Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Compact Binoculars Review

The best binoculars are the ones you have. And the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB (called Nikon Sportstar EX 8×25 in the UK) waterproof binoculars are easy to carry anywhere. However, the aperture is not large enough to see much more than the moon at night.

With so many binoculars available in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, it’s clear that there are a variety of designs designed to suit different uses. The Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars are the best of the lot, partly because of their name. ‘Trailblazer’ suggests that they are meant for hiking and traveling. Another piece of evidence comes from the use of ‘ATB’, which stands for ‘all-terrain binoculars’. The same goes for their waterproof capabilities. However, when shopping for binoculars, you should always consider the numbers used. In the case of the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars, they are 8 and 25. The 8 refers to the magnification, while the 25 relates to the size of the binocular’s ​​objective lens. In this case, objects in the field of view are magnified 8x, and the lens diameter is 25mm.

So the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars are designed for general use, with enough magnification and light gathering capabilities to get a close-up look at distant objects outdoors during the day, but not for impressive close-up shots or night-time stargazing.

If you’re looking for a great pair of binoculars for the outdoors, wildlife viewing, and all-around use, here’s everything you need to know about the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB, a waterproof pair of binoculars that are a great choice.

Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB: Design

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• ★★★★★
• Compact size for easy portability
• Smooth focus wheel for fine adjustment
• Lack of eye fatigue and weak resistance of eye cups

The main attraction of the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars is the combination of 8x magnification within a pocket-sized folding design. The latter is possible thanks to a dual-hinged bridge that allows the two barrels to be rotated 45 degrees to be placed underneath in a space-saving position. It is not as compact as an old-fashioned opera glass, which usually provides about 5x or less magnification, but it is close when folded.

Weighing in at just 9.9 ounces (280 g), these are the ideal compact binoculars for anyone, and they’re small enough and light enough for young children to hold, making them a great pair for kids.

I also like the focus wheel, which rotates smoothly but has a lot of resistance. This means you can focus on your subject and make minor adjustments. Unfortunately, the twist-up eyecup lacks resistance, making it impossible to place it in a specific position. It also doesn’t lie flat, so it doesn’t offer much relief for those who wear glasses, resulting in a narrow field of view. In fact, the eyecup is poorly made compared to the competition. This also hinders the basic design and operation. When you turn the diopter ring on the right eyepiece (an essential adjustment to compensate for the difference between your eyes), you have to move the eyecup. This is something you can’t do without unless you have very small fingers.

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There are a few other minor design quirks, the most serious being the lens cap. There is no lens cap for the objective lens, and the central bridge extends all the way to the end of the barrel, leaving no way to attach it. That’s why the included carrying case is a must. On the other hand, the flimsy lens cap supplied with the eyepiece fits fairly well, but like the eyecup, it doesn’t have enough tension. It falls off too freely and can easily be lost. Large binoculars usually have a figure-of-eight style eyecup that can be tied to the body, making it less likely to be lost. The Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars need something similar. A product designed for outdoor use shouldn’t have such a fussy component.

The custom pouch that comes with the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars is better quality than most. The shape fits the folded product perfectly and seals using velcro, but the belt loops are a bit basic. A carabiner attachment would be better these days. The neck strap is also fine, but needs a little more padding around the neck area.

Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB: Performance

• ★★★★
• Easy to fix for a stable image
• Sharp, bright images with good depth of field and impressive close focus range
• There’s a nice moonlight, but not much else to see at night.

If you’re looking for a compact pair of binoculars that perform well in the daytime, look no further. The Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars provide sharp, bright images with a decent amount of magnification and good depth of field, making them ideal for birdwatching and observing distant objects across the landscape. They’re also impressively sharp at relatively close range. They can focus on animals and objects as far away as 6 feet, which is unusual for such a small pair of binoculars. They also have a wider field of view than most 8×25 binoculars (unless you wear glasses).

However, if you are looking for binoculars that you can use to spot animals at dusk or identify star clusters at night, the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars are not for you. Instead, you will want to go with a full-size binocular, such as a 10×42 or 10×50, which will give you much better light transmission.

This is not to say that these binoculars are completely useless at night. We used them to track the moon halfway around the Earth. After sunset, we focused first on the slender crescent moon in the west, and finally on the orange-hued full moon rising in the east. The view was always bright and colorful, but the moon was clearly small in the field of view. However, even after dark, when we dragged our waterproof Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB binoculars across the Milky Way’s starlight, we didn’t see many star clusters. There wasn’t enough light coming in.

Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB: Features

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• ★★★★
• Perfect weight to keep it from moving for a stable view
• It is waterproof and fog-proof for outdoor use.
• The non-slip silicone tube cover is easy to hold and fingerprint-free.

The Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars boast an impressive 8x magnification. Binoculars with high magnification tend to be heavy, hard to hold still, and amplify even the slightest movement of the body. That means a shaky, unpleasant field of view. Not so with the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars. They are small enough to hold still with an 8x magnification. That means a consistently stable field of view. This is slightly improved by the use of a non-slip silicone cover on the tube, which won’t easily leave oily fingerprints.

Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars are perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, general travel, or wildlife watching. They are completely sealed, so no moisture gets inside. That means they are fog-free, so you don’t have to worry about your binoculars fogging up inside when you return to a warm hotel room after a cold day.

User Reviews

Online reviews of the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars are very positive. One reviewer noted that the product offers an impressive depth of field considering its low magnification, so there is no need to focus all the time. There are also praises for its sharp, bright field of view, easy, smooth focus, and compact, foldable design.

How We Tested the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars

Given their target market, we took our waterproof binoculars, the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB, to the Brecon Beacons/Banau Brecheynog National Park in Wales and climbed Fan Frynych in drizzle and low cloud. Visibility was poor at times, but the summit was clear and afforded views of other summits. Along the way, we used our waterproof binoculars, the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB, to look out for red kites, peregrine falcons and wildebeest, to survey the landscape below and, at times, to identify the trig point ahead through thick fog.

Should you buy the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB binoculars?

The Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars are a great choice for anyone looking for a compact, high-quality pair of binoculars for trekking, hiking, and adventure. They are not perfect for those who wear glasses, and the lens caps are easy to lose, but overall, the bright, colorful, and sharp images in a foldable, waterproof, and fog-proof case are a winner.

Are the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB Waterproof Binoculars not for you?

If you are looking for one of the following: Best Compact Binoculars But if you want something cheaper than the Nikon Trailblazer 8×25 ATB waterproof binoculars and a little more magnification, consider the Celestron UpClose G2 10×25, which weighs just 11oz/312g (the larger Celestron UpClose G2 10×50 is reviewed here). If you want something a little more serious that will give you much better results in low light, especially around sunrise and sunset, try this: Celestron Trailseeker 8×42If you use a 42mm or larger objective lens, there will be enough light. astronomy After dark. Weighs 23.1oz/654g.