Practical Nocs Field Tube: this fun gadget will allow you to get closer to nature

Meet the new Nocs Field Tube, a compact and waterproof monocular designed for birdwatching, stargazing, sightseeing, whale watching, sporting events and much more. Announced today (May 23) by Nocs Provisions – makers of my favorite lightweight and waterproof binoculars – the Field Tube may be the best-looking monocular ever built, especially in Corsican Blue.

Nocs FIeld Tube is an updated version of the brand’s Zoom Tube with improved water resistance and a new optical formula that produces sharper images with better contrast and fewer aberrations; less haze.

A blue Nocs Field Tube monocular on a red table surrounded by a Garmin watch, a pocket knife, sunglasses and a pen. — (Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

I had the opportunity to test out the Nocs Provision Field Tube prior to launch, using it to check out city attractions and feathered friends around Seattle, Washington.

Here’s a closer look at all the new features along with some sample photos taken through the lens with my smartphone. I will also take a closer look at how Field Tube compares to its predecessor.

Practical Nocs Field Tube solution: price and availability

A close-up of the Nocs Field Tube monocular logo. Depicted on the user's hand against a green background.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

The new Nocs Field Tube is available now for $125 through Nocs Provisions and comes in two versions: 8x and 10x zoom. In the first case, you can choose between Corsican blue, coral red and banana yellow. The stronger version is available in Ponderosa Green, Paydirt Brown and Oxblood Maroon.

Nocs includes a “no matter what” limited lifetime warranty on all of its products to encourage customers to get out and use them. Just don’t abuse them.

The practical solution of Nocs Field Tube: optics

Nocs Field Tube monocular in blue. Depicted on the user's hand against a green background.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

Like most Nocs products, the new Field Tube monocular boasts scratch-resistant lenses that are multi-coated to eliminate adverse optical phenomena such as ghosting, lens flare and chromatic aberration.

It also has a new optical formula with seven lens elements arranged in five groups, which is slightly more complicated than four Zoom Tube lenses in two groups.

Updated optics allow the field tube to focus as far as 7.4 feet compared to 10 feet on the older version.

Two sample photos taken by the Nocs field tube shown side by side. The photo on the left shows the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. The photo on the right shows a city scene with an orange building.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

With the Field Tube mounted on a tripod and the eye release fully extended, it’s quite easy to position your smartphone camera on the back of the monocular and take solid-looking photos.

The Field Tube is definitely sharpest near the center of the optic, which is no surprise. By the way, the above two photos of the Space Needle and the South Lake Union neighborhood in Seattle were taken from about a mile away using an iPhone 12 Mini.

A practical Nocs Field Tube solution: Waterproofing

Nocs Field Tube monocular in blue. Shown in hand next to its predecessor, the Nocs Zoom Tube, which looks the same except it is dark green and orange.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

Perhaps the biggest improvement to Nocs’ latest monocular is the significantly improved water resistance. The older Zoom Tube (shown at the bottom of the photo above) has an IPX4 moisture rating, which translates to surviving light rain but not full submersion.

Meanwhile, the Nocs field tube has an IPX7 protection rating against moisture. This means it is guaranteed to withstand immersion in water up to about 3 feet deep for up to 30 minutes. So if it falls out of your bag into a stream, you have nothing to worry about unless the water is deep. Unfortunately, the Field Tube does not float on water (I tested it).

Assuming you do fish out the monocular, you may find some consolation in the fact that the internal chamber is filled with nitrogen and sealed with an O-ring to prevent fogging.

Practical Nocs Field Tube solution: design and features

Nocs Field Tube monocular in blue. Shown on the user's hand with a red background.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

Aesthetically, the new Nocs Field Tube looks similar to the Zoom Tube, which appeals to me as I delve into its design. You get an oversized focus wheel that locks focus – it works as smooth as butter – and a twist-out eyecup for adjusting viewing relief. For people who wear glasses, it is best to leave them twisted.

Like all Nocs products, the Field Tube is covered in a rubber material with a trendy wave pattern that both looks cool and makes it easier to grip.

At 8.4 ounces, the Field tube is slightly heavier than the Zoom tube, but is still a relatively lightweight optic. The thermoplastic frame ensures adequate load capacity. It’s also about a third of an inch taller than its predecessor.

Again, like the older Nocs monocular, the latest version has a built-in tripod thread mount and a strap loop for carrying.

Practical Nocs Field Tube: compared to Nocs Zoom Tube

Nocs Field Tube monocular in blue. Shown on a red table next to its predecessor, the Nocs Zoom Tube, which looks the same except it is dark green and orange.

(Photo: Dan Bracaglia/Future)

With a price difference of $50, the new Nocs Provision Field Tube takes the fantastic and renowned Nocs Zoom Tube design and adds durability in the form of true water immersion protection rather than light rain protection.

It also features a more complex optical formula for clearer images and an internal nitrogen-filled chamber that detects any signs of haze. Are these upgrades worth $50? I usually think so.