Overview
Inexpensive and lightweight, the Nikon Travelite V 10x25 binoculars have a good optical quality for the price. Just like their name implies, these binoculars were meant for on-the-go viewing. Unfortunately, they are not waterproof. But, they aren't meant to be heavy-duty sporting optics either. These binoculars are for more general use like seeing the stage at a concert or play. They aren't the most compact, but they are still light enough for travel and quickly and easily zoom in and out.
Product Report Card Grade
We give Nikon's Travelite V 10x25 Binoculars a B+ because they are perfect lightweight binoculars for general leisure activities like seeing a concert or play. They feature good optics for this price point, an excellent warranty and have received generally positive feedback from customers. While these binoculars could be a great fit for some people, we deducted points because the eye relief is low, which could contribute to eyestrain. Additionally, they are not waterproof or fogproof.
Date Reviewed
March 2013
May 2012
March 2013
Pros
Inexpensive with 25-year no-fault warranty; great quality optics for the price; compact and exceptionally lightweight
Powerful, high quality optics; integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic information system; waterproof and fog proof; good performance in low-light conditions; fully multi-coated lenses; wide interpupillary range
25-year no-fault warranty; powerful optics deliver crisp, clear images even in lower light; waterproof and fog proof; detachable and adjustable eyecups are shaped to block light and enhance comfort; features ED glass; fully multi-coated lenses; open bridge design makes them comfortable to hold
Cons
Not waterproof or fog proof; very short eye relief
Expensive and warranty doesn't protect against accidents; heavy
Expensive; relatively heavy; some complaints about adjustable rain guard being more difficult to use than a one-size-fits-all model
Price
$94.98
$2,799.99
$2,499.95
Warranty
25-Year Full Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
25-Year Full Warranty
Best Use
They are great binoculars for activities like watching a sporting event, concert or play.
They are ideal for hunting, but they can also be used for other general outdoor activities like nature viewing, bird watching, etc.
They are well suited for general outdoor activities including wildlife viewing, hunting, bird watching, etc.
Binocular Type
Compact
Full-Size
Full-Size
Binocular Size
The binoculars are 4.3" x 4.6" (L x W) and weigh 8.8 oz.
The binoculars are 6.6" x 5.3" (L x W) and weigh 35.1 oz.
The binoculars are 5.9" x 5.6" (L x W) and weigh 27.9 oz.
Field of View at 1,000 yds
Angular Field of View (Real)
Angular Field of View (Apparent)
47.2°
(not available from customer service)
59.2°
Close Focusing Distance (ft)
Focus System
They have a central focusing knob.
They have a central focusing knob.
They have a central focusing knob that is integrated with the diopter adjustment.
Diopter Adjustment
± 4 dpt (locking)
± 3.5 dpt
± 4 dpt (locking)
Interpupillary Distance
56 - 72 mm
54 - 76 mm
56 - 72 mm
Prism Type
They have a porro prism system with BaK-4 glass.
They have a type of roof prism system known as Abbe-König and feature BaK-4 glass.
They have a roof prism system with BaK-4 glass.
Lens / Coating
They feature multi-coated aspherical lenses.
They feature fully multi-coated achromatic lenses with Zeiss' T* and LotuTec® coatings.
They feature fully multi-coated ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lenses designed with Nikon's field-flattener lens system.
Water / Fog Proof
They are not waterproof or fog proof.
Yes, they are nitrogen-filled and are fog proof and waterproof.
Yes, they are nitrogen-filled and are fog proof and waterproof down to 9.8 ft for 10 minutes (confirmed with customer service).
Rangefinder
N/A
Yes, they are engineered with an integrated laser rangefinder (class 1) and Ballistic Information System (BIS™) for quick and accurate targeting information. In about 1.5 seconds, they can measure any distance between 10 - 1300 yards with an accuracy of about 0.5%. The rangefinder is powered by a CR 2 (Lithium 3V) battery, which should last for about 10,000 measurements.
N/A
Exterior
They have a carbon fiber body and a rubber armor, which enhances their durability and provides a comfortable, secure grip. They are only available in a matte black finish.
They have a lightweight magnesium construction with a rubber armor that provides durability, shock resistance and a comfortable, secure grip. They are only available in a matte black finish.
They have a magnesium-alloy, rubber-armored body that is lightweight, durable, shock-resistant and comfortable to hold. They are only available in a matte black finish.
Eyecups
They have adjustable and detachable eyecups with detents.
They have twist-up (and detachable) eyecups with 4 detents.
They have horn-shaped adjustable and detachable eyecups with detents.
Tripod Adaptable
No they are not tripod adaptable.
Yes, they are tripod adaptable.
Yes, they are tripod adaptable.
Accessories
They come with a Nikon travel case, a neck strap and lens covers.
They come with a leather carrying case, a neck strap, an eyepiece cap, protective lens covers and an optics cleaning cloth.
They come with a travel case, an adjustable soft touch neck strap and rubberized objective frames.
ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Great value
- Lightweight
- Large focusing knob
- Shock resistant
Cons
- Not waterproof or fogproof
- Short eye relief, which contributes to eye strain
- Not as compact as other models in this category
Key Features
Product Design
These binoculars are made of carbon fiber to be lightweight and durable and feature a shock-resistant rubber and an ergonomically enhanced body designed to be more comfortable to grip.
Size
At 4.3" x 4.6" (L x W) and weighing 8.8 oz, these binoculars are fairly compact and portable.
Waterproofing
These binoculars are not waterproof or fog proof but are still filled with nitrogen to eliminate internal moisture.
Added Benefits
These binoculars come with a nylon strap and soft carrying case, as well as two lens caps.
Warranty
Nikon offers a no-fault warranty for up to 25 years.
Optics
- Magnification: 10x puts these binoculars at the high range for viewing power.
- Objective Lens (mm): 25 mm makes these binoculars compact.
- Exit Pupil (mm): 2.5 mm is small and doesn't let in much light for nighttime viewing.
- Eye Relief (mm): An 11.1 mm eye relief might contribute to eye strain.
- Field of View (m/1000m): 87 m is a relatively small field of view.
- Close Focusing Distance: 9 ft means you can sit close to the action.
- Diopter: The diopter adjustment ring locks into place to avoid unintentional movement.
- Interpupillary Range: A range of 56-72 mm allows for most face types.
- Twilight Factor: 15.8 means you may want to use these binoculars during the day.
- Prisms: These binoculars feature a Porro prism system with a BaK-4 high-index prism, a more prized system that is a great quality to have when most binoculars have roof prisms.
- Lens Elements: Aspherical lenses provide sharp images and reduce distortion and are eco-friendly with lead- and arsenic-free glass.
- Coating: Multi-coated for increased brightness, but not fully.
Reputation
Nikon carries with it a prestigious name in optics, but that doesn't have to mean a high price tag. These binoculars have the quality you would expect from Nikon but are for the more casual user who doesn't need to spend thousands of dollars on sporting optics. That being said, these binoculars are still technically solid and sized for frequent use. The major drawback of these binoculars is that they aren't waterproof. Some light rain while outside could ruin your viewing experience. Despite receiving a 4.7/5 on Amazon.com (42 reviews), the reviews seem to be pretty average. Most customers were pleased with the weight and image quality, but some complained of eye strain due to the short eye relief of the binoculars. They were awarded a "Best Buy" rating from Backpacker Magazine for being lightweight with bright images, and they also received a "Best Buy" rating from Binoculars.com for best budget binoculars. Tested by Outdoor Life Magazine, the binoculars earned 3/4 stars and received 3rd place in optical quality for their category. These binoculars are middle of the road. As with all binoculars, it is important to know what you are going to use them for before you make a purchase. For some users, these binoculars could be the perfect fit.
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