The Best Compact Binoculars for Paintball

Our Top 11 Picks for 2023

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Tired of your enemies seeing you before you see them? Reclaim the upper hand with the best compact binoculars for your next outing.

If you love woodsball or MilSim-style games on huge fields, adding binoculars to your arsenal can make a world of difference.

But the last thing you want to do is lug around more gear, so portability is a must. That’s where we come in.

This roundup of the best compact binoculars is the most accurate and complete guide you’ll find. (Without overwhelming you with tons of technical specs you just don’t need.)

You’re a busy person, so let’s kick things off with some quick picks.

Product Reviews

#1: Carson 3D Series HD 8×32

Carson 3D Series 8x32mm High Definition Compact and Waterproof Binoculars with ED Glass, Black (TD-832ED)
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 32 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 392 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 60°
  • Eye Relief: 19.5 mm
  • Weight: 19 oz
  • Dimensions: 2.1″H x 5.1″W x 5.1″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

The Carson 3D Series HD 8×32 compact binoculars are great for just about any situation on the field. Their 8x power is ideal for almost all field sizes, their 32 mm objective lenses are larger than most others on this list, delivering bright images, and their 392-foot field of vision at 1,000 feet is only bested by two models in our rankings:

  • 6th-ranked Bushnell H20, which has massive 42 mm objective lenses
  • 8th-ranked Kowa II YP, which has just 6x power

Frankly, no other pair of compact binoculars has the combination of power, wide-angle vision, and clarity that these Carson 3D Series HD binoculars do.

Toss in their rubberized black armor coating for rugged durability, textured grips and thumb grooves for comfort, and low-dispersion glass that puts the “HD” in their name, and there’s just no beating them.

Their price point is a little higher than others on this list without being crazy-high, making them an exceptional value in addition to being the best compact binoculars for our purposes.

#2: Leupold BX-1 Yosemite 10×30

Leupold BX-1 Yosemite Binocular, 6x30mm (172703)
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 10x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 30 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 351 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 67°
  • Eye Relief: 15.5 mm
  • Weight: 17 oz
  • Dimensions: 2.7″H x 7.8″W x 6.8″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

The Leupold BX-1 Yosemite 10×30 compact binoculars have the best Apparent Angle of View of any model on this list, meaning their combination of power and field of vision can’t be beaten. That makes them ideal for long-distance scoping on large fields, giving you the ability to perceive objects 10x closer than they are with an impressive field of vision to keep moving targets in your sights.

They also come with a proprietary Twilight Management System that helps extend your viewing time in fading twilight conditions.

Unfortunately, these BX-1 Yosemites are just about the widest binoculars featured here, spanning 7.8″, which makes them more challenging to store. But again, their best use is for distance scoping and surveillance, and they’d be a great tool in your arsenal if you enjoy sniping.

#3: Leica Ultravid BR 10×25

Leica Ultravid BR 10×25 Robust Waterproof Compact Binocular with AquaDura Lens Coating, Black 40253
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 10x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 25 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 273 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 52°
  • Eye Relief: 14.6 mm
  • Weight: 9 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.5″H x 4.4″W x 4.4″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Leica is an iconic brand name, and these Ultravid BR 10×25 binoculars live up to the hype.

Objectively, these are the best compact binoculars on this list, bar none.

I knocked them down to 3rd because we’re talking about paintball/airsoft applications, and their 273-foot Field of Vision at 1,000 Yards is by far the worst on this list. That means moving objects will be harder to keep in your sights.

On the plus side, these binoculars are the definition of compact, weighing just 9 oz with a 1.5″ vertical profile that blows everything else on this list out of the water. Component-wise, these Leica Ultravid BR 10×25 binoculars have the best internal components for the sharpest image, best durability, and even fingerprint-resistant lenses!

#4: Celestron Nature DX 8×32

Sale
Celestron – Nature DX 8×32 Binoculars – Outdoor and Birding Binocular
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 32 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 388 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 59°
  • Eye Relief: 17.5 mm
  • Weight: 18 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.8″H x 4.9″W x 5.0″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Our top pick for Best Compact Binoculars for the Money, the Celestron Nature DX 8x32s have an immersive 59° Apparent Angle of View and tiny profile that fits in almost any pocket. But despite their small size, they have a little heft at 18 oz. That weight comes from their heavy-duty, fully-weatherproof construction with the high-quality, phase-correcting, anti-distortion lenses you’d expect from a pair of binoculars in their price range.

#5: Zeiss Terra ED 8×25

Sale
Zeiss Terra ED Pocket Binoculars, 8×25 Pocket, Black
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 25 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 357 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 52°
  • Eye Relief: 16 mm
  • Weight: 11 oz
  • Dimensions: 3.6″H x 4.4″W x 4.5″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Zeiss is an industry leader in optics, and it shows with their Terra ED 8×25 compact binoculars. The 8x magnification is just about perfect for our uses, and you get a surprisingly bright, crisp image from their small 25 mm objective lenses.

The biggest downside I see with these binoculars is their dimensions. At 2.6″ thick, they’re the 3rd-thickest model on this list behind these two:

  • 2nd-ranked Leupold BX-1 Yosemite 10×30 (2.7″ thick, 17 oz weight)
  • 6th-ranked Bushnell H2O 8×42 (3.0″ thick, 27 oz weight)

Unsurprisingly, both of those binoculars have larger objective lenses, but what’s stunning to me is these Zeiss binoculars are almost as thick as those two despite weighing just 11 oz!

Still, technical specs can’t always indicate image quality, and that’s one area where these Zeiss ED binoculars really shine.

#6: Bushnell H2O 8×42

Sale
Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular, 8 x 42-mm, Black, Model Number: 158042
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 410 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 62°
  • Eye Relief: 17 mm
  • Weight: 27 oz
  • Dimensions: 3.0″H x 7.9″W x 6.0″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

The Bushnell H2Os are one of just two binoculars on this list with wide, 42 mm objective lenses

Why choose something that big? Two reasons:

  1. Maybe that isn’t too big for you!
  2. The 410-foot Field of Vision at 1,000 Yards and 62° Apparent Angle of View are the best combination of wide-angle specs on this list.

If you care most about surveying the entire field and keeping everything in your sights, these are the binoculars for you.

#7: Steiner Safari 10×26

Steiner Safari UltraSharp Binoculars Compact Lightweight Performance Outdoor Optics, 10×26
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 10x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 26 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 312 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 59°
  • Eye Relief: 15 mm
  • Weight: 10 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.8″W x 4.0″W x 4.4″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

The Steiner Safari 10×26 compact binoculars make the list because they have solid wide-angle stats, led by a 59° Apparent Angle of View, in what might be the smallest overall package of any pair.

(The 3rd-ranked Leica Ultravid BR 10×25 binoculars are a hair thinner, but these aren’t quite as wide.)

Steiner is a well-known brand that manufactures their binoculars in Germany, so you can be confident you’ll be getting quality optics. And when you see the price, they’ll immediately make your shortlist.

#8: Kowa YF II 6×30

Kowa YF Series Porro Prism Binoculars, 6×30 Black
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 6x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 30 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 420 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 48°
  • Eye Relief: 20 mm
  • Weight: 17 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.9″H x 6.3″W x 4.5″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

The lowest-power binoculars on this list, these Kowa YF II offer just 6x magnification, but that gives them a big advantage: the best Field of Vision at 1,000 Yards of any pair of binoculars on this list.

They also have the most Eye Relief of any pair here (20 mm) with a thin 1.9″H profile measuring just 4.5″L.

I wouldn’t recommend these binoculars for anyone prioritizing magnification, but if you want to blow up the widest area of the field, these will be great. And when you think about it, if enemy combatants are outside the range of these binoculars, you’re outside their firing range!

#9: Nikon Trailblazer ATB 10×25

10×25 Trailblazer
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 10x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 25 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 342 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 59°
  • Eye Relief: 10 mm
  • Weight: 10 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.7″H x 4.1″W x 4.5″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Lightweight and low-profile for 10x magnification, these Nikon Trailblazer ATB 10×25 binoculars rival the 3rd-ranked Leica Ultravid BRs in terms of ounce-for-ounce power.

Unfortunately, they find themselves 9th on our list of the best compact binoculars because of their worst-in-class 10 mm Eye Relief. If you’re looking for a pair of binoculars that you really need to press your face into, these are for you. Me? I prefer 15 mm or more, which puts these behind the similarly-spec’d Safari Steiner 10×26 (15 mm Eye Relief) and obviously behind the Leicas.

#10: Nikon ProStaff 7S 8×30

Sale
Nikon 16000 PROSTAFF 7S 8×30 Inches Compact Binocular (Black)
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 30 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 341 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 49°
  • Eye Relief: 15.4 mm
  • Weight: 15 oz
  • Dimensions: 1.9″H x 5.1″W x 5.1″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Back-to-back Nikons as their ProStaff 7S 8×30 binoculars come in 10th on our list.

Compared to the 9th-ranked Nikon Trailblazer ATB 10×25, these binoculars have less power and larger objective lenses for brighter images, and both have similar Fields of Vision at 1,000 Yards (though these lose points for their lower Apparent Angle of View).

The ProStaff 7S binoculars are also a touch heavier and larger thanks to their wider objective lenses, though they’re still relatively lightweight at just 15 oz and their 15.4 mm Eye Relief is much more comfortable.

Interestingly, these happen to be the only 8×30 binoculars on our list, which puts them in a league all their own and definitely makes them worth considering. Their price point is notably higher than the 10×25 Nikon Trailblazer ATBs above but less than the similar 8×25 Zeiss Terra EDs.

However, if I were looking for a pair of compact binoculars with similar specs, I’d go with the 4th-ranked Celestron Nature DX 8×32 with the same power, wider objective lenses for brighter images, more Eye Relief, much better wide-angle viewing, and smaller dimensions in what’s usually a lower price range.

#11: Celestron Outland X 8×42

Sale
Celestron – Outland X 8×42 Binoculars – Waterproof & Fogproof – Binoculars for Adults – Multi-Coated Optics and BaK-4 Prisms – Protective Rubber Armoring
Technical Specs
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm
  • Field of Vision @ 1,000 Yards: 357 feet
  • Apparent Angle of View: 54°
  • Eye Relief: 18 mm
  • Weight: 22 oz
  • Dimensions: 2.1″H x 5.0″W x 5.8″L
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Fog-Resistant: Yes

Speaking of Celestron, who I just recommended in the review above, our 11th and final pair of compact binoculars on this roundup are the Celestron Outland X 8×42.

Along with the 6th-ranked Bushnell H2O, these are our largest objective lens binoculars at 42 mm, giving you tons of brightness but more weight.

These Outland X binoculars do have a big advantage over those Bushnell H2Os, though: much smaller dimensions. They’re just 2.1″H x 5.0″W x 5.8″L compared to Bushnell’s 3.0″H x 7.9″W x 6.0″L while saving you 5 oz (nearly 20% lighter).

Inferior Field of Vision lands them at the bottom, though. Ultimately, I wouldn’t necessarily call these binoculars compact (not when we have so many truly compact models above), so why go with anything other than the Bushnell H2Os if you want a 42 mm objective lens?

What Does “Best” Really Mean?

There’s no single “best” pair of compact binoculars because they can be used in a variety of situations.

Take these 5, for example:

  • Watching live sporting events
  • Hunting
  • Birding
  • Astronomy
  • Paintball/airsoft (duh)

You’ll need a different type of binoculars to watch a fast-paced sporting event from 100 yards away than to view stationary stars from 100 trillion miles away (at night).

What’s Important For Paintball & Airsoft Players?

Consider these 5 aspects of a typical day on the field:

  1. Field Size: Outdoor playing areas can vary greatly in size from 15 acres to 150 acres. If those areas are square, that’s about 800-2,500 feet long. You’ll want solid magnification but usually, you’ll only be looking a few hundred yards downfield at the most.
  2. Target Activity: Usually your targets are trying to move slowly and stealthily to avoid detection, but they’re also capable of moving quickly. You don’t want binoculars with a very narrow field of vision, making it hard to track moving objects.
  3. Your Activity: You’ll definitely be running, so you’ll want binoculars that are compact, lightweight, and durable. You’re probably sweating a lot, too, so fog-resistance is a must.
  4. Lighting: Usually you’re playing during the day, but this depends on how “woodsy” your field is and the types of games you play. If you like playing in dim or dark conditions, you’ll want binoculars with wide objective lenses to capture as much of the limited light as possible for brighter images.
  5. Weather: You could be playing in any weather conditions, so this is personal. If you might encounter wet conditions, water-resistant or waterproof binoculars are a must.

Now we know the type of binoculars we’re looking for.

But how do we evaluate the specific models that meet our needs?

We turn to the specs!

9 Technical Specs You Need To Know

There are dozens of technical specs that manufacturers list for each pair of binoculars, but these 9 are the most important for us:

  1. Magnification: Also known as Power, how many times closer the binoculars make an object appear
  2. Objective Lens Diameter: Width (in mm) of the lenses closer to the object you’re viewing (not the eyepiece)
  3. Field of View @ 1,000 Yards (FoV @ 1,000): Actual width (in feet) of the field of view 1,000 yards downrange
  4. Apparent Angle of View (AAoV): Angle (in degrees) of the magnified field you can see when looking downrange
  5. Eye Relief (ER): Optimal distance (in mm) from the eyepiece to your eye
  6. Weight (Wgt): Self-explanatory, measured in ounces
  7. Dimensions: Self-explanatory, measured in inches
  8. Waterproof (WP): Yes or no, are they sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture from getting inside?
  9. Fog Resistance (FR): Yes or no, are they filled with an inert gas (like nitrogen) to prevent fogging?

Now let’s take a look at our roundup of the 11 best compact binoculars in a side-by-side comparison table.

Note: To keep things simple, I’ve abbreviated column headings using the shorthand from each bullet point above. I’ve also combined Magnification and Objective Lens Diameter into the MxD column because this is the most common way you’ll see binoculars described.

RkModelMxDFoV @ 1,000AAoVERWgtDimensionsWPFR
1Carson 3D Series HD8×32392′60°19.5 mm19 oz2.1″H x 5.1″W x 5.1″LYesYes
2Leupold BX-1 Yosemite10×30351′67°15.5 mm17 oz2.7″H x 7.8″W x 6.8″LYesYes
3Leica Ultravid BR10×25273′52°14.6 mm9 oz1.5″H x 4.4″W x 4.4″LYesYes
4Celestron Nature DX8×32388′59°17.5 mm18 oz1.8″H x 4.9″W x 5.0″LYesYes
5Zeiss Terra ED8×25357′52°16 mm11 oz2.6″H x 4.4″W x 4.5″LYesYes
6Bushnell H2O8×42410′62°17 mm27 oz3.0″H x 7.9″W x 6.0″LYesYes
7Steiner Safari10×26312′59°15 mm10 oz1.8″H x 4.0″W x 4.4″LYesYes
8Kowa YF II6×30420′48°20 mm17 oz1.9″H x 6.3″W x 4.5″LYesYes
9Nikon Trailblazer ATB10×25342′59°10 mm10 oz1.7″H x 4.1″W x 4.5″LYesYes
10Nikon ProStaff 7S8×30341′49°15.4 mm15 oz1.9″H x 5.1″W x 5.1″LYesYes
11Celestron Outland X8×42357′54°18 mm22 oz2.1″H x 5.0″W x 5.8″LYesYes

6 Quick Tips When Evaluating Binocular Specs

As you’re evaluating these specs to find the best compact binoculars for you, keep 6 things in mind:

  1. Magnification: You can’t zoom in and zoom out with any of these binoculars, so you want to find that Goldilocks pair that’s juuust right. This means you can see far enough downfield without having so much zoom that your image is wobbly and it’s hard to keep targets in your field of vision. Generally, 8x or 10x is where you want to be, though there may be situations where 6x is best.
  2. Objective Lens Diameter: Wider lenses let more light in, which means a brighter picture. Wider lenses also mean bigger binoculars and more weight. 30 mm lenses are a good midpoint. Go larger if you’ll be playing in low-light conditions. You can go smaller if you mostly play during brighter daylight conditions without much tree cover or if you buy a premium pair with better internal components.
  3. Field of Vision: There’s a trade-off between magnification (how much closer things look) and field of vision (how wide you can see). The more zoom you’re getting, the narrower your field of vision. That isn’t a hard-and-fast rule as some pairs of binoculars have specially-designed eyepieces that give you a wider field of vision for the same (or more) power compared to similar binoculars. For our purposes, I think your field of vision at 1,000 yards (FoV @ 1,000 Yards) and Apparent Angle of View (AAoV) are at least as important as magnification, and probable more so.
  4. Eye Relief: Larger Eye Relief measurements mean you don’t need to press your eyeballs as closely to the eyepieces in order to see clearly.
  5. Dimensions: Do you have a specific pocket or pouch you plan to store these binoculars in? Make sure they fit.
  6. Fog-Resistance: My flat-out recommendation? Never get a pair that isn’t fog-resistant. Thankfully, every pair on this list is!