Category Archives: Nocs

Nocs Pro Issue 8X42 Waterproof Binoculars (FSB Equipment Review)

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If you read our last post, you know that Braden and I recently completed an epic birding adventure to Costa Rica. One thing I didn’t mention is that, besides offering the chance to see an astonishing variety of neotropical birds, the trip gave me the opportunity to field test an exciting new piece of equipment: the Nocs Provisions Pro Issue 8X42 binoculars. And boy, did I put them to the test!

Nocs Pro Issue binoculars feature excellent optics with one of the most stylish designs in the industry. For more information or to purchase, click here.

I must confess that I liked the Pro Issues right out of the box. As I explained in my recent review of the company’s Field Tube monocular, Nocs has put real thought into designing equipment that looks and feels different from the vast majority of products out there. The rubberized protective casing of my Pro Issues features a stylish ribbed design that is easy to grip, yet feels very comfortable to hold. Like the Field Tube monocular, these binoculars also have “pop in” caps for the objective lenses that are much more secure than any other design I’ve encountered.

With my review sample of the Pro Issues, Nocs took the trouble to send me one of their woven tapestry neck straps, and if you purchase any Nocs binoculars, I highly recommend picking up one of these, too. Not only does the strap look way cooler than standard bino neck straps, it is more comfortable against the skin—and easier to attach to the binoculars than any other design I’ve seen. As far as the build, these binoculars couldn’t feel more solid. I fortunately didn’t drop them, but felt that if I had—or if I whacked them against a strangler fig tree—they would survive unscathed.

If you purchase Nocs binoculars, I highly recommend buying the woven neck strap, which is both easy to attach and very comfortable around the neck.

When I decided to take the Pro Issues to the tropics, I realized that waterproofing would be important—but I didn’t realize how important! For about half of our trip, Braden and I endured one of the wettest “dry seasons” on record. I mean, we got dumped on—to the point where, several times, we just stood under a tree and tried to will the rain to stop. Not only did the Pro Issues take on this full exposure without allowing water to penetrate the casing, the binoculars didn’t fog up even in the worst conditions.

As you can see, the rain on our trip showed no mercy—but the Pro Issues survived these tough conditions better than either Braden or I!

I should mention that one smart thing Nocs has done with their optics is to recess the objective lenses deep inside the tubes. This means that as they hang from your neck, rain won’t land on or “creep around” to the lenses—avoiding a potential constant hassle. One thing I do hope Nocs incorporates into future products is a “faster” focusing knob, requiring fewer revolutions to go from very close to very far focus. This would make it easier to zoom in on fast-moving birds.

Even in the rainiest conditions, my Pro Issues stayed tightly sealed and did not fog—allowing me to fully enjoy marvelous birds such as this Bicolored Antbird (teaser for our next post!).

Of course none of the above matters without good quality optics, and the Pro Issues definitely hold their own against other equipment in a similar $300 price range. Nocs uses BaK-4 prisms, a higher quality prism that ensures even, full-spectrum light transmission. Like other quality companies, Nocs uses coated, scratch-resistant glass. The result? In bright to medium-low light, I got nice crisp, well-lit, full color looks at birds, even from a good distance. Taking 8X42 instead of 10X42 binoculars proved a good choice for in-close rainforest conditions by giving me a wider field of view and more light, and I rarely missed the extra 2X magnification of 10X42s.

As every birder knows, however, things do get tough in very dark, overcast rainforest understory conditions, challenging the abilities of almost any optics. In my equipment testing, finding binoculars that will “see through” the darkest most abysmal conditions—or the most awful gray backlit situations—requires a price jump up into the $1,000 range, not something most birders can afford. (See, for instance, this review and this one). That said, for $299.95 the Pro Issues offer solid, competitive value while boasting some additional advantages . . .

Nocs is committed to operating sustainably and that includes avoiding plastic packaging. Note, I especially like the cloth carrying bags (left, under the binoculars) that come with their equipment. While offering less protection than hardshell cases, the bags are much less bulky, saving precious space when traveling.

In an age when many corporations throw their weight around with little regard to the environment and social justice, Nocs offers a refreshingly positive set of values for the ethically responsible birder. The company is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of its revenue to supporting environmental organizations. It is also certified as climate neutral and is fully committed to sustainable packaging. In fact, I haven’t found a single piece of plastic packaging on any of the Nocs products I’ve received. The quality of its products also ensures that they will last long into the future, reducing the need for buying—and discarding—cheaply made equipment over and over. If your Nocs product should somehow break or fail, the company offers its “No-Matter-What Lifetime Warranty.”

This Streak-headed Woodcreeper is just one of more than 300 bird species I enjoyed observing in Costa Rica using my Pro Issues.

All of this makes me give the Pro Issues a big thumbs up. If you’re still not convinced, I should mention that the 8X42 Pro Issues come in Ponderosa (green), Oxblood Maroon, and Marianas (blue) colors. That will ensure that in addition to having a great set of binoculars to accompany you on your birding adventures, you will be the most stylish birder anywhere in sight!

The author received no financial compensation for this review.

The NOCS Field Tube 10X32 Monocular (FSB Equipment Review)

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I’m excited this week to offer our very first equipment review of a Nocs Provisions product: The Field Tube 10X32 monocular. This is the very first monocular that I’ve ever used, and I was so excited that I tore it out of the packaging and immediately set about field testing it. Before I offer my thoughts, however, I want to say a bit about Nocs.

Everything about this smaller optics company compels me to like them. For one, they take pains to send their products in sustainable packaging—a definite plus for a birder wanting to protect birds and our environment. They are a 1% for the Planet member and a Climate Neutral certified brand. To quote their PR info, “At its core, the company believes that the more we observe and understand how intricate and delicate our planet’s ecosystems are, the more motivated we are to protect them.”

The 8X32 Field Tube shown in Banana Slug (Yellow). This version also comes in Corsican (Blue), Coral (Red), and Desolation (Black). The 10X32s I tested are offered in Ponderosa (Green), Paydirt (Brown), and Oxblood (Maroon). Order by clicking here or on the image above.

Nocs, though, also offers products with super cool designs. The rubber “wave grip” coating of the Field Tube not only offers a great gripping surface, it looks way bitchin’ compared to the standard black exteriors offered by most other manufacturers. Not only that, Nocs products are offered in different colors. Need a pair of binoculars to match your powder blue tux for the Birding Academy Awards? Perhaps something to blend in with your Ferrari while visiting Tuscany? Nocs has got you covered.

But let’s get to the main point, the Field Tube 10X32 monocular itself. First let me say that for birders, this is a “next item” purchase. It’s not intended to replace your binoculars. Rather, it is designed for situations where a slim profile and super light weight are of premium concerns. With a length of only five inches and weight of half a pound—or about a third of traditional binoculars—the Field Tube easily fits into a front pocket and can barely be felt hanging around your neck. This makes it perfect for backpacking, travel, and paddle-boarding. But I can envision other ideal scenarios for this equipment, too. For instance, imagine . . .

The Field Tube is so small and light that you can take it virtually anywhere without noticing it. We call this BIRD PREPARED!

You are in an expensive Tokyo restaurant trying to close a deal with a major Japanese tech company. Suddenly, an Azure-winged Magpie lands in a tree outside the window. You do not want to offend the company president sitting across from you, but . . . as soon as he gets up to use the restroom, you whip out the Field Tube from your front pocket for a delightful look at this long-hoped-for life bird. Or . . .

You’re waiting for your perfect big wave set at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay and an intriguing small black bird lands in the water. Unfortunately, it is too far away to ID with the naked eye. BUT, you just happen to have your Nocs Field Tube stuffed inside the neck of your neoprene wetsuit and, focusing in on the bird, you discover it is a Long-billed Murrelet, just flying in from Siberia! Not only is it a life bird, it allows you to break the ABA Big Year record for surfers, earning you glory, fat promotional contracts, and a sponsorship to bird and surf the world!

You can see where I’m going with this, and I’m sure you can come up with other equally realistic scenarios where you’ll want this item close by.

The Field Tube comes with a handy wrist strap, soft protective carrying bag, and lens cloth—all packed in 100% sustainable recyclable packaging.

A couple of things I especially like about Nocs products is that they come with solid rubber stoppers that snugly pop in over the objective lenses. It’s amazing how even high-end manufacturers have not solved the problem of keeping the objective lens covers firmly in place. I also really like the strap systems for Nocs products. In fact, when you order, I recommend purchasing the woven strap versions as they are more comfortable and, again, look cool.

But back to the Field Tube, it features a fairly close (9-10 feet) minimum focal length and is waterproof down to three feet deep for up to thirty minutes, making it perfect for birders, butterfly watchers, and surfers. As you would expect, Nocs uses fully coated lenses and prisms, and has a lifetime warranty. I found light transmission quite good in these despite the relatively small 32 mm objective lens.

Just for fun, I decided to see if I could get a digiscope photo through my Field Tube. Not bad for my first effort, if I do say so myself. I mean, you can easily see both the Harpy Eagle and Imperial Woodpecker in the photo, right?

At a price of $129.95, you wouldn’t expect perfection from the Field Tube, and I did notice a couple of things that could use improvement. While the focus is quite sharp at close and medium ranges, it gets a bit softer at distance. I’d also like to see fewer turns of the knob required to bring the focus from close to far distance. However, most people will find these minor issues acceptable trade-offs for the incredibly small profile and convenience the Field Tube offers.

Nocs has recently unveiled a monocular upgrade called the Zero Tube which is even smaller and lighter than the Field Tube, and uses a different focusing mechanism. Hopefully, I’ll get to test that one in the future. Next up, though, will be my review of the Nocs Pro Issue 10X42 binoculars, which I am taking to Costa Rica on my trip with Braden next week. My initial impressions of the Pro Issues are extremely positive and I look forward to giving them a full tropical workout. Stay tuned!