Nikon Trailblazer 8x25mm ATB Binoculars - Compact, Waterproof & Fogproof, Bright Multilayer-Coated Optics, Roof Prism - All-Terrain Outdoor Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Binoculars (8217)

I will start with the most important thing where binoculars are concerned. The glass in the Trailblazers is Made in Japan, not China. Japan makes some of the best optics on Earth at a competitive price just about anyone can afford if they want value for their money. While it is true the Trailblazers are put together in China the glass is world class. I find them to be great all-around compact binoculars perfect for hiking or simply having at hand no matter what one wants a better look at. The glove compartment is ideal in my opinion. The Trailblazer binoculars are great for hiking, fishing, ball games, the Moon, and so on. While solidly built they are still relatively light. Much lighter than full size binoculars and easy to stash in a pocket. If you are not sold then my best advice would be to spend about $300 to $350 on a pair of Zeiss Terra ED compact binoculars. Both binocular lines are at the top of their class.... One thing I should add... Smaller Binoculars can be a little more difficult at first than larger binoculars to find the sweet spot for your eyes to fully benefit from them. Try going to extremes .. fully spread, then compare the view with less and less spread. Turn the eyepieces from short to long and just play with the glasses for a while and you will probably find the sweet spot for your face and eyes. Every time I have ever done this it may have taken a while but when I find the right adjustments it is definitely worth the time IMO, no matter which binoculars you buy. Happy Birding!

Used to be a serious birdwatcher, but I'm getting into ultralight backpacking recently, still want to take binoculars with me as my luxury/heavy item. As someone who had gotten used to $650 binoculars, I was dreading what I thought would be an inevitable drop in optical quality when switching to an ultralight model. I was amazed at the optical quality on this light, tiny, fogproof/waterproof pair of binoculars. Crisp image, good light collecting in darker conditions. At the price point, I feel like anyone who wants to lighten their load should not hesitate to get a pair. Only issues are the eyepiece lens caps absolutely suck. They aren't sized right or the material is too smooth. I put a small strip of duct tape on the insides of the rim of they lens caps and that made the friction good enough for them to stay in place quite firmly. There are no front caps. The focus knob is small and slow compared to a more expensive binocular, so not great if you're trying to do high-powered/fast moving birding with lots of refocusing. I hope to test these out agains the Papilio series, but those are not fogproof/waterproof (which usually correlates with dust vulnerability as well).

Perform all out of expectation for their size and cost. Outstanding clarity and brightness. Only sacrifice field of view. Solid construction. Without the case they fit in a pocket. My wife and I avid bird watchers. We each carry these as unexpected opportunity binoculars. Not our primary binoculars, but great traveling and convenience binoculars. Super value.

These are a very nice compromise between portability and optical quality in good lighting conditions. Of course, a larger objective would give better low light performance, but that comes at the cost of extra weight and bulk. Build quality is good overall, but the extending eyepieces will not stay extended. Aside from this annoyance, I am happy with the binoculars.

Ordered these to replace a pair of $30 8x21's that were never dropped or abused, but still the left and right images got way out of alignment, with no correction possible. Decided it was time to get a "name brand", and so far am very glad I did. Nice clear, crisp optics, and a close focus distance of less than 7 feet! Solid, somewhat heavier construction than the $30 binocs, and the 25 mm objective lens provides a brighter image for low light conditions, plus a wider (8.2 degree) field of view. Still compact and very portable for hiking, bird-watching and other activities. I do agree with other reviewers that the rubber eyepiece caps fit too loosely and, because they are also not connected to each other or the binoc body, they are almost certain to get lost. Also, there are no lens caps for the objective lenses. Overall, I am very happy with these binocs.

For what I want them they are good binoculars. I can see enough in view finder to be able to find what I really want to look at. They are not heavy. The eyepieces, that other users complained about are not perfect, however overall it is a good product.

The glass on these are great for less than $100. Pros: Very easy to carry and use. Field of view is amazing for a compact bino. Form factor is a plus with a small footprint and reasonable build quality. For the size and price the glass punches way above its price. The best binos are the ones you are carrying and these are easy to carry. Cons: Lens covers will get lost. Eye cup adjustments are too loose. They are either up or down and too loose to stay set anywhere in between. Not so great for low light. Focus rotation is the opposite of every other set of binos I own (turn left for closer focus and right for distant focus). Not a big deal but just a heads up. Overall, if you are looking for a compact set that are easy to carry for hiking, sporting events, or a backup set these are perfect.

GOOD FOR HIKING AND CAMPING,WHERE SIZE MATTERS.