Nocs Field Tube monocular, the new Field Issue 42 binoculars sport twist-up eyecups to better accommodate folks who wear glasses, like me. There's also a diopter adjustment knob to dial in just the right amount of sharpness.
You can additionally adjust the distance between the two optics by pushing or pulling the two tubes closer or apart. With plenty of range to suit most face types, I suspect the vast majority of users will find these comfortable to look through, even for extended periods.
5. $199 and backed by a lifetime warranty
The Nocs Field Issue binoculars are available as of today in two optical variants, either with 10x or 8x zoom. I tested the latter, which comes in your choice of blue or green for $199 via Nocs directly. The 10x option is available in sage or red, also for $199.
While you can easily find bargain-level binoculars on Amazon that look close to these for well under $100, when compared to similarly high-quality options, like the Nikon Monarch M7 binoculars, which cost a whopping $549, the Nocs Field Issue 42 suddenly seems like a steal.
Better yet, all Nocs products are backed with a 'no matter what' lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
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