Best Monoculars in the UK

In situations when binoculars are just too bulky and big, your go-to choice should be a monocular. Much more lightweight, compact, and pocket-friendly than binoculars, many of these devices are just as great in terms of magnifying performance and will easily slide in your pocket, making them ideal for different outdoor activities. Is this the kind of device you are looking for? Then turn your eyes to the Gosky 12X55 HD High Power Prism Monocular. This model offers amazing value for the money while providing you with all the necessary features you'd need for one-hand viewing in the field.

To start things off, the Gosky 12X55 HD High Power Prism Monocular has a generous 55mm lens. Thanks to this, it can offer you a large viewing area of about 109 m / 914 m, which is big enough for viewing birds, watching wildlife and other scenery that is far from you. The magnification power of the lens of 12X is quite impressive too, making it perfect for photographers and travellers looking to obtain a clear view of the animal or other objects placed at a distance, without distracting their peace and having to come close to them.

Considering the lens's specs, it's only natural to expect the device to be a tad bit heavier than some of its competition. The unit weighs 450 g and measures 8.3 x 5.4 x 17.7 cm. That being said, its dimensions are definitely not huge and if you aren't planning to keep watching birds or features in the woods non-stop, the unit's weight won't be an issue for you whatsoever. Besides, it features 1/4"-20 stand tripod threads, meaning if you do need to use it continuously, you'll have an option to simply connect it to a camera tripod.

Сelestron company has more than 50 years of experience in the field of optical instruments manufacturing. And, sure, the company has had its hiccups. But, for the most part, they're putting that experience to good use, providing their customers with great optics at an affordable price. And while this is evident in the majority of their products, we would say that the Celestron 71210 is probably one of the best examples of that.

Generally speaking, "attractive" in the most literal sense of the word is not something you associate with optics. But that is the first word that comes to our mind when we look at this device. For a monocular, it is undoubtedly pretty. On top of that, this pretty monocular is very compact and convenient to hold with both hands, mostly thanks to the ergonomic grip.

The ergonomic grip is also the part that makes this black model a bit prettier than most of its counterparts. We don't know if the visual appeal is the first thing that the manufacturers had in mind when they were designing the product. But it is definitely an aspect of the model's construction that they had no intention of sacrificing. The sort of ribbed, finlike design makes the monocular look ace.

If you want proof that a monocular can have great optics while coming at a relatively low price, take a look at the SIMAKARA device.

Featured with BAK-4 crystal prism and FMC Green Lens, it provides clear and crisp images with quick and convenient focus, allowing you to easily locate the target. Should you be looking for a device with an image intensifier for viewing objects at a very far distance, such as, for example, watching a player at a football game, it also offers the built-in 10-30X50 adjustable high power magnification. This makes it a great option not only for casual observations, but also for more specific ones.

However, the major advantage of the SIMAKARA monocular is low-light night vision system. Whereas most other monoculars are only intended for use during daytime, this one is featured with a common optical tube and an infrared sensor, allowing it to convert infrared light into a visible, clear and high-contrast image even at night. Not many monoculars at this price point can do that, which favourably sets this model apart from the competition.

The pocket size adds to the benefits of the monocular. Measuring 22 x 11.2 x 11 cm and weighing just 0.57kg, it fits snugly in a small bag and can be held in hand for long periods of time without taxing your arm. So, you can use it for hunting, hiking, bird viewing, watching sports games, performances and wildlife as long as it's necessary.

Another monocular from Gosky that is just as great as our best pick model but a bit more affordable is the Titan 12x50. How does it stack up with the competition? Let's find out together.

Starting with the model's design, this scope weighs about 400 g and measures 10 x 9 x 19 cm, which though not the smallest of sizes is quite small and portable nevertheless. In addition, the unit features a solid frame with a rubber armoured body and stripes, ensuring a firm grip and excluding the risk of it somehow slipping out from your hands during use. To add to that, it has all the needed protections (a waterproof body as well as shock-, fog- and dust protection) to make sure that nothing gets in the way of the comfort of using the device wherever you go with it.

When it comes to this scope's magnification power, its zoom capability is nothing to sneeze at either. You get a very decent 50mm objective diameter wide lens that can let you see your target 12X closer than it really is, making it suitable for a vast variety of outdoor activities including hunting, hiking, bird watching, driving, sightseeing, and many other things. Also, the scope employs a large BAK-4 Prism and a fully multi-coated lens coating. This allows it to ensure smooth light transition and brightness of the image of the object that is up to 88 m / 914 m distance from you. Compared to the Gosky 12x55 High Definition Monocular, this is a bit smaller but in the grand scheme of things - remarkably more than what most people usually require.

Out of all models reviewed in this article, the Prime Optixs Mono Pro HD is the smallest one. It measures just 15 x 4.2 x 4.2 and weighs 0.3 kg, which makes it look more like a toy rather than a piece of equipment. Despite that, it has all of the qualities most people are looking for in a monocular. See for yourself.

As usual, let's start with the basics. The model has a 10x zoom magnification. Though a bit smaller than the other monoculars on this list, this magnification will be enough for a wide range of activities, including sporting events with fast-moving action and air performances, not to mention camping, hiking, bird viewing, and many other indoor and outdoor activities.

Furthermore, you get a 42mm diameter lens. This lens is just the right size for 10x that will provide you with a clear and bright image of faraway objects without the need to follow them.

It's worth noting that, unlike the other monoculars, this one uses Porro prisms rather than roof ones, meaning it works better at mid and close range. Most people don't usually need higher than that but if you do, then you may want to consider opting for some other option. In general, though, devices with higher magnification cannot be used without a tripod since magnification amplifies the movement, making it more difficult to keep the scene or object in the field of view. Therefore, in practice, with less you can achieve more.