Hiking is a wonderful pastime; keeping you fit while enabling you to connect with nature, it’s also an activity that doesn’t cost anything, making it accessible to anyone. That said, there are ways to enhance your hiking experience, such as by investing in a good pair of Celestron Outland X 10x25mm Binoculars.
But, do you need binoculars to get the most out of your hikes?
Binoculars and hiking
While binoculars aren’t an essential requirement of hiking, there can be no doubt that they have the ability to enhance your experience, by helping you observe wildlife and scenery that might not have been clearly visible to the naked eye.
For many people who hike, the wildlife they see and the types of scenery they’re able to pass by, make it all the more a pleasing pastime, and let’s face it, few go walking with their eyes closed, after all! From a more practical perspective, however, binoculars may help you to track the trail and keep hiking in the right direction!
What binoculars should you choose for hiking?
A lot will come down to size, weight and ease of use when selecting a pair of binoculars to take hiking with you, as few walkers will want to have a bulky pair rattling around in their rucksack as they ramble and climb over stiles, or will want to fumble around trying to focus them as they make a sighting of a rare bird.
Pocket binoculars can be advantageous in this respect, or if you do opt for a slightly larger pair due to their superior magnification, you can use the strap that they come with, to hang them around your neck and not have them weigh your rucksack down.
There are two main types of binoculars to choose from, and they are: Porro prism and Roof prism. The former has a classic design with an angled body and glasses that protrude from the eyepiece. Weightier and often bulkier, they are the more affordable option of the two. The latter, on the other hand, is lighter and more compact, with a straight tube that runs to the lens, from the eyepiece. This type of binocular tends to be more popular among hikers, although it does cost more than its Porro prism counterpart.
What about magnification?
To help you decide what level of magnification to choose, here is a short guide:
Low magnification – this gives a more enhanced image when looking at something from close range, and a greater depth of field, too. Smaller, these might be more suitable for hikers.
High magnification – giving the user a clearer image of something in the distance, the further you zoom in, however, the darker the image becomes, and the less depth of field they offer, too. For a hiker who enjoys watching wildlife or birdwatching, a pair of Celestron Outland X 10x42mm Binoculars with higher magnification, might be more appropriate.
Simply put, while binoculars are by no means essential for enhancing your hiking experience, it’s hard to ignore the additional advantages they can offer you, such as enabling you to see wildlife up close, and keeping you on the right walking trails.