Telescope Reviews: Backpacking with Binoculars

It's that time of year again boys and girls. Camping. Oh Boy!

I can't remember how many years we've done this. Sat. morn 6:00 AM, my two younger brothers and I leave for the Adirondacks for this year's trip.

If you remember last year, it was a trip to Mt Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Maine. This year the trip starts at the southern entry to the high peaks region of the Adirondacks. Mag 6+ skies.

This year, like last, we will have a stationary campsite for the first two nights (near the vehicle), and we will do dayhikes for two days. This allows me to take several piece of Astro gear for the first two nights. My choices:
Along with several pair of binoculars and tripods, TV85 on a GPDX with a whole slew of eyepieces.

The real trick comes when I have to make the final decision on which binocular / tripod is going to get lugged across 30 miles of mountains for the next 5 days and nights. Now, you backpacking people know that every pound counts. At least this year I've got a new pack (5500 Cu.in. Gregory) that has enough room to take whatever I want. We are not ultralite packers. This will be a 50-60 pound load (22-27 Kg. for Kenny and friends). Actually, I've never gotten away with just 50 Lbs. Extra pounds need to be eliminated. No 22x100s on a backpack trip.

I have a lot of binocs (some that don't belong to me that I'm sure by now a few people are wishing I would return, right away) to choose from. I won't take any of the big ones on loan. So out of my long list here are some to choose from:
7x35 Minolta Activa - water resistant
8x42 Swift Ultralites - took these as a 2nd daytime pair last year
10x50 Orion Ultraviews - took these several years ago as handheld
12x50 Pentax PCF III - strong contenders, got beat out last year
15x70/'03 Oberwerks - this is the pair to bet
16x60 Pentax PCF WP - up in the air on these
16x70 Fujinon FMT SX - would really love to have these along
20x80 Oberwerks - OK now thats getting to heavy

The tripod is another entire decision.

Last year the decision came down to the 12x50 Pentax or the 15x70 Oberwerk. I just can't seem to justify carrying 4#12oz Fujinon 16x70s. Were talking shed the pounds here, not carry the weight. But the difference between what can be seen with the 15x70s vs. the 12x50s is enough for me to consider the extra 1 pound. The 16x60s just don't give me any more gain over the 15x70s.

Now the tripod. A tripod is a must, rather than some IS binoc. Part of the observing is to find objects and show the other guys. Can't do that with unmounted binocs. I don't have as many choices here for tripods. My Bogen 3246/501 is way to heavy. My Orion HD-F2 has a broken leg lock and can only extend two sections. It's pretty much down to 3 choices and one of those, a Velbon cheapo, although very light, is way to short. So it's either my Slik U212 or my Bogen 3211/3130 combo. The Bogen weighs about 7#, the Slik about 5 to 5 1/2#. I know the Slik is not quite enough tripod, but I might give up the Bogen to save the weight. Still undecided on the tripod.

So what seems like the best setup to me. Same as I ended up taking last year, Oberwerk 15x70s on a Bogen 3211/3130. 7x35 Activas for daytime use (my brother will carry these).

I would bet 20 people would make 20 different choices here.

See you all August 2.

edz

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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
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