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Hiking: Curio vs CL 10x25 (4 Viewers)

H

Hot Sauce

New member
United States
Hello! First post after reading about every thread regarding the two, but I haven't really seen this dilemma pop up between them. I've been wanting to get a nice set of compacts for hiking. Every time we make it to the top of a mountain or pull off to a lookout, I wish I had a pair. I feel like 10s would be the best looking back on the vast landscapes where we could see for miles, but I have no experience with compact 7 or 10s.

I've always invested in good optics for shooting, but only ever had one decent pair of bins, some 8x42 Leupold BX-3s. I recently had to send them in for warranty and Leupold let me choose some 10x42 BX-4s as replacements (awesome CS). I've really enjoyed the extra magnification, but thought that a pocket 10x would be too shaky and narrow. Well, tonight I had the chance to try some CL 10x25s and wow... They made me want to throw my BX-4s in the trash 🤣 I knew the clarity would be amazing, but the handling and FOV felt every bit as good as my Leupolds with the exception of the eye cup placement on my face being slightly less comfortable. They were very easy to hold steady and the image details were amazing.

The dilemma... The 10x25s will not comfortably fit in cargo pockets and when hiking less than 3-4 miles, I rarely carry a pack. If I did have them in a pack, they wouldn't be easily accessible. While hiking to the summits, I know the Curios would be better on the trails and through the brush. My only concern is if I'll find them lacking for distance and wildlife details or if I'll enjoy the significantly larger FOV and usage while scanning those vast valleys and mountain landscapes.

Additionally, I know the Curios would be something I could easily take to other occasions that I would never think of bringing bins to like exploring cities or sporting events. I wasn't able to try wearing the CLs on my belt in a pouch, but I suppose that's one option.

I had pretty much convinced myself the Curios were the way to go until I was able to try those dang 10x25s. Now I'm second guessing everything...

Any advice from those of you who have used either or both in similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
 
It doesn't sound like you have tried the Curio 7x21 yet, but I think when you do, you will be pleasantly surprised. The Curio's have equally good optics as the CLs if not better, plus you will have a larger FOV, they will be brighter, you will have less shake, and you will have better DOF. Even though you say you can hold the CLs steady 10x will have much more shake than 7x, so what you gain in additional detail because of the higher magnification you lose in resolution because you are shaking. Smaller compact binoculars like the Curio and CLs are harder to hold steady than larger full size binoculars.

It sounds like, to me, you would be better off with the Curio because you are doing a lot of hiking, and you would like to use the binoculars for exploring cities and going to sporting events. The Curio would be ideal for those kinds of things and more easily carried in your pocket. If you're sold on a 10x25 binocular, and you are ok with carrying that size of binocular, you might consider an IS binocular like the new Nikon 10x25 S which is much improved optically and mechanically over the original version and eliminates the shaking at 10x and actually increases resolution by as much as 30% because you are steady and makes observing things for a longer period of time much easier and more relaxing. Otherwise, I would get the Curio.

www.nikonusa.com

Nikon STABILIZED 10x25 S Binoculars | Compact 10x Magnification

Nikon STABILIZED 10x25 S binoculars are compact and offer a blur-free view that's easier on the eyes and fits in a pocket.
www.nikonusa.com www.nikonusa.com
 
Last edited:
Binoculars, even compacts, come with a strap - for hanging around the neck. That should solve your packless transport 'problem' on shorter hikes.
If you can actually handhold a small 10x steady at the end of a hike to some top, more power to your elbow. Get a 10x.
A top-notch 7x like the Curio will give you a steadier image and most likely not show you noticeably less than the 10x. In fact it will show you more of the vista due to a bigger FOV (but maybe less detail on distant objects due to less magnification). I personally would not even consider a 10x25. Not for anything. YMMV
(Full disclosure: I have a Curio. And no 10x25 of any ilk. But I have full-size 10xs.)
 
Hot Sauce said:
The 10x25s will not comfortably fit in cargo pockets and when hiking less than 3-4 miles, I rarely carry a pack...

Additionally, I know the Curios would be something I could easily take to other occasions that I would never think of bringing bins to like exploring cities or sporting events.
Click to expand...
From my point of view, you said it all and this is why I have the Curios, I use them very often even though I have or add many other binoculars (8x25, 8x30 SFL, etc)
We have a saying in photography: the best camera is the one you have with you. This goes with binoculars too: it is better to have binoculars even if it means a compromise than better ones you left at home.
 
using both, Curio 7x21 and CL 8x25 (plus full size NL Pure and others) my choice when it comes to hiking is a no brainer.

The Curio's view is equal in terms of (its narrow) apparent field of view, sharpness, contrast and brightness. Magnification 7x vs 8x is IMHO neglectible.

But the Curios are so tiny and so much lighter (250 vs 350g) that You will enjoy them whenever You'll stay outside.

Cheers)
 

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Hot Sauce said:
Hello! First post after reading about every thread regarding the two, but I haven't really seen this dilemma pop up between them. I've been wanting to get a nice set of compacts for hiking. Every time we make it to the top of a mountain or pull off to a lookout, I wish I had a pair. I feel like 10s would be the best looking back on the vast landscapes where we could see for miles, but I have no experience with compact 7 or 10s.

I've always invested in good optics for shooting, but only ever had one decent pair of bins, some 8x42 Leupold BX-3s. I recently had to send them in for warranty and Leupold let me choose some 10x42 BX-4s as replacements (awesome CS). I've really enjoyed the extra magnification, but thought that a pocket 10x would be too shaky and narrow. Well, tonight I had the chance to try some CL 10x25s and wow... They made me want to throw my BX-4s in the trash 🤣 I knew the clarity would be amazing, but the handling and FOV felt every bit as good as my Leupolds with the exception of the eye cup placement on my face being slightly less comfortable. They were very easy to hold steady and the image details were amazing.

The dilemma... The 10x25s will not comfortably fit in cargo pockets and when hiking less than 3-4 miles, I rarely carry a pack. If I did have them in a pack, they wouldn't be easily accessible. While hiking to the summits, I know the Curios would be better on the trails and through the brush. My only concern is if I'll find them lacking for distance and wildlife details or if I'll enjoy the significantly larger FOV and usage while scanning those vast valleys and mountain landscapes.

Additionally, I know the Curios would be something I could easily take to other occasions that I would never think of bringing bins to like exploring cities or sporting events. I wasn't able to try wearing the CLs on my belt in a pouch, but I suppose that's one option.

I had pretty much convinced myself the Curios were the way to go until I was able to try those dang 10x25s. Now I'm second guessing everything...

Any advice from those of you who have used either or both in similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
If you want to put it in your pocket, go Curio 7x21.
If you want a lightweight pair of binoculars and carry it cross body, go CL 8x25 or CL 10x25.
I think the CL 8x25 is the best and the most alround of the three. The most comfortable in use (exit pupil of 3.125mm and larger eyecups). The CL 10x25 is also nice, but more finicky eye placement.
The Curio has a larger FOV, but the AFOV of the CL 25's is slightly larger.

So, I like the CL 25's more, but they are not really pocketable. You can put them in the pocket of your coat, but it feels like carrying a stone.
Maybe you can try the Ultravid 8x20 / 10x25 as well. Both samll and lightweight.
 
My experience....
I've always had a larger binocular, from 56mm down to 32's as a main pair.
And I've nearly always had a small pair.
Small bins are fiddly, awkward and take some setting up, double hinges etc.
So occasionally i've sold them, only to regret it, and get some again!!!!!

I had some Ultravid 8x20, and sold them as they are so awkward to use, and bought some CL8x25's which are easier, but found that I regularly didn't have them with me.
So.... here we go again.... I sold those, and have now gone back to Ultravid 8x20.
I carry them in a Cordura padded case if they are in my rucksack, or an Oakley sunglasses bag if they are just in my pocket, but also carried on their neck strap they are barely noticed.
I take them into cities, football matches, paddle boarding, biking, whatever.

I now accept the awkwardness, as portability is key. It is what it is!
Swaro CL's and Zeiss VP8x25's are NOT pocketable (in my opinion), they are too middle ground. I've tried them and left them at home too often, even though they are both superb optical instruments.

The Curio is incredibly good, but I believe Leica generally do the best quality regarding build.
So those fiddly awkward Leica Ultravid 8x20's stay.... and amaze me every time I mess about and get them set right.
I use them A LOT !!
My CL 8x25's I did NOT.... but they were very good indeed.

Join the merry go round..... it's fun, but expensive.
 
@Hot Sauce,

The good news / bad news with "pockets" is there are 7 good candidates, and that's counting only the current crop of the SW, Zeiss and Leica models. Most recently, as @[email protected] points out, Nikon has thrown a wrench into the works with the 10 and 12x image stabilized 25. For the sake of brevity, I'll defer any reference to the Nikon and the older, even smaller pockets.

Back to the current SW, Leica and Zeiss we have several members who prefer one or the other of all 7 models. If I had to pick just one it would be the Curio. If ultimate pocket-ability is the main thing for you, I'd recommend you try the Leica UV 8x20 especially the BL version. Same thing if you want a 10x, the UV BL is the smallest and sleekest and IME can reasonably be carried in most everyday pockets as opposed to the SW and Zeiss. Since you got on well with the 2.5 EP of the SW 10x25, IMO that's a better choice for you than the SW 8x25 because the 10 has a more competitive FOV in class.

Not to put too fine a point on it but realistically (at least for a pocket nerd like me) the 20/21 and 25 mm models are two different animals.

Good luck with the Quest.

Mike
 
mwhogue said:
Nikon has thrown a wrench into the works with the 10 and 12x image stabilized 25.
Click to expand...

I have the Nikon 10x25 since 2020 as soon they came out in Japan. I hardly use them as I prefer the Ultravid and the Curio. If you really need IS, they are ok but that's all. To me at least.

mwhogue said:
If ultimate pocket-ability is the main thing for you, I'd recommend you try the Leica UV 8x20 especially the BL version.
Click to expand...
I hardly see a difference with the Curio.
 
pm42 said:
From my point of view, you said it all and this is why I have the Curios, I use them very often even though I have or add many other binoculars (8x25, 8x30 SFL, etc)
We have a saying in photography: the best camera is the one you have with you. This goes with binoculars too: it is better to have binoculars even if it means a compromise than better ones you left at home.
Click to expand...
This was the main reason I originally settled on them before trying the 10s..
 
My wife and I use the 8x25 and 10x25 Swarvo Pocket Mountain binoculars and inside their case they fit in a jacket pockets or the water bottle pouch of a backpack. The case also has belt strap with Velcro as an option. Most of the time I have the binoculars hanging off my neck and they are barely noticeable with their 12 once weight. The 10x25 are my most often used binocular.
 
I have the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25. I really love this small binoculair. Very sharp, good FOV/AFOV, short focus, 8 power, light and for me great ergonomics. It feels perfect in my hands with my finger on the focus button.

The VP 8x25 works more like a real binoculair than the Curio i think. It can work like a 8x30/32 But i dont keep in my pocket. I keep it in my rucksack when i travel and when i hike its hanging around my neck all day.

If you really want too keep in your pocket than Curio or UV820 is better option. (I am considering a Curio for short walks in parks/citytrips).

The 10x25 Swarovski i never tried.
Probably too much shakes and small FOV.
 
SanderBird82 said:
I have the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25. I really love this small binoculair. Very sharp, good FOV/AFOV, short focus, 8 power, light and for me great ergonomics. It feels perfect in my hands with my finger on the focus button.

The VP 8x25 works more like a real binoculair than the Curio i think. It can work like a 8x30/32 But i dont keep in my pocket. I keep it in my rucksack when i travel and when i hike its hanging around my neck all day.

If you really want too keep in your pocket than Curio or UV820 is better option. (I am considering a Curio for short walks in parks/citytrips).

The 10x25 Swarovski i never tried.
Probably too much shakes and small FOV.
Click to expand...
Maybe you should try the small Nikon 6x15, its soo small that it almost fit in your nose 👃 😛.
 

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