Watching whales playing in the ocean is truly such a rare and wonderful experience. Whether you’re on a boat, or shore (most often), most likely whales will be super far from you. Thus, you won’t be able to have a clear view of whales. That’s why, if you’re one of those people who love to admire whales, you should have a good pair of the best binoculars for whale watching to bring them closer to you. With those binos, you can see them in detail and they’ll get the most out of your whale watching experience. With that being said, we’ve collected our personal favorite binoculars for whale watching that you can buy for yourself. From the cheap to the expensive ones, we have them all!
How To Choose The Best Binoculars For Whale Watching
Did you know that there are a few things that you should consider before picking the best binoculars for whale watching? There are 5 key features in total, which include:
Waterproof
Since you’re going to be near the water, this one is a no-brainer. Just like the best binoculars for fishing, make sure the best binoculars for whale watching you want are waterproof. That way, you don’t have to worry if you ever drop them in the water. The great thing is that most binoculars for whale watching out there are waterproof.
Magnification and objective
If you plan to admire the whales on a ship or boat, we recommend not to use binoculars with any more than 8x magnification. This is because every shake of the boat is also magnified resulting in an unstable image. However, if you’re whale watching from the shore, you can go with higher magnification binoculars. Speaking of which, if what you want is a powerful pair of binoculars for seeing things from far away, read our list of the 13 best binoculars for long-distance!
Image stabilization
This feature can make a big difference when whale watching. Binoculars with great image stabilization can compensate for the movement of the boat and create a stable image for you to view. This also allows you to use higher magnification binoculars without creating a shaky image.
Size and weight
Depending on the binoculars, some of them can be quite bulky and heavy. If you want to use your binoculars for other activities besides whale watching, consider a slightly smaller pair. Look for a pair that has ideal magnification but is also compact and easy to handle.
Price
Last but certainly not least, is the price. You don’t always have to use expensive binoculars to fully enjoy whale watching. If you’re on a tight budget, even a low budget option can make a huge difference. Although we have to admit, binoculars do consistently get better as the price goes up.
Wingspan Optics WideViews HD 8×42 Professional Binoculars
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Whether you’re looking for the best binoculars for bird watching or whale watching, WingSpan has it all. If what you want is the latter, then the Wingspan Optics WideViews HD 8×42 Professional Binoculars is a perfect choice. Having the power to see 8x closer, these binoculars provide a very wide field of view with a stable and nice magnification.
Since these binoculars are lightweight and inexpensive, it’s not surprising that many prefer them over other best binoculars for whale watching from shore on the market. But that’s not all that they offer. These ultra HD binoculars will also give you a sharp optical quality, and the multi-coated lens delivers great color fidelity and brightness. Because they’re nitrogen-purged, they’re both fog-proof and waterproof, perfect for any kind of weather.
What We Love
These binoculars offer HD quality viewing at an excellent price.
Pros:
- Rubber armored body
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Long eye relief
- Sharp and close focus
- Wide field of view
Cons:
- The focus isn’t convenient
Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars
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Since we’re talking about the best binoculars for whale watching from shore, there’s no way we can leave out the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars. The thing is, they’re not only great for whale watching, but also for astronomical observation too. Having a wide field of view, multi-coated optics, BaK-4 prisms, and a huge objective lens, these binoculars are more than capable of providing you crisp images along with a fine viewing experience.
Featuring a long eye relief, these binoculars are also great for glasses wearers. There’s also the protective rubber covering for that ultra-firm non-slip grip. Best of all, these binoculars come with a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support in case you encounter any problem upon purchase.
What We Love
They’re an affordable option that packs plenty of essential features.
Pros:
- BaK-4 prisms
- Multi-coated optics
- Ultra-sharp focus
- 2-year warranty
- Huge objective lens
Cons:
- Quite heavy
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Nikon 7440 OceanPro 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars
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Another pair of the best binoculars for whale watching from shore is the Nikon 7440 OceanPro 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars. They’re designed to cater to all of your needs when whale watching. With generous eye relief, even eyeglasses wearers will have the most comfortable viewing experience. Since they’re waterproof and fog-proof, rain can’t even stop you from doing what you love the most!
Meanwhile, the durable rubber armoring will ensure you have a solid gripping surface, even in wet conditions. What makes these binoculars an even better purchase is the fact that they come with a fast range of focus that provides quick viewing. Best of all, they come complete with a floating strap, lens covers, and a carry bag. That way, you don’t need to spend more money on these accessories!
What We Love
They’re specifically made to withstand the rigors of life on the water.
Pros:
- Adjustable eyecups
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Generous eye relief
- Durable rubber armoring
- Come with many accessories
Cons:
- A bit bulky
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Wingspan Optics NaturePro HD 8×42 Professional Binoculars
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Being affordable doesn’t stop the Wingspan Optics NaturePro HD 8×42 Professional Binoculars from being one of the best binoculars for whale watching. This amazing pair of binoculars offers you top-notch quality performance. Durable and lightweight, they’re waterproof and fog-proof, so nothing can stand in your way!
Featuring a lifetime warranty really says a lot about these binoculars’ quality. The close focus technology and ED glass are an excellent combination for safe zooming. Meanwhile, the phase correction prism and multi-coated lenses will provide you crystal-clear and bright images. With an efficient magnification level, you can zoom in and see the whales clearly without being too shaky.
What We Love
Although affordable, they still provide all the important features needed by good binoculars for whale watching.
Pros:
- Durable and lightweight
- Low-dispersion glass
- Long eye relief
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Close focus technology
Cons:
- No scratchproof lens
Canon 18×50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars
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Those who haven’t heard of Canon before must be living under a rock! It’s a true leader in the camera market that knows how to make top-notch products. One of them is the Canon 18×50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars. As one of the best binoculars for whale watching, they have a very large objective lens with super spectra coating that helps to produce a vivid and high contrast view along with accurate colors.
These binoculars also have amazing magnification. Having no difficulty dealing with shakes, you can conveniently take full advantage of the 18x magnification. These super steady binos also have a very wide field of view, making them an ideal choice for whale watching from the shore. As you might expect from the name, they’re both waterproof and fog-proof. As if that’s not enough, they’re shockproof too! So there’s no need to panic if you accidentally drop them!
What We Love
With their superb image stabilization and high image quality, it’s hard not to like these binos.
Pros:
- Shockproof
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Super bright view
- Excellent image stabilization
- Produce accurate colors
Cons:
- Quite heavy
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Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism UHD Binoculars
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When you’re looking for the best binoculars for whale watching, you’ll often see the Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism UHD Binoculars. This pair of binoculars comes with 8×42 magnification and extra-low dispersion objective lenses. Just like other options on this list, the lenses have advanced fully multi-coated dielectric coating that reflects over 99% of the light that comes through the binoculars. When the extra-low dispersion lenses are combined with the ESS dielectric coating, these binoculars will give you bright and accurate colors that are very pleasing to the eyes.
Apart from that, these binoculars also have long eye relief, making them very comfortable to use. This is particularly important especially for eyeglass wearers because longer eye relief allows them to see the entire field of view. Plus, they’re argon-purged too, which gives them better thermal stability and superb waterproofing.
What We Love
They’re able to produce brighter, sharper, and clearer images compared to other more expensive models out there.
Pros:
- Extra-low dispersion objective lenses
- ESP dielectric coating
- Advanced multi-coated lenses
- Argon-purged
- Long eye relief
Cons:
- The lens caps fall out easily
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Bushnell H2O Porro Prisms Binoculars
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Proving themselves as one of the best binoculars for whale watching, the Bushnell H2O Porro Prisms Binoculars offer sharp, clear, and exceptionally bright images with their multi-coated lenses. Whenever you use these binoculars, they’ll always ensure amazing light transmission. Their 10x magnification also allows you to identify your target even when you’re really far away. Whereas the 42mm objective lens pours lots of light, keeping things bright at all times.
Another thing that we love about these binoculars is how compact they really are. You can easily keep them in your jacket’s pocket or carry them around in your hands. Built to withstand harsh conditions, they also come with a rubber-armored non-slip body. Meanwhile, the center focus knob is big and very easy to adjust. The twist-up eyecups are also adjustable, making these binoculars a great choice for those who wear glasses and don’t.
What We Love
A safe choice for those looking for high-quality features in whale-watching binoculars but want to save some money at the same time.
Pros:
- Compact design
- Anti-slip
- Multi-coated lenses
- Adjustable eyecups
- Waterproof and fog-proof
Cons:
- Average image quality compared to other higher-end models
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Hooway 7×50 Military Marine Binoculars
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Trust us, the Hooway 7×50 Military Marine Binoculars can make your whale watching experience 10 times better! First of all, they’re waterproof, so you can use them even in extreme weather conditions. What’s more, these binoculars can even float in water if you accidentally drop them. With those 2 features, you can go whale watching without any fears of water damage! Plus, they have an anti-slip grip, so the chance for you to drop them is actually very low.
With the fully multi-coated optics and BaK-4 Porro prism, you’ll get the crispest and brightest images possible. That’s not all, as they come with a built-in illuminated compass and rangefinder too. Thus, you can easily know where you are and measure the subject distance. One more thing that we appreciate about these waterproof binos is that they come in 6 different colors, which is amazing as other options out there usually only come in one design.
What We Love
They perform just as well, if not, better than other binoculars from major brands.
Pros:
- Shockproof and waterproof
- Can float on water
- Tremendous brightness and clarity
- Non-slip rubber armor
- Built-in compass and rangefinder
- 6 different colors
Cons:
- The strap quality can be better
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Fujinon Techno Stabi TS1140-14×40 Image Stabilization Binoculars
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If you’re number one concern when looking for the best binoculars for whale watching from shore is image stabilization, then you should get your wallet ready and quickly purchase the Fujinon Techno Stabi TS1140-14×40 Image Stabilization Binoculars! The 5-degree freedom of high stabilization enables locking on a subject and getting a solid image while creating a stabilized field of view at high magnification. Plus, these binos’ EBC coating also allows exceptional light transmission.
Their high-powered lenses coupled with the stabilization system will make these binoculars extremely effective for whale watching. The steady and detailed images these compact binos give you will literally take your breath away. Just like other options on the market, they also come with a rubber-armored body that allows you to have a firm grip. If you’re wondering, yes, they’re both waterproof and fog-proof.
What We Love
The image stabilization and clarity that these binoculars offer are among the best.
Pros:
- Unrivaled stabilization
- Crisp and clear images
- The durable and ergonomic build
- Lightweight
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- EBC coating
Cons:
- Expensive
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Vortex Optics Vulture HD Binoculars
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Vortex is known for producing top-notch binoculars, including the Vortex Optics Vulture HD Binoculars, one of the best binoculars for whale watching. These binos feature a 56mm objective lens that helps to deliver excellent performance, even in low-light situations along with incredible light transmission.
Meanwhile, their fully multi-coated optics, roof prisms, and XR coatings all help to deliver sharp and super bright images edge to edge. Since buying a new pair every year is such a waste of money, Vortex makes sure that this device is long-lasting. Thanks to the armor tech coating on the exterior lenses, they can resist smudges and scratches. That’s not all, as these binoculars also come with long eye relief as well as a wide field of view for the best whale watching experience.
What We Love
These binos offer great color fidelity along with all the essential features needed for whale watching.
Pros:
- Work well in low-light conditions
- Great color fidelity
- Multi-coated optics
- Anti-scratch and anti-smudge lenses
- Long eye relief
- Wide field of view
Cons:
- Quite heavy
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Canon 10×30 Image Stabilization II Binoculars
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Yes, technically, they’re not really affordable. However, they’re really worth your money. The Canon 10×30 Image Stabilization II Binoculars come with Porro II prisms that will provide you a great image quality that’s only exceeded by the highest quality binoculars. Aside from that, these impressive binos also have great eye relief and a well-designed body that will give you a very comfortable whale watching experience. Just like other best binoculars for whale watching from shore, these binoculars are waterproof.
What impresses us the most is none other than image stabilization. We all know that it can get quite shaky when you’re on the water. That said, this feature is very useful as you don’t need to worry about the image shaking and fully focus on the whale. Plus, the compact size will also allow you to take them basically anywhere you want.
What We Love
They’re an ideal pick that’s also very versatile and durable for those with enough budget.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Porro II prisms
- Superb image stabilization
- Compact size
- Eco-friendly lead-free glass
- Great eye relief
Cons:
- Good but not great image quality in low-light conditions
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Bushnell Marine 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars
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Built durably with a beautiful design and stunning blue color that represents the ocean, the Bushnell Marine 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars are a pair of high-quality optics that lets you see the whales clearly. Having multi-coated optics and BaK-4 prism glass with UV protection, these binoculars assures plenty of light transmissions and optimum clarity.
With optimized optics for open water, these binoculars are waterproof and anti-corrosion. No matter how wet the condition is, there’s no need to worry about them. On top of that, they’re also fog-free, and the durable rubber armor can protect the body from any impacts pretty well. Not to mention, they also have a wide field of view, making them one of the best binoculars for whale watching.
What We Love
All of their features are made specifically made to make your adventure on the water hassle-free.
Pros:
- Solid and durable construction
- Non-slip rubber body
- Corrosion-resistant
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Wide field of view
- Bak-4 prism glass
Cons:
- Slightly big and heavy
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Nikon 7239 Action 7×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars
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No list of binoculars is complete without a pair from Nikon. The Nikon 7239 Action 7×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars feature 7x magnification and an objective lens of 50mm. As one of the best binoculars for whale watching, the objective lenses are multi-coated to allow the most light to come through the Porro prisms.
The eye relief is long too, and they have turn-and-slide eyecups to make them comfortable for those who wear glasses. On top of that, there’s also a huge central focusing knob that’s very easy to use and a diopter control to focus each barrel individually. Made with a rugged rubber-coated body, these binoculars will never slip out of your hands. As you expect, they’re also both waterproof and fog-proof.
What We Love
They have a reasonable price and a very large objective lens that’s great for whale watching.
Pros:
- Large and multi-coated objective lens
- Porro prisms
- Adjustable eyecups
- Long eye relief
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Anti-slip grip
- Large center fast-focus knob
Cons:
- Heavier than other best binoculars for whale watching from shore
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