NikonTrailblazer 8x25 ATB Black Binoculars 8218 | Waterproof, Fogproof, Dual-hinge design, Compact Binocular, Black Rubber Armoring, Mutlilayer-coated lenses | Official Nikon USA Model

I will start with the most important thing where binoculars are concerned. The glass in the Trailblazers is Made in Japan, not China. Japan makes some of the best optics on Earth at a competitive price just about anyone can afford if they want value for their money. While it is true the Trailblazers are put together in China the glass is world class. I find them to be great all-around compact binoculars perfect for hiking or simply having at hand no matter what one wants a better look at. The glove compartment is ideal in my opinion. The Trailblazer binoculars are great for hiking, fishing, ball games, the Moon, and so on. While solidly built they are still relatively light. Much lighter than full size binoculars and easy to stash in a pocket.If you are not sold then my best advice would be to spend about $300 to $350 on a pair of Zeiss Terra ED compact binoculars. Both binocular lines are at the top of their class.... One thing I should add... Smaller Binoculars can be a little more difficult at first than larger binoculars to find the sweet spot for your eyes to fully benefit from them. Try going to extremes .. fully spread, then compare the view with less and less spread. Turn the eyepieces from short to long and just play with the glasses for a while and you will probably find the sweet spot for your face and eyes. Every time I have ever done this it may have taken a while but when I find the right adjustments it is definitely worth the time IMO, no matter which binoculars you buy. Happy Birding!

Ordered these to replace a pair of $30 8x21's that were never dropped or abused, but still the left and right images got way out of alignment, with no correction possible. Decided it was time to get a "name brand", and so far am very glad I did. Nice clear, crisp optics, and a close focus distance of less than 7 feet! Solid, somewhat heavier construction than the $30 binocs, and the 25 mm objective lens provides a brighter image for low light conditions, plus a wider (8.2 degree) field of view. Still compact and very portable for hiking, bird-watching and other activities. I do agree with other reviewers that the rubber eyepiece caps fit too loosely and, because they are also not connected to each other or the binoc body, they are almost certain to get lost. Also, there are no lens caps for the objective lenses. Overall, I am very happy with these binocs.

We just completed an Alaskan cruise and we thought these would be good to see wildlife from the cruise ship or the tours. Unfortunately all the tours were closed in Juneau due to the rough seas, so we didn't get to use them on that tour. Well going in mid Sept we didn't see much wildlife, but it was very neat to see the blue glacier ice using these binoculars. That's incredible!In my opinion the protective lense covers were way too loose. I think you could easily lose them. I did like how compact the binoculars were when folded up. Nice little protective case and easily fit in my backpack. They do provide a strap, but we never used it on this trip.Clarity was good. I also took my Nikon camera with long range lenses, but still enjoyed the binoculars!

"Compact Binoculars" have just TWO unique benefits; size; weight. This one weights .75 pounds with strap. Size is fine and the mechanical focus is easy to use. If size and weight are driving your purchase decision then this is a fine purchase. Worth the money. Good clear glass. Better and brighter image than other glasses of this type. If maximum clarity and exceptional color image is the driver then you need to step up to a bigger, heavier unit with a 40 or 50 mm objective lens. NIKON produces a great glass in each glass.As others already posted the adjustable eyecups are loose. They suck. They don't hold in place and are annoying. I may Glue them into position. The eye cap protectors - near worthless. I'll end up throwing them away. With those deficiencies noted, I do like like these glasses for their size and weight and quality clear image. NIKON glass is good glass.

Great little binoculars! Clear images, easy to focus and they fold up small enough to put in my jacket pocket.

If you're looking for compact binoculars with this magnification, they work well. They're light. I wear a ball cap and put some fingers on the brim to help steady the binoculars. The price point is good too.

The glass on these are great for less than $100. Pros: Very easy to carry and use. Field of view is amazing for a compact bino. Form factor is a plus with a small footprint and reasonable build quality. For the size and price the glass punches way above its price. The best binos are the ones you are carrying and these are easy to carry.Cons: Lens covers will get lost. Eye cup adjustments are too loose. They are either up or down and too loose to stay set anywhere in between. Not so great for low light. Focus rotation is the opposite of every other set of binos I own (turn left for closer focus and right for distant focus). Not a big deal but just a heads up.Overall, if you are looking for a compact set that are easy to carry for hiking, sporting events, or a backup set these are perfect.

We originally purchased a bigger pair of binoculars that we thought were smaller. We kept them, but still wanted a travel size of decent quality. These are clear and nice quality optics and construction. We are very happy with this purchase.