Nocs Provisions have built quite a popular line of binoculars and monoculars with quality optics, solid build, and colorful finishes. It really stands out in a category otherwise filled with black and gray designs. The Nocs Provisions Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof is the outfit’s latest outdoor optics.
The smallest and lightest monocular in the outfit’s lineup, this one takes on a design similar to their 10×25 monocular, coming with a simplified two-piece main tube that seems optimized for portability. Whether you want to survey the trail ahead during hikes, look for animals during hunts, or just watch birds do their thing at the park, this thing lets you do that while taking up minimal space in your stash.
The Nocs Provisions Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof is even smaller than last year’s 10×25 monocular, coming in at just 4.3 x 1.6 inches (length x diameter). According to the outfit, the more compact profile makes it suitable for everyday adventures, making it just as good for birdwatching at the park or a day at the beach, as it is for hiking and camping. As the name implies, this monocular uses a 25mm objective lens with an 8x zoom, giving you a 420-foot field of view at a 1,000-yard distance. Similar to their 10×25 monocular, it uses a dual-tube design that has 10 pieces of extra-low dispersion glass on each tube, with each piece layered in multiple layers of anti-reflective and anti-scratch coating to ensure a crisp, bright image and supreme color quality throughout its entire field of view.
It uses a multi-stop twist-up eyecup that can be extended or retracted, depending on what feels best for each situation, with a twist of the body allowing you to control the zoom level, so making any adjustments should feel very intuitive. As with their previous monoculars, it’s designed to work smoothly with smartphones, so you all you need to do is line up your phone’s camera lens with the eyecup to take a photo of the magnified image. They also offer a smartphone adapter to make the process even easier.
The Nocs Provisions Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof does the 10×25 model one better in terms of overall usability. For one, it’s nitrogen-filled with sealed medical-grade O-rings to ensure it never fogs up, no matter the weather, while boasting an IPX7 waterproof rating, so you can actually submerge it in up to three feet of water without doing any damage to the optics. It also retains the rugged exterior found in their monoculars and binoculars, which provides a no-slip grooved surface that’s easy to secure in hand while absorbing impact during bumps and drops.
A clip on the side lets you easily secure it to pockets, straps, and loops, making it very convenient to carry in a variety of ways. Sadly, there’s no mount here for tripods, so it’s strictly for handheld use. Then again, it weighs just 7.2 ounces, so it should be very comfortable to use even for extended periods. As of now, it’s only available in two colors, alpine green and crater blue. Knowing Nocs, though, you can probably expect a lot more colors to come down the line.
The Nocs Provisions Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof is available now, priced at $179.95.
