Binoculars are useful for a lot of situations such as spotting fire, defending your area, hunting, and general scouting out of an area,  but they often get overlooked when people put together bug out bags and get home bags. Binoculars are not heavy or bulky. In fact the binoculars featured in this post are often a mere 8-10 ounces!

Here are some reasons you might want to include binoculars in your preps and some solid and affordable options to consider.

Spotting fire 

Your reaction time is crucial when it comes to fire. It can be easier to see what direction it is coming from with binoculars. Going up to a high spot and looking around could save your life by allowing you time to move out of the area and ensure you are going a way that the fire is not headed.

In our area, we had a dreadful fire season last year due to the excessively dry conditions combined with years of fire suppression. There are a lot of areas where this is getting particularly bad.  Although we have made a lot of effort to clear the understory of our woods through mechanical means and grazing, fire is something that is one of the major fears I have when it comes to overall safety.

Better defense through better vision. OMZER 10x42 High Power... Buy New $36.99 (as of 10:20 UTC - Details)

During a SHTF or survival situation, being able to see out a good distance from your location can help you protect yourself and your family. If you see someone or something suspicious from a distance then you can react quickly and have a better chance at staying safe.

Remember that during a situation that you need to take a lot of precautions. Anything you can do to increase your advantage helps. Going with this line of thought. That $20-$50 spent on binoculars now could save your life.

Consider Multiple Pairs So Everyone Has A Pair

More pairs of eyes are better when you find that you are in a defensive situation and need to be on top of it at all times. If everyone has a pair of binoculars than you can increae the effectiveness of your patrols and have better overall security.

Planning your approach

How you approach an area or situation can be important. While the distance you can see can be obstructed by any number of things, better vision could make it safer for you to approach an area because you might be able to spot some dangers or things that may delay your progress. This gives you time to consider alternative routes that are safer for you and your family.

Hunting

It is pretty common for hunters to use binoculars to help spot game and increase the chances of success. During a survival situation, hunting may be one of the few ways that you can put some extra protein on the table. Of course, it also might be good to have a heads up that anything larger than you want to deal with is headed your way.

Scouting Out An Area

Do you want to stick around an area for a while? To do that you might want to make sure that the area is actually suitable for a safe camp or semi-permanent bug out location. If you live out in a rural area already, binoculars can help you keep an eye on things without having to walk around absolutely everywhere. Plus you can observe anything that is concerning from a much safer distance. This is valuable because if you feel safer you are able to concentrate on finding a solution without so much fear overshadowing your decision.

OMZER 10×42 High-powered Compact HD Binoculars With BAK4 FMC Lens

Dimensions: 4.7 x 5.9 x 2inch/12cm x 15cm x 5cm

Weight: 558g/1.23 lb

These binoculars feature a tough rubberized coating that is waterproof and helps you keep a firm non-slip grip under trying conditions. This is a quality pair of binoculars that gives you a 307 ft/1000 yards field of view. The multi-coated lens are scratch resistant. You get a neck strap, lens cap, and carrying case with purchase. The wide angle lenses give you a wider field of vision than a lot of other binoculars. This is not a company that I very familiar with but overall people seem to be very happy with what they are providing.

Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular

Dimensions: 4.02 x 1.81 x 2.8 in

Weight: 0.53 lbs Compact Binoculars: Be... Buy New $29.97 (as of 10:20 UTC - Details)

Bushnell is a recognized brand in the world of optics. All of their products I have used have seemed pretty solid. This budget-friendly set of binoculars is perfect for keeping in a bug out, get home bag, or just around so you can spot birds and other interesting things. I love how light weight these are. Anyone that is concerned about weight in their pack, should consider these bincoculars. At just over 8 ounces, these could even be carried on a tactical belt for easy retrieval when you need to see something fast.

Revival Gear Compact Binoculars

Dimensions: 4.33 x 4.33 x 1.97 in 

Weight: 350 grams

These bargain-priced compact binoculars are great for seeing under low light conditions. The coated lenses are scratch resistant and allow for a wide field of vision. The rubberized grip helps prevent slipping even under high stress and wet conditions. Despite the price, you get a good carrying case and neck strap. Satisfied customers report using them for everything from sporting events to low light concerts. They can hold up to being left out in the rain so you can rely on them for hunting and fishing trips as well.  10x magnification provides a crisp image at even a 1,000 yards.

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Nikon Trailblazer 10x2... Best Price: $79.00 Buy New $79.00 (as of 01:10 UTC - Details) Vanguard Orros 10x25 L... Buy New $64.99 (as of 10:20 UTC - Details) Skygenius 8x21 Small B... Best Price: $33.00 Buy New $19.99 (as of 10:05 UTC - Details) Occer 12x25 Compact Bi... Buy New $33.89 (as of 10:00 UTC - Details)

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