Lots of stabilized binoculars to choose from out there. Are they worth the price? Maybe not for everyone.
Down at water level, I still feel pretty confident with traditional optics. For wade fishing or in very small boats, shirt-pocket compacts are available at prices in the $30 range, providing enough detail to improve your fishing. For stowing aboard a skiff, high-quality, waterproof, shock-proof binoculars sell for around $300.
Model Power/
Obj. Lens
Canon IS 18X50 AW
15X50 AW
10X42 LWP
12X36 II
10X30
8X25
Nikon
StabilEyes 14X40
16X32
12X32
Bushnell StableView
10X35
Waterproof
Heavy rain
Heavy rain
3.3 feet/30
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Field of View
194'
236'
340.6
262'
314'
346'
209'
198'
261'
260'
Weight
(oz.)
41.7
41.7
36.8
23.3
22.2
16.9
47.3
39.5
39.8
43.9
MSRP
$1,599
$1,299
$1,499
$649
$429
$399
$1,199
$849.95
$799.95
$899.99
If you do a lot of scouting for your fishing, and have access to the elevation of a tower boat, a dock, local bridge or condo balcony, high-magnification, image-stabilized binoculars are probably worth the investment. They sure opened my eyes.
