Our kids are sometimes the best part of us, and will usually take up our hobbies and likes. For Safari goers, and bird watchers alike, a pair of good binoculars come in handy while in the bush. Kids should also not be left out, and below is a list of some of the best binoculars for kids, to help them spot the wonders you do.
What To Look For When Buying The Binoculars For Kids.
Magnification Factor
For your kid’s Binoculars, avoid high-power Binoculars. For adults, high-powered binoculars are very exciting, as they can spot further afield, but there are many downsides of using such binoculars that greatly impact kids.
Kids find it hard to be steady even at the best of times, and with Binoculars that have a high magnification factor, this greatly multiplies any slight hand movements.
This results in a blurry image, that removes all the fun of using binoculars.
A lower magnification factor will also result in a wide field of view, which makes it easier for your child to spot and track erratic moving objects like birds.
Keep the Magnification under 8X but not too low or else they are just toys.
The objective lens size should also be kept below 40, and above 20 to ensure the binoculars offer decent magnification but aren’t too heavy.
Durability
Kids are messy, rough, forgetful and prone to tantrums and a well-built pair of binoculars is essential for them.
When buying one, look for binoculars that have shockproof and shock-absorbent features. This is usually from rubber patches around the barrel, and rubber panels around the eyepiece and lens.
Weight
A good pair of Binoculars has a lot of parts from a sturdy frame, and a large objective lens which allows more light through for a brighter image. All this quality comes with an increase in size and weight, which is not ideal for kids.
Standard binoculars are just too big for kids’ tiny hands, so the best option would be to get them compact binoculars or binoculars for small kids.
Teenagers can comfortably handle mid-sized binoculars. Also to note is that a heavy pair will become cumbersome to your kid after a while, taking away the fun of exploring the great outdoors.
Child safety
Just like any other toy you get your child, their safety as they use a pair of binoculars is important.
The eyepiece should have an outer layer made of rubber to reduce the strain on their eyes.
Kids have a tendency of pressing the optics hard in their eyes and you will need a pair that reduces eye irritation and any possibility of harming their eyes.
Also, ensure a safety strap is in use that has an emergency breakaway function as a guard against accidental strangulation.
Also, ensure it is made with anti-friction bodies that protect your child’s delicate hands from any damage when using the binoculars for long sessions.
Ergonomics and good fit.
Also important is to understand that children have tiny hands and faces to go birdwatching for example, so getting the right fit for their hands and eye spacing is important.
Quality Vs. Price
Adult compact Binoculars offer excellent optical quality and features for the price they come at, but they aren’t suitable for kids.
The main challenge when buying kids binoculars is to purchase something that’s just a toy, and that doesn’t offer useful optical magnification.
Many kids’ Binoculars are cheap to purchase but don’t offer much in terms of quality. Just the same way, most adults don’t cheap out on their own pair of binoculars, a pair for your kid should be up to the task.
A quick Oversight of the 7 best binoculars for kids on the market.
Sometimes you could be in a hurry and would like a quick oversight on things. This is what the next table is about. Further into depth reviews are down below.
This post contains affiliate links and images from Amazon
Top 7 Picks
Lightweight and very useful for your kids’ hands, but low-quality control. See full review.
Vanstarry Compact Binoculars For Kids
They are EXTREMELY affordable, but not very sturdy. See full review.
They have a wide field of view, but the extras could break easily. See full review.
Educational Insights Geosafari Jr.
Made to fit a small child’s hand, but has very low magnification. See full review.
These binoculars are perfect for kids’ hands, but the neck harness breaks easily. See full review.
These are sturdy, but not waterproof. See full review.
These binoculars have clear images but can have some quality control issues. See full review.
The 7 Best Binoculars For Kids: In-depth-reviews.
Product number 1: Thinkpeak Binoculars for Kids
THINKPEAK 8×21 Binoculars for Kids 8-12
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Rating
Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
- Magnification Maximum: 8x
- prism type: roof prism
- Focus type : center focus
- Eye Relief: 10.5 mm (0.41 in)
- dimensions: 11 x 10 x 3.8 cm (4.4 x 4 x 1.5 in).
- weight: 0.24 kg (0.55 lbs)
- comes with: a family camping eBook, user manual, breakaway strap, cleaning cloth, and carrying case.
- Made from: rubber
- Recommended age : 3-12 years.
- Colour options – Green, blue, pink, red, purple, and black.
Pros
- They have anti-slip rubber coating making them graspable and useful for your child’s little hands.
- They are lightweight, and together with the breakaway strap, are easy and safe to carry for kids even for a long period of time.
- With the anti-shock and shock-resistant rubber coating, they are built tough and for durability.
- The images from the binoculars are clear.
Cons
- Low-quality control – some products might have quality issues, such as lens breakage after a short time of usage
My final conclusion:
These binoculars are a good pair to get your kids started. They are not too expensive, and light enough for them to use in their outdoor exploration.
Product number 2: Vanstarry Compact Binoculars For Kids
Vanstarry Compact Binoculars for Kids Bird Watching
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Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm
- Magnification Maximum: 5X
- field of view: 7.2o.
- prism type: roof prism
- Focus type: centre
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 11 x 11 x 3.9 cm (4.33 x 4.33 x 1.57 in).
- weight: 0.158kg (0.35 lbs)
- best to use: outdoors and hiking
- comes with: breakaway strap
- Made from: plastic-rubber coat
- Recommended age : 3-12 years
- Colour options: Green, blue, pink, red, purple, and black
Pros
- The included breakaway strap works as intended – a safety feature to prevent accidental strangulation
- Rubber-coated body for easier grasping and soft rubber cups surrounding the eyepiece.
- They are EXTREMELY affordable
- For toddlers, they are the perfect start to using Binoculars.
Cons
- Not sturdily built.
- Not suitable for older kids.
- Magnification is on the lower side
- They have a narrow field of view.
- The compass included with the Binoculars doesn’t work.
My Final Conclusion
These binoculars are colorful, light and cheap. For toddlers, and generally those under 6 years, they are the perfect start on using Binoculars. But for older kids, they will not be of much help.
Product number 3: Promora Binocular For Kids
Promora Binoculars for Kids, Set with Magnifying Glass & Compass Purple
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Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
- Magnification Maximum: 8x
- the diameter of the eyepieces:
- prism type: roof prism
- Focus type: center focus
- Eye Relief: 10.5 mm (0.41 in)
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 12.6 x 12 x 5.7 cm (4.96 x 4.76 x 2.24 in).
- weight: 0.25 kg (0.56 lbs)
- best to use: camping, and bird spotting
- comes with: Compass, Magnifying glass, neck strap, cloth bag, microfiber cloth and instructions manual
- Made from: Rubber, glass and microfiber.
- Recommended age: 4-8 yrs.
- Colour options: Green, blue, pink, red, purple and black.
Pros
- They have a wide field of view
- Decent magnification.
- Soft eyecups reduce the risk of any eye injury on your little ones.
Cons
- The eyepiece has a tendency of coming apart from mishandling. Some parts are not made to last.
- The extras; magnifying glass and compass aren’t durable and will break easily.
My Final Conclusion
These Binoculars come in a set including the magnifying glass and compass, though they may be subpar, they are perfect for your little explorers. Then the binoculars are quite functional and not just toys.
Product number 4: Educational Insights Geosafari Jr.
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars
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Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter:
- Magnification Maximum: 2x
- prism type: roof
- Focus type: fixed
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 17 x 14.6 x 7 cm (7x 5.75 x 2.8 in)
- weight: 0.2 kg (0.44 lbs)
- best to use: this is more like a toy for kids/outdoor play
- comes with: a breakaway neck strap
- Made from: plastic
- Recommended age : 3-7 yrs.
- Color: multicolor
Pros
- Made to fit a small child’s hands.
- They are light enough, to not become a bother to toddlers.
- Both the front and back have a soft flexible plastic that ensures no injuries to your child.
- They are cheap to purchase.
- They are sturdily built, and won’t come apart easily
Cons
- The Magnification is very low.
- Only suitable for toddlers.
My Final Conclusion
These are not as technical as other kid binoculars on this list; they are more toy-like. But they are simple and designed with toddlers in mind.
From their extremely sturdy design, colorful, and simplicity with no buttons or knobs to fiddle with. These are the perfect binoculars for toddlers as they simply don’t have to fiddle with anything to use them.
Product Number 5: Obuby Real Binoculars
OBUBY Real Binoculars for Kids Gifts for 3-12 Years Boys Girls
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Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
- Magnification Maximum: 8x
- field of view: 5.6o
- prism type: roof prism
- Focus type: center focus
- Eye Relief: 10 mm (0.41 in)
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 8.9 x 5.8 x 3.8 cm (3.5 x 2.3 x 1.5 in)
- weight: 0.21 kg (0.46 lbs)
- best to use: bird spotting, star gazing, and hiking.
- comes with: instructions manual, cleaning cloth, velvet carrying bag
- Made from: plastic, rubber. Polycarbonate
- Recommended age: 3-12 yrs.
Pros
- They are small, and perfect for kids’ tiny hands and face.
- Impressive magnification and the images produced are clear.
- They are sturdily built and will stand up to abuse.
Cons
- The connection point to the neck harness breaks very easily.
- Their small size means, older kids will have challenges using them
My Final Conclusion
These Binoculars have impressive magnification and clarity. Although they are small in size, they are sturdily built and will fit in perfectly to your kid’s lifestyle.
Product Number 6: BeBison Binoculars
BeBison Binoculars for Kids – 8×21 High Resolution Real Optics Boys and Girl
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Rating:
Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
- Magnification Maximum: 8x
- field of view: 7.2o
- the diameter of the eyepieces:
- prism type: roof prism
- Focus type: center focus
- Eye Relief: 10 mm (0.41 in)
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 9 x 6.3 x 3.8 cm (3.5 x 2.4 x 1.5 in).
- weight: 0.164 kg (0.436 lbs)
- best to use: bird spotting, star gazing, and hiking.
- comes with: instructions manual, cleaning cloth, cotton carrying bag, wide strap.
- Made from: plastic, rubber, glass, and aluminum.
- Recommended age: 3-12 yrs.
Pros
- They are sturdily built and will stand up to abuse.
- They have decent magnification and clear images
Cons
- They are not waterproof, and submergence in water will lead to damage.
My Final Conclusion
These Binoculars have impressive magnification and clarity. They give an adult level of performance for a package made for kids.
They are sturdy but don’t get them anywhere near water even though they are advertised as waterproof in other places.
Product number 7: LET’S GO! Binocular for Kids
LET’S GO! Binoculars for Kids Boys, DIMY Outdoor Toys for 3-12 Year Old
Buy Now →Rating:
Technical details:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
- Magnification Maximum: 8x
- field of view: 7.2o.
- Focus type: center focus
- prism type: roof prism
- Eye Relief: 10 mm (0.41 in)
- The angle of field:
- dimensions: (LxWxH) – 11.8 x 10.1 x 5.7 cm (4.65 x 3.98 x 2.24 in).
- weight: 0.23 kg (0.5 lbs)
- best to use: bird spotting, hunting, camping, and hiking.
- comes with: an instructions manual, a cleaning cloth, a neck rope, and a hand strap.
- Made from: plastic with a rubber coat
- Recommended age: 3-12 yrs.
Pros
- They have decent magnification and clear images that are up to par with adult Binoculars
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Quality control issues; some binoculars that you purchase might have defects with the lens.
My Final Conclusion
These binoculars are a value pick, and they have some stellar performance with clear optics and a sturdy design. They are small, and not made for big hands, but will fit perfectly in your kid’s hands.
More FAQS ON KIDS BINOCULARS
When can kids start using Binoculars?
Kids can start using Binoculars at the age of three. But at this early age, they will not be able to keep still long enough for clear images, an art they will continue to master long into their teens.
What are the best pair of binoculars for my 4-year-old?
For such young kids, simplicity is key. Get them something that is light, sturdily built, with as small a number of moving parts as possible. At that age, they just want to copy what they see you do, and something simple that they doesn’t a lot of adjustment is key.
Want to know more about the 8 best books on birds for kids? Check out this blog post!
My Final Conclusion.
Kids, don’t want to be left out, be it on a safari, hiking, camping, or bird spotting and they may not be able to use adults overly complex and powerful binoculars.
Its always good to get the something that’s just made or designed with their tiny features in mind. Something that is built to withstand their roughness, and brightly colored so that it is always visible even when forgotten among the leaves.
I hope that you enjoyed this blog post on the 7 best binoculars for kids and if you have any more questions on this topic, please feel free to ask them below in the comment section.
You can also join my social media channels and facebook group for more pictures on my travels to Africa and more!
I wish you happy travels and lots of fun birdwatching with your kids!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I now have a YouTube channel as well!
YouTube
Hello Africa travellers!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
I wish you happy travels!
Kind regards
Lizzy
Thank you for sharing this awesome post!
Finding the right binoculars for kids can be a challenge, but it’s important to find a pair that is durable, easy to use, and fun. We’ve compiled a list of the 7 best binoculars for kids, including the Celestron Kids FirstScope Telescope, National Geographic Kids Binoculars, and Levenhuk Rainbow 50 Kids Binoculars.
The Kidwinz Shock Proof 8×21 Kids Binoculars and Gosky 8×21 Kids Binoculars are both easy for kids to hold and use, while the Celestron Outland X 10×42 Binoculars have a large objective lens for seeing distant objects in detail.
Overall, these binoculars offer a range of features and designs to suit different kids’ interests and needs.
Hi Lorenz!
Thank you for adding your opinion and view on the best binoculars for kids and I hope that you will share a lot of fun watching wildlife or birds with your kids!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I “see” this binocular review for kids was quite unique!
I enjoyed learning about the variety of binoculars that are out there for kids, and I never would have thought the magnification differences in high powered binoculars were for adults only.
That said, of your 7 picks, I like option 3 as it comes with the magnifying glass and a compass. I would have been all over that when I was a kid.
Haha Jeremy, I “see” what you did there! 🙂
Thank you for the compliments, and I hope that your kid will enjoy the binoculars with the magnifying glass and a compass. Have fun!
Kind regards,
Lizzy