Benefits of a Waterproof Binocular
Benefits of a Waterproof Binocular. Most people don’t realize that binoculars back in the day were rarely built to a true waterproof spec unless they were specifically made for the navy or a serious boater. Certain optical designers used to tell us that waterproofing was not necessary and only add unnecessary weight, bulk and additional cost.
Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. They were engineers living in the Tokyo area where hunting in a snow storm was highly unlikely. In fact, there was a good chance they had no interest in using their optics in any extreme weather conditions, so in their mind, why would anyone every really need a big, bulky waterproof binocular?
How did outdoorsmen cope with non-waterproofed binoculars for so many years? I can tell you firsthand that very few people complained about getting water in their binoculars. This is due in large part because those binoculars of yesteryear were O-ring sealed, which kept water from making its way into the inner workings, and most people didn’t put their binoculars under water to clean them.
Even today many of the top-selling $100 binoculars are not waterproof, yet they’re still very popular among hunters because they perform as needed in casual conditions. Essentially they know it’s not waterproof and do their best to stay clear of danger even though that’s not always the easiest thing.
Why You Need Water and Fog Proofing
Here’s why. Foremost, weather is unpredictable. Extreme temperature changes happen often at high altitudes. Rain, sleet and snow also tend to show up. Without being able to control atmospheric conditions, you want the optics you’ve just invested in to perform no matter the weather. There’s an old saying that goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather just bad gear.” So if your clothing is waterproof, why shouldn’t your binocular be as well?
The Way We Waterproof
TORIC and TEKOA binoculars are O-ring sealed, purged with argon gas and housed in a lightweight magnesium alloy body. This makes them extremely strong and not burdensome. And they are built for a lifetime of use in the worst of conditions.
TRACT binoculars are built with an IPX7 waterproof rating and are able to withstand total submersion in nine feet of water for up to 30 minutes. If by chance you drop them while crossing a river and they’re not swept away, they’ll survive the mishap just fine. Also, don’t be shy about putting your binoculars under the faucet to clean them off. Many times after belly crawling, they will be filled with dirt and sand and will need a good cleaning. When in doubt always go waterproof if you can.