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Outdoor Optics Binoculars

5 Best Binoculars for Concerts, Sports and Music Festivals

Enjoying a concert is an unforgettable experience. In most cases, going to a concert is the closest you’ll get to your favorite star in your entire life. The closer you can get to the stage, the better your time will be. Unfortunately, not everyone gets the opportunity to get or has enough money to pay for front-row tickets.

If you can relate yourself to that, don’t worry. A good pair of binoculars is all you need. These devices are incredibly light, compact, and easy to use. You can also carry them in your pockets without trouble.

However, not all binoculars are 100% effective for viewing sports, concerts, or other shows whether indoor or outdoor. Some may let you down in the middle of the event. To make sure that never happens to you, we reviewed the most popular pairs that you can try today!

Top 5 Best Binoculars for Concerts

1 SkyGenius 10X50 Powerful Binoculars

SkyGenius 10X50 Powerful Binoculars

Sky Genius binoculars have 50-mm objective lenses, 10X of magnification, and 367 ft/1000 yards of field of vision. So, you can be 1000 yards away from the scenario and enjoy the show like you were in the front row. The body of these binoculars is made of aluminum covered with rubber. They only weigh 1.8 lbs and withstand high impacts without damage.

Their multi-coated lenses improve light gathering in low light conditions and correct color distortion. With these binoculars, you can be sure that you’ll get a sharp and crystal clear image when the stadium lights turn off. The right ocular lens has a diopter system that helps correct vision imbalance, which could result in tired eyes.

The eyepieces can be twisted up and down to adjust the eye relief. That way, glasses wearers don’t need to be too close to the lenses to have a clear view. These binoculars can be mounted on a tripod. That way, you can enjoy the concert hands-free.

Without question, these binoculars are our top pick because they’re incredibly powerful and provide excellent image quality. However, that’s not the only reason. The package includes a wide variety of accessories, including a carrying bag, shoulder strap, cleaning cloth, and lens caps.

These binoculars use an advanced optical system that guarantees clear images at maximum magnification. The Porro prisms gather all the light that enters through the objective lenses and focus it on the eyepieces. These prisms reduce light reflection to the minimum level, thanks to their extra smooth finish and special coatings.

This pair also has a 5-mm exit pupil, which is quite close to the 7 mm required for optimal night vision.

Specifications

  • Objective lens: 50mm
  • Magnification: 10X
  • Weight: 1.8 lbs
  • Field of view: 367 ft/1000 yards
  • Porro prism
  • Diopter system for vision imbalance correction

Pros

  • Superior light gathering
  • Excellent image quality in low light
  • Durable and resistant
  • Sturdy design
  • Water-resistant
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Using them for a long time may cause double vision
  • Images may seem blurry at maximum magnification

Our Verdict

Th SkyGenius 10X50 has an incredible optical system that guarantees superior light gathering and unbeatable image quality. These binoculars will take you to the front row even if you’re several yards away from the stage.

2 Aurosports 10X25 Folding High Powered Compact Binoculars

Aurosports 10X25 Folding High Powered Compact Binoculars

Aurosports 10*25 folding binoculars are another choice for concert lovers. You can take this compact and lightweight pair anywhere and everywhere. They have 25-mm objective lenses and 10X of magnification, which is enough to give you a clear view of the stage. Their multi-coated lenses have a green finish that transmits 99.5% of received light. So, images look brighter when light is low.

These binoculars are covered with rubber to absorb high impacts and protect the lenses. Also, the rubber layer is textured to improve grip and prevent slipping when your hands are sweaty. Their whole structure is made of ABS plastic, which makes them incredibly light and rustproof.

These binoculars use BAK4 prisms that optimize light gathering and improve light focusing. They have 14.8 mm of eye relief, so glasses wearers can watch the show more comfortably. Aurosports 10X25 binoculars have a diopter system that allows you to equalize the focus on both eyepieces.

With the purchase of these binoculars, you take home a carrying bag, cleaning cloth, shoulder strap, and lens covers. The instruction manual is also included. These binoculars are tripod-adaptable, which isn’t common considering their small size. For this reason, we decided to make these binoculars our runner-up on this top 5 list.

The small size of these binoculars makes them suitable for kids and adults. They only weigh 0.75 lbs, so any child can carry it in their pocket or backpack without effort.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens: 25mm
  • Magnification: 10X
  • Weight: 0.75 lbs
  • Field of view: 362 ft/1000 yards
  • BAK4 prism
  • Diopter system for vision imbalance correction

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Water-resistant
  • Easy to carry
  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight
  • Foldable

Cons

  • Fragile
  • Not resistant to abrasion

Our Verdict

If big, heavy binoculars always cause you trouble, you should try these. They’re incredibly light, so you’ll barely notice you’re carrying them. What’s more, the image quality is excellent despite the small size of the lenses.

3 Bushnell Falcon 10X50 Wide Angle Binoculars

Bushnell Falcon 10X50 Wide Angle Binoculars

If the price is no problem for you and you’re looking for the finest piece of equipment on the market, Bushnell Falcon 10X50 is all you need. These binoculars have similar features to our top pick. However, in this case, the price is considerably higher. Additionally, their rugged construction makes them more durable and resistant to high impacts.

These binoculars have 50-mm objective lenses and 10X of magnification, providing sharp and crystal clear images at a maximum distance of 1000 yards. This device has 5 mm of exit pupil, giving an excellent image quality in low light conditions. The Porro prisms help reduce light reflection and correct image distortion.

These binoculars have eyecups around each ocular lens that keep your eyes protected while you’re watching. Eyecups exclude extraneous light that may affect the image quality when your binoculars are exposed to sunlight. The eyecups are made of soft rubber so they’re more comfortable and gentle to your skin.

Bushnell Falcon 10X50 binoculars include a durable carrying bag, microfiber cloth, shoulder straps, and lens covers. The right ocular lens has diopter adjustment to prevent eye fatigue and double vision after long periods of observation. The lenses help correct color distortion, giving you more realistic images.

These binoculars are foldable, allowing you to vary the interpupillary distance. So, it’s more versatile than non-foldable devices, because it adapts better to the physiognomy of different users.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens: 50 mm
  • Magnification: 10X
  • Weight: 1.7 lbs
  • Field of view: 300 ft/1000 yards
  • Porro prism
  • Diopter system for vision imbalance correction

Pros

  • Resistant to high impacts
  • Rugged constructed
  • Easy to use
  • Ergonomic
  • Foldable
  • Water-resistant

Cons

  • The eyepieces are too loose and may lose focus so easily
  • The lens covers tend to fall off frequently

Our Verdict

Bushnell Falcon 10X50 binoculars are there to provide an amazing indoor or outdoor concert viewing experience. Their large objective lenses gather more light, improving your vision in low light. So, if the lights turn off in the middle of the concert, you won’t miss a single detail of the show.

4 Skygenius 8X21 Small Binoculars Compact Lightweight

Skygenius 8X21 Small Binoculars Compact Lightweight

These binoculars are incredibly lightweight because they’re made of plastic. However, their sturdy structure makes them more durable and resistant to high impacts. Their 21-mm objective lenses can provide a maximum magnification of 8X. Their BAK7 prisms and green finish lenses optimize light gathering and transmission, giving you the finest image quality possible.

These binoculars have a maximum field of view of 369 ft/1000 yards, which is much more than other binoculars can give. They’re foldable, so you can carry them inside your pocket without trouble. You can vary the interpupillary distance, which makes them suitable for adults and children.

These binos come with a carrying bag, microfiber cloth, and shoulder straps. You certainly won’t find many binoculars on the market that offer so much for such a low price. Best of all, all components in this kit are covered by a 12-month warranty.

Skygenius 8X21 is by far the cheapest option on this list. For this reason, we highly recommend this pair for the budget-conscious concert-goers. Unfortunately, they aren’t as resistant as metal binoculars. However, the image quality they offer has nothing to envy to the more expensive models.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens: 21 mm
  • Magnification: 8X
  • Weight: 0.3lbs
  • Field of view: 369 ft/1000 yards
  • BAK7 prism
  • 12-Month warranty

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Foldable
  • Compact
  • Easy to store
  • Easy to carry

Cons

  • Fragile product
  • Not resistant to abrasion

Our Verdict

If you’re short of money and are looking for a decent pair of binoculars, this may be your perfect choice. They’re compact, lightweight, and foldable. In conclusion, a great pair of portable binoculars at a great price.

5 POLDR 12X25 Small Pocket Binoculars

POLDR 12X25 Small Pocket Binoculars

This offers a higher magnification but a shorter field of view than other options in this list. They have 25-mm objective lenses, 12X of magnification, and 126 ft/1000 yards of field of view. The entire structure of this device is made of ABS plastic, which is resistant to high impacts and extreme temperatures.

These binoculars use BAK4 prisms that can focus all of the gathered light at a single point. That way, light loss is reduced to minimum levels, guaranteeing brighter and clearer images in low light conditions.

The foldable POLDR 12X25 binoculars can be used by adults and children. They’re incredibly light, so you can easily carry them with you everywhere. They’re perfect to take to a concert and better appreciate what is happening on stage. With this pair, you no longer have to spend too much money on front row tickets.

Their multicoated lenses have a green finish that optimizes light gathering and corrects color distortion. This setting gives you brighter images when the lighting is poor. So, these binoculars are perfect for any type of night activities.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens: 25 mm
  • Magnification: 12X
  • Weight: 0.45 lbs
  • Field of view: 126 ft/1000 yards
  • BAK4 prism

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Durable and resistant
  • Compact
  • Foldable
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to carry

Cons

  • Not 100% waterproof
  • Fragile product

Our Verdict

If 10X of magnification isn’t enough for you, these binoculars are exactly what you need. Although made of plastic, they’re incredibly resistant to high impacts and abrasion. They can withstand the harshest treatments and still provide excellent image quality. Best of all, you can carry them in your pocket wherever you go.

A Guide to Buying Binoculars for Concerts Viewing

Concert viewing binoculars buying guide

  • Power

Light gathering and magnification are two features that define the power of binoculars. Usually, both features are defined by a pair of numbers separated by an “X”. The higher these numbers are, the greater the power of the binoculars. However, for concert use, it isn’t necessary to choose too much power.

Some common configurations are 10X25, 10X50, or 12X50. Usually, concerts occur at night. That way the lights on the stage are more visible and cause a greater impact on the spectators. However, low light also makes visibility difficult and you’ll need more light-gathering capability from your optics device as a result.

On the other hand, the choice of magnification will depend on your distance from the stage. The further away you’re, the greater the magnification you’ll need.

  • Magnification

Magnification is the number to the left of the “X.” In simple words, the magnification is the zoom applied to the images. For example, 12X of magnification means that the images will appear twelve times larger than normal. The further away you’re from your target, the smaller they’ll appear when viewed with the naked eye.

In that case, you’ll need high magnification to have good vision. However, having too much magnification also causes images to look too blurry. To correct that problem, you have to choose a good balance between magnification and light gathering.

  • Light gathering

The light-gathering of your binoculars is defined by the diameter of the objective lenses. The larger the diameter, the greater the amount of light that enters the barrels. As a result, images look clearer and brighter.

The number to the right of the “X” is the diameter of the objective lenses in millimeters. In the case of binoculars for concerts, the diameter must be greater than 22 mm. This is the minimum diameter that any pair of binoculars would need to provide clear images in low-light conditions.

Binoculars for concerts should have an excellent performance in low light conditions because they are usually held at night. However, if you intend to use your binoculars during the day, a diameter slightly minor than 22 mm will work just fine.

  • Lenses

Most lenses tend to reflect some of the light they receive. The reflection index is even higher when the lenses haven’t received any kind of treatment. For that reason, before buying any kind of binoculars, make sure they have multicoated lenses.

Multicoated lenses are treated with chemicals that improve light transmission and minimize reflection. A glass lens may reflect up to 5% of the light it receives. However, after being treated, the percentage of reflected light is almost twenty times lower.

The lenses of your binoculars should also be resistant to high impacts and scratches. Unfortunately, glass and plastic aren’t the strongest materials in this case. For the best binoculars for concert, quartz is your only choice. This material is considerably stronger than glass and its surface can’t be easily scratched.

  • Exit pupil

Theoretically, the exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam exiting through the ocular lenses. The exit pupil is also the result of dividing the diameter of the objective lens by the magnification.

To get the best image quality possible, the exit pupil of your binoculars should match the diameter of your pupils. At night, human pupils reach a maximum diameter of 7 mm. That would also be the optimal exit pupil that you need during a night concert to have a clear view of the panorama.

Knowing the exit pupil will also help you decide the right size for objective lenses if you already know the magnification or vice versa. For example, for optimal low-light vision at 10X of magnification, the objective lenses should be at least 70 mm in diameter, which is too much.

  • Eye relief

The eye relief is the maximum separation distance between your eyes and the ocular lenses that guarantees clear vision. Most binoculars can provide clear images with a 10 mm of eye relief. However, such a distance could be too short and uncomfortable for glasses wearers. If that’s your case, choose binoculars with at least 15 mm of eye relief.

Binoculars Maintenance Tips

Binoculars are delicate pieces of equipment that require periodic maintenance to work properly. Bellow, you’ll find some maintenance tips that will help you extend the service life of your binoculars.

  • Dampen a microfiber cloth with alcohol to clean the lens surface after each use. Dust is the worst enemy of lenses because it contains abrasive particles that could scratch the surface.
  • Use a q-tip dampened with alcohol to clean the edges of the lenses and other corners where dirt tends to accumulate. Pay attention to moving parts like adjusting rings and others.
  • In case your binoculars use batteries, change them whenever necessary. Don’t keep old batteries in your binoculars because they could explode and leak acid.
  • If your binoculars aren’t 100% waterproof, never immerse them in water.

Conclusion

As you can see, you don’t need to be an expert to find quality concert binoculars from myriads of choices. However, it’s necessary to know the tips to avoid making mistakes. For example, never choose binoculars with too much zoom and small objective lenses.

Also remember that the larger the objective lenses, the heavier the binoculars will be. If you go to a concert, never take binoculars that are too big, heavy and difficult to carry. In that case, you need something lightweight and easy to use that won’t cause any hassle during the show.

FAQs

1. What’s the recommended field of view for viewing concerts or sports?

Ans: Having at least 300 ft/1000 yards of FOV will give you a wide panorama of the stage.

2. Are binoculars accepted in concerts?

Ans: Yes. Binoculars are accepted at most concerts and music festivals. However, it’s advisable to know the general rules of the event to avoid inconveniences.

3. What is the meaning of the numbers that appear on binoculars?

Ans: As said before, these two numbers are the magnification and the diameter of the objective lenses in millimeters. The magnification is the zoom applied to the images reflected on the ocular lenses. On the other hand, the size of the objective lenses determines the amount of light that enters through the barrels.

About the author

Marc Niad

It’s been several years that Marc, a retired teacher and a proud dad, has silently been piling up mature bucks down the South. This humble hunter began his hunting journey at quite an early age and since then, he spent countless hours in the woods and learned good lessons in terms of woodsmanship. Along the way, he also made money sharing his skill with his followers and well-wishers.

The Ranger Expert is the brainchild of this veteran hunter who loves hunting the swamps and the hills around the Mississippi and Homochitto rivers. His most favorite hunting technique is taking his climbing gear and going to the top of pines with a 25.06 – the old-fashioned way!

He gets most of his games during late December through mid-January – his favorite hunting time. Marc strongly believes that hard work, passion, and a bit of luck can bring you success in the wild.

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