Anyone using binoculars to scout routes?

I'm looking to get some binoculars for the purpose of ogling some rock climbs from a distance and I have no idea what to buy. What kinds of binoculars are other people using? Anyone have any ideas on what a good set of specs would be (range, zoom, price, etc.)?

My wife and I are birders, and good climbing areas are usually good birding areas too, so we generally have our binoculars along. Having them right there, we naturally reach for them to scout. It works really well. I can offer a few bits of advice if you're going to carry some bins to scout routes.

First, get compacts. You don't need the light-gathering power of 8x32s or 42s, unless you're working under low-light conditions. Compacts are a lot lighter and less expensive.

Go for waterproof. Most any decent pair will be.

Avoid zoom binoculars. They're optically inferior, mechanically fragile, basically a marketing gimmick for people who don't know optics.

8x is usually the best magnification. 10x is harder to stabilize adequately and doesn't really provide much advantage in detail. Some birders do like 10x but you pretty much have to go to 42mm lenses (i.e., big heavy binoculars) to get them bright enough.

Expect to spend around $100 to $150. Cheaper than that, you'll be losing enough resolution that you'll defeat your purpose, plus mechanically they won't be durable. You'll end up frustrated with them. You can get in a lot deeper if you want really good glass (it's easy to drop a kilobuck on a pair of Leica, Zeiss, or Swarovski bins) but there's no point unless you're into something like birding or astronomy that's very demanding of optics.

Buy them at a place that knows optics. Shops that cater to birders, stargazers, sailors, or serious hunters are the best bet. If you're into REI, the Nikon Trailblazer 8x25s they carry are a good choice. Pentax makes a similar pair, as does Minolta. (I used the Minolta 8x22s for a while before I splurged on my Leicas.)

I used binoculars a lot when planning first ascents in Thailand. Well, at least the ones that were true ground up efforts like towers or hard deep water solo routes. It works really well but if you've never used them before it can be hard to get a sense of the size of the features you are looking at. It helps to keep notes so that you can sort of create reference points.

eg: I am 300 ft from the wall, the crack I am looking at is 300 feet above me, so i am approx 424 feet from what I am looking at. From this distance it looks like a hand crack.

Then you get on the wall and see how acurate your guesses were, and write it down for next time.

I use 8x and 10x compacts all the time to scout existing routes and to scout/assess for new routes. I typically get the cheap models at W Mart or other outdoor/sporting goods stores. They tend to be not great sometimes, durability-wise.....but you don't have to worry about a great loss of money should they get banged up while in the pack. Typically I spend between $10 and $20 a pair. I have several pairs and like to keep one as dedicated in my climbing pack. I have also carried them up on multipitch to scout the route and scout for potential new routes from the climbed route's vantage. Although the models I typically use are inexpensive, I've only had one pair (out of many, over the years) that has actually failed...not functioned......and had to be replaced. Although quality is an attractive characteristic, it doesn't seem sensible to spend for high-end, compact optics given the rough treatment they potentially would receive. The cheap models have always done the job for me

^^^^Bernard those Wal-Mart optics don't sound too shabby, do you know what brand they are?

Lee Green gives some great advice above. I have a couple of pairs of high end binoculars for birding / wildlife that I also use for scoping climbs. Binoculars with a 8x20 or 10x25 field of view would also be my suggestion. I would also agree to spend perhaps $100-$200. They will last and give half way descent optics for most cases.

I'd second the inexpensive version, mine are compact 8x24 and my padded case cost almost as much. My buddy got a really nice pair and he never has them with him: too nice to risk. Mine are almost always in the pack and are very useful. I frequently refer to them as " my guidebook." His are WAY better, but we use mine, since we actually have them.

I have the safari Ultrasharp compact 8x22 binocs. I just got them because a binoc site rated them as a good compact option. Any binoc people can confirm if they are a good choice?

I'm happy with my nikon travelite 8x25 binocs...

10X Steiners sounds ideal for your application.

D.Buffum wrote:...Recommended (both the binoculars and the retailer): eagleoptics.com/binoculars/…...

Eagle is well regarded in birding circles for the high performance/price ratio of their offerings.

As far as the comment that the cheap ones get used because they're what you have along, that's an even better reason to get a decent pair. Don't be squeamish about bringing your $150 compacts out climbing. They'll stand up to it way better than the cheap ones. The good ones are made for hard use, get out there with them! Mine (Leicas, significantly > $150) get used all the time, in the rain, the dust, the -30 cold (we are backcountry skiers also), climbing, whitewater kayaking, whatever. They're not made to be set on a shelf and admired. They're made to go outside and play.

Even better for route beta than binoculars are good high resolution photos that you can zoom in on holds when viewed on your computer. If you are working the crag over several days.

These are really nice for the money

opticsplanet.com/leupold-bi…

Naah, you can't tell anything about a new route till you're smelling the rock ...

I use compact REI binoculars, and they are every bit as good as my friends that cost twice the price.

Hmm getting some mixed advice here. Sounds like an 8x compact set is probably ideal? Don't need anything massive since I don't really care about low-light performance. I'm starting to lean towards either the Safari ultrasharps or the Nikon travelite VI's since they both seem to be a pretty good bang for the buck with pretty decent glass in them for around 80 bucks.

Monoculars? Anyone have any thoughts on Monoculars vs Binoculars? Curious if having depth perception in Binos would outweight the weight penalty.

Looking at the Vortex Solo 8X25 as a good option for route scouting.

Lothian Buss wrote:

Monoculars? Anyone have any thoughts on Monoculars vs Binoculars? Curious if having depth perception in Binos would outweight the weight penalty.

Looking at the Vortex Solo 8X25 as a good option for route scouting.

I've used both, but I prefer a monocular. It might be that the monocular had more power than the binoculars though 

I've been doing that for years.  I find the REI binoculars to be a nice middle ground between expense and quality. They've seen their share of bumps and bruises and have held up well.  The cheap ones don't really have the clarity I'm looking for, especially when looking at a potential trad climb.  I keep one pair in the glove compartment and one pair in the top of my pack.

Lothian Buss wrote:

Monoculars? Anyone have any thoughts on Monoculars vs Binoculars? Curious if having depth perception in Binos would outweight the weight penalty.

Looking at the Vortex Solo 8X25 as a good option for route scouting.

I have a Vortex too; I carry it for casual use when I'm not birding but might want something. Sharp optics, very rugged (I've tested that mountain biking... the helmet needed replacing, so did the jersey, but the monocular was fine), and it quite does the job scouting. Light and small enough that it often comes along in the summit pack on multipitch routes.

Swarovskis (8x42). 

One of my most prized pieces of kit.