Hiking is fun And while you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy it, shopping for trail-ready essentials like the best high-tech hiking boots and trail running sneakers, refillable water bottles, hydration packs, adventure smartwatches, weather protection and more is certainly Fun

I have plenty of gopecore to worry about, but one outdoor accessory that has eluded me until now is a decent, lightweight pair of binoculars That changed when I tested the Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars while enjoying a nice urban hike

Affordably priced at $95, the Nocs come in a variety of fun styles, are completely waterproof, fogproof, easy to handle, and optically perfect They also come with a lifetime warranty

Here are five reasons why these funky binoculars are my new favorite hiking accessory

Weighing only 12 ounces and the size of the palm of your hand, these little binoculars won't hold you back or weigh you down They are noticeably lighter than the modest Fujifilm X100 mirrorless camera I often take with me on my adventures Like the camera, it doesn't hurt my neck

The Nocs comes with a microfiber carrying case, a cleaning cloth, and a basic nylon neck strap The latter is not a particularly fancy accessory for such a chic looking binocular, but it gets the job done More importantly, the strap allows you to lock the Nocs hands-free It also fits easily into a jacket pocket

As for the 95 Smakloo, the build quality is impressive The entire body of the binoculars is wrapped in a ridged rubber material that is very grippy and comfortable to hold In addition, the binoculars are IPX7 grade waterproof and can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes (however, submersion should be avoided at all costs)

Medical grade O-rings not only keep water out, but also help prevent fogging of the Nocs To further prevent fogging, the optics are injected with inert nitrogen gas In addition, the optics are located deeper in the housing to protect them from scratches and impacts

While there are many higher-performance binoculars available, the optics of the Knox Standard Issue 8x25 are more than solid enough for the casual user In addition, they are flexible enough to fit a wide range of face sizes and have 10mm of adjustable eye relief

As a spectacle wearer, I had no problems dialing in diopter and various adjustments It took me less than a few minutes to get everything in focus

The optics consist of six multi-coated glass elements in four groups This coating helps reduce optical ugliness like lens flare and the odd ghosting anomaly while improving overall contrast

Nocs are designed so that you can either hold your phone's camera to the eyecups and snap telephoto pictures It took a little practice to get it in focus, but the image above of the Space Needle in Seattle was taken from about 15 miles away If you look closely, you can clearly see the silhouettes of the people on the observation deck

In addition to admiring the Seattle skyline, I hiked through the city's Volunteer Park in search of bald eagles, but mainly just found crows Nevertheless, I did catch a few glimpses of America's best feathered friends

The Nocs sample I tested offered an 8x zoom, which is roughly equivalent to using a 400mm camera lens But if you want even more reach, check out the 10x25 pair The price is the same

I may just be a predictable millennial, but I find the funky design and coloring of the Nocs very aesthetically pleasing Even though it does not affect my ability to focus on distant objects at all, it does mean that I am more likely to pick it up and take it with me when I go out

By the way, I tested out the Cypress II style, which is a very nice color, and I've been using it for a while now (Glacial Blue is pretty nice too)

I have long thought about getting binoculars to further enjoy the outdoors, but have resisted because a) they are expensive and b) they are ugly The Nocs, however, are neither of those things

And while $95 is still quite a bit of money, the lifetime warranty gives me the peace of mind that this investment will last for years to come

After all, I have yet to find another binocular that is so easy to carry, looks great, and performs so well; what more could you want from nearly 200-year-old technology?