[270man]

Baylian,

Ask any 2 people and you will probably get 3 different opinions. Here are some of mine. I spent a lot of time evaluating brands and types of binoculars before opening my wallet and buying. In your price range, here's what I believe to be good ones:

Bushnell Legend; Nikon Monarch ATB; Pentax DCF-WP (WP stands for waterproof) -- all in 10X with 42mm objective lenses. Some feel that 10X is too much power and prefer 8X. I own the Pentax 10X-42mm and have no problem holding it steady. My preference is for an exit pupil of at least 4mm (objective diameter divided by power). These 3 binoculars weigh in around 25-30 ounces and don't bother me while carrying them around my neck all day (but get a good, wide, padded strap). You can save a few ounces with one of the 8x-30mm or 32mm binoculars. The 3 brands/types I've mentioned above all seem to have approximately equivalent optical quality. Ruggedness is an essential feature but it's hard to judge until you've actually owned and used a particular glass (or at least known someone else who has experience with the binocular). So far, my Pentax has held up well. FYI: Out here in Arizona, all 3 binoculars I mentioned run around $300.

Good luck with your selection,

270man