When it comes to choosing the best binoculars, it’s good to start by considering what level of magnification you want and what size will be most convenient for your activities. For instance, if you are choosing bird-watching gear, you may need to compromise between magnification and size so that the binoculars are comfortable and easy to wear or carry during long walks.

The two numbers separated by the “x” in a binocular’s description refer to the magnification and the size of the lens (in millimeters). So, 8 x 42 binoculars make the object you're viewing appear eight times closer than it would with your unassisted eyes, and they let in a fair amount of light and fall roughly in the middle of common binocular lens sizes.

You may also want to consider special features or special categories of binoculars, such as night vision binoculars. For wet climates, waterproof binoculars or water-resistant binoculars can be essential.

You can use binoculars for all kinds of activities. They are popular for wildlife viewing as well as hunting—for which range-finding binoculars and night vision binoculars come in particularly handy. In fact, binoculars can even be useful if you take wildlife photography because they can help you notice and track wildlife around you while you are preparing your camera. Having some compact binoculars in your camera bag will help you stay prepared and aware.

Good binoculars are also necessary for activities like sailing where you need to be attuned to objects that may cross your path and be able to read distant buoy numbers and signage. And they can come in handy for both marine and wilderness navigation.

If you want to add another fun activity to your binocular usage, consider getting solar binoculars that have special filters for viewing the sun directly so that you can enjoy the magic of solar eclipses.