Monoculars

Binoculars are one of those items that if not strictly essential (while hunting or birding, say) may or may not go out on a trip due to their size, weight, and relative bulk when packed. Monoculars solve this issue when simple spotting and identifying can be done without stereo vision. Weighing less, and packing smaller than binoculars, monoculars allow for identification of animals, sighting of landmarks, and scouting of shorelines while taking little room in a pack, and being less cumbersome when worn around the neck. When using in marine applications (sighting form boats) a small field of view (10x magnification) will amplify ambient wave movement, making for shaky, wobbly and ineffectual sighting at a best, and and a quick way to give yourself sea sickness at worst. Mariners therefore prefer 7x magnification for applications on water.