Best Binoculars For Alaska Cruise – Buyer’s Guide

Planning a cruise to see the stunning vistas of Alaska is quite exciting.

And there is no better way to take in the views than with quality binoculars.

While there is a huge array of bino models and sizes, knowing the right type of binoculars to take with you on your trip can prove to be useful.

In this guide, we have discussed some of the best binoculars for Alaska cruise and what makes each of them ideal for your trip.

We have also included a buyer’s guide to help you know what to look for when buying binoculars for a cruise or any other type of trip for that matter.

Top pick

Celestron 71332 Nature DX 8×42

We picked the Celestron Nature DX as our top pick after having done ample research and having tried different binos. The reason why picked the Nature DX as our number choice when it comes to travel binos was due to its quality optics and excellent performance in any weather condition.

• Phase Coated BaK-4 prisms
• Multi Coated Lenses
• Waterproof & Fogproof Construction
• Close Focus of 6.5 feet
• 42mm Objective Lens
• 8x Magnification
• Rubber Coating
• Compact & Lightweight Design
• Adjustable Eyecups

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We’ve tested 3 binoculars for Alaska cruise and the winner is above!

Binoculars For Alaska Cruise Comparison Chart

3 Best Binoculars For Alaska Cruise (as of October, 2023):

Celestron 71332 Nature DX 8×42 has received a lot of positive feedback from users many commenting on how easily and comfortably you can view an image without needing to adjust the diopter settings, unlike other similar models.

And really this is what you need for your Alaska trip. A pair of binos with such excellent optics that you don’t need to keep fiddling with the fast focus knob to see your views better.

In addition, the 42 objective lens provides a wide field of view, so you can take in the sights without straining your eyes. And the 8x magnification enables you to see the Alaskan wildlife that is yards away with great clarity.

And anything that is close by you can easily view them with the 6.5 feet close focus.

Aside from having great optics, the Celestron Nature DX has a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around. Plus the body has a rubber covering to give the binos a comfortable and solid grip. And it also makes the binos water-resistant.

And the best part about these binos is that they are inexpensive given the great optics and design.

Main Features

• BaK-4 Roof Prisms with Phase-Corrective Coating
• Fully Multicoated Optics
• 6.5 ft Close Focusing Distance
• 59° Wide Angle Viewing
• Center Focus Wheel with Ridge
• Twist-up Eyecups with Multiple Position Stops
• Fully Rubber Armored
• Nitrogen-Filled Housing
• Fogproof & Waterproof
• Polycarbonate Construction

Nature DX Binoculars Tour:

Bushnell has been long known for its quality optics. This is why we are introducing you to the Bushnell BN150142 H2O 10×42. The name itself sounds cool, but what is impressive about these binos is the features.

First, the bino is made using durable and weather-resistant materials. This means that even in unpleasant weather conditions like rain, their performance is not affected and they don’t get damaged.

But now let’s get to the nitty-gritty details of the bino – the optics. Bushnell has always used cutting-edge technology to make their optics.

The Bushnell H20, therefore, features BaK-prisms and multi-coated lenses, which help deliver clear crisp images at all ranges.

The 42mm objective lens makes it possible to have a better and wider field of view. And the 10x makes it easy to bring objects that are miles or yards away closer.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that high magnification usually reduces the field of view. So unless you are viewing something specific, you don’t need to crank up the magnification too high.

Another great feature is the adjustable eyecups. You can adjust them for more comfortable viewing particularly if you wear lenses or glasses.

The other great thing is its design. These roof prism binos have a compact design and they are lightweight. This makes them ideal for travel as you can carry them around easily.

Main Features

• BAK4 Roof Prisms
• Multicoated Optics
• Anti-reflective Multi-layer Lens Coating
• Apparent Viewing Angle: 58°
• 17mm Eye Relief
• Twist-Up Eyecups
• Non-Slip Rubber Armor
• Nitrogen-filled for Fogproof & Waterproof Performance

Nikon is known the world over for creating state-of-the-art optics and very few brands can match their standards. And the Nikon 16002 PROSTAFF 7S 8×42 like all their other optics has been designed to deliver an incredible viewing experience.

What you get with the Prostaff is incredibly high-quality optics. These 8×42 binos feature phase-coated roof prisms and multi-coated lenses to ensure that your views are bright and clear no matter how far or near they are.

The 8x magnification enables you to see objects that are far away and the 42mm objective lens gives you a better field of view.

The binos come with adjustable eyecups. So if you wear glasses, you can adjust them to your level of comfort.

The Prostaff has a solid build and it’s lightweight. Furthermore, it has a rubber coating for easy and comfortable handling no matter the weather condition.

Main Features

• Phase-Correction Coated Roof Prisms
• Fully Multi-Coated Optics
• Highly Reflective Mirror Prism Coatings
• Lead- and Arsenic-Free Eco-Glass
• Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups
• Large Slip Center Focus Wheel
• Ergonomic, Rubber Armored Body
• Nitrogen filled and O-Ring sealed
• Waterproof and Fogproof

Buyers Guide

The truth is that you can’t go out and buy binos just because they look good. Not all binos are created for activities like traveling. So for your Alaska cruise, you cannot go buying binos that are heavy or that need a tripod.

What you really want to stick with are roof prism binos. They have a compact design and they are lightweight. Although they are more expensive than porro prism binos, they are more practical when it comes to activities like travel and sightseeing.

So how do you go about selecting the best binocular for Alaska cruise?

In this guide, we have provided information to help you figure out what to look out for when choosing binos for traveling. And we hope that you will find it useful and helpful.

What to Consider When Buying Binos for Traveling

Compact and Lightweight

When you are traveling, you don’t want binos that are cumbersome to carry because they are big and heavy.  Otherwise, you may not even able to use them at all.

You need binos that can fit in a small pocket and are lightweight because you would need to hold them with your hand for long. So when choosing a bino for your Alaska cruise, go for binos with a compact and lightweight design.

Objective Lens and Magnification

Some people get it wrong when it comes to magnification. High power doesn’t always mean good. In fact, if you want a bino with a wide field of view, then don’t prioritize magnification.

This is because high magnification reduces the field of view. And for activities like traveling, magnification of 10x or less is sufficient. Anything higher is more than likely going to be useless to you.

The other feature that is of importance is the size of the objective lens. Now, although a large objective lens helps you see a much greater area of your view, too big a lens means can be a problem.

This is because binos with large objective lenses tend to be big in size and heavy.

So when it comes to selecting binos for traveling, go for binos with an objective lens of 30mm or 42mm. Anything larger can prove to be a challenge to carry around and anything smaller and you might find yourself straining to see your views.

Fog Proof and Waterproof

The good news is that most binos are rubber armored and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog-proof performance. So this is not something you will struggle with when choosing binos for your Alaska cruise.

Field of View

Alaska has incredibly beautiful vistas and if you are on a cruise, you don’t want to miss anything. So you need to get binos that have a wide field of view. That is the scope of the visible area that you can see without moving your binos.

Binos with a narrow field of view can make it difficult to see large areas. You need to move your binos to catch moving objects or to view a large scenery.

Eye Relief

Eye relief is an important aspect of a bino but it’s not always something people think about when buying binos. Eye relief is the distance between the rear lenses and your eyes.

But if you don’t have eye problems, the eye relief should not be much of a priority when buying travel binos. But if you wear glasses or lenses, make sure that the binos have sufficient eye relief.

Usually, anything above 15mm is more than enough for a glass wearer.

Multicoated Lenses

Opt for binos that have either multicoated lenses or fully multicoated lenses to those that have a single coating. Lenses that are multicoated deliver sharper, brighter and clearer views than those with a single coating.

Also, they reduce chromatic aberration which interferes with the clarity of the views.

Budget

While to some people budget is not a priority when selecting binos, for some it is. So if you plan on spending a small amount of money on a pair of travel binos like let’s say less than 200 bucks, the good news is that you can get a good pair.

Focusing

Standard binos have a fast focusing mechanism that allows users to quickly and easily focus on a target or object. Now, this feature is useful if you are viewing an object that is moving. All you need to do is adjust the dioptric adjustment knob using your finger.

If you wear glasses, opt for binos with a focusing mechanism as opposed to one that doesn’t have one. This is because you would need to use your eyes to focus if you are using a bino with no focusing capabilities.

Verdict

Knowing what type of binos to buy for traveling can help you save money. Generally, the bino should be compact and lightweight.

Remember, this is something you may need to hold with your hands for an extended amount of time. So they cannot be heavy or big in size.

Also, don’t compromise on the optics. A bino with good optics is far much better than a good looking bino with poor optics.

And lastly, when buying travel binos, prioritize performance over budget. A bino that delivers poor performance is nothing but useless.

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