Originally Posted by advex
Leica sets the standard. You may also want to check out Carl Zeiss. I got a pair of 8 x 20 compacts from Natchez Shooter Supplies for under $150.
Pentax has some incredibly tough, waterproof 8x32, but they are fairly bulky and heavy.
Agreed. There is a huge difference between the Zeiss/Leica/Pentax class and the cheaper varieties. I have a lower-end Zeiss pair, and they are very good.