With a pair of the best binoculars for kids, not only do they get to discover the world through the vivid images of an objective lens, but normal outdoor activities like sports, hiking, boat rides, and traveling can also be way more fun with binoculars strapped around their necks.
With so many brands to choose from, picking can be a chore. To help you make the right choice, we’ve reviewed 10 of the best binoculars for kids.
If you want to go straight to our top selection, it’s Obuby Real Binoculars for Kids . Our complete list of top 10 binoculars for kids is:
- Obuby Real Binoculars for Kids Best Overall
- No products found. Best for Sports
- Think Peak Toys Binoculars for Kids Best for Boat Trips
- Scotamalone Kids Binoculars Best Budget Binocular
- Promora Binoculars for kids Best for Learning
- Sun-Team Binoculars for kid Best for Hiking
- Primary Science Big View Binoculars Best for Backyard Sightings
- Real Optics Mini Compact Kids Binoculars Best for Preteens
- Rayhee Rubber Toy Binoculars for Kids Best for Toddlers
- Noptix Kid Binoculars Best for Birdwatching
Best Binoculars For Kids
1. Best Overall
The Obuby Real binoculars are one of the top choices for kids between ages 3 to 12. It features an 8x magnification. This allows your child to view objects that are 122ft/1000 away.
These binoculars also come with a BAK-4 glass prism and FMC coating. The BAK-4 produces a clearer view, while the binocular’s FMC coating creates brighter and sharper images.
Other features include a rubber eyepiece for protection and a neck strap to allow kids to carry them easily. Obuby Real binoculars are made with polycarbonate plastic and rubber that protects them from falls or drops. They’ve a non-slip scratch surface to make it easy for kids to handle.
With 13 different colors to choose from, every child can get Obuby Real binoculars in their favorite color.
Key Features
Age: 3-12yrs.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 5.9 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm.
Best fit: All Outdoor exploration.
Pros
- Small and lightweight.
- Shockproof.
- 13 colors available.
- Clear and bright view.
- Rubber eyepiece for safety.
Cons
- Eyepieces don’t remain in focus when you change focal point.
2. Best for Sports
No products found.
The Dreamingbox Compact kids binoculars bring bright and colorful images close for your child’s viewing pleasure. Perfect for observing bugs, kids can see tiny objects up close thanks to their 8x magnification. With an FMC glass prism, this binocular’s image clarity is a thing of beauty.
The superb optics system allows the user to see objects at an impressive 7.7° angle of view. These binoculars are coated with a rubber shock absorber to prevent damage from drops. They’re also ergonomically designed with a non-slip scratch-resistant surface for easy handling.
Key Features
Age: 3-12.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 6.3 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm.
Best fit: Sports.
Pros
- Rubber eyepiece for safety.
- Shockproof.
- Small and Lightweight.
- Image clarity.
Cons
- Doesn’t zoom in properly.
3. Best for Boat Trips
How would your child like to explore the beauty of nature up close with a powerful tool? Think Peak’s BAK-4 roof prism glass allows your child to view clear close-ups of nature’s beauty.
They come with a 21mm lens diameter and an eight times magnification. This ensures your kid can bring faraway objects to what seems like an arm’s length away. The ruggedly designed body is coated with rubber to prevent damage from falls and drops.
Users praise how easy these binoculars are to use and adjust for youngsters. There’s a loop to attach a neck strap, so your child doesn’t lose them easily.
Key Features
Age: 3-12.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 8.8 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm.
Best fit: Boat trips.
Pros
- Shockproof.
- BAK-4 prism for image clarity.
- Small and lightweight.
Cons
- Can be hard to adjust focus.
4. Best Budget Binoculars
The Scotamalone kid’s binoculars are a great choice for under-7s who are keen to see the beauty that surrounds them up close.
The eyepieces are coated with a non-toxic rubber material for eye protection. It’s an important safety feature that ensures your child’s eyes are safe as they explore.
With its 4x magnification, they’re sufficient magnification for most younger children. They come with a neck strap to prevent loss.
The Scotamalone kid’s binoculars are a perfect introduction to bird watching and spying.
Key Features
Age: 3 – 6yrs.
Magnification: 4x.
Weight: 4.8 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm.
Best fit: Small Budgets.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Ideal for small budgets.
- Rubber eyepiece for safety.
Cons
- Average magnification.
- Not durable.
5. Best for Learning
These lime green Promora binoculars are hard to miss, so your little one won’t misplace them easily. They are packed with a powerful 8x magnification and a 22mm lens diameter to bring nature breathtakingly close for youngsters.
The pack also provides a magnifying glass and a compass to give your child a complete adventure set. Suitable for 4 to 9-year-olds, your little one can enjoy activities like bird watching or sightseeing while camping, or even a spot of stargazing.
Key Features
Age: 4-9 yrs.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 8.8 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 22mm.
Best fit: Learning.
Pros
- Comes with a magnifying glass and compass.
- Money-back guarantee.
- Shockproof.
- three color choices.
Cons
- Hard to adjust.
6. Best for Hiking
Sun-Team’s bring you binoculars in a choice of five different bright colors. They also come with all the top features you’d expect from quality kids’ binoculars. The 8x magnification and 22mm objective lens diameter allows kids to bring faraway objects up close and personal.
The objective lens comes with an FMC multilayer green film to produce a bright and sharp view. These binoculars are protected against falls and drops with a sturdy rubber coating that acts as a shock absorber.
Overall, Sun-Team Binoculars for kids have all the qualities to make for an ideal tool for your child’s indoor and outdoor exploration.
Key Features
Age: 4-9yrs.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 6.3 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 22mm
Best fit: Hiking.
Pros
- FMC multilayer for crisp images.
- Shockproof.
- 12 months warranty.
- Rubber eyepiece for safety.
Cons
- Can be difficult to focus.
7. Best for Backyard Sightings
The Primary science big view binoculars from Learning Resources is an outstanding toy for little explorers to have a closer look at their environment. Their 6x magnification is ideal for kids as it gives them a good enough view without overwhelming their eyes.
The focus knob at the center is easy for your child to locate and use. The product is plastic, but the eyepieces are soft rubber to protect your child’s eyes and face. These binoculars will help little ones explore the backyard, bringing pets, birds, plants and micro beasties closer.
Key Features
Age: 3+.
Magnification: 6x.
Weight: 8.4 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 22mm.
Best fit: Backyard sittings.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Rubber eyepiece for eye safety.
- Breakaway lanyard for safety.
Cons
- Average magnification.
- No loop for neck strap.
8. Best Preteens
Real Optic’s binoculars come with an 8x magnification and 21mm lens diameter. Your child can see faraway objects in super cool close-up. Also, kids can easily focus when they turn the center dial. The binoculars are both shockproof and waterproof, and coated with rubber. The non-slip scratch-resistant surface gives hands a firm grip.
Users say images are clear and they have a quality feel. The binoculars come in a choice of eight different colors, so there’s a favorite one for most kids, and they are compact enough to be carried in the pocket.
Key Features
Age: 3-12yrs.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 7.9 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm.
Best fit: Preteens.
Pros
- Easy to use focus with a center dial.
- Rubber eyepiece for eye safety.
- Breakaway lanyard for safety.
- Shockproof and waterproof.
- Easy to carry.
Cons
- Hard to focus for some users.
- Too small for some users.
9. Best For Toddlers
Rayhee Rubber Toy Binoculars for Kids are a great choice for parents who’d love to give their kids an early introduction to the wonder of optics. Their 4x magnification gives your child a great view without being too overwhelming for their young eyes.
As their name suggests, the binoculars are coated with rubber to prevent damage from falls and drops. With 20 colors to choose from, kids are spoilt for choice.
The lenses are also surrounded by rubber for eye protection. They’re extremely light to carry and quite comfortable for kids to hold. With these toy binoculars, your child can enjoy bird spotting and playing at being a spy. they’re also great for a little one’s first foray into moon and star gazing.
Key Features
Age: 3 months to 5 yrs.
Magnification: 4x.
Weight: 5.6 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm.
Best fit: Toddler.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Rubber eyepiece for eye safety.
- Lightweight.
- Shockproof.
Cons
- Rubber eyepiece easily comes off.
- Average magnification.
10. Best For Birdwatching
The Noptix Kids Binoculars are way more than just a plastic toy for kids to play with. Packed with 8x magnification and a 21mm lens diameter, your child can finally see the distant world in close-up.
The BAK4 roof prism glass is the best you can get from toy binoculars and the lens coatings are just as impressive.
Kids drop things all the time, which is why these binoculars are shockproof and rainproof. they’re also easy to handle and come with a neck-strap.
The most impressive feature, however, is the sticker book for bird identification. With more than 40 bird stickers, birdwatching becomes a joy for your child.
Key Features
Age: 3+.
Magnification: 8x.
Weight: 15.8 ounces.
Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm.
Best fit: birdwatching.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Shockproof and waterproof.
- Rubber eyepiece for eye safety.
- Loop for neck strap.
- Sticker book for bed identification.
Cons
- Hard to adjust.
Buying Guide: What to Look For When Buying Binoculars for Kids
You’ll find an awful lot of binoculars on the market, but how do you know a product is right for your kid?
It’s essential to pick a product that won’t disappoint, so you need to know what to look out for when buying your child binoculars:
Price
The price of binoculars can go into the thousands of dollars, but we’re looking here at your child’s first foray into magnification, so the reins are on where the price is concerned.
High-end kid’s binoculars, with better image quality than your average kids’ binoculars, can cost as much as $75..
You can still buy good quality kids’ binoculars for as low as $20. Many of the binoculars reviewed in this guide are under $30.
Age
Kids’ binoculars differ in specifications depending on their recommended age range. Low-end binoculars with less than 8x magnification are ideal for children under four years, as they are safer for their eyes.
Also, age determines the type of activities your child can use binoculars for. Kids below age ten mostly use binoculars as a toy to bring anything in sight closer. In this case, low-end or mid-range binoculars will do just fine.
Preteens can engage in more advanced activities like identifying birds or spotting constellations. These activities require binoculars with better image quality and magnification.
Most binoculars come with a recommended age range to give you an indication of whether the product is ideal for your child.
Quality
Your choice of binoculars determines the quality of the image they project and how well they perform in low lights. Children are fickle, so if you think the binoculars will be a quickly passing novelty, don’t pay more than you would for any other average gift.
Higher specification kids’ binoculars are more expensive because they deliver better results. If your child is set on pursuing ornithology or astronomy, the quality can fire or dampen their enthusiasm, so invest in a decent quality product to begin their journey.
Even the best binoculars for kids are unlikely to be antifog, but try and get waterproof ones. Regardless of the price, eyepieces should be rubber, not plastic, to protect the eyes.
Kids (and some adults) can be extremely clumsy, so a shockproof body or coating is another important quality.
Binocular Specifications
Here’s a guide on how major specifications affect a binocular’s output.
Focusing Mechanism
The focusing mechanism shifts the lens elements of binoculars to focus on an object. A good focusing mechanism means you can change focus quickly.
You can go from close focus to infinity in some binoculars in a complete turn (360º) or less. Most binoculars have a linear focusing gear.
When the gear has a slow gear ratio, it will do well in close range. However, it becomes difficult to focus at a distant range.
If the gear ratio is fast, it won’t be easy to focus in close range but excel at long distances.
Magnification
Magnification determines how large an object becomes when you view it through binoculars.
Viewing at a higher magnification results in larger objects in view and more distinguishable detail. It also means there’s a narrower field of view and less apparent depth of focus.
Objective Lens
Objective lenses are the light gatherers. Because the larger lenses let in more light, it means you can see images in more detail.
The bigger the objective lens diameter, though, the larger the lens and the heavier it will weigh.
Conclusion
Our top choice is the Obuby Real Binoculars for Kids . The price makes them initially attractive, but with an 8x magnification and 21mm objective lens, they deliver, and kids will love them.
Made with a BAK-4 glass prism and FMC coating, they produce bright, clear and colorful images. They’re also durable, lightweight, and shockproof.
