Looking for the best binoculars for boating - need recommendations
Just upgraded from a kayak to a small fishing boat and realized I need a decent pair of binoculars. Mainly for spotting buoys, checking out wildlife, and maybe a bit of coastline sightseeing.
Never bought binoculars before, so I'm pretty lost. Waterproof seems like a no-brainer, but what else should I be looking for? Any specific brands or models you'd recommend?
Thanks in advance for any tips!
Congrats on the upgrade! Yeah, waterproof is a must for boating binoculars. Also look for fog-proof and a good grip. Nothing worse than watching your new toys sink because of slippery hands.
I've been using the Nikon OceanPro 7x50 for a couple years now. Bit pricey, but they're built like a tank and the image quality is fantastic. Great in low light too.
Have you considered image-stabilized binoculars? They're amazing for use on a moving boat. The canon 10x42l is wp are incredible, but they'll put a serious dent in your wallet.
If you're on a tighter budget, the Bushnell H2O 10x42 are pretty solid boat binoculars. Not as fancy as some others mentioned, but they get the job done.
Don't go crazy with magnification. I thought bigger numbers meant better, but anything over 10x is pretty much useless on a boat unless you've got super steady hands. 7x or 10x should do the trick. Learned that after wasting money on a 16x pair I can barely use.