Everyone should own a
binocular. I believe that with a passion. Anyone who does not own a binocular probably just doesn't know how useful a binocular can be and how many ways a binocular can be used. You can use a binocular for
astronomy,
boating,
birding,
hunting,
the theatre, sports,
long range observation ... you get the idea, but is there a binocular that would be good for just about any binocular application? Sure is. A waterproof 8x40 or 8x42 binocular can be used to some extent for just about any binocular application. In fact, a waterproof 8x42 roof prism is as close to the
universal binocular as you can find. After this, it just becomes a matter of how much you want to spend to get the performance and durability you need. The good news is that you can get a waterproof 8x40 or 8x42 in just about any price range/quality level. Under $100, try the
Bushnell Legacy WP 8x42. Under $200, I like the
Bushnell Excursion 8x42 or the
Nikon Action Extreme 8x40. Got $300 to spend. Can't even list all the good choices, but you can never make a mistake with the
Nikon Monarch 8x42, the world's best selling $300 binocular.