Brother? Sincerly I'd initially recommand get you some Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42's. Then, that STC Swarovski 56mm Spotter. Betchu money that combo would likely make you happiest overall. per dollar spent.
Currently I'm either using the 10x42's w/ the Maven 12x27 56mm, or the 65mm ZEISS Dailyt, The steeper things start getting, the more the Dailyt starts feeling a lil heavy and I start to lean more towards that Maven, So that's why I'm betting that Swaro STC 56mm and the ZEISS Conquest HD 10x42's and you'd be a damn happiest camper!
And only if I'm going to be gridding in very wide open country Desert Hills do I typically bother to consider taking the 56mm's anymore. But only because in that specific instance the 15's just work real well as a primary tool on a tripod, since you tend to be glassing across longer that normal distances out there in that kinda habitat. When glassing an equally looooong opposing ridge, being illuminated by the morning sun coming up from behind you. Or the setting sun from behind you. You can reach out a shocking amount with good 15's under the right conditions. Plus it makes use of your stereoscopic vision's natural "data processing" you might say. You're a lot more likely to more rapidly detect and Id that game animal when utilizing the benefits of your stereoscopic vision "data processing" that your brain is already wired to do.
But for most stuff? Bet you the vast majority of people would be tinkled pink to run a higher-tier 10x42 with a high end 56mm UL spotter! Those two make a darn good combo! Bout the only thing that might be the holy grail in that regard, in terms of going even smaller, would be perhaps... perhaps... a 12x higher tier bino like NL Pures. As your only optic outside of riflescope. But I think that'd depend on how well the individual person could learn to handhold the 12x Pures with the forehead-rest attachment, perhaps. For when they'd need quick hand-checks on stuff with their binos.
