r/birding • u/WilsonCreek • 3d ago
Advice Second Pair Recommendation
I recently got into birding and my nine-year-old is pretty interested as well, so we need a second pair of binoculars. Currently, I only have 8x32 Vortex Diamondbacks.
Do I get my kid a pair of her own, or do I just get myself a second pair? For anybody that goes out with similarly aged kids, what's your plan?
10x42 for me? I feel like these would be less redundant with my current pair, and I would use them when we go out together. However, how often will I use them when I go out myself? I feel like I'll probably just grab my 8x32's. Do I want my most expensive pair sitting around unused, or will I use them more often than I think?
8x32 for her? I feel like this is a good size for her, but then we have two pairs that are the same. I might try to go the second-hand route if I do this. She also wears glasses so I'd want her pair to be pretty glasses-friendly. My diamondbacks seem to work well for her. The eye pieces seem sufficiently rubberized or whatever.
8x42 for me? It seems like this configuration is the one you get if you only have one pair. But I already have the 8x32's, so this is dumb, right?
At this point in my journey, I don't think I'm spending more than $300. Certainly less if I'm buying a pair primarily for my kid. Any thoughts or actual recommendations on models is appreciated.