The only problem is that if they've been treated roughly, dropped, banged around or not cared for, they can be out of colimation or whatever. Caveat emptor.

I have a Mayflower 7x35 set that I used as a kid and got when my mom passed...standard size and a bit of heft. I prefer to use them when I'm around the farm.

On travel or hunting, I have a Bushnell compact 8x21 set. I keep that set in the Gator or my truck.

$97 buck gets you this: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Binoculars-SGODDE-Recorder-Camcorder/dp/B01N5LW543/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1492037096&sr=8-17-spons&keywords=bushnell+8x21+binoculars&psc=1

in the eye piece anything over 8 is wasted. The human pupil can only open to 7. The bigger the foresight the more light gets in. Bigger is better. Higher power is harder to hold steady.

8 what?

8x? or are we talking exit pupil size? most sub $200 binos dont even give you the specs for pupil exit size...it's almost voodoo for us laymen..

like mine have 5mm exit pupil with 10x50binos...

Yes exit pupil size.

I've been looking for used 10 x plus for looking out on the lake and the quality ones don't come up.

For high powered binos look for Celestron and mount them on a tripod for comfortable viewing. Something like this might work:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546148-REG/Celestron_71020_25_125x80_SkyMaster_Zoom_Binocular .html

Never mind cleavage, I'd be spotting nipples with that thing!

Nope, easy peazy, exit pupil = objective size (50) / power (10)

7x35 = 5
8x42 = ~5
12x50 = ~4

etc...

I've been doing some comparisons and though the 8 x 42s seem great, with lots of choices, I want something smaller after physically handling a few. Based upon this, I'm leaning towards the Vortex Diamindback 8 x 32...I realize I may not be making the "best" choice optically...but size matters :). Around $190....what say ye?

Vortex makes some decent stuff. 8x32 will give you a 4mm exit pupil. If you're older, you're probably not topping out at 7mm anyway. 8x32 is probably a decent set of binos as long as you aren't out trying to find stuff at night in the dark. Even in a low light forest during the day, your pupils will probably not be fully dilated anyway.

Thanks Steve...to be used during the day.

I have bought cheapo binocs at Big 5 back in college. They were OK when that's all you can afford. Later I bought a pair of Nikons, which were awful. Now, I have 10x40 Zeiss Classic which are so superior, I think I'd have trouble buying lesser binoculars. I like the Swarovski and Leica, which we got at a yard sale, believe it or not. They are fantastic quality.

If you don't need low light 8x32 will be fine. Always a tradeoff between size and low light ability. In full sun my little 8x21 pocket Nikons give a decent image.

$200 binocs will meet my needs just fine ..... I don't eat $20 hamburgers either... not 'cause I caint....just 'cause I ain't :).

Which Nikons?

The Vortex 8x32 are 4.5" by 4.6" fwiw...

Mine are pretty old Nikon Sprint II. I got them for hiking because they were super small and light. Probably $60 12 years ago and they go with me any time I need to travel light. No match for my larger glass when the sun goes down but "good enough" for the daypack.

https://www.cnet.com/products/nikon-sprint-ii-7331-binoculars-8-x-21/specs/

These are pretty similar:
https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7277-25mm-Travelite-Binoculars/dp/B00382DZQI/ref=pd_cp_421_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00382DZQI& pd_rd_r=NE07WE7T20CGA5D8CZBK&pd_rd_w=zb2fy&pd_rd_w g=6ZhYb&psc=1&refRID=NE07WE7T20CGA5D8CZBK

^ Yup, I got some sort of crapbox Nikons for a trip to Yosemite with the local PCA chapter. They looked better than they worked. I would say the roof prism ones are OK, but no comparison to the Zeiss glass.

Nikon make binoculars from pretty darn cheap to fairly expensive (but they don't touch Swarovski). It sounds like you got the cheap ones.