Key Highlights:
- The Binoculars are found on a red canoe at the northwest beach.
- They let you zoom in on distant objects, though the zoom is fixed.
- Easy to grab early, useful for scouting but not essential for survival.
The Binoculars in Sons of the Forest were added alongside the Hang Glider in the game’s first ever update on March 9th. They’re a utility tool rather than a weapon, designed for scouting and observing at a distance. I often use them when I want to plan a route without stumbling straight into a cannibal camp, though they’re also handy for simply appreciating the scenery.
To get them, head to the northwest shoreline, west of the Rebreather cave. Look for a group of washed-up kayaks and spot the red canoe. The binoculars are sitting right on top, easy to miss if you aren’t scanning carefully. Unlike many items, no tools are required, and you can grab them immediately after crash-landing.
Using them is simple. Equip them from your inventory, then hold left-click on PC (or R2/RT on controller) to zoom in. Release the button to lower them. There’s no toggle, and no adjustable zoom, just a fixed magnification that helps with long-distance scouting.
They can’t tag enemies, highlight resources, or mark points of interest, so their use is purely observational.
If you want quicker access, you can assign the binoculars to a hotkey. Hover over them in your inventory, then press a number between 1-9. That binds them to that number key, letting you switch faster.
Hotkeys don’t change how they function, you’ll still need to hold the trigger button to look through them. To unbind them, just assign the same number to something else.
Are they essential? No. You can finish the game without ever touching them. But since they’re so easy to collect and don’t require diving into caves or fighting mutants, they’re worth picking up.
For players who like scouting or prefer cautious movement, they provide an edge, even if it’s just spotting patrols before they see you.
Keep exploring with the Complete Sons of the Forest Guide, our hub for maps, items, and how-tos.