Extremely useful, monoculars are compact, convenient and lightweight, easily fitting into your pocket. Great for people who don’t like their dual-bodied cousins or just those who enjoy long-distance viewing activities, these miniature telescopes are quite handy to have when walking, trekking, hunting, traveling or backpacking. Their size makes them extremely convenient to carry, making them a popular choice among birdwatchers, hikers, hunters and pirate aspirants!
If you’ve been thinking of getting yourself a monocular because Jack Sparrow inspired you or you actually want to put it to good use in any of the activities mentioned earlier, the sheer number of products and their reviews may make things a little overwhelming. Well, never fear; we’ve got your back with our reviews of the best compact monoculars as well as a guide on what to look for when getting yourself a monocular. Ahoy, matey!
Best Compact Monoculars
Here are our reviews of the top compact monoculars:
1. Roxant HD Ultra-Light Mini Monocular
Best Overall
If you thought it couldn’t get any cheaper than the Emarth monocular above, you thought wrong! If you thought it doesn’t get smaller than a fountain pen, you thought wrong again! Compact, powerful, durable, extremely low price and convenient — the Roxant HD Ultra-Light Monocular ticks all the right boxes. This reliable monocular is a great option for outdoor activities, traveling and even for senior citizens and visually-impaired people, enabling them to view things better.
Some of its features include:
- HD optical glass with multi-coated optics for better light transmission and brightness
- A comfort-molded grip to improve stability and reduce shaking, so that the monocular is steady
- Comes with a neck strap, cleaning cloth and carry pouch
- 7×18 magnification
2. Vortex Optics Solo Monocular 10×25
Editor’s Choice
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that no list of optic gear is complete without a mention of Vortex Optics; these guys are known for their efficient and high-quality products. Their Solo Monocular is the same — lightweight, compact and featuring fully multi-coated lenses, this monocular manages a close focus of 16.4 feet! Crisp, bright images and better light transmission are not a problem with this monocular!
Some of its features include:
- Full rubber armor body for a non-slip grip and better durability
- Nitrogen purged and O-Ring sealed for fog and waterproofing, so as to perform in any conditions
- Adjustable eyecup
- 315 feet field of view
- 10x magnification and 25 mm objective lens
3. Monocular Telescope — 12×50 HD with Holder and Trip
Best Value
With 12x magnification and a 50 mm objective lens, this Monocular Telescope is all kinds of powerful, resulting in crystal clear images from a full 360-feet distance. The product is compatible with smartphones, making your expedition more fun. Additionally, the telescope is designed for single-hand use, so you can wield it efficiently without disturbing the scene.
Some of its features include:
- BAK4-prism for better night vision
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Non-slip, with water and fog resistance
- 60-day returns policy and 2-year customer service
4. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular
With impressive contrast and clarity regardless of the amount of light available, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular is a great option for anyone who likes long-distance viewing, but especially for casual astronomers. 100% water and fog-proof (according to the manufacturers) thanks to nitrogen purging and O-Ring sealing, this monocular gives you superior image quality and features a 42 mm objective lens and 10x magnification.
Some of its features include:
- Rubber-armor body (nitrogen-purged) and magnesium housing (O-Ring sealed) to ensure maximum functionality even in damp conditions
- Fully multi-coated optics that are water-repellent
- ED prime glass, BAK4-Prisms and PC-3 phase-coated prism for sharp, detailed images
- Comfortable, adjustable twist-up eyecups
5. Gosky 12×55 HD Monocular
Great for birdwatching, hunting, wildlife observation and the like, the Gosky 12×55 HD Monocular is a great deal — it’s reasonably priced, powerful, sturdy and reliable! With powerful 12×55 magnification for some pretty detailed views, you’re assured off brighter, clearer images with this monocular. Additionally, your eyes will be thanking you for the twist-up eyecup that keeps your eyes comfortable even while using the monocular.
Some of its features include:
- 12x magnification and 55mm objective wide lens for clear, bright images
- Argon-purged to make it fog, water, dust and shock-proof
- Rubber armor body for durability
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
6. Emarth High Power 10-30×50 Zoom Monocular
With a price well below $50, the Emarth High Power Zoom Monocular is a steal; it’s one of the cheapest on the market and is packed with a ton of great features that belie its price! Powerful yet portable, this monocular features an adjustable zoom between 10-30x and a dynamic lens focusing system that makes it a piece of cake to zoom in on any target or object. A great option for astronomers and birdwatchers, this monocular is quite the handy instrument to have for its power, durability and reliability.
Some of its features include:
- BAK4 crystal prism and fully multi-coated 50mm objective lens for brighter, clearer images that take away up to 99.8% of light reflection
- Fog and waterproof thanks to nitrogen purging and IPX7
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
7. Monocular Telescope — 12×50 High Power — by Vivreal
This monocular telescope features full 12x magnification with a 50 mm objective lens, giving you a field of view larger than most other competitors’ products (360 feet). You can also view far-off objects with ease and convenience, thanks to superior light transmission and brightness and you can even focus it easily with a single hand. It also features a low-light-level night vision so that you can efficiently view objects regardless of the light available.
Some of its features include:
- BAK4-Prism and fully multi-coated lens for light transmittance up to 99.5%
- Durable rubber armor exterior for better protection, long life and fog and waterproofing as well as a non-slip grip (along with the O-Ring seal)
- Compatible with most smartphones
- 60 days return and 2-year warranty
Buyer’s Guide — Buying a Compact Monocular
Buying compact monoculars is highly similar to buying binoculars; you need to pay attention to the size of the objective lens and the magnifying power of the monocular. However, there are differences. That said, higher magnifying power is a necessity in both cases, as it means the ability to see further despite a narrower view angle. The wider lens is a better option for lowlight use; however, know that compact monoculars with higher prices are generally more heavily priced and bigger in size.
All said and done, compact monoculars are miniature telescopes, so don’t expect to be able to see Jupiter or Saturn with these instruments. These guys are great for their relative cheapness and convenience, and for how easily portable they are.
If you want a compact monocular to use at night rather than during the day, look for compact monoculars equipped with infrared night vision. These let you easily see objects despite the relatively low light all around. If you also plan on traveling outdoors a lot, look for rugged monoculars that can stand the abuse of time and weather. Aluminum bodies with solid rubber armor casing are great options, as these not only are slip resistant but also shock absorbent. Water and fog-proofing are a must in this case, along with O-Ring sealing.
All said and done, though, don’t forget that affordability is an important factor too. There are tons of models out there, each more expensive than the last but each also cheaper than the last. Getting a decent model won’t require you to decimate your bank balance. You can easily find a compact monocular that gives you great views, is tough as nails and affordable!
So don’t settle; look for the model that suits your preference and needs. There’s surely one out there for you, whether you want to look cool as a pirate next Halloween or intend to actually put your compact monocular to good use!
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