Pocket Binoculars

Of all the genres of binoculars available today, it is pocket binoculars that are arguably the most charming. But what exactly is a pocket binocular? Well, the clue’s in the name. These are small instruments that fold away neatly in such a way as they fit into a coat or trouser pocket. They are usually very light weight, typically under 350 g, and so can be carried literally anywhere for hours on end. And because of their emphasis on being as compact as possible, pocket binoculars are usually roof prism designs. In terms of aperture, they feature objective lenses in the 20–25 mm class and come in magnifications from 7× to 10×. If you were to google ‘pocket binoculars’ you’d likely end up with links to so many models with an enormous range of prices ranging from as little as $10 all the way up to $800. This chapter is dedicated to answering all your questions about pocket binoculars, as well as describing a number of models that may be worth pursuing and which will include one of the author’s favorite binoculars.