#BikeBirding

[@MonoLake02]

I use a pair of binocs to see how far my riding buddies are in front of me...

[@dhilburn05]

Haha

[@daedalus9042]

These have been in my feed for weeks. Glad to see a review.

[@christina501]

Yes for birding! I was a birder first and only recently started adventuring by bike. Two days ago I did my longest gravel ride yet through Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge here in GA, which has huge areas of pine savannah maintained for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The RCWO needs specialized habitat that humans have pretty much eliminated in the Southeast. I find it so interesting! I considered bringing a pair of bins when I packed up, but only for a second. Why not though!? Definitely next time! Even though I didn't have binoculars I was able to passively ID about a dozen species of birds by ear on that ride (in the moments I stopped making tons of noise myself). Birding by ear comes slowly to me, but it's huge! Over time you come to know what a Marsh Wren sounds like, for example, and it's less frustrating that it's hard to get eyes on them.

[@donhuber9131]

I'd hate to see the RCWO suffer the same fate as the Ivory Bill.

[@maxredburn6610]

Russ and Laura, this channel fully represents the supple life!

[@TheMalcolmElliot]

I'm a huge birder, or #bikebirder. Nice to see some birding content on here. I also use Vortex binoculars, couldn't imagine using NOCS, quality binoculars are like quality bikes, absolutely, 100% worth it.

[@mittaets6025]

Do you put them in your back pocket ?

[@CHAD-RYAN]

But vortex binos arnt that great

[@Flyingscottyman]

I have been carry bino’s in the framebag for a year or so. Love stopping and having a look around; just last week enjoyed watching a school of Dolphins off the coast where we were #partypace peddling in Scotland. Hawke EnduranceED 8x25 was my pick due to a lifetime no quibble warranty, good field of view, and excellent clarity.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Looked into Hawkes but not too many dealers in the US.

[@kyletrebotich4710]

Thanks for commenting, man. I was looking at binos and ended up with the Hawke Endurance ED 8x32 after your recommendation prompted me to look into em

[@andrewfitton9426]

Flyingscottyman nice one, where did you go? We’re off to Sunart/Ardnamurchan and Mull for some #partypace peddling next month, I sense an upgrade of my (very) basic binos is on the cards now!

[@Flyingscottyman]

Andrew Fitton I am originally from just East of Edinburgh so was home visiting family in the area. I have done a fair bit sailing up around the Mull \ Sunart area, it’s a spectacular part of the world, bino’s are a must!

[@andrewfitton9426]

Flyingscottyman fingers crossed for a sea eagle sighting!

[@akimyo]

I got into biking and birding (separately) during the start of the pandemic and literally just now seeing that bikebirding is a thing! Great review; went ahead and ordered the NOCS as I am a total beginner at birding and they are currently on sale at Nordstrom. I’m sure they will make great hand me downs to my son when I eventually upgrade one day!

[@tomwgibson]

Russ, thanks for this review. It was helpful for me to hear about the large minimum distance for focusing. Something I hadn't thought of. I wanted to buy these for someone who watches humming birds our her window (quite close) and I can see for these it would be too close.

[@brianmaldonado3723]

Interesting and useful as well as entertaining. TY.

[@newnoshes]

so happy to see birding meeting with cycling on your channel!

[@pauldc779]

Good point about the nocs not looking threatening. I feel conspicuous sometimes using my "tactical" ones. The nocs seem great for taking on the bike.

[@matthewguenther6925]

I've got a pair of Bushnell 10x25's, 8oz (233g) and about the size of a large box of band-aids that I'll hike and bike (and watch the backyard feeder) with. They work good enough for 99.9% of what I use them for. I don't recall them being super expensive, but I got them quite a while ago. On a side note, I can never focus quite right through my glasses (with any binoculars or spotting scope) so I usually just raise the glasses up on my forehead and use the binoculars directly to correct for my near-sightedness.

[@nesutoneko]

Long time casual birder. My fave budget binoculars are NOS Nikon 8×30 EII . Beautifully built, really great glass and aesthetically lovely. I prefer them over any current production glass in their price range.

[@thskadow]

Nikon Monarch is in my bike bag. They are awesome.

[@derekdelboy]

There's spotting scope adaptors for camera lens. Kenko I think make some. Would be cool to have different magnifications and cut down on all the gear to carry.

[@bernardconda6163]

Yep. Got suckered into buying. It ships out today. Def use a similar binocular on my neighborhood rides which skirt the Elizabeth River in Va Bch, VA. Lots of herons and egrets, plus Ospreys around here.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

They’re fun and not bad for the money.

[@bernardconda6163]

Path Less Pedaled Def an aesthetics buy!

[@jasonthompson5256]

Always carry my Vortex Solo 8x25 monocular at 159g/5.6oz whether hiking or biking 👌

[@colbito]

I have a pair of Nikon Trailblazers that I've had for a while and enjoy, but the bright orange of those would be helpful...

[@maxredburn6610]

Very good point on NOT looking suspicious. I carry a pair of Redfields and often worry that I look like a creeper when spotting. The orange casing would help give that water pistol vibe. Also, the Redfields are HEAVY!

[@TRDGE]

I'm not sure about being a bike peddling bird man but I'm considering this to be part of my bugout rotation. Looks pretty interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@andrewdwight934]

I've been using Nikon 8x25 Trailblazers for a long time on my mountain bike and gravel rides - and this model in particular because of the combination of qood image quality, light weight, extremely compact size, and an $80.00 price tag that makes it worth it to take them along in situations where they may get destroyed as the result of a crash. They come with a pretty protective case as well, but still make a point to put them in hydration pack or frame bag or pannier instead of a trunk on top of rear rack. Hard hits can knock the internals out of alignment - and this is my second pair as a result of one of those mishaps.

[@coasterigh2684]

Lemme know when you're coming to SW Florida for winter birding. Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area may be a better but less known place than Ding Darling, with 80 miles of sandy trails and gravel roads, and there's a campground adjacent.

[@Alex_564]

I carry my camera but thinking of getting a super zoom(24-500mm or so) p&s(think panasonic fz2000) for birds & wildlife as my current wildlife setup isn't optimal for biking.

[@kymcopyriot9776]

Russ goes biking. Russ spots birds. Russ likes birds. Russ gets binos. Russ watches birds. Russ forgets about bears...

[@joshmccullock4996]

You should give a travel monocular a try. It in my bag every ride!

[@murphragous]

I have been interested in a mono. What kind/brand do you use?

[@joshmccullock4996]

@@murphragous This one is #bikebirding and #supplelife approved. Has not passed #gravelspecific testing though.

[@unchewable1]

Another great video thanks i have wondered about binoculars

[@jeremiasmarengo6490]

Hi, can u make a DIY tutorial about your little mirror?? I tried to do one but I couldn't

[@toneeviera8336]

The price is the real selling point It's not bad Good warranty And is not prohibitly expensive

[@nickinportland]

Man bike birding might be one of the nerdiest activity I’ve ever heard of 😂. Thanks for the review tho.

[@lopezfielitz]

Hey PLP. Last year i went to a gravel ride in the south of chile. A member brought a monocular and I was impressed how amazing birdwatching is. The image was so clear, it was amazing. Do you know if there are any compact ones for bikepacking?

[@CanItAlready]

Pretty cool. I carry a monocular with me when I go for a ride, for the same purposes. Much lighter than any of my binoculars.

[@davidmassey9589]

I know this is pretty late as comments go, but could you share more aboit your monocular choice? Ive been thinking it could be the right solution for me, biking near big seascapes where I’d like magnification, portability, and not sketchy to the locals (I’m a foreigner in my country)

[@CanItAlready]

@@davidmassey9589 It's an inexpensive 10x25 Tasco brand monocular I was able to get locally. I keep it clipped to the shoulder strap on my backpack so I can easily grab it without having to remove the pack. It's enough magnification for me to get a better look at the birds at the ponds I come across while I'm out riding without scaring them away by getting too close.

[@davidmassey9589]

@@CanItAlready thanks!!

[@joshuassutton]

I’ve been carrying a cheap monocular when riding and also hiking. Often to look at birds, but also nature in general. They are cheap enough I don’t mind letting my kids use them. I’ve actually been preferring them to my binoculars. I sometimes use them for archery, but I also have a rangefinder for that.

[@20Hikecdt23]

I appreciate the review. However, I think they are a tad to heavy for backpacking, e.g., when compared to say a set of compact Olympus’ I have that weigh 8 oz.

[@amberadame4196]

Hi!! Out of those 3 which one would you say is your favorite??

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

The Nikons are the best optically and in terms of field of view.

[@dhilburn05]

Did you have a discount code

[@byronstumman7420]

I don’t carry binoculars with me, but I do have some! I think I’ll start now though! Also, *gravel specific....awesome

[@ivanekprochazka]

Small error with the links in the description.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Fixed!

[@adamsherry8099]

Curious about a comparison between these and the mono. Both the specs and the general carryability. I see you carry lenses regularly, do you carry one more than the other or either more than the more expensive binocs?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I usually end up carrying the monos more.

[@Oddity26]

What's your take on monoculars for birding? I've always been interested in them and their portability would make sense for bike packing.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Those would be a good option as well. Lighter / smaller for sure. Not as immersive but a good option.

[@tacticalbanana5198]

try zeiss 10x40.. amazingly compact and crazy quality

[@LoveatFirstHike]

The 3 B’s.. birds, bikes, binoculars

[@yeehawcycles1164]

Heck yeah bike-birding! I carry my bins (and sometimes even my spotting scope) on my bike to check my local bird-hotspots. Best way to knock-out two hobbies at once! Also, the bicycle offers a unique advantage in that some spots are way more accessible by bike. Rarity seen in your local water treatment facility but no roadside parking? Bike there! That migrant you need for your county list spotted in a wetland down a closed forest-road? Shred it and spot it!

[@cccorlew]

Your terms remind me of a favorite Dick Van Dyke episode. The Mr, Bond from FBI is checking the neighbors. Dick wants to be involved. Rob: “Mr. Bond?” Mr. Bond: “What?” Rob: “Can I have the binos?” Mr. Bond: “The what?” Rob: “The binocs?” Mr. Bond: “Oh, the binoculars.” Rob: “Yeah, check.”

[@mrirurfkjsdo]

No matter biking or trekking, i'll prefer my NL Pure's !! Lol !

[@sagehiker]

What, tactikool is out? Grins. My bird-bike-hike binocular is a pair of Vortex Diamondback 10x32 compacts. I am emergent serious birder so I need a more serious glass. I did this spring Audubon local bird count on my commuter hybrid Kona Splice and brought a compact spotting scope and the big glass, Vortex 10x50 Diamondback...No, supple life is more than aero zipping around. Birding, art, zen fishing... it so all got spoke stories.

[@RenM908]

I think for $30 more after tax, you’d be better off getting the vortex diamondback 8x28. The difference in optics is night and day.

[@Slappywag69]

Bikes ✔️ Birds ✔️ Russ, your channel is now a few IPA reviews away from hitting all of my major interests.

[@willversiontwo1653]

I can't tell if you're dancing around the topic but trying not to "look sketchy" is the lived experience of every BIPOC.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

That is the truth.

[@nicbrownable]

Path Less Pedaled There are international risks too. I knew some Singaporean’s who got a police shakedown in Indonesia after their camo pattern lenswraps (and giant lenses) attracted attention. Threats of being detained for spying, etc.

[@bearbait2221]

OH MY WORD people are now scared of "tactical" binos. If its OD green call the cops!!! Im scared

[@JD-tm6mx]

Yes! #bikebirding

[@outbackwack368]

No. Absolutely not. I've been birding for over a decade now and found 8x32 the minimum for light gathering and resolution. Oh, and don't forget close focus for insects. Buy the most expensive pair you can afford ONLY IF you will be using them regularly. Personally, mine are Leica Ultravid 8x32 that I got for the bargain price of $700 brand new 10 years ago. Yeah, I know... but these now sell for $2000 new. Nikon Monarch's are fantastic for the price. Nitrogen purged and fully waterproof. It just depends how serious you will get. I've gotten calls from the former Audubon director to join her on adventures and feel so unworthy :-) Birding forces you to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN :-)

[@paolocruz8392]

Cute carrotoculars