Feb 12, 2026 7 min read

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Nocs Binoculars Review: Affordable Travel-Friendly Compact Binoculars

Our Nocs binoculars review covers these budget-friendly, waterproof 8x25 compact binoculars for travel, hiking, surf-spotting and wildlife viewing.

This Nocs binoculars review covers the key features of Nocs Provisions Standard Issue Binoculars, including what makes these compact binoculars different from others on the market, and whether they stand up to our testing in the wild.

I also share the pros and cons to bear in mind if you’re thinking these may be the best compact binoculars for your needs — or if you’re considering a pair as a gift for someone who’d actually use them.

The kinds of situations I’m talking about are bird watching, wildlife viewing (at home or when traveling), stargazing (read our stargazing guide to get started), checking the surf, or spotting a trail or ski line in the backcountry.

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About Nocs Provisions Standard Issue binoculars

Nocs is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2019, inspired by outdoor adventures and California’s landscapes and seascapes.

They focus on making optics that feel approachable in both price and design.

Their flagship model is the Standard Issue 8×25 binoculars, built to be compact, rugged, and waterproof for travel and everyday outdoor use.

Because they’re compact, they’re easier to bring with you. Binoculars get heavier as they get bigger (more glass, larger lenses), and that weight is often the thing that stops them being “grab-and-go” for hiking, backpacking, watersports, and travel.

The rugged side shows up in the grippy, textured housing and the waterproof, fog-free design. If you’ll be around water, humidity, rain, sea spray, or cold-to-warm transitions, fog resistance and proper sealing matter more than people expect.

For me, those durability features are mainly about peace of mind. I’m far more likely to take binoculars along if I don’t feel like I have to baby them.

The official name is the Standard Issue 8×25 Waterproof Binoculars. That “8×25” spec is a common sweet spot for compact binoculars.

8× = 8x magnification (you’re effectively 8 times closer to what you’re looking at)
25 = 25mm objective lens diameter (smaller than full-size binoculars, which is part of why these stay compact)

Key features and specs

Here are the main specs and features worth knowing:

Price: $99.95 at nocsprovisions.com
Weight: 11.85oz (336g)
Size: 4.53 x 4.25 inches (115 x 108mm)
Waterproof and fog-proof: constructed using medical-grade O-rings; submersible for 30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water, meeting IPX7 waterproof criteria
Quality optics with scratch-resistant lenses and a wide field of view: there’s more technical detail on Nocs’ website if you want the specifics
Twist-up eye cups: helpful for glasses-wearers; you can adjust the eye cups to get a good fit and focus while keeping glasses on

These are designed to be compact, waterproof binoculars you can travel with and use anywhere.

They’re not bargain-basement binoculars, and they’re not premium “heritage optics” either. They sit in the middle — where build quality and real-world usability matter, but portability is still the priority.

A few things stand out immediately:

The housing is genuinely grippy (the ridges remind me a bit of BMX grips)
The color options are fun without being silly — inspired by California landscapes (Poppy Orange, Seafoam Green, Marigold Yellow), plus more muted options like black, grey, and blue
The pair in this review is Cypress Green

Nocs also designed these so you can use them as a zoom lens for smartphone photos. You can do it the simple way (holding your phone up to the eyepiece), or use their photo rig to mount the phone and binoculars together for easier photos/videos — from the moon to wildlife to a surfer on the horizon.

It’s also worth noting they come with a lifetime guarantee. In their words, it’s a “No-Matter-What Lifetime Warranty…”. The practical takeaway is: they’re built to be used, and the brand is backing that up.

How to use these compact binoculars

I’ve found the Standard Issue binos comfortable and simple to use. They’re small/light enough to hold with one hand, and the grippy design helps a lot — especially when hands are wet or you’re fumbling around in wind.

Focusing is straightforward, and they include instructions if binoculars are new to you.

Nocs Review | right eye focal adjustment wheel

The basic method:

Close your right eye and use the main focus wheel (top of the binoculars) to focus for your left eye
Then open your right eye (and close your left) and adjust the right-eye diopter (the smaller wheel on the right) until it’s crisp

My tip: don’t settle for “pretty good.” Binoculars often go from slightly blurry to properly sharp with small adjustments — and it’s worth taking an extra few seconds to dial it in.

In use, these work best as “everyday all-round” binoculars: spotting trail features and wildlife while hiking, or pulling distant landscapes closer (ridges, huts, lines, surf breaks, etc.).

You can use them for the moon and casual stargazing, but if stargazing is a main goal, a larger pair is usually more satisfying; something like the NOCS Professional Issue 8×42 binoculars for stargazing mini-adventures.

Because they’re waterproof, you can also take them places you might avoid with non-sealed binoculars: boats, whale watching, sightseeing near waterfalls, kayaking, or just rainy-day walks.

One practical note: they’ll sink if dropped in water, so if you’re using them over water a lot, consider attaching something that floats (or at least keeping them tethered).

A microfiber cloth and thin neck strap are included.

You can also buy thicker woven tapestry-style straps as accessories on Nocs’ website. I don’t have one yet, but they look more comfortable than the thin strap if you’ll wear binoculars around your neck for longer stretches — and the designs are pretty cool.

They come in a soft drawstring bag, which is fine for dust protection, but it won’t do much if they’re getting knocked around in a backpack. If you tend to throw gear into one big bag (guilty), it’s worth using a more padded pouch or structured storage case.

Are these the best budget binoculars under $100?

I can’t honestly claim they’re “the best” because I haven’t tested every compact binocular you can buy.

But I can say this, if you want compact binoculars that feel genuinely adventure-ready, work well, and don’t feel fragile, the Standard Issue 8×25s make a lot of sense for the money.

I also like how ergonomic they are, and the color options are surprisingly practical. Bright colors are easier to spot in a bag (and harder to accidentally leave behind).

As a gift for outdoorsy people, I think they land well too. For someone who likes wildlife in the backyard, or for the friend who’s always out hiking, surfing, traveling, or chasing viewpoints and needs a better look at what’s happening in the distance.

Where to buy

Nocs Standard Issue binoculars currently retail for $99.95 at nocsprovisions.com and you can check the prices and buy them from any of the following stores below:

View at NOCS Provisions

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review and it has helped you decided whether their Standard Issue binos are the right ones for you.

If you have any questions for me about my experience of using the Nocs, drop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!