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:
Shop the best binoculars that are small and light while providing big views
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.