Use our Wildlife Spotting Outdoor Gear Guide to ensure that you’re fully prepared for spending time outdoors with nature.
Best binoculars
Nikon ProStaff 3S 10×12
Affordable, yet with 10x magnification, these excellent all-rounders are well built, lightweight and easy to use. Filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging, these binoculars make an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy a range of activities; good for everything from birdwatching to stargazing. Price £149. Web www.amazon.co.uk
Olympus 10×25 WP II
These foldable compact binoculars offer an excellent 10x magnification and a 25mm objective lens. They are also waterproof, and suitable for people who wear spectacles. They have a nitrogen-filled body, which makes them fog – and dirt-proof. At £84, these binoculars offer good quality on a budget. Price £84 Web www.olympus.co.uk
Nikon Monarch 5 20×56
Rubber-wrapped and extremely versatile, the Monarch’s lends provides a wide field of view and the 20x magnification is impressive. Their dielectric high-reflective mirror coating and extra-low dispersion glass improve performance, but at a cost – they are relatively heavy and pricey, but fantastic for birdwatchers. Price £679 Web www.parkcameras.com
Active Equipment
Sherpa XTG Antishock Trekking Poles
Serious wildlife-spotters will do a fair bit of trekking, so it pays to invest in quality walking poles to take the weight off your knees. These robust poles are made from HTS 6.5 aluminium and have a DSS Antishock System, which reduces impact force by up to 40% when using them. Price £124.95 Web www.leki.com
The Simon King Ultimate Wildlife Hide
Designed in association with wildlife cameraman Simon King, this hide is 1.5 metres square and 1.7 metres high, and pops up for easy and rapid assembly. It features twin viewports on all windows, giving occupants porthole and wide cinematography options on all sides. Price £169 Web www.amazon.co.uk
Cressi Pro Star Bag Snorkelling Set
This snorkelling set from leading diving kit manufacturer Cressi includes Pro Star fins, a Matrix mask and a Gamma snorkel. The mask’s extra-wide visual range is complemented by the specialised fin blade technology, to put you in the best place to observe underwater action. Price £69 Web www.deepbluedive.com
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle
We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, especially on longer walks. But the downside of carrying adequate water supplies is the weight they can add to your pack. Problem solved – the lightweight Hydro Flask is small enough to carry without feeling like a burden. Price £29 Web uk.hydroflask.com
Brita Water Filter Bottle
Brita’s selling-point is its high-quality filtration system and this robust flask is no exception. It can help to reduce impurities with a neat filter micro disc, which should be replaced after 60 litres. Replacement filters cost around £10 for a pack of three. Price £10.86 Web www.amazon.co.uk
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds
Writer and photographer Simon Harrap’s clear descriptions of some 215 species are exactly what the aspiring birdwatcher needs out in the field. Plumage, calls and differentiating similar species are included in the text, along with distribution maps. Best of all, it’s pocket-sized for portability! Price £6.99 Web shopping.rspb.org.uk
Animal Magic!
Wildlife Acoustics EM Touch 2
Listen to and record bat calls with this active full-spectrum detector/recorder with real-time sonogram display. Then its auto-ID system can also try to identify recorded calls for you. This clever, hand-held unit simply plugs into compatible Apple or Android devices. Price £200 Web batdetectors.uk/emtouch
Beevive Bee Revival Kit
If you’ve ever wondered how to assist an exhausted bee – here’s how! This brilliant bee revival kit is a neat idea – the refillable bottle contains a handy supply of bee food syrup, to feed a bee in need. It hangs on a custom-stamped keychain, ready to attach to your backpack or keys. Price £10.95 Web ywtshop.org.uk
LED Solar Insect House
These fabulous wooden insect houses, measuring 21 x 23 x 9cm and available in garden-friendly green or eye-catching yellow, are charmingly illuminated with three small bees, powered by solar LEDs. The batteries will charge in daylight and function for up to six hours. Price £24 Web ellajames.co.uk
If you liked this… READ THESE:
Wildlife Spotting Guide to Birds
Wildlife Spotting Guide to Butterflies
10 fantastic spots for wildlife encounters
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