Waterproof binocular definition

The majority of binoculars, today, are waterproof and, make no mistake, the only word that counts is waterproof if you want a binocular that is not guaranteed to leak or fog, internally. Other words, such as weatherproof, water resistant, rainproof and so on don’t count; they simply mean that the manufacturer made some attempt to seal the binocular, but if the binocular leaks, you pay for the repair, not them. If you want to buy binoculars and are not sure if the model is waterproof, just read the description or specs; waterproof is an important feature and binocular manufacturers always advertise it when it is present.

Notice, too, that I said internally. As far as external moisture from rain, fog, mist and so on, even a waterproof binocular will collect moisture on the lenses – you still have to wipe the binocular down with a lens cloth, such as the Vortex lens cloth, from time to time. Technology has tried to offer special lens coating to minimize this problem for those binocular users who must be out in rough weather and these water-repelling lens coatings do help. However, there is no such thing, at least at this point, as a lens coating that is totally effective at keeping your lenses dry on the outside in wet weather. Bushnell has stepped forward with their Rainguard coating, for instance and they equip all their binoculars from the Legend series binoculars and up with this coating. I have used a Bushnell Elite E2 binocular equipped with the Rainguard coating and it does help, but I still need to use a lens cloth. On the other hand, when the rain really starts pouring, I pack up the binocular, anyway.