The nice thing about compact binoculars and almost any monocular is that they make great stocking stuffers. One of my favorites is the
Zeiss Miniquick.
At first glance, you will almost certainly mistake the Miniquick as a fat ball point pen. In fact, it is just that very size. When you examine it more closely, however, you will find a small objective lens on one end - 10mm - and an eyepiece at the other. Interesting.
Now most 10mm lens instruments will be taken as a joke. That's what blows me away every time I look through a Miniquick. It really works! It has all the quality you would expect from a Zeiss product. I know several very fussy optics nut who love theirs.
Be good to your favorite optics nut this year. Every time they put their Miniquick up to their eye, they will think of you.