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Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 Review

Compact with decent clarity for budget-tier optics, and a good option for backpackers
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Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 Review (Our testers used the same system for all sets of binoculars, to ensure accurate, and comparable, results.)
Our testers used the same system for all sets of binoculars, to ensure accurate, and comparable, results.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $100 List
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Manufacturer:   Nikon
By Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente  ⋅  Dec 23, 2023
52
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 16
  • Clarity - 35% 5.0
  • Brightness - 20% 3.5
  • Comfort - 15% 7.9
  • Field of View - 10% 5.2
  • Ease of Adjustment - 15% 4.4
  • Close Focus Range - 5% 8.3

Our Verdict

The Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 offers good performance in a compact and easy-to-handle package for those who are on a more modest budget. Although these compact binoculars can't really compete with the much more premium models we've tested, you'll still be impressed with the level of clarity, comfort, wide field of view, and great close focus range that normally isn't achieved in such an affordable package. The balance of size, performance, and price makes these a great compact travel companion that can live in the center console or glove box of your truck or car.
REASONS TO BUY
Decent clarity
Compact
Light
REASONS TO AVOID
Below average light transmission
Poor eye relief
Poor field of view
Editor's note: Our research analysts retested the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 on December 22, 2023.

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Bottom Line Decent clarity and compactness make these a good budget option for traveling, backpacking and hikingOne of the best overall values on the market, particularly for mid-range price shoppersA great choice for birders on a tight budgetA good choice for someone on a budget and who could use a pair of binoculars that lets in a lot of lightThough very comfortable and budget-friendly, this models poor light transmission and clarity might leave you wanting more than an easy-to-hold pair of compacts
Rating Categories Nikon Trailblazer A... Vortex Diamondback... Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 Nocs Provisions 8x2...
Clarity (35%)
5.0
6.2
5.8
3.3
2.9
Brightness (20%)
3.5
8.1
7.4
8.3
3.1
Comfort (15%)
7.9
6.6
5.4
4.6
7.9
Field of View (10%)
5.2
8.4
6.8
8.3
6.3
Ease of Adjustment (15%)
4.4
7.1
6.6
2.6
3.3
Close Focus Range (5%)
8.3
8.9
7.5
5.4
3.0
Specs Nikon Trailblazer A... Vortex Diamondback... Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 Nocs Provisions 8x2...
Measured Weight 10.5 oz 23.1 oz 22.8 oz 27.2 oz 12.1 oz
Measured Interpupillary Distance Range 38mm -75mm 56mm - 75mm 57mm -74mm 56mm - 73mm 58mm -73mm
Measured Size 2.7" x 4.1" 5.7" x 5.1" 5.4" x 4.5" 6.8" x 5.9" 4.3" x 4"
Measured Close Focus 6.6 ft 5.5 ft 8.0 ft 11.9 ft 16.1 ft
Measured Eye Relief 10.5 mm 18.0 mm 18.0 mm 12.0 mm 12.5 mm
Glass Type Eco-Glass HD BAK-4 Eco-Glass ED
Magnification 10 8 8 8 8
Objective Lens Size 25 42 42 42 25
Claimed Field of View 342 ft 393 ft 388 ft 420 ft 357 ft
Claimed Close Focus 11.5 ft 5.0 ft 6.5 ft 13.0 ft 16.4 ft
Claimed Eye Relief 10 mm 17 mm 17.5 mm 12 mm 10 mm
Waterproof/Fog Resistant Yes Yes Yes Not mentioned Yes
Tripod Adapter No Yes Yes Yes No
Measured Lux Reading from Brightness Testing 237 lux 1163 lux 823 lux 1236 lux 224 lux

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Nikon costs a small fraction of many ultra-premium models, offers good usability and performance, and fits well in your center console, making this pair of binos a great travel option on a budget.

Performance Comparison


nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - these portable little binoculars make for a good travel buddy.
These portable little binoculars make for a good travel buddy.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Clarity


Our first test metric evaluated each model's clarity. This included observing an ISO sign that is a widely accepted standard for this sort of testing, as well as noting any apparent chromatic aberration, color fringing, distortion, blurring or vignetting at different distances. In the realm of ultra-affordable binoculars, the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 is a little better than other models.


Our team felt that the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 clarity was above average within the context of comparably priced and sized models, and while the clarity of this model stands up to ultra-budget compact models, it would be a poor alternative to full-sized binos, especially more premium ones.

Affordable and compact, these make the perfect companion for your center consol or backpack.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

With the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 you can expect a very usable pair of binoculars with an average level of clarity all-around but also a few issues. The lenses allow hues to bleed, particularly a yellow hue on darker objects, and the bleed slightly affects the viewing experience. There is also a distortion present at the circumference of the lens that is on par with affordable optics. Overall, the optics are fairly clear for a pair of binoculars at this price point and more than we've come to expect at this tier of products.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - clarity testing revealed good performance from a budget friendly...
Clarity testing revealed good performance from a budget friendly travel sized pair of binos.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Brightness


In our second metric, brightness, the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 didn't perform as well as we had hoped it would against the competition, although this isn't the greatest surprise, as it is an affordable and compact model being tested against some really premium full-sized models with the advantage of larger lenses that lend themselves better to greater light transmission.


As a compact model with lenses about half the size of the full-size models tested, the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 is understandably not going to be as bright as full-sized models. Beyond the noticeably dim observed brightness compared to top models, we measured the light transmission at 237 Lux.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - the nikon trailblazers offer good brightness for the price point.
The Nikon Trailblazers offer good brightness for the price point.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The small 25 mm lenses, combined with a below-average 2.5 mm exit pupil, do not help this model in low-light conditions. But again, for a compact and affordable model, we feel that you'll still appreciate these binos as a great travel companion.

This compact model is great for stowing away in the car.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


In our comfort test metric, the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 performed very well. Here, we looked into weight, feel, ergonomics, and balance points.


Good comfort in this test metric is mostly due to the compact design and light weight of this model. At 10.5 ounces, it is extremely light. Additionally, they are very well-balanced.

Young children will be able to achieve a natural c grip, while the rest of us essentially need to pinch the barrels. However, with such good balance and their light weight, it is easy to clasp the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25s between your fingers and thumbs. The eyepieces are also quite soft, enhancing comfort and allowing users to rest them comfortably against their face.

When not in use, the neck strap lacks any sort of padding or comforting features, like a contour. It is similar to other lower-end and smaller binoculars in that it is just a simple piece of webbing. Of course, being such a dainty little pair of binos, your neck, and the neck straps don't need to support too much weight, and the straps don't detract from an otherwise comfortable experience overall.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - this compact model is easy to tuck into a pocket for backpacking...
This compact model is easy to tuck into a pocket for backpacking trips.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Field of View


Our field of view testing has been updated to include a more real world and tangible scenario, including viewing vertical boards on a vertical board fence at a fixed distance.


Our team was able to clearly see 51 vertical fence boards with the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25, whereas the average for the entire test group was 54.1. While that doesn't seem exceptional, we felt it was still impressive for such a compact and affordable model.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - the field of view with the nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25...
The field of view with the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 was one of the best of our budget binoculars.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Ease of Adjustment


The Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25 isn't our go-to model when it comes to ease of adjustment, and it proved it requires a little more effort to adjust to one's preferences and needs.


The focus knob on this model is smaller, requiring multiple rotations to move through the entire focus range. Fortunately, the level of effort required from one's finger is rather minimal, making it nearly as easy to use as the focus knob on larger models. Unfortunately, this model lacks a lock on the diopter, and getting proper eye relief can be a bit difficult. The eye cups also do not lock into place. In fact, the eyepieces move with light pressure, hindering your ability to maintain the proper eye relief. The lack of a locking diopter and the insecure eye relief have room for improvement. Combined with a shorter eye relief of only 10.5 mm, these binos proved difficult to use for our testers while wearing glasses.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - while focusing is okay, eyepieces move with the slightest pressure...
While focusing is okay, eyepieces move with the slightest pressure, making adjustments an annoying task.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Close Focus Range


The Nikon Trailblazer ATB offers a slightly above average close-range focus of6.6 feet, measured by our test team. This is far better than the manufacturer's specification of 11.5 feet, and earns it good marks amongst its peers for the test metric.


nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - the measured close focus range on this model was better than the...
The measured close focus range on this model was better than the manufacturer's specifications.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25?


While there are better performers and better values than the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25, these still deserve special consideration. You might consider them for the impressive field of view at 10x magnification or for the above-average close focus range of 6.6 feet, but mostly because of the good optical performance they provide in such a compact package, making them an ideal travel companion for a long backpacking trip.

nikon trailblazer atb waterproof 10x25 - the nikon trailblazers are a decent option for hitting the trails...
The Nikon Trailblazers are a decent option for hitting the trails without breaking the bank.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?


If you are on a budget and don't want to move too far north of the hundred-dollar mark, we believe it's worth taking a look at a model like the Celestron Nature DX 8x42. It offers a notable increase in overall performance, and while it is more expensive, it is about the bare minimum for what our team would consider a good pair of full-sized binoculars that won't leave you broke or disappointed. Of course, if you are looking to invest in a pair of full-sized binoculars that strikes the best balance of performance and price, you'll have to take a look at the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42. They will set you back around three times as much as what you might have paid for the Trailblazer, but the differences are drastic, and you'll own a pair of great general-purpose optics that you'll be pleased with.

Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente