The Takeaway:

1. Our Pick: Eyeskey 8X56 EK-8685N Binocular

2. Runner-Up: Alpen Optics Wings 8 X 20 Binoculars

3. Also Great: Bushnell Powerview

Finding the best binoculars for use with glasses can be a real hit-or-miss game. While twist or fold-down eyecups make a big difference in how well binoculars perform while wearing glasses, they aren’t always enough.

So, we’ve compiled a list of the best binoculars for someone who wears glasses, looking specifically at the eye cups but also primarily at the eye relief. We also based our selection on which binoculars would be the best for birding, the best for hunting, and also which would be the best compact binoculars, and the best all-purpose binoculars. 

These binoculars will all perform well, whether wearing glasses to help you see or wearing goggles or other eye protection down at the shooting rangeOur favorite of the four, though, is Eyeskey 8×56 Binoculars, which will explain in more detail below.

Our Pick: Eyeskey 8X56 EK-8685N Binocular


You can’t go wrong with these regarding being the best binoculars for birding and the best binoculars for glasses wearers. With a magnification of 8x and a good-sized objective lens of 56mm, these binoculars strike a good balance between power and performance.

The BAK 4 roof prism and fully multi-coated optics provide a crisp image with clearly defined details. And with that 56mm objective lens, these binoculars let in plenty of light to provide a bright image. The rubber armored housing gives these binoculars a rugged construction and prolongs life expectancy. The body is also argon-filled and O-ring sealed, making these binoculars both waterproof and fog proof.

An image of Eyeskey 8X56 EK-8685N
Eyeskey 8X56 EK-8685N

What makes these binoculars so great for those who wear glasses are the twist-up eye cups that allow for comfortable viewing with or without glasses. They also have a long eye relief of 17.5 mm, making these a very functional pair of birding binoculars for those wearing glasses.

These binoculars have a close focus of 3 meters and a field of view (FOV) of 345 feet at a thousand yards. They measure 6.5 inches long by 2.9 inches wide by 7.4 inches high and weigh just under 3 pounds. Includes a neck strap, carrying case, lens caps, and lens cleaning clothes. Tripod adaptable.

Runner-Up: Alpen Optics Wings 8 X 20 Binoculars


There are a lot of binoculars designed for hunting, but not all work well while wearing glasses. Our pick for the best binoculars for use with glasses while hunting was easily the Alpen Optics Wings ED HD Binoculars. These are rugged pairs of binoculars that offer the performance of a pair of binoculars costing twice as much. They are available as either 8 x 20 or 10 x 25, but we chose the smaller magnification based on overwhelmingly positive customer reviews (89% of buyers gave them five stars).

These binoculars feature extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, fully multicoated optics, and PXA phase-coated lenses that provide an amazingly clear image that you wouldn’t expect for this price range. Even with a relatively small objective lens size, these binoculars still gather a ton of light and provide sharp images with no chromatic aberration.

They also offer a nice, compact size that won’t weigh you down in the field and allows you to stash these in your bag or jacket pocket easily. They measure 6.9 inches long by 5.7 inches wide by 2.9 inches high and weigh just three pounds. Both waterproof and fog proof, these binoculars can handle whatever the elements throw at you.

Also Great: Bushnell Powerview


Finding compact binoculars that still offer decent enough eye relief for use with glasses is no small feat, but we found a great functional compromise in Bushnell Powerview Binoculars. These compact binoculars weigh a scant 12.4 ounces and have an eye relief of 12 mm. That’s impressive for their small size and why we chose them as one of the best binoculars for people with glasses. But they also offer high performance with a BAK-7 roof prism and fully coated optics to provide sharp, clear views. They provide a close focus of 20 feet with a field of view (FOV) of 180 feet at a thousand yards.

An image of Bushnell Powerview
Bushnell Powerview

Fold-down eyecups help to provide a more comfortable view with or without glasses. And the rugged rubber armor housing helps to absorb shock -protecting the optics should they fall. They also feature an ergonomic design that makes them more comfortable to hold and folds toward the center for more compact storage.

While these binoculars are not tripod adaptable, fog proof, or waterproof -which is pretty normal for compact binoculars- they have a lifetime warranty on top of a very affordable price. They come with a soft carrying case and neck strap.

Other Products to Consider

Hammers 10 X 50

An image of Hammers 10 X 50
Hammers 10 X 50


These were an easy choice for the best binoculars for people who wear glasses and are looking for an all-purpose pair of binoculars. They have an impressive eye relief of 18mm and have soft, fold-down eye cups for more comfortable viewing. The magnification of 10x is plenty of power for backyard wildlife viewing, trekking deep into the forest to check on the herds, or hiking to track that last bird on your list.

The 50 mm. objective lens is great and lets in plenty of light to get clear views even in low light or foggy conditions. If that weren’t enough, these binoculars would feature Porro prisms and multi-coated objective lenses to provide sharp, bright images with no flare-up. They also provide a field of view of 347 feet at a thousand yards.

While these are an off-brand pair of binoculars, they offer great performance and rugged construction -not to mention a great price. You can comfortably leave these binoculars in your truck or let your kids (or grandkids) use them without fear of them being damaged.

What are The Best Binoculars to Use with Glasses in 2024?

The search for the best binoculars to use with glasses doesn’t have to be difficult. Regardless of your intended use, you should be able to find the perfect pair of binoculars for use in this list. Each binocular provides long eye relief, making them the best binoculars for glasses as they will be functional. Every pair also features a rugged construction; among them, there is a good range of magnification power to choose from, depending on your preference.

Of these four binoculars, our favorite was Eyeskey 8×56 EK-8685N. While they are especially great for birding, they offer high performance and rugged construction, making them a great choice while hunting or for use out at the range. They’re not compact binoculars, but they’re not giant, and they weigh just 3 pounds, so they won’t be a burden to carry out across the mountains as you track your next trophy.

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