UPVOTED BINOCULARS

Squinting through a pair of empty toilet rolls will only show you so much added detail-so Chris Rowlands zooms in on the finest modern binos for all uses and budgets

- Chris Rowlands

The Goldilocks goggles

Hawke Frontier ED X 10x42 

Big binos are clear and bright; little ones travel light. These get it just right: 10x magnification means you can zoom through the woods, while a 2m focus distance lets you inspect the bears around your breakfast table. ED glass and a 42mm aperture also hit the optical sweet spot, treating your peepers to crisp visuals. The magnesium alloy chassis is IPX7 waterproof - and that presumably applies to porridge as well.

£519 /uk.hawkeoptics.com

The waterproof watchers

Bushnell H20 8x25 

An affordable option for those who like to gaze across the waves, these budget binos don't distort when wet. An IPX7 rating means they're good in 1m of the drink for half an hour, while their aluminium build won't drag you down - and strap lugs should stop them going overboard.

£69/bushnell.com

The burly barrels

Nikon Action EX 12x50 CF 

Whether you're stalking sheep or hunting for a country pub, scouting in the wild is a test of toughness. Luckily, these Nikons can take a knock: built for tricky conditions, they thunk the scales at over 1kg. Rubber armour protects against outdoor mishaps, while nitrogen gas prevents fogging.

£239/nikon.co.uk