Nocs Zero Tube impressions — 5 reasons this tiny telescope will be joining me on all my future hikes
Love looking at stuff? Me too, which is why I’m obsessed with Nocs Provisions, makers of rugged, adventure-ready optics, and the brand’s latest release is my favorite yet.
The new Nocs Zero Tube is a palm-sized monocular boasting a 10x zoom, a cool-looking rubberized exterior and a water and fog-proof design. Available in a range of aesthetically pleasing colors, the Nocs Zoom Tube will set you back $175.
While I’ve previously covered Nocs Binoculars and the standard Nocs Field Tube monoculars, the Nocs Zero Tube boasts similar specifications, just in a sleeker and — more importantly — lighter package. And when it comes to backpacking and hiking, any means of gear weight reduction is appreciated.
Perfect for birding, whale watching and other forms of wildlife observation, I use my Nocs Zero Tube to get a closer look at the numerous mountain peaks visible from Seattle and the surrounding areas. Love to surf? The Nocs Zero Tube is also great for scoping out tasty waves.
After a week of looking at stuff with the Nocs Tube Zero, here are the five core reasons it’s already secured a permanent spot in my adventure bag.
1. Impressive magnification power for its size
The Nocs Zero Tube features 10x magnification, bringing far-away objects and subjects super-close. For $175, the optics offer excellent clarity and color with minimal flaring or aberrations. Mind you, the Zero Tube is less than 4.5 inches or about an inch shorter than the standard Nocs Field Tube, which comes in 8x and 10x zoom.
A twist-up eyecup accommodates a wide range of users. For folks like me who wear glasses, the Zero Tube works best with the eyecup twisted all the way down so that it’s nearly flush with the rear lens element. Meanwhile, the opposite is true when using your naked eye.
To adjust focus with the Zero Tube, simply twist the front of the tube while holding the back in place. The action is smooth with just enough resistance.
Lining your smartphone camera up with the Nocs Zero is a bit tricky, but if you’re successful, the results can be awesome. The image above was captured using my iPhone 12 mini’s standard camera and cropped slightly in post to remove the circular image format.
Meanwhile, the image below was shot from the same position with my iPhone 12 mini without the use of the Zero Tube. For reference, Mount Rainier is roughly 70 miles from where I was standing.
2. Lightweight and pocketable
As the name implies, the Nocs Zero Tube is the brand’s lightest optic at just 6.5 ounces. And with that 4.5-inch length, this bad boy is easily pocketable.
It also sports a built-in pocket clip for attaching to a garment or bag. Plus, the Nocs Tube Zero ships with a snazzy wrist strap, which attaches to said clip, for additional security. As someone prone to dropping things, I quite appreciate this.
3. Rubberized exterior for gripiness and impact protection
Speaking of dropping things, all Nocs products boast an eye-catching textured rubber exterior, including the Zero Tube. This not only adds gripiness to make it easy to hold with confidence, even in the rain, but it also gives the telescope a decent amount of impact protection.
While the textured design is the same for all Nocs Zero models, you can choose from three trendy exterior colors, including red-orange (shown here), royal blue and off-white.
4. Water and fog-proof
Not every outdoor adventure is sunshine and butterflies. Sometimes the elements give you hell. Fortunately, the Nocs Zero Tube is IPX7 rated for water and dust resistance. This means it should be able to survive full-on immersions in up to 3.5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. You also don’t have to worry about and dirt or grime getting into the housing.
Even if you do drop the Nocs Zero Tube into water, you won’t need to worry about the internal optics being fogged when you pull it out, thanks to a nitrogen-filled and sealed interior.
Just to be sure, I dropped my Nocs Zero Tube into a bucket of water for roughly 20 minutes before pulling it out. The result: no fogging and no leaks.
5. Comes with a lifetime warranty
Though it’s built tough, life has a way of sometimes being pretty brutal. So, just in case you have any issues with your Nocs Zero Tube — like with all Nocs products — the brand offers a “no matter what” lifetime warranty on materials and construction with the promise of free repairs or replacements for busted scopes.
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