Top 10 Best Compact Binoculars 2023

The Hawke Nature-Trek are an excellent pair of compact binoculars that compared well in our tests for their build quality and optical performance. A fully-sealed body and nitrogen-filled optics is not always a given in this class and the fact that the optics on the Hawke Nature-Trek Compact binoculars are fully multi-coated is, at this price level, excellent. They offer a brilliantly wide field of view for a compact pair of binoculars with 10x magnification, and the close focus distance is also as good. As a general use pair of compacts these are fantastic. They are comfortable in the hand and the focus wheel is easy to reach and turn accurately, even whilst wearing gloves. At under £100 you won’t get a better pair of compact binoculars than these!

The Viking Badger 10x25 offer incredible value for money and exceptional optical quality and are an ideal pair of pocket binoculars for hiking thanks to their lightweight build. What’s more, they are fully waterproof and nitrogen-filled, so are the perfect companion for our temperamental British weather. Boasting high-quality BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics allows for crisp, bright images and a reliable viewing experience. Also available in 8x25 for a wider field of view. For under £100 you won’t find a better pair of compact binoculars!

These compacts truly are a must-have for those have little room to spare when packing! Thanks to their dual hinge, these fold down to pocketsize without issue, and remain sturdy enough to be reliable in all conditions. The Hawke Endurance ED 10x25 Compacts have the same ED glass as the full size endurance binoculars, providing crisp optics despite their petite design. As with all Hawke binoculars, these are also fog proof and waterproof. They are a little pricier than some of our other compacts, however, for fantastic image clarity and ideal travel size, they are a great price.

Our Best Buy Compact Binoculars for 2023 are the Kestrel Compact ED. Building on the success of their larger Kestrel series, Viking have just released this compact version, which distils everything that our experts loved about its larger sibling into a more pocket-friendly package: ED glass for superior colour and clarity, lightweight yet durable build, and waterproof design to help them cope with all weather conditions. What’s more, their dual-hinge design helps them fold down smaller, so you can always keep them with you in your coat pocket for when you need them most. As with our No. 1 model the Kestrel compacts are superb value for money!

A versatile and high-quality pair of compact binoculars, the Avalon Mini HD boast 8x magnification and 32mm objective lens so are a solid choice if you'd prefer something smaller than full-size bins that still handles low-light well. Avalon have done well to keep the size and weight of the Mini HD down - at well under 500g they are far lighter than a pair of full-size binoculars and comparable with some of the other compact binoculars. They are nitrogen-filled so 100% waterproof and fog proof and equipped with high-quality BAK-4 prisms. The optical quality seriously impressed us and handled lower light conditions exceptionally well. All in all a really excellent pair of compact binoculars!

Ideal for travelling light and providing great quality at an affordable price point, we are big fans of the Celestron Outland X 10x25. The lightweight and compact design means these are easy to carry in a pocket and for a 10x compact roof prism binocular we cannot fault the quality of image. They fit comfortably in the hand and the fingers of the left or right hand are well placed to focus. They are also usable with glasses thanks to the twist up eye cups for eye relief adjustment is ok but as these are compact it is not a brilliant field of view. Without glasses, however the clarity, field of view and brightness are, in my opinion, excellent for binoculars of this size which easily fit in a large coat pocket. These binoculars are small enough to take anywhere and our top choice under £50.

Designed and manufactured in Japan, the Kowa BD 8x25 compact binoculars include a number of features that are typically only found in larger models. With fully multi-coated lenses and C3 prism coatings, they provide a clear, crisp image in all light conditions. Their rubber-armoured ergonomic design makes them comfortable to use for lengthy periods of time, and protects them from any bumps and bashes they might receive while you’re out and about. They also have a remarkably close focus distance of just 1.8m, so they can be used for looking at objects up-close, too.

The Viking Traveller 10x25 binoculars are ideal for children. They are compact, lightweight, and designed with durability in mind. The 10x magnification and 25mm lens offer clear and detailed views. These binoculars are easy to use with a central focus wheel and wide field of view. They are also affordable, making them a practical choice for parents. Overall, they encourage exploration and foster a love for nature.

Finally, we have the Avalon Discovery 8x21 Pocket Binoculars, another cost-effective model. Very lightweight and compact at only 167g with a rubber armoured design which means they’re great for use on the move, as they won’t be easily damaged. And with fully-coated optics, they are solid performers, too.

For sheer value for money the Celestron Landscout 10x25 are an excellent pair of compact binoculars and ideal for smaller hands. Very easy to use and the image quality at this price is truly impressive. Ideal for birdwatching, nature observation and sightseeing with a decent field of view. The binoculars feature a lightweight and durable armor-protected chassis, which feels well made and comes coated with rubber for use outdoors. The optics are also treated with special coatings to boost light transmission for a brighter view than uncoated binoculars.