Swarovski CL Companion compact binocular review

The CL Companion is Swarovski's dedicated compact binocular , originally introduced 15 years ago, but has now been redesigned in 2026 to appeal to a wider, younger audience.

RSPB research found an increase of around 1,000% in birdwatching among Gen Z in the UK since 2018, with a similar boom now happening in the US.

The CL Companion sits between the pocket-size CL Pocket and full-size EL and NL ranges, making it the perfect mid-range model that combines portability with excellent optical prowess.

The Companion is a grab-and-go, "take it anywhere and everywhere" binocular that is perfect for many different activities, whether that's spotting birds, scoping out your hiking trail or sweeping across the starry sky at night.

We spent a week with both the 8x30 and 10x30 CL Companions to test them out, with the former being ideal for tracking movement with a wider field of view, while the latter brings you closer to the details.

Swarovski CL Companion: Design Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Kimberley Lane Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Kimberley Lane Simple, fuss-free design Rubber grip ensures a secure hold Choice of three earth-tone colors The biggest change in comparison to the old-style CL Companion is in the design.

The original version was more of a traditional binocular aesthetic, but this updated design breathes life into the range with three new earth-toned colorways: mountain green, desert orange and safari brown.

While some users have said they look somewhat toyish (or just downright ugly), when you handle them in person, they are much more sleek and stylish than the product images would have you believe.

Both the 8x30 and 10x30 weigh just 1.21 pounds (550 grams), so you can easily wear them around your neck all day without even knowing they're there.

They're compact enough to put in a large jacket pocket, or you can just wear the included carry bag.

Key specifications Magnification : 8x / 10x Objective lens diameter: 30mm Weight: 1.21 pounds (550 g) Exit pupil: 3.8mm / 3mm Field of view: 8-degrees / 6.6 degrees Close focusing distance: 9.8 feet (3 m) The central focus wheel has just the right amount of slip to make it easy to change focus, but is not so loose that you don't have enough control over it.

The diopter is located on the front of the focus wheel, which felt a little off at first, but once we set it, there was no danger of accidentally changing it.

They also have generous eye relief, which is great news for users who wear glasses.

The eye relief is 19mm on the 8x30 and 18mm on the 10x30.