Nikon Trailblazer 10x25mm Binoculars - Compact, Waterproof & Fogproof, Bright Multilayer-Coated Optics, Roof Prism - All-Terrain Outdoor Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Binoculars (8218)

Being waterproof and fog proof are important feature. Lens coatings are a must. For its 10 magnification it has a very good Depth of field which means not having to focus all the time. The view is clear and bright. The focus is easy and smooth. The size when folding to its compact size is wonderful. An 8 magnification means almost no focus is needed. I like to see details on birds and look at boats out at sea so a 10 magnification is what I perfer most of the time. Most of my binoculars are of high quality. However my mistake has been buying small binoculars with for under 50 dollars.... Not being able to view a clear sharp image especially in non shade areas has been the problem. 25mm means you need light. Dim Light is equals dim viewing in all small binoculars. Nikons are certainly better then most.

Since I do not know much about binocs I had to do a lot of research to understand what to buy. I wanted a pair of binocs that were good quality but a price that I could afford ($100) The Trail Blazers were the answer. They are small and light so they can easily slip into my backpack, jacket pocket. The image is clear. We are watching birds in all their glory high up in the trees and across the lake with no problem. If this is your price point, these are good quality binocs.

Dollar for dollar, these binoculars are a great buy. Nikon does a great job of filling the niche between low and high-end products at an affordable price point; these binoculars are no exception. Image quality is clear and bright, focus is quick to adjust to sharp detail. While I didn't expect or receive performance equivalent to my Monarch 10x40 ATB's, these peeps function remarkably while fitting into a shirt pocket. FYI, aftermarket camera/bino straps will need to have a very narrow strap width to fit through Nikon's strap attachment points- I had similar issues with the aforementioned Monarchs, as well. I used a pair of trimmed zip ties to get the job done for both products. 4.5 stars for performance, price, and quality; minus half a star because the lens caps can't be secured.

These are a very nice compromise between portability and optical quality in good lighting conditions. Of course, a larger objective would give better low light performance, but that comes at the cost of extra weight and bulk. Build quality is good overall, but the extending eyepieces will not stay extended. Aside from this annoyance, I am happy with the binoculars.

For "fits in my pocket" and also having good optics, this is basically the only one on the market under $100. It has very good FoV. This is my highest priority attribute. The best binoculars I have is the Nikon Monarch HG, I also have a Nikon Monarch 7, and an old Nikon Prostaff. This Trailblazer has the same colour profile as all of the other Nikons. It looks as good as its higher tier brothers until you start looking for the fancy features. Downsides are: can't place it vertically on a table, the eyecups are loose (this I fixed by replacing the existing screws with M1.6x4mm flat-head screws)

These are great little binoculars, very lightweight and sturdy (I’ve bounced them off various things with no damage). I’ve used these mainly for nature watching while hiking and paddle boarding, looking at birds and whatnot. The sharpness is great, I can see what I’m looking at in perfect clarity! These were definitely worth the money to upgrade from the value pair I had before.

GOOD FOR HIKING AND CAMPING,WHERE SIZE MATTERS.

I was originally looking for full sized binoculars for hiking and four-wheeling in the Arizona desert. I was dissatisfied with other mini binoculars, so I thought I would have to endure carrying a bigger, heavier unit. After reading all the great reviews for this unit, I took a chance. The Nikon 8218 works great. It's light, compact, easy to adjust, and very clear in low light. I can easily read car license plates and airplane (low flying) ID numbers on moving vehicles at night. I wear glasses, and it's no problem using them with my glasses on. I haven't tested the waterproof feature, and since it only gets used in the desert, probably never will.

Best binoculars for the money. Excellent quality, really portable.

Die Nikon Trailblazer 10x 25 Ferngläser sind kompakt, klein, robust und leicht zu benutzen. Sichtqualität is sehr gut. Toller Kauf.

Excellent optics for the price. Very happy with the purchase.

Use these at work in a harbour. Nikon clarity as expected. Really like the magnifying power.

It was a gift, and the box looked open already and was taped shut. Not a great look