Compact or "pocket" binoculars have been around at least since the mid-19th century - nearly as long as "field glasses" or binoculars themselves. The attractions have always been being inconspicuous, portable, and light in weight.   

There are many on the market that meet all the above criteria but are unsuited to birding. Often the smallest and lightest compacts have too little eye relief for eyeglass wearers, an interpupillary distance adjustment range too small to accommodate many people at either end of the scale and are not waterproof. With objectives as small as 21 or even 20 mm, a 10x compact might only have a 2 mm exit pupil.  Only high-end glass and multi-coating will allow enough light through for a decent image.

That's why for birding, we suggest a minimum objective size of 25 mm.  Twenty-five mm is only 25% more than 20 mm, but the area of the exit pupil - the most important factor in brightness - is about 56% greater in an 8x25 compared with an 8x20.       

Many companies produce compacts, and often in series of increasing quality, or "good, better, best".  Hawke is among those, and their Nature Trek and Endurance ED lines cover the first two categories.  Hawke is happy to announce new compacts in their Frontier ED X line.  At $389.99 and $399.00 respectively, they remain affordable yet bring a new level of optical and ergonomic quality to mid-level compacts.  There is enough eye relief for eyeglass wearer; a smooth, precise, focus wheel; and that Bufflehead halfway across the harbor is pleasingly sharp.

If you've been looking for a compact binocular and have found that the quality of the entry-level options don't excite you, but neither does the either-side-of-$1000-pricepoint of the premier brands, then the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x25 or 10x25 may be just the option for you!