Survival and Vacation? Without binoculars?

Ahh Belize! What a magnificent country. Quite a number of years ago I was vacationing down there with a group of friends. We stayed in Hopkins Village in a group of cabins that, literally, included a tree house. Yep, one main cabin was accessible only via a ladder and had a great front balcony where we spent a good deal of time just “looking.” It was the middle of March, so the weather was not always cooperative.

Exploring

A couple of our scuba-diving trips got cancelled due to rough water conditions, but we made the most of it and went on jungle hikes and explored the Myan ruins of Xunantunich. Checking in to the park was no small deal. We were met at our cars by the guards there and escorted into a locked building that was built with the thickest rock walls I had ever seen. The guards questioned us as to what our possessions were and if we had any valuables with us. This line of questioning came AFTER they had locked us in this fortress. We were a bit uncomfortable, to say the least. Soon they told us that it was all for our personal protection. They needed to lock up our possessions and we could take only what we needed to tour the pyramids.

Survival and Borders

The whole thing was explained soon when one guard told us that we were right on the border with Guatemala. There had recently been a number of, hum, shall we say, “incidents” where the bandits had snuck over the border and robbed the tourists. Of course, being robbed was not in our vacation plans. Gladly we turned our possessions, purses, and the like, over to the guards to secure for us. The one thing I refused to relinquish was my binoculars. The pair I had with me on this trip was carefully chosen, knowing that I might have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife I had not seen before. I took them to the top of Xunantunich and there I looked out over the vast jungles of Guatemala.

Wishing for a Compass

The cloud-cover that day made it just a little difficult to tell direction, but it really didn’t matter too much. I knew which direction Guatemala was in. I sat atop the pyramid and “looked.” I looked and looked and looked. Monkeys were everywhere, hanging from the trees, birds of all kinds, an unidentifiable cat or two slithered amongst the undergrowth, but mostly I saw people. Well, a few people. They appeared to be snuggling close to the trees as they moved quickly from one to the other. Fascination possessed me and it was difficult for my friend, Sherry to pull me away. Were these the bandits? Well, there’s a world of difference when you cross a border from one country to another. We did not go into Guatemala, but because I had my “glasses” with me, I was able to see things that I will never forget.

Survival Story?

Well, you decide. If we had not had the guards there to protect us, who knows? But I will say this for sure; Without my binoculars the forest I was looking at appeared empty. With them, a whole world opened up. I could SEE, and seeing is a huge part of being able to survive in any situation.

Types of Binoculars for Survival or any situation.

One of the top brands I recommend is Vortex. In this case the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD. This set of binoculars has a 10x magnification and have exceptional resolution and sharp view. The lenses are coated to increase light transmission to optimize the view also. They are encased in rubber to minimize slippage and potential impact. The Vortex Optics Diamondback can be adapted to use with a tripod or to mount in a car. This choice is versatile and can serve well in any type of situation.

The next choice on my list is the Nocs Provision Pro with an ultra-wide field of view this pair offers a distortion free view within 1000 yards. The anti-reflective coating on all glass offers an accurate image contrast and minimizes any interference. The Nocs Provision Pro are waterproof and fog proof. They can be submerged in water up to 3 feet and are sealed to prevent condensation. One of the special features of this product is the easy dial adjustment and the special fit. They are adjustable for those who wear glasses.

For those of you with children who are just learning how to use binoculars, the Hontry is a good choice. They provide 10x magnification with a high viewing field. The good multi-coating can really help with making images sharper. For kids, these binoculars are small and don’t weigh much which enables them to be used more often. Regardless of the small size and light weight the Hontry is highly durable and can be a real pleasure for those just learning, or those who are helping to keep eyes on things while in camp or on a hike.

Another option that should really be considered for many reasons is the monocular. Once again, the Vortex option is superb. The Vortex Optics Solo monocular offers several features that could make the difference in a survival situation. The monocular is small, lightweight but offers a full 10x magnification with the crispness that is so important. It also has full rubber armor for non-slip usage, is waterproof and fog proof. It can be used with or without glasses. Consider this choice for survival situations.

In any situation from survival to hiking to family vacation, a good pair of binoculars is a must. They can serve as your compass, your guide, to help you find your way.