Binoculars are an essential tool for birdwatching. Here’s how to use them best:  Shorten the neck straps so that the binoculars are not thumping painfully against your stomach as you walk but resting firmly on your chest. You can replace the straps with wider ones that have padding or moving sections to relieve the strain when worn for a long time. For this reason it is also wise not to choose a pair that is too heavy. (Source: Natural History Museum, UK)