NightMonkey
super member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 184
Loc: Upstate, SC
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Greetings all...
Does anyone have a suggestion on a pair of binos to take hiking/backpacking? A buddy of mine and I hike out several miles into the "wild" and I would love to have something to pack-in.
I am looking for something that would be around 5 lbs and take a few slight knocks...I don't know alot about binos and don't really know what to look for or ask about...Size is a factor but not a great factor, mostly weight...Brands to lean towards/run from ....etc.
Thanks for any suggestions.
*******Ah man...I thought I was in the Bino forum...Do I need to get an admin to move this thread? That is what I get when I take care of the kids and view forums....Sorry.  ****
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Meade DS-2114ATS-LNT
Meade 285
Celestron Eyepiece and Filter Set
Thousand Oaks Solar Filter
Quickcam Pro 5000
Edited by NightMonkey (07/10/08 10:07 AM)
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5280
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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You can easily find a nice binocular for general use that is under 2 lbs.
Rich
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5280
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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There are nice 8x42 waterproof, roof prism, birding binoculars in the $250 to $350 range, They're not as bulky as porro prism binoculars of the same objective size and they're rugged enough to take a few bumps.
I've had an Orion 8x42 Savanna roof prism binocular for several years. I keep it in the car most of the time. It's very handy, I can grab it and take it with me on a hike. It weighs around 25 oz.
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NorthCoast
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 2193
Loc: Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A.
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I echo Rich's comments; and, I like my Celestorn Regal LX 8x42s. It is waterproof and fog proof, has "No Fault Warranty", and about 25oz.
That specific model was recently discontinued and I'm not sure of the replacement model. That size and magnification is a very usable combination - IMHO.
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Mark
Hold the "Alt Key" and type 248 on the number pad for °
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1563
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Here is a small, lightweight, 6x with a very nice wide Field of View for hiking, etc.
http://www.leupold.com/observation/products/binoculars/katmai-series/katmai-6x32mm/
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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devond
super member
Reged: 08/21/06
Posts: 120
Loc: Northern CA, USA
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Is this for terrestrial or astro use?
Either way, I like to backpack with my Garrett Gemini 11x56.
Gemini 11x56
They aren't water/fog proof, so if it rains they stay in their ziploc bag, but if it rains I'm not likely to be star gazing either. But they also aren't that expensive (relative to their fancier rivals), they are very light weight for their size, they have what for me is about all the magnification I care to hand hold and the views are nice.
In fact I took mine along two weeks ago into the Sierras but sadly the sky was filled with so much NorCal smoke that all I could see was a reddish version of Vega. Yuck.
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Clear skies,
-DevonD
Bincos: 7x35,10x25,11x56,15x50,15x70,25x100
Scopes: AT66, ST80, 90mm Apex Mak, 100mm Skyview, 8" C8
EPs: Hyps(5,8,21),Pans(22,35),Nagl(3-6),Pentax 10 XW, Orion 3.7 ED-2,Vixen 15 LV, Misc Junk
Mounts: CG-5GT, Orion XHD+PGram, Bogen 501 HDV
Toys: Power-X-Switch S2, BV3 Binoviewer
Money: zilch
---sleep deprivation indicator---
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NightMonkey
super member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 184
Loc: Upstate, SC
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Sorry...I did't clarify....I would be using them for astro usage...
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Meade DS-2114ATS-LNT
Meade 285
Celestron Eyepiece and Filter Set
Thousand Oaks Solar Filter
Quickcam Pro 5000
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1563
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Here is an assortment for you to look over:
http://www.garrettoptical.com/category-s/26.htm
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12341
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I would strongly urge using waterproof binoculars. I've done this quite a few times and tried numerous different binoculars on trips.
15x70s were way to big. They needed a tripod. the total load was 3.25# binoculars and 7.5# tripod. 30 miles over Mt Katadhin. I'll never do that again, although I had outstanding views.
For day hikes I use mostly 8x40s or 10x50s handheld.
10x50 Orion Ultraviews handheld were great on a 5 day backpack trip.
8x42 Swift Ultralites were not waterproof, fogged up internally and I carried them for 3 more days without being able to use them, day or night. Worst choice I ever made. dead weight.
12x50 Nikon AE was excellent. WP, about 2.5#, carried a 7 ounce mini three-leg tripod that folded up to about 1"x7". Strapped it to the top of my hiking pole with a velcro strap and used it as a monopod. Even jambed that pole into the ground and I was able to use it like a tripod to show someone else the view. Best arrangement I ever used.
I now have some WP 10x42 roofs that weigh less that I would consider.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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danielgolite
member
Reged: 09/29/06
Posts: 25
Loc: Erie County, PA
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This spring I took my 10x50's on a church backpacking trip in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest. Under the pristine skies (zero light pollution), the 10x50's delivered some amazing views. They are an older pair of Celestron Ultima's, not the recent offering with the same name. I think these worked great for my trip but a concern I had was that they are not waterproof or shockproof so they needed to be packed carefully and treated gently.
I used them by laying down flat on the ground (on my sleeping pad)and resting them on my face. This worked good for me for overhead views. I enjoyed the best views of M13, M51, and M101 that I ever had through these binoculars.
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-Daniel
"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." -Hebrews 3:4
Celestron 6" reflector/eq. mount
Tele Vue Ranger
Celestron 10x50 Ultima & 15x70 Skymaster binocs
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James S
member
Reged: 07/10/08
Posts: 16
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I like those reverse Porro binoculars for backpacking. 8x28 or 8x32
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NightMonkey
super member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 184
Loc: Upstate, SC
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Thanks for the help....It gives me some good options to think about. Though I would love to know about that 7oz tripod.
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Meade DS-2114ATS-LNT
Meade 285
Celestron Eyepiece and Filter Set
Thousand Oaks Solar Filter
Quickcam Pro 5000
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12341
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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one of those little fold up things. The legs are like L angles, only plastic. The head is a little ball with a locking wingnut and a 1/4# screw to hold a camera. This one comes with its one velcro strap.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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