CL Pocket Binocular Review and a Guidebook Giveaway…Oh My.

*Editor’s Note: We’ve got a fantastic guidebook giveaway at then end of this post so make sure you read on to the end to get the full details.

When I unpacked SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s newest addition to its storied collection of optics, I knew exactly what I had to do: get Beth’s father, Bob Salvon–a bona fide binocular man–and head out to the Cape Cod Canal to put these travel-size binoculars to the test.

For those of you who don’t know, the Swarovski name is synonymous with some of the world’s clearest crystals. Wilhelm Swarovski, an avid hobby astronomer, built on his father’s reputation of producing precision-cut crystal jewelry stones by launching SWAROVSKI OPTIK in Absam, Tyrol in 1949. Thirty national and international awards later the company is recognized as a leader in optics, in part because of its innovative spirit. Enter the CL Pocket 10 x 25, which is designed to be a compact binocular that doesn’t comprise on outstanding optical quality.

As luck would have it Bob came down to visit over the weekend, and on Saturday we set out into the crisp, sunny afternoon to try out the binoculars. We were both excited about the weather, so we added an additional stop to our testing itinerary at Bob’s request. Before heading to the canal, we drove up to Manomet Point–a high sea cliff that overlooks Plymouth Bay, where sea lions and marine birds can often be found.

Prior to leaving, Bob dialed in the adjustments. The instruction manual does a good job of explaining the key points of operation and adjustments that can be made. I had set up the binoculars a few days earlier wearing my glasses as well as contacts and found it to be straightforward. While this wasn’t my first time using binoculars, these are probably the first pair I’ve ever set up properly. In the past, I’d adjust things, but I didn’t know exactly what I was doing because I didn’t have a guide. With the CL Pocket, I was confident that I was getting the best view possible. Bob was equally impressed with the ease and smoothness of the adjustments, saying the the moving pieces of the binoculars felt solid under his touch.

At Manomet Point, we had great weather as we leaned against the car and each took turns scanning the frigid, dark blue sea for sea lions.

*The bottom photo in this collage was not taken through the binoculars. It’s simply an iPhone photo to show the view.

“These lens are really powerful,” Bob said.

“Oh yeah,” I replied

“I’d say these are about the clearest lens I’ve ever seen in a binocular; even close-up details are spot on,” he said, handing me the lightweight optics.

“I see what you mean Bob. It’s as if I have superhero-like eye sight.”

“That’s the idea,” he said smiling.

And he was right. I never really thought of binoculars in that way before. I took them for granted, for sure. To me they were just a modern convenience that allowed me to see the action from nosebleed seats at sporting events. I had completely overlooked the fact that the first simple lens systems, made by the likes of  Galileo Galilei and Johannes Keplerwere, were born out of man’s desire to be closer to the stars and they made this dream of god-like power a reality.

By the time we got to the Cape Cod Canal, I had a whole new appreciation for binoculars. I know, it sounds silly, but I really did have an aha moment that afternoon. Unfortunately, at the canal our good weather had deteriorated into a windy and cold grey mess.  We spent several minutes investigating the freshly painted Sagamore Bridge at a couple of different sections along the canal before calling it a day.

I thought a lot about the binoculars on the drive home. While Jimmy Buffet was off in Margaritaville looking for his lost salt shaker, I was asking myself, “Are these binoculars worth the nearly $1,000 price tag?”

We live in a disposable world where it’s become the norm to drop hundreds of dollars on smartphones only to find them inadequate in a year or two.  SWAROVSKI OPTIK CL Pocket binoculars represent a different era, a time when generation meant the time between the birth of parents and the birth of their children, not the yearly release of a new tech product. So, yeah, I believe they are worth the money. The truth is I’d probably never pay that much for a pair of binoculars, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t drop a grand on something similar, something that’s built to last and can be passed down through my family. At the end of the day I appreciate quality products that have lasting value and I think that’s exactly what the CL Pocket has: lasting value.

Now, I mentioned a guidebook giveaway earlier in this post. Are you ready to hear more about it?

In collaboration with SWAROVSKI OPTIK and Mr. and Mrs. Smith Hotels, we have a set of three awesome guidebooks to giveaway to one of our readers!

All you have to do is tell us your favorite dish from one of these three destinations–France, Italy or Southeast Asia–in the comments below. We will be selecting one winner at random who will win a set of these three guidebooks worth $90. The contest ends this Friday (Nov. 15, 2013) at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

Disclosure: We were supplied a review pair of the binoculars to test out for a limited time. As always though, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.