Your little one is a budding scientist, birdwatcher or just the kid interested in the wider world. A pair of real binoculars for kids may give your budding explorers the sense of outdoor expeditions.
If the kids are too young, they may struggle to use top-end binoculars. In that case, a simple pair of ‘real binoculars’ may provide just enough magnification without causing eye strain. However, finding best budget binoculars for kids could be challenging.
Skip the details, just show me the best ones
If you have finally decided to gift your kid with any of these best binocular for kids, these tips will help you to make a better and much more informed choice. They have helped many parents before and we hope you will find them to be helpful too.
Most children will be quite happy with say just a few times the magnification power. Indeed, low magnifications are easy to focus and will prevent these inexperienced hands from having to go through so much pain to get the right focus.
We suggest going with a magnification power that works from 2x to 8x so that these unsteady hands can easily lock their images.
This refers to the exact distance between your eyepieces. In kids, this distance is often shorter and closer than for the adults; meaning that they need the lowest interpupillary distance that can easily fit them.
Typically, there isn’t anything as adult-durable or kid-durable. Every binocular is prone to more or less the same hazards.
Because of this, you need to determine a binocular with some of the best coatings around the shell. We suggest getting a high-end waterproof design and at the same time a rubberized armor where possible. Also, think of going for a tough case with enclosed moving parts.
The weight is also very important. Remember what we have mentioned above. Your kid’s limbs are still developing. Therefore, they might not hold the same weight as you would for lengthier periods.
Going for something quality, ultra-light in weight, but at the same time very compact shouldn’t, therefore, be entirely off the cards. To determine the perfect weight for your child, read our detailed Binocular Reviews and Buying Guides.
Kid-proof warranties aren’t common really. But there are a few manufacturers who have dared to dream and offer such options apart from the lifetime warranties that many binocular models offer.
We all love our kids. And because we do, we always want the best for them. Gifting them with the binoculars for safaris this coming vacation will be a good gig to go with. However, you must make sure that depending on their age, expertise with binoculars, and more specifically size, you get them an easy to manage set of binoculars.
Pick Our
These Carson JD-822 scout bins are excellent low-cost binoculars designed for children! They are designed to provide kids with easy use and a rewarding enjoyment. Don’t get them cheap toys, they are certainly kore than just a toy.
The JD-822 SCOUT binocular is best for kids. But in my own opinion, it’s also great for adults too. It is a Carson Compact Binocular that with reasonable care will leave your kid with many years of enjoyment.
The JD-822 SCOUT is designed for small faces. It offers a minimum Interpupillary Distance (IPD) which is the smallest distance between one eye and the next. This means the binoculars can be easily adjusted (by moving its two barrels closer together) until you get the perfect lens alignment with the eyes.
Like we have pointed out in many of our reviews, standard magnification power is ideal for kids. The same applies to lower magnification. It makes it easier for their unsteady hands to easily keep the image under view still. And that’s why this 8X magnification power is a blast for my and your young girl.
Here is great news. Not only does the JD-822 SCOUT offer wider view for your child to lock their image, it also weighs less. At only 16 ounces your kid will easily hold this optical device for long for full enjoyment.
Finally, JD-822 also offers an easy to reach center focus knob. The knob offers detailed clarity. It works so well to fine-tune the optic’s crisp viewing upon adjustment and when combined with the independent right diopter.
Until now you must be wondering “what the big difference between the JD-822 SCOUT and the other children’s binoculars is”. I’ve got the answer for you.
JD-822 SCOUT uses FMC lenses. Not all kids’ optics devices have FMC lenses, but the best do. FMC lenses play a very vital role in making sure your kid gets a bright, clear, and high quality images.
This bino also comes with the BK-7 prisms that provide sharp, crisp, and bright images. I know they don’t offer the same quality as the BK- 4 glass but getting them on a kid’s binocular is a big plus.
Though this is a binocular for kids mostly, yet I tried to find out if it’s really worth it. I used the Carson 8x22mm Scout Compact Binocular for my nature viewing and travel adventures and I am not unhappy with it. It is very small, light and easy to fit in my pocket or purse. It is also waterproof and fogproof, which is why I can easily carry it for outdoor activities. It has fully multi-coated optics, which reduce glare and enhance contrast. It has twist-up eyecups, which are comfortable for my eyes. It has a large center focus knob, which is smooth and accurate. It has a wide field of view of 393 feet at 1000 yards, which allows me to see more of the scene.
The binocular is not perfect, though. It has some drawbacks that I noticed after using it for a while. The eye relief is not very long, especially if I wear glasses. The close focus distance is not very close, which makes it difficult to see small objects up close. The lens caps are not attached to the binocular, so I have to be careful not to lose them. The carrying pouch is not very durable and does not have a belt loop.
Overall, I think the Carson 8x22mm Scout Compact Binocular is a bad choice for kids. It is not the best binocular on the market, but it does the job for the purpose.
Value for Money
Remember, it’s a kid’s bino. Kid’s bino like you have seen above focuses on specific features. These are the main features I also chose to focus on when reviewing the Barska Colorado 12×25 Binocular. Hopefully they help you too.
The Barska Colorado 12×25 Binocular is a compact, waterproof and fogproof binocular that is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who need a versatile and reliable binocular for different situations. It has a 12x magnification that allows you to see details of distant objects, such as birds, animals or landmarks. It has 25mm objective lenses that gather enough light for bright and clear views, even in low-light conditions.
Compared to the Celestron UpClose G2 16×32 Binocular, which has a higher magnification of 16x but a smaller field of view of 185 feet at 1000 yards, the Barska binocular offers more field of view and less image shake, which makes it easier to follow moving subjects or scan large areas. Compared to the Nikon Aculon T02 10×21 Binocular, which has a lower magnification of 10x but a wider field of view of 314 feet at 1000 yards, the Barska binocular offers more magnification and more light transmission, which makes it better for seeing details or viewing in dim light. The Barska binocular is also waterproof and fogproof, while the Nikon binocular is not, which makes it more durable and suitable for all weather conditions.
The adjustable barrels make this device easy to fit on small faces. Thankfully this device offers minimum Interpupillary Distance (IPD). This is usually the smallest distance between one eye and the next. The distance kid’s faces usually have.
So in case you want to adjust the Barska to fit your kid it’s easy. Simply do that by moving the two barrels closer together. This is done using the flexible designed barrels that will easily move towards or away from each other. Remember to be careful when doing this. Don’t exceed the limits but rather do it until you find the perfect lens alignment with your kid’s eyes.
I am thinking of a better way to put it. You see, kids are often drawn to their toys due to how attractive they are.
Striking colors draws their attention and it’s kind of vital to focus on a cool color rather than a dull one if you are buying for children. And that’s where the 12×25 binoculars by Barska beats the rest.
This pair of binoculars uses BK-7 Roof Prism. Well I wouldn’t appreciate the BK-7 glasses on an adult bino: simply because they are of lower quality unlike BK- 4. However, for a kid’s binocular they still make a pretty cool optic.
FMC optics lenses boost light transmission in the binocular and eventual image clarity. The more light allowed the better the transmittance rate “sometimes”.
It’s always good to see these FMC lenses at this price range.
Barska uses a central focus knob. The knob is easy to use and will give your kid detailed clarity in no time. It helps to fine-tune the optic’s crystalized viewing upon proper adjustment. Find the knob where the two barrels meet.
I was asked to test and give a review on Barska Colarado children binoculars. My review team was curious to see if they are any good for the kids. In a nutshell: my review team liked these binoculars.
It is small, light and easy to carry in my backpack or around my neck. It is also waterproof and fogproof, which is great for unpredictable weather conditions. The optics are fully coated and deliver bright and crisp images. The focus dial is smooth and easy to adjust. The rubber armor provides a good grip and protection from shock.
The binocular is not perfect, though. It has some drawbacks that I noticed after using it for a while. The field of view is not very wide, which means I have to move the binocular more to scan the area. The eye relief is not very comfortable, especially if I wear glasses. The lens caps are not attached to the binocular, so I have to be careful not to lose them. The carrying pouch is not very sturdy and does not have a belt loop.
Overall, I think the Barska Colorado 12×25 Binocular is a good value for money. It is not the best binocular on the market, but it does the job well for my needs. It is a reliable and durable binocular that can handle various outdoor activities.
Popular Choice
I mentioned before that kids are quite playful and you can bet their optics will get water somewhere. However, with an airtight, waterproof, and fog proof design, water and moisture will be the least of your concerns. Your kid can therefore enjoy awesome freedom when out birding too!
And to make children play an awesome time for all, best optics designers need to protect their devices from falls and breakages.
An armored exterior is the way to go. Celestron Outland X understands this and provides your kids with additional casing for the same.
The Celestron Outland X includes BaK-4 prisms which is a great bonus on such an affordable feat. Especially when designed for those playful little angels BaK-4 prisms can maximize the viewing experience every day.
I don’t fancy center focus systems for kids. They seem to be quite complicated for a learner. But what better choice for a binocular your kid can grow with than a center focus system binocular? In fact it is a great bonus to have on a kids play device.
Yet while the points I have highlighted adds to the quality of this device, they are the last determinants. Many other features also will come to play if your kid has to have a time of their life.
Outland X binocular offers a powerful 8X magnification. This makes it easy for your kids to view objects without straining. More importantly it makes it easy for your kid to keep their images still.
That’s why most experts will recommend a standard or lower magnification power on a kid’s bino.
A 42mm Objective Lens Diameter with a roof prism; that’s really awesome! It might surprise you to find it in this kid’s binocular. But don’t be. That’s what I mean by pricey but affordable. In short a great price with tons of cool features!
Because this device uses a roof prism it needs an FMC lense to maximize its transmittance rate. This is because roof prisms usually has single surface that doesn’t provide total internal reflection.
So the use of FMC lenses – dielectric coating will easily maximize its performance. It will boost the transmittance and finally the clarity of the image.
Based on my usage, I am very satisfied with the Outland X 8×25 Binocular. It is compact, lightweight and easy to use. It is also waterproof and fog proof, which is important for outdoor activities. It has a large center focus knob, which is smooth and precise. Not only that, but it has a wide field of view of 430 feet at 1000 yards, which allows me to see more of the scene.
The binocular is not flawless, though. It has some limitations that I noticed after using it for some time. The eye relief is not very generous, especially if I wear glasses. The close focus distance is not very short, which makes it hard to see small objects up close. The lens caps are not attached to the binocular, so I have to be careful not to lose them. The carrying case is not very protective and does not have a belt loop.
Overall, I think the Celestron – Outland X 8×25 Binocular is a great value for money. It is not the best binocular on the market, but it does the job well for my purposes. It is a reliable and durable binocular that can handle various outdoor activities and provide good performance in terms of magnification, field of view and brightness.
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