Best compact binoculars 2023: Lightweight, travel-friendly models

Are you looking for the best compact binoculars that you can easily take anywhere with you? For people who need to travel light or have limited luggage space but still want to enjoy clear views of birds, wildlife and the night sky, compact binoculars are the ideal choice. We've carefully tested, reviewed and ranked the best lightweight and portable binoculars available. Some binoculars didn't make it into this guide because they were either too large, had low-quality optics or proved unreliable during testing.

While serious skywatchers and wildlife enthusiasts may want to choose larger binoculars with bigger apertures and power (magnification) or even tripod-mounted telescopes for long viewing sessions or for sharing views, generalist observers often only need something portable, sometimes even pocketable and at a price point that doesn't break the bank. 

The models we've selected in this guide are for everyday users and are perfectly good for casual skywatching and wildlife viewing. Compact binoculars are handy for most users, but we've also tested the best binoculars for kids so young astronomers with smaller hands and faces can enjoy the night sky too.

Read on for our selection of the best compact binoculars and check out our linked reviews if you'd like to see more in-depth information on a specific model.

Jase Parnell-Brookes

Jase Parnell-Brookes is an award-winning photographer, educator and writer based in the UK. They won the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters Jase has spent a good chunk of two decades studying and working in photography and optics shooting and writing all over the world for big-name brands and media outlets. Now the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space.com their speciality is in low light optics and camera systems.

The quick list

Best compact binoculars we recommend in 2023

Best overall

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Olympus has long been a leading manufacturer of optical instruments, and these Olympus WP II 8x25 binoculars are available in either black, deep purple or forest green. Beyond just that, they provide plenty more than just a pleasing aesthetic.

In our Olympus 8x25 WP II binocular review, we were quite impressed with the good relative brightness despite the small 25mm diameter and modest 8x magnification.

The lenses have full multi-coating which means they are coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective material to reduce glare and enhance image quality. They boast BaK-4 prisms with phase coatings to keep the color of the light as true to life as possible — they tick all the boxes for optical quality.

These binoculars are incredibly durable and can handle tough conditions without any issues. They are completely waterproof and have nitrogen inside to prevent them from fogging up, which makes them great for using on a chilly night after being inside a warm pocket. They are quite small, measuring only 4.48 x 4.52 x 1.77 inches, and super light at just 9.17 ounces.

These top qualities result in a higher price point than other items on this list, but they're still sub $90!

• Read our full Olympus 8x25 WP II review

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Best for portability

These Nikon Aculon T02 8x21 binoculars are extremely compact, at just 3.4 x 4.1-inches (8.6 x 10.4cm), and an incredibly lightweight 6.9 oz (196g).

Their portability is a little hampered by their limited ability to fold at the single central hinge, unlike many compact binoculars, which use two hinges. However, the single hinge's adjustment range of 56 to 72 mm between the eyes should allow for comfortable use by both adults and kids.

The Aculon T02 looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. They are available in several colors (depending on the store and region). We especially like the addition of white, which makes these binoculars easy to find if laid in the dark when stargazing — something you might not immediately consider. Even though they don't have rubber grips like bigger binoculars, their compact size allows you to hold them securely without dropping, and their smooth design makes them easy to slide in and out of your pocket.

Price-wise, they sit at the lower end of Nikon's binocular range, but they are still more expensive than many models from lesser-known brands, as is often the case with most products.

• Read more: Best Nikon binoculars

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Best build quality

If you can afford to pay a little more for the best compact binoculars, consider the Minox X-Lite 8x26 — they are considerably more affordable than the company's alternative X-Active range but still boast high performance and excellent build quality. The X-Lite range is versatile and perfect for all outdoor activities, whether hiking, traveling, bird watching, or stargazing. These optics are the go-to for all your needs.

They are on the heavier side (for compact binoculars) at 10 oz /289 g, which is relative to the robust build quality, and they are still nicely compact at 4.61 x 4.53 x 1.57-inches.

The open bridge design is unusual for compact binoculars, and so is the tripod mount (adapter required, as with all but the largest binoculars). The textured exterior helps with handling, especially in cold weather.

These binoculars offer a wider field of view than you might expect from an 8x compact model, with a 6.8-degree field of view. They use K9 glass, which is of good quality (though less expensive than BaK 4 glass), along with roof prisms that have a phase correction coating. This makes them great for people who wear glasses, thanks to their adjustable eyecups. They're also designed to prevent fogging from the inside due to nitrogen filling and are waterproof according to IPX7 standards, meaning they can stay submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. This is reassuring if you plan to use them near water, like on a boat or at a lake or beach.

These binoculars are becoming more difficult to find. At the time of writing, there is a two to four-week wait for this model. Order soon if you have a date in mind that you need them by.

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Best value

Celestron is a widely recognized and appreciated brand for its exceptional range of high-quality telescopes and binoculars. We've included the UpClose G2 binoculars in our list of the best compact binoculars, as they offer attractive features at a very affordable (less than $30) price.

We'd opt for the Celestron UpClose G2 10x25 over the similar UpClose G2 8x21 due to their better twilight factor, at 15.8 instead of 13.0, which means the higher powered (and larger objective) pair gives better low-light results — much better for stargazing.

These binoculars have a rubber coating that is durable and designed to resist water damage. Additionally, they feature fold-up rubber eyecups to accommodate those who wear glasses. They are easily pocketable a just 7.5 x 5.5 x 11 cm.

Compared to other models on this list, the Celestron UpClose G2 doesn't have the most advanced specs. It has partially multi-coated lenses (not fully coated) and BK-7 glass roof prisms (instead of the preferred BaK-4 glass). However, they are reasonably priced and include a limited lifetime guarantee for added peace of mind.

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Best budget option

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These Nikon Travellite EX 8x25 binoculars are super small and lightweight, weighing only 355g and measuring just 110mm x 116mm — they can easily fit in your pocket. They come with adjustable eyecups that provide a decent range of movement (15.5mm), which is great for people who wear glasses, although not absolutely ideal.

Though primarily designed for multi-purpose daytime use, we found in our Nikon Travelite EX 8x25 review that they performed surprisingly well when we used them for looking at bright objects in the night sky. When we pointed them at the moon, we could easily see craters and loads of detail in the light & dark areas, and views of the stars were sharp and highly defined. They were able to capture even the faint pinpricks of light from distant stars that you cannot see with the naked eye. That said, the aperture is too small for serious astronomy and better suited to nature spotting or using to get closer to the action at sports or music events.

They are waterproof up to a depth of 5 meters and fog is prevented by O-ring seals and nitrogen gas within the optical system.

• Read our full Nikon Travelite EX 8x25 binoculars review

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Best handling

The Opticron Aspheric 3 binoculars may not be the smallest pair in this list, measuring 10.9 x 10.6 x 3.3cm and weighing around 300g, but their classic design is perfect for users who still want a relatively compact model, but who have larger hands. They are still small enough to be pocketable or unobtrusive in your rucksack.

The aspheric lenses in these binoculars create clearer images with little distortion, even though the field of view is slightly below average at 5-degrees for 10x magnification. These binoculars have fully coated optics to reduce glare and reflections, and their close focus makes them great for observing nature up close, like in your backyard, for instance.

The 16mm eye relief makes them friendly for glasses wearers, and the twist-up rubber eyecups make them comfortable for all users, especially for longer viewing sessions.

They are water-resistant, and they are nitrogen gas purged to prevent fogging. They come with a generous 10-year warranty for added protection, which is a testament to how long these binos should last if they are well looked after.

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Best waterproof model

These Bushnell H2O binoculars have impressive specifications for a very reasonable price, including multi-coating (though not fully multi-coated) and BaK-4 roof prisms.

We especially appreciate the large, tactile center-focus knob that enables adjustments on chilly evenings without removing gloves. The 6.9-degree field of view is very respectable too.

At 12mm, the Bushnell H20 8x25's eye relief could be more generous, so you best look elsewhere if you wear glasses. They have a rubber, textured coating to protect them from knocks and help improve hand grip.

While they're not quite pocket-sized at 127 x 101.6 x 69.5mm, they are still compact enough to toss into your backpack when you're heading on an outdoor camping trip, and you won't feel their weight. These binoculars are waterproof and nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging, plus Bushnell provides a manufacturer's guarantee for added peace of mind.

• Save money with these Bushnell binoculars deals

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Best styling

If you're having a hard time deciding between the easier-to-hold 8x magnification and the more detailed 10x magnification for closer views, especially when observing the moon and planets, there's a middle ground — 9x magnification. It combines many advantages of both options.

These Pentax US binoculars weigh just 194 grams and measure 13 x 11.6 x 5.5cm, making them incredibly lightweight. Despite this, they still boast high-quality, fully multi-coated optics. These are the lightest binoculars in the Pentax range, helped no doubt by using plastic instead of a metal chassis, and there is no rubber protective armor. Instead, there are two small thumb rests that help with grip.

The large focus wheel is exceptional, and the handling is surprisingly impressive, requiring only two rotations to move through the entire focus range. The 6-degree field of view is adequate, although not as good as some of the UD's serious rivals.

Unusually for compact binoculars, there's a tripod mount (which requires an adaptor — simple enough to pick up cheaply) and a lug on the right-hand barrel to attach the carry strap to. Finally, we love that there are five colors, including vibrant lime green and hot pink to choose from. The bright colors might make them more appealing for a child if you're buying binos as a gift.

Watch out for the 10x21 version of the Pentax UD, as they are not fully multi-coated, have less eye relief, and have an even smaller exit pupil at 2.1 mm compared to 2.3mm here. These 9x21 binoculars are a much better buy.

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Best for travel

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In our recent Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars review, we were pleasantly surprised at the optical performance of this tiny pair of pocketable binoculars.

While we wouldn't use them as our primary pair of binoculars or in low light (for anything other than lunar observations), they make an excellent 'second pair.' They can fit in a reasonably small pocket and they only take up a small amount of space in your glove box or center console.

The non-slip rubber and textured stippling make them easy to hold one-handed for hands of all different sizes, including children's.

Although Occer claims these binos as 'life waterproof,' having held them, we are hesitant to expose them to much water and certainly wouldn't trust submerging them. That said, these would be perfectly fine in mild rain conditions and provide a secure grip even with wet or sweaty fingers.

During our review, we were impressed with the relative lack of color fringing compared to comparable models from better-known brands. They are best avoided if you wear glasses, though, due to the relatively short 15mm eye relief.

• Read our full Occer 12x25 compact binoculars review

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Best for ultra-low budgets

These affordable reverse Porro small binoculars are made by Apexel, a Chinese company famous for its smartphone lens accessories.

These binoculars boast a lightweight construction of just 178g, thanks to their ABS plastic body. Despite their ultra-lightweight construction, they feature fully multi-coated lenses and high-quality BaK-4 roof Porro prisms to reduce glare and reflections and enhance image clarity and color correctness.

Even toddlers with small hands will be able to operate these binoculars comfortably. They are also pretty rugged and waterproof for extra peace of mind. Check out our buying guide for the best kids binoculars for other suggestions of kid-friendly models.

These binoculars might not win any awards, but they offer excellent value for your money. You get impressive features for a budget-friendly price, and they come with a 12-month guarantee.

• Read more: Best telescopes to see planets

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Best for high magnification

Sunagor specializes in producing high-power binoculars, and they claim that these are the smallest and lightest 18x magnification binoculars available on the market. They weigh less than 200g and are undoubtedly portable and pocketable, but due to their single-hinge design, they don't fold up as small as other models in this guide. These lenses may not have full multi-coating and no assurance of premium glass in the barrels, but they do offer an impressive 18x magnification, and the image clarity is satisfactory for regular usage.

One drawback of this is that the high magnification makes it difficult to hold them by hand, and there is no tripod socket available, so you'll need to be able to hold your binoculars steady. Though their light weight means they are easier to hold than bigger binoculars with this amount of power, we still wouldn't recommend kids using them as the inevitable wobble (every wobble is also magnified 18x) will quickly become frustrating.

These binoculars have small 21mm objective lenses, so they're not ideal for astronomy. However, we've included them because they can still give you that 'wow' experience when you use their 18x magnification to observe the moon for the first time.

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Best for versatility

When is a pair of binoculars not a pair of binoculars? When it's a pair of monoculars. Pentax's slightly gimmicky binos can disassemble to provide two 4x monoculars and then screw together to create a 16x spotting scope.

Although they are not the lightest on the market, weighing in at 12.9 oz (345 g), they feel more substantial and less toy-like than others. You'd be hard-pressed to find something more compact.

Although this model is undeniably versatile, it does come with a set of compromises. For a start, each tube has to be focused independently, which soon becomes tedious. Even though they only give a 4x magnification in binocular mode, they have a wide field of view.

If the magnification is underwhelming, you can convert to telescope mode for 16x magnification. Bear in mind that this results in a very narrow field of view of just 2.6 degrees, so the usefulness of this is questionable. We expect it to give a worthwhile view of the moon but not much else in the night sky.

When separated into monoculars, two users can benefit from the additional light-gathering power over the human eye, making it easier to spot more stars and celestial objects. However, this is a rather expensive option for buying low-power instruments — you'd be better off buying two decent pairs of binoculars instead. Although they may not be a top recommendation, we've included these binoculars for their cleverness and novelty factor.

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Compact Binoculars FAQ

• Related: How to hold binoculars steady 

How we test the best compact binoculars

To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best compact binoculars to buy here at Space.com, we make sure to put every binocular through a rigorous review to test each instrument fully. Each telescope is reviewed based on many aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and how it performs in the field.

Each pair of binoculars is carefully tested by our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each binocular and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use. For example, comparing a pair of 25x100 mammoth binoculars to a compact pair of 8x25s wouldn't be appropriate though each binocular might be the best pick in their own class.

We look at how easy they are to operate, whether the length of eye relief can be adjusted for spectacles wearer (the more the better), if a binocular comes with appropriate accessories (lens caps, neck strap, cleaning cloths) or carry bags and also make suggestions if a particular set of binos would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best viewing experience possible.

With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on binoculars, whether you should purchase an instrument or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.

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