Small, Light, and Crisp in Low-Light: NOCS Provisions Field Issue 42 Binoculars Review

Living a stone’s throw from the Connecticut River, sandwiched between a raptor sanctuary and a state forest, I see a lot of different birds and animals. It’s gotten to the point where I spend a lot of time on iNaturalist and Merlin Bird ID, figuring out just what I’m looking at.

However, there’s no mistaking what a bald eagle looks like. There’s just the struggle to get a clear and prolonged view of them, as they are highly aware of anything in their surroundings.

That said, I do know where my local Baldies live. And they’re most active in the wee morning hours and at dusk. These are the same times of day when you need the right set of binoculars to get a view worth remembering and to avoid eye strain and a headache.

Thankfully, the right pair has just hit the market, and at $200, you won’t need to take out a line of credit at your local bank to get your hands on them.

The NOCS Provisions Field Issue 42 is being marketed as the brand’s “smallest full-sized binoculars to date.” They are being added to NOCS’ lineup to provide a compact glassing solution to address both low-light clarity and long-term comfort. What this equates to is a pair of binoculars that are well-suited for sunny days and cloudy days, at any time of day, without being bulky. Additionally, they feature the brand’s ToughWave rugged construction, so you can be out and about without worrying about knocking them around.

In short: The NOCS Provisions Field Issue 42 provides good low-light optics and durability at an astounding price. For $200, the size, weight, build, and clarity rival much more expensive optics.

NOCS Provisions Field Issue 42 Review

Positioned between their Field Issue 32 and Pro Issue 42, the NOCS Provision’s Field Issue 42 8x42mm binoculars are ready for a day out in the field, in all conditions. They feature the brand’s ToughWave rugged, impact-absorbing housing, premium BaK4 roof prisms, and HiFi fully multicoated lenses.

With a close focus range of 6.6 feet and a field of view of 394 feet, these binoculars are the epitome of midrange models, especially at their power. With an assist from the phase-coated BaK4 roof prism and HiFi fully multicoated lenses, you can expect ample light in low-light conditions, which in turn will offer crisp imaging, even on the periphery. Overall, these binoculars are well-suited for both the casual and dedicated user.

Size and Weight

According to Google, the average height of “good” 8×42 binoculars is 5.5” to 6”. Additionally, they weigh anywhere from 1 pound, 6 ounces to 1 pound, 10 ounces. The Field Issue 42 8×42 binoculars are 5.4” tall and 1 pound, 3 ounces. This means that they are smaller and lighter (even if just a little) than other models on the market. That means they’re going to be more comfortable to carry, for a prolonged period of time; overall.

To mean that’s a valid selling point. I am not an ounce counter when it comes to backpacks, stoves, boots, and most any of the other clothing or gear I use when I’m out wandering around. However, when it comes to something I am going to hang off my neck, or have to hold up to my face for prolonged periods of time, size and weight matter to me.

Though not an apples-to-apples comparison, the Field Issue 42s remind me of the Celestron Outland X 10 x 42 binos that I reviewed about a year ago. The Outlands were a smidge bigger and heavier, and though I didn’t mind their size and weight, smaller and lighter will always be more appealing to me.

That said, it’s really just due to my current hiking gear setup; I chose to wear the 42s with the NOCS NOCLOC Approach Strap instead of the neck strap. However, I did it more so that I could swing the binos out of the way when I wasn’t using them, rather than due to their size and weight.

Durability

I don’t abuse my outdoor gear and tools, but I also don’t wipe them down with a silk cloth and pray over them when I am done using them. I buy and use gear that can go toe-to-toe with the elements and last for years. Call me picky, but money is money, and I have zero desire to change how I approach hiking and managing my way through trails.

That being the case, I really love how NOCS builds binoculars and monoculars. I’ve had the honor of testing a majority of its models and using them for fun and hobbies with my daughters, and can attest to their durability.

Additionally, like most, if not all, quality binoculars on the market today, their binos are fully sealed, making them both fogproof and waterproof. In my mind, this combo makes them ideal for a life of adventures outdoors.

As an added benefit, the Field Issue 42 comes with built-in covers for the bottom lenses. I like this added detail because it protects the glass from smudges, scratches, or damage. There’s even a little message on each cover that further bolsters the brand’s culture.

Overall Appeal

I know I have mentioned this in other NOCS product reviews, but its stuff has character. Where I find some binocular brands to be more opulent, NOCS Provisions makes glassing implements that are easy to approach and use.

From the fun colors to the unique marketing, which gives off some jam-band/living-in-a-VW-bus-in-Vermont vibes, I find their brand easy to love. It has an inviting way about it that aims to both educate the user and introduce them to a hobby without any learning curve or a hefty investment.

That said, its products rival the competition at a fraction of the cost. Sure, if you pay $1,100 for a pair of Maven Binoculars with similar specs to the Field Issue 42s, the edge-to-edge clarity is exceptional. But do you need to? High-end binoculars are clutch for those using them professionally or for hours and hours on end. But for the more casual user, NOCS has cornered the market with a variety of options to suit your needs.

Out in the Field

The name of the game here is comfort and clarity. Since receiving my sample of the Field Issue 42, I’ve taken many hikes with it. I’ve also gone to some of my favorite glassing spots, on the river, and in some of the local coves — as well as my own backyard — with them.

They are easy to carry, retrieve, and use. However, it’s the level of clarity and fluid-like adjustments while scanning that have me putting these binoculars in my pack and in my truck whenever I go out.

For me, scanning with binoculars is where my eyes start to strain, and fun turns into a chore. With these binoculars, I am able to move myself while looking through them and turning the focus knob, and not get any distortion. This allows me to keep up with birds while they’re moving from one spot to another, as well as home in on other objects without having to adjust.

What do I mean by that? Well, the hardest part about going from looking at something with your eyes to looking at something through binoculars is adjusting. Your brain takes a second to understand why you can see things so far away, so clearly.

That process is minimal with the Field Issue 42s. I raise them to my eyes and am in the pocket with no noticeable transition. This is due to a high-level of clarity.

When looking for my Baldies, right before sunset on one outing, this was important. Eagles can hide in plain sight and during dusk, when the light is fading. They rely on that to gather food and keep the location of their nests relatively unknown.

Using these binoculars, I was able to find and keep up with not only a pair of bald eagles, but I also tracked a kestrel and followed along while a great blue heron pranced around in an estuary looking for a snack.

That said, you don’t need to plan an adventure to benefit from the Field Issue 42. I’ve spent more time in my backyard watching red tail hawks get chased around by crows and bluejays than anything else. This time of year, the birds are full of energy, so they’re not hanging around the feeders as much as they are flying around in the sky and hiding on high limbs in trees.

In Conclusion

I’m a Toyota guy. I spend a decent amount of money on their vehicles, and they last me a decade. I see folks out there in more expensive vehicles, which they have to baby, because they only last a handful of years. I like products I can use freely without feeling like I need to coddle them to last.

The Field Issue 42, like the other products in the NOCS lineup, is built to last. They can take bumps and bruises and still deliver a top-level experience for a lifetime.

As I said earlier in this article, you can spend a nut on some high-end binoculars and have an enjoyable experience. Or, you can save a bunch by spending $200 on the NOCS Provisions Field Issue 42 8×42 and come up with pretty close results.

I feel like binoculars have this aura of burden around them because we’ve been conditioned to believe that you “get what you pay for.” Well, since 2019, NOCS Provisions has been disproving that theory.

Quite simply, the Field Issue 42 binoculars are well-suited for everyone. Their power, size, clarity, and rugged, lightweight build are an affordable, high-performing solution for hunters, birders, and people who like to glass the landscape. Not only are they universal in their use and user, they’re a welcome reminder that using binoculars shouldn’t be a chore, but something you enjoy.