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Cruising in Alaska is fun, but a whack bino makes the experience unpleasant. Most sellers brag about their waterproof and fog proof equipment that promise heaven but leave you cursing when you’re not even halfway on your trip. You deserve a great bino to capture the birds, wild game and more while maneuvering in the bays and islands. It’s unnecessary to pay attention to all the features during your selection process, but if you ignore some like the magnification and objective lens diameter, then we guarantee you that you can land on a bino you’ll use once or twice and dump.
We selected the five binoculars for Alaska cruise and based our selection on the weather resistance, eye relief, prism system, length, weight and other features. You should buy a compact bino with a strap if you’re planning to use it for several hours. Your binoculars should also be able to withstand the harsh weather conditions in Alaska.
"Shock absorbing binoculars with roof prism, multi-coated lens and 17-mm eye relief.FoV of 305 ft at 1000 yds.O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged.Twist eyecups."
"Waterproof and fogproof binoculars with roof prism, high-reflective multilayer coating and 19.5-mm eye relief.FoV of 330 ft at 1000 yds.Polycarbonate body.Multi-position twist lock eyecups."
"Top-notch binoculars with Porro prism, multi-coated eco glass lenses and 8.6-mm eye relief.FoV of 199 ft at 1000 yds.Finger-tip zoom control.Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups."
With a 4.2mm exit pupil, Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars covers 305/102 [email protected] yards/ [email protected] field of view.
It offers 10X magnification and 17mm eye relief. You can use it with sunglasses though some users recommend removing it for the bino to fit in your eye sockets well and avoid stray light. Most customers used it for hunting and bird watching.
Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars has lots of awesome features. It’s waterproof and purged with Nitrogen to give you a fog-free experience in high humidity regions.
The multicoated optics and BAK 4 prism enhance your image quality while the O-ring seal fosters unparalleled light transmission fosters quality viewing.
The sellers indicate that the non-slip shock absorbing rubber offers a good grip, reducing your chances of damaging it. It also comes with twist cups.
You will get crazy accessories like the rubber lens, cloth for the lenses carrying case, and a neck strap. Some customers mention that the carrying case and strap are soft.
Experts confirm that this equipment is 100% waterproof. One user mentioned that the lenses are anti-scratch. He used them in Sandy areas in Florida, but they never got scratched.
Unlike most binoculars, Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars rubber surface does not become sticky. The manufacturer, however, warns that it can expose you to cancer-causing elements like TDI.
Overall, Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars is lightweight and well-proportioned. Some users complained that it’s hard to focus quickly and lacks night vision.
Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular is designed in Germany. Unlike most Germany-based binoculars, it does not scrimp on materials.
It has a rugged housing and fog-proof design for enhancing durability and clarity, respectively. Users mention that its 10X magnification suits hunting game.
The packaging comes with a rain guard, neck strap, carrying case and objective lens cover, shoulder strap etc.
Most users say that Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular ergonomic design makes it feel great in the hands.
The open bridge design fosters one-hand grip for watching the game. Unlike several optics in its price range, Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular feels lightweight.
Steiner highlights that Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular covers 20 yards and beyond. It offers 101 meters at 1000 meters field of view and 18 meters close focus.
You will spot fast-moving objects, and the best part is its color adjusted transmission ensures that you uncover animals disguising in shade or foliage. You will also enjoy 3D bright depth with the enhanced visuals. Experts say it’s IPX4 rated for water tightness.
Several buyers loved the auto-focus focus system. One user said that it stayed in focus when used with eyeglasses.
Others claimed that the autofocus goes up to 30 to 40 feet. The lens cover remains intact, so you don’t have to worry about losing it.
Experts mention that Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular advanced technology offers consistent focus at different speeds. They recommend its wide field of view for watching game and hunting.
Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular offers [email protected] yards field of view. Its extra-low dispersion light fosters sharp and clear views even in the dark. Experts add that the extra-low dispersion glasses combat chromatic aberrations for natural images.
Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular is not only lightweight but comes with a small easy-to-grip size and body that suits trips. Experts say it is nitrogen-filled, O-ring sealed and covered in rubber for enhanced durability.
Its multiple features make it unique. The dielectric reflective multilayer prism coating provides accurate colors, and its multi coated eco glass lenses offer high light transmission across the light spectrum. It minimizes light loss for clearer and more natural views.
Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular has a rugged frame for durability. The design is tailored to bring in far objects as near as possible. You can use the turn-and-slide rubber eyecups to customize the eye relief.
You will get nice features like flip-down lens cap, smooth central focus knobs, and rubber eyecups.
The seller states that Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular is designed for extreme use. They recommend using soft cloth or lens pens for cleaning the lens, or you risk scratching or removing the coatings.
Some buyers say Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular suits deer hunting. Others claim it has poor build quality, loose rubber housing case, poor strap assembly and junk lens caps that come off.
Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binocular is top-notch equipment with an ergonomic and lightweight design.
It comes with an easy-to-grip knob for adjusting your magnification from 10X to 22X. Its turn-and-slide rubber eyecups are designed for adjusting the eye relief to enjoy extended views. You will find a smooth central focus knob for fast viewing and adjusting your magnification.
Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binocular has multi-coated eco glass lenses that offer bright yet clear images in varying light conditions. Its rubber-armoured coating fosters a non-slip gripping experience even in dump regions.
Experts add that this equipment gathers a good amount of light at dawn and dusk due to the wide lens diameter.
The lens is lead and arsenic-free and offers multi-purpose functionality. Some customers loved that they could view coyotes at dusk time.
Customers mentioned that it comes with a nice carrying case with no strap included.
One user said that Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binocular sharpness drops with an increase in zooming, so it works great for users with steady hands.
Experts note that it’s not subject to chromatic aberrations. It lacks autofocus but zooms in well. One customer says that it takes some time to get used to the zooming in Alaska, but the focus becomes smooth with time.
Overall, this equipment has eco-safe components. The images are more steady than small size binoculars.
Some users say the quality build is poor while others claim it’s insanely hard to adjust with eyeglasses.
Wingspan Optics FieldView 8X32 Compact Binoculars is the go-to binocular for bird and game watching.
Its 8X magnification makes distant objects bright and clear. Wingspan Optics highlights that it comes with a 14.8 mm eye relief and offers 362 feet/ 1000 yards field of view.
The eye relief is great due to its compact nature. You can use it with your sunglasses. Experts recommend using the eye relief offset to position your eyes a few millimeters away from your binocular’s lens.
The packaging contains a neck strap, nylon mesh carrying case, microfiber lens, cleaning cloth and lens protection covers etc. Some users highlighted that the case and straps are nice.
Wingspan Optics FieldView 8X32 Compact Binoculars is good for kids, unlike the 10X40 models that are sensitive for their movement. Experts feel you may have to give your kids several instructions.
You can adjust Wingspan Optics FieldView 8X32 Compact Binoculars for the narrow distance between your eyes and move it in or out to your face’s focal fit.
Overall, this equipment is solid with sharp optics. One user said that it offers little field of vision for game spotting.
Others say it’s great for hiking and the compact nature suits cruising in Alaska. Few users also recommended it for horse racing and indoor events like trans-Siberian orchestra concerts.
Some customers complained that Wingspan Optics FieldView 8X32 Compact Binoculars is subject to stiction and prone to fogging.
What we liked:
Great eye relief
Compact nature
Good for kids
Sharp optics
What could be better:
Subject to stiction
Prone to fogging
Things to Сonsider
These days cruising in Alaska without a bino is disheartening. How will you enjoy the bays and the small inlets while hiking or kayaking? There are several Binoculars you can use, but not all can deliver exceptional results you’re after. Some are not waterproof and fog proof while others come with a small field of view that limit your experience. In this section, we will cover the features to consider before buying a binocular for Alaska cruise, and the frequently asked questions.
Features to consider when choosing binoculars for Alaska cruise
Like most online products, all binoculars are not created equally so your “perfect fit” depends on your preferences and the activities you will use it for.
You will also have to consider the weather conditions of the bays you’ll visit while cruising. For foggy places like Alaska, the most important features to look at is the weather resistance and your field of view.
In this section, we will cover other key features you should consider before making purchases like the image stability, magnification, prism system, optical coating size and weight of your equipment etc.
Magnification
The higher your binocular’s magnification, the bigger your images will appear. However, binoculars with extra high magnification destabilize your images.
An equipment with 8X32 like Wingspan Optics FieldView means that it offers eight times magnification.
Binoculars that are not waterproof or fog proof suck. One minute you’re catching a lovely sight, but the next everything goes blank, or you’re straining to see.
Overall, pick a model that won’t blur your lens when small droplets enter the lens or if you want to use your binoculars the next time you’re going to Alaska.
Experts recommend buyers to pick a model with 8 to 20X magnification to enjoy clear images while cruising.
Size and weight
The size and weight of binoculars matters to everyone planning to use their bino for several hours or days. Heavy equipment with neck straps will strain your neck.
Roof prisms are streamlined and lighter than Porro. They look simple but have great magnification and durability.
Optical coating
Some binos are uncoated, coated, fully coated while others are multi-coated.
Though optical coatings are less shiny, they ensure even light transmission for sharper images. Coated lenses have glass surfaces with multiple coatings for increased light transmission.
The glass surface and the lens of fully coated lenses have a coating while the optical elements in multi-coated have several coatings on their surfaces.
Eye relief is the distance between your eyes and the rear lenses, and it’s overlooked by most people who buy binos, especially those wearing sunglasses.
The longer the distance, the better you will view objects. Your eyes will squint if the distance is shorter and you have sunglasses.
You can twist them inwards or outwards. Users with sunglasses should twist them inwards to get a good distance between the eyes and the binoculars. Twist your eyecups outwards if your eyes are in great condition.
Both 10X42 and 8X42 binoculars work well but what sets them apart is the magnification power. 10X42 binos have a high magnification power that makes distant objects appear larger compared to 8X42. Experts prefer binos with 10X magnification.
A great binos for long-distance viewing should have a higher magnification power and a wide field of view. You should pay attention to binoculars with at least 10X magnification power like Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars or pick a model offering up to 22X magnification power like Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binocular.
Our Verdict
You have everything you need to select great binos you’ll carry along every time you’re cruising in great Alaska. Pay attention to the features we have discussed above to select a good tool that fits your needs.
You should also factor in your budget though you may have to spend slightly more if your perfect fit falls above your budget.
Our first pick is Bushnell H2O 10x42mm Waterproof Binoculars with a 10X magnification and 305/102 [email protected] yards/ [email protected] field of view. It’s waterproof and anti-scratch. Experts recommend it for bird watching.
We also loved the Steiner 2045 8×30 Predator AF Binocular with great accessories and features. It has an ergonomic design and experts say you can use it to spot fast-moving objects without straining.
Our team preferred Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8×42 Binocular as the third pick. This equipment is lightweight and suitable for extreme use though some users claimed it has a poor build quality.
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