If you have a little one that would love absolutely nothing more than to spend just a bit of extra time with you out in the woods or just glassing your local outdoor spaces, then the odds are fantastic that you need to focus on picking up a pair of kids binoculars for the task.
This probably seems like something pretty simple and straightforward to do, until you start looking and you realize nothing could be further from the truth.
Not only are you going to find the world of kids binoculars to be absolutely overloaded with different makes, models, and varying degrees of quality and consistency, you'll also find that prices, special features, and design attributes are all over the place as well.
Hopefully you’ll be able to use this quick guide to find the right pair of kids binoculars for the little one in your life without any headache or hassle!
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The Best Kid’s Binoculars Available
First, we're going to dive into a few of our favorite kid's binoculars and why we like them, then we'll dive into some considerations to make before buying.
1
Carson Hawk Child Binoculars
These are perfect beginner binoculars for young children. They are lightweight and durable, very inexpensive, and look pretty cool.
Also, they have an 8x magnification so they'll actually be able to see some distance with them.
2
Nikon 8217 Trailblazer Binoculars
These aren't specifically kids binoculars, but they are compact binoculars at a very reasonable price.
These are perfect if your kids are a little older and you want to get them something small enough to fit their faces but also good enough for adults to use.
3
Shock Proof Kid Binoculars
These come in pink, blue, or green (which we love since we're the ones who have to find them when they lose them). We also love them because of the thoughtful design.
They include larger rubber eyepieces so your kids won't get hurt playing with them. Also, they have a shockproof body build of rubber, to absorb the inevitable drops.
4
Barska Floatmaster Waterproof Floating Binoculars
We absolutely love the idea of using these binoculars for kids. They aren't actually designed for children, but being virtually indestructible, bright yellow, and buoyant, they are perfect for kids.
Because, you know the day they decide to be clumsy is the day you're near a lake...
5
Carson Hawk Child Binoculars
We love these because they are super stylish and come in either pink or yellow.
Being standard 10x25 compact binoculars, they are perfect for kids to do mid-range bird watching, hiking, or sightseeing. They are light enough for your kids to use too!
6
Carson Mini Scout Compact Binoculars
We love these because, well, they are super small! They literally fit in the palm of your hand, which makes them perfect binoculars for children.
They come in 7x18, 8x22, or 10x25, so you can get the zoom level appropriate for your childs ability to hold the binoculars steady.
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Kids Binoculars Do Not Have to be Underpowered
The world of kids binoculars can be separated into two different and distinct areas:
- Toy binoculars that are little more than four magnifying glasses stuck on the ends of plastic tubes that have been connected in the middle,
- Real “compact” binoculars that are powerful and high quality enough for adults but user-friendly enough for children.
Obviously, you’re going to need to focus on exactly what kinds of applications your child is going to be using their new binoculars for before you decide which of these two different types of kids binoculars to purchase.
If you just need a pair of “playing around” binoculars, then you can probably get away with toy binoculars and should have absolutely no trouble whatsoever purchasing a pair for under $25/£20.
On the other hand, if you want to make sure that your kid is able to see everything that you’re able to see when you’re out spending time with each other, you’re going to need to step up a level in price to make sure that you get the right quality binoculars in their little hands and face.
In this situation, compact binoculars are perfect for kids because they have been designed specifically to be small – thus working with your child’s small hands and face. Also, they are generally lighter which makes it far easier for them to pick them up and hold them steady.
Many come with safety dampening features that we will go into in-depth in just a moment, but that’s why they are probably best for that type of investment.
Always Consider Your budget Purchasing Binoculars for Kids
The next thing that you’re going to want to focus on is just how much you’re willing to spend on a pair of kids binoculars.
There’s certainly something about purchasing your child their first pair of “real” binoculars, spending anywhere between $50-$100 or more to make sure that they get the kind of high-quality equipment that you would have been happy to have in your youth.
But, you need to weigh that against the cold, hard reality that children can be a little bit clumsy with delicate pieces of equipment like binoculars. Kids are also notoriously fickle and have short attention spans, so they may not take to glassing quite the same way that you have.
It would be difficult to imagine anything worse than spending £75 or more on a pair of truly high-end kids binoculars, only to find out that your little tyke has dropped them in a riverbed while you were out scouting. Or worse, they lose interest and have no interest in glassing any longer.
Kid’s Binoculars Frequently Come Full of Special Features
After you have decided which type of kids binoculars you are going to purchase, you’ll want to focus on special features that these kinds of binoculars come jampacked with. Kids binoculars frequently have all different kinds of “gizmos and doodads” attached to them. We are talking about:
- Flashlights so that they can have “night vision capabilities“
- Built-in miniature digital cameras to snap pictures of whatever they see in the viewfinder
- Ergonomic grips that allow them to squeeze their little hands around equipment that may not have been easy to do without those same grips
- And a whole host of others that could help elevate their experience dramatically
Again, you’re going to need to balance just how much you’re willing to spend on a pair of kids binoculars with just how many special features you want your little one to enjoy.
However, with just a bit of thought (probably serious consideration as to how much you willing to budget), you should be able to figure this all out without any real headache or hassle at all.
Invest in High Visibility Finishes or a Harness to Protect Their Binoculars
If you are serious about purchasing high-quality binoculars for your child, you’ll want to consider investing in high visibility finishes (we’re talking about safety orange, pink, yellow and the like) or a dedicated harness that you can attach to the binoculars.
These will help you ensure these pieces of equipment don’t go missing or end up damaged.
It may seem as though this is taking unnecessary and extra precautions, but spend a few minutes googling the nightmare scenarios that parents have talked about regarding their kids binoculars. Things such as losing them or forgetting they even had them in their hand.
As you know, kids will destroy just about the most rugged piece of equipment, so safety and durability are paramount considerations in a pair of binoculars for your kids.
Closing Thoughts
While this is certainly not a complete or comprehensive list of all the things you want to consider when investing in kids binoculars, hopefully, you find the information provided above useful during your search.
You are going to find a tremendous number of products specifically designed for children in the binocular industry, many of them with almost identical capabilities to the ones that you have in your own full frame binoculars.
Pay attention to the tips and tricks to buying kids binoculars written above, and you should have no trouble whatsoever successfully navigating things and getting out with your little one and enjoying all that a bit of glassing has to offer!