The best monoculars in 2023: perfect for when binoculars are just too big

The best monoculars are especially well suited to people who struggle with binocular vision and adjusting twin eyepieces. Monoculars offer a similarly huge range of applications that can make them useful for all sorts of people, from wildlife photographers to sports followers and birdwatchers.

Monoculars provide magnification for a single eye, as opposed to a pair of binoculars, which cater to both. This makes monoculars lighter and smaller, but with the same degrees of magnification as binoculars. If you like the idea but need more magnification, take a look at the best spotting scopes.

Some monoculars are simply for viewing with the naked eye, but some have image-capture abilities built in. Others come with smartphones or camera mounts that allow you to take pictures.

So here are some of the features to look for:

1. Smartphone mount: Take pictures through your monocular!

2. Magnification: Higher magnifications are good for distant subjects but it's harder to keep the view steady; a lower magnification is good for wider scenic views or fast-moving subjects.

3. Objective lens size: A bigger lens will gather more light and give you a clearer image at dusk or dawn, but will add to the size, weight, and cost.

4. Waterproofing: Handy if you are out in the rain or accidentally drop your monocular into water.

5. Fogproofing: Sometimes monocular optics are nitrogen filled to expel all moist air and prevent internal fogging in cold air.

6. Tripod mount: For longer wildlife-watching sessions, with hands-free viewing and a steady image.

7. Night vision: Electronic amplification for viewing in darkness, with infrared illumination and video recording.

8. Compact size: Some monoculars are small enough for a shirt pocket and almost like a mini-telescope.

best monoculars: our top picks

The best monoculars in 2023

Best for price and performance

If I were in the market for a Monocular that offered good range, was well made, and offered Nitrogen-filled optics to keep out any moisture of any kind from blocking my view, I would buy this Opticron 8x42 Explorer wide-angle monocular.

It might not be the most compact one in the market for size, but what you get is a very capable optic that serves its purpose and will give the user hours of enjoyment.

The only things which picked up on were the accessories it comes with, though this is an entry-level product, its own super construction is only let down by rather thin and flimsy front and rear body caps, which don't match the well-made quality of the eye cup or rubber on the focus mechanism.

Again, the included strap and case are an added benefit to anyone wanting this however, they are not the best quality but will do for most users.

Read our full Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 review

Best premium option

When you buy a handcrafted Leica product you expect a build quality like no other, along with a splash of style and elegance – that's very much the case with the Monovid offering.

This monocular’s strong yet portably lightweight aluminum housing (just 112g in weight) is nitrogen-filled to prevent internal fogging, whatever climate it’s being used in. Meanwhile, the waterproofed construction allows observers to submerge it in water up to depths of almost 5 meters. That makes the Leica Monovid 8x20 much better than just being splash-resistant. 

In the provided cylindrical carry case, you also get a close-up lens offering 8x magnification at distances as close as 25cm. Despite being as compact as a tube of Smarties, the observer will be treated to fine detail through this monocular. What's more, the Monovid 8x20 is comfortable to use too, thanks to a rugged surface, 15mm eye relief, and handy central focusing knob.

You might be getting class-leading performance, but you'll need to pay top dollar for it. The Leica Monovid 8x20 is much more expensive compared to factory-made units, so much so you might want to add it to your list of insured items.

Read our full Leica Monovid 8x20 monocular review

Best everyday option

The mid-priced Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 is an ideal general-purpose monocular that's perfect for travels, weighing in at just 150g. This well-made piece of kit provides a wide-angle field of view and a decent 8x magnification (if you need more magnification there’s also a 10x option in the same manufacturer’s range). 

The good light transmission offers bright and clear images, while the inclusion of ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass reduces color fringing and provides exquisite detail when observing a variety of targets. 

A roughened rubber-coated surface offers a firmer grip, and focusing is a one-handed affair thanks to a focus ring just in front of the eyecup. The focuser isn't too stiff and provides enough resistance for fine-tuning your sights.

A lens cloth, lens cover, lanyard, and carry case are all supplied with the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25, boasting a well-rounded package for a reasonable price.

Read our full Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 review.

Best budget option

This compact and pocketable digital monocular is the best budget option from the offerings above, it's also able to provide night vision with a 7-stage range of sensitivity, while also offering color viewing for when out and about during the day. 

You will be able to see birds and wildlife from a good distance thanks to its range of 150 meters and you will also find handy buttons located on the top of the device for 3x optical magnification and 2x digital zoom.

This makes sure all your wildlife spots are in focus and can be seen clearly, and talking of being able to see clearly, if you are out in cloudy conditions the cub is also equipped with an 8-range brightness setting within the monocular, so you'll be sure you won't miss anything interesting on your travels. 

Thanks to its f/1.4 lens which is auto-adjusted to either night or daytime use, this handy device will be able to record all your interesting finds thanks to onboard recording and a 32GB microSD card provided, the card slot is located at the back of the device, just below the eyepiece where you will also find the battery compartment, which takes one AA battery. 

Read our full Nightfox Cub review

Best for the casual bird watcher

For the casual bird watcher or nature lover, the Hawke Nature Trek 8x25 offers a clear and sharp picture with minimal fringing, which defies its low price tag.

The Nature Trek is robust and light with a textured body that provides great grip. The monocular looks like it was made for the outdoors but still looks good. It is also waterproof to survive rain and nitrogen purged to avoid fogging in cold weather.

At 8x magnification, it is easy to hold steady, and the 25mm diameter provides a clear picture. Although the field of view is not the widest you can get, it more than makes up for it with its compact size and weight. The Hawke Nature Trek 8x25 is the perfect companion to throw in a pocket or bag for any spotting situation that arises. 

Read our full Hawke Nature Trek 8x25 monocular review.

Best waterproof option

Looking for a great waterproof monocular? The Hawke Endurance 8x42 has a multi-coated lens, a rubber-coated exterior, and a wide field of view – and can be used in the wet as well as the wilds, as its Endurance name suggests. The overall build is of excellent quality and will last wilderness enthusiasts for many observing sessions to come.

The 8x magnification gives you a great all-purpose view of what's in the bushes, or on the horizon. Observations are a suitably bright image that boasts clarity thanks to the light-gathering prowess of the multi-coated 42mm objective and the phase-corrected glass prisms, BAK-4 prisms. 

Due to its light weight of 320g, the monocular is easily carried. The focusing knob is smooth to operate and can be fine-tuned enough to ensure that images are critically sharp. Our only criticism is that if you're looking to mount the monocular to a tripod, you'll need to purchase a ball and socket head: the position of the existing thread isn't as supportive as we'd hoped.

Read our full Hawke Endurance ED 8x42 monocular review.

Best for versatility

An impressive monocular for the price, the Celestron Outland X 10x50 is built for high performance. The large 50mm objective lens combines with anti-reflection coated optics to provide a crystal-clear view. Light transmission is excellent offering sights that are both bright and contrasty. 

It's comfortable enough to use for relatively long periods and sports generous eye relief, but for really steady views, we recommend mounting the Outland X 10x50 to a tripod. The monocular also comes with a smartphone adapter for digiscoping, while the O-ring is sealed against water, and nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging. 

Thanks to the magnification and aperture, users can enjoy observations and take images through it during the day and night: it's great for getting up close to wildlife but is also suitable for some basic stargazing. As a simple monocular that boasts great quality and usability, it's effective and capable of cost. 

Best mini scope

Resembling a miniaturized spotting scope more than a typical monocular, the Celestron Outland X 10-30x50mm monocular with a tripod is inevitably bigger than most in its class, while of course offering more with it. Though missing the possibility for strap attachment, welcome inclusions here include the built-in zoom capability, twist-up eyecup, chunky and responsive zoom control, plus the ability to mount the device on a tripod – provided – for added stability and comfort during extended periods of observation.

Read the full Celestron Outland X 10-30x50 Monocular review.

Best rugged option

A useful 10x magnification and a good-sized 42mm lens makes the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular an able observational device for a broad range of pursuits. Broader than less well-specified alternatives it may be, but build quality here stands out as being particularly good, offering not only a reassuring robustness to withstand use in the field and the odd accidental knock, but also waterproofing and fog-proofing with it for use in inclement climates. Observation is comparably nice and sharp, given its size, with the bigger lens helping us when tracking subjects and trying to keep them in view.

Read the full Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular review.

Best for far-reaching views

Considering the low price of the Gosky 12x55, you might expect it to be a little flimsy, but it's an impressively rugged piece of kit. Handling the Gosky 12x55 is a pleasant and comfortable experience due to the rubber armor.

Image quality is reasonably bright and clear, thanks to a BAK-4 prism and a multi-coated 55mm lens that optimizes light transmission. The monocular is also nitrogen purged for effectively combatting the elements: moisture doesn't interfere with observations and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy unhindered views through the optical system.     

What sets the Gosky 12x55 apart from many on the market is that it comes with a smartphone mount, which allows you to attach your iPhone or Android phone and take pictures of distant subjects with a good amount of stability.

The smartphone mount is not made with quite the same quality as the monocular, although that is to be expected at less than $100. It's simple enough to use though and does the job. 

Best for night vision

If you're looking to try some night-time nature-spotting, then we recommend giving the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision Monocular a try. It's water-resistant for use in a variety of outdoor conditions and comes with a magnification factor that, at 6x, is bigger than a good proportion of monoculars with the nighttime capability, and comes with an effective light-gathering 50mm lens. 

This monocular is pricey for those on a low budget, but what you do get is built-in WiFi, which enables users to live-stream footage straight to a mobile device and even controls the zoom for video, image capture, and IR brightness direct. The onboard IR illuminator allows long-range subjects to be comfortably viewed day or night – although we discovered that this feature can quickly sap the monocular's battery (and batteries aren't included out of the box). 

Video capture is full HD 1080p, which is respectable for its class. This appears to be a comprehensively featured tool, albeit one that is a fair amount weightier than monoculars that aren't equipped with night vision. We recommend using a tripod for steady observations.

Best for backpacking

If you're after a monocular to take backpacking, try the Conquest 10x25T, which manufacturer Zeiss likens to a mini-telescope. Like others in this list, it’s designed to bring distant objects into sharp focus, while remaining fairly compact and easy to carry without weighing you down. Despite the light design, the build is of excellent quality – and is reflected in the high-budget price.

The brand is known for its optical excellence, and the Conquest 10x25T certainly delivers thanks to Zeiss T* coated optics for a high-quality performance: targets are viewable in outstanding contrast and clarity. In terms of added value, a leather pouch and carrying strap are included, while a 15mm eye relief ensures comfortable viewing. 

The Conquest 10x25T is sealed against water spray and can seamlessly function in temperatures that vary between -4 and 104 degrees, meaning it should stand up in a range of situations and climates.

Best for ocean activities

Outwardly similar to Hawke’s own 8x42 monocular, this alternative offers waterproofing and fog-proofing for outdoor use and lets us take it to the high seas for salty aired observation, adding in a high-visibility floatable strap with it, in case it should tumble overboard. Further helping this monocular stand out from alternatives is an onboard compass with a rangefinder ‘reticle’ to allow us to pinpoint the distance between ourselves and whatever we’re viewing through the eyepiece on the horizon.

Read our full Hawke Endurance ED Marine 7x42 Compass Monocular review.

Best 2-in-1 device

Though the model name suggests this one is aimed at appreciators of art, in fact, the Opticron 8x20 Gallery Scope is a pocket-sized device with a periscopic operation that’s suitable for viewing practically any subject. Also described as a macro focus monocular, which also doesn't quite cut it either, as the versatile focus range runs from infinity to as close as 30cm, and vice versa. The latter allows us to magnify small details on artworks or, say, insects, for almost forensic examination – allowing us to see the grain in a photographic print for example. It all adds up to a versatile tool for those who want to observe subjects either very near or very far away, yet want to travel light with it.

Read the full Opticron 8x20 Gallery Scope review.

What we look for

A monocular is both lighter and smaller when compared to regular binoculars, and in our buying guides we look for a monocular that is lightweight, of good construction and that's able to withstand the abuse of the day-to-day activity of birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Magnification is also a big factor and we like to offer a wide range to suit everyone's preference. Budget is also an indicator, and within this buying guide you will find items to suit everyone's budget. 

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