Ever since
they were invented, binoculars have been an integral part of
military operations, as they offered those involved the possibility
to observe the surroundings and base the steps to take next on their
findings. Many websites now promise that they provide military-grade
binoculars, but are the respective products genuinely worthy of
being called that?
Let’s take a
look at what specs truly make a pair of binoculars military-grade.
This way, you will know what to focus on when you search for a
reliable product that can serve you in many situations, such as
surveillance.
How do the
binoculars used by the Army look like?
Before the
year 2000, the binoculars used by the Army were all pretty much the
same thing, and that might have negatively impacted the performance
of those using them. Fortunately, things have changed since then,
and now the American soldiers go into battle while equipped with
mission-specialized binoculars.
There are
mainly 3 models used by the Army, and they are called M22, M24, and
M25. The M22 model has known quite a lot of popularity. With a
magnification of 7x and a lens diameter of 50mm, it’s considered a
go-to solution. However, it weighs 2.7 pounds, and that can be a
huge impediment for the soldier who also needs to carry a lot of
other heavy equipment.
That’s why
the M24 came into play. At only 1.26 pounds, it’s obviously lighter,
and also it fits in a pocket, something that couldn’t be said about
the previously mentioned model. Lastly, the M25 comes along with
some extra features, and the model offers stabilization features,
which are handy on the battlefield.
Excellent
optics are a must
While size
and portability are important issues, what you must know about
military-grade binoculars is that they come with superior optics. No
matter what a clever advertisement might say, that’s one of the
first things you should check out. For instance, you must look for
binoculars that offer high performance in low light conditions.
Such performance depends on a variety of factors, and the
overall optics quality plays a role. The lenses shouldn’t generate
any chromatic aberration, and the glass used must be of top-notch
quality, as well. Check to see if the model you have your eyes on
comes with fully-multi coated optics, as that should be a clear
giveaway. ED glass is another spec you should see written in the
description.
Bigger is
better, within limitations
If there may
be one drawback that people often mention when talking about
military-grade binoculars is that they are heavy. As you have read
just earlier, even the lightweight version of an Army model is still
massive compared to the regular binoculars out there.
However, you
could never achieve the same level of performance if you opted for
lightweight binoculars. Something has to give, and the overall
quality is not something you should let go of when selecting such a
product.
Prepared for
any weather and conditions
A
military-grade pair of binoculars is built to last. It can take a
lot of wear and tear, and you can take it with you whenever you have
to face harsh conditions. They are waterproof, and the most
competitive models can even withstand immersion. They are
nitrogen-purged, and they come equipped with O-ring seals that don’t
let one drop of water get inside and affect the optics.
As you may
also expect, they come with a rubber coating that makes the
binoculars impervious to shocks. You can throw a lot at a pair of
military-grade binoculars, and they will always get on top.
Specs
targeted at scouting and other operations
You will
also find that such binoculars come with some pretty cool specs that
serve the purpose of making your surveillance tasks and other
operations easier. For instance, you will find models that come with
a reticle, a compass, and other cool features that allow you to
observe your target from large distances.
People who
like military, bird watching, extreme sports, and other pastimes will
find military-grade binoculars to be precisely what they need for
making their experience even more enjoyable.
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