Betterviewdesired.com (BVD) really is the place to go for most questions regarding binoculars and spotting scopes. They have reviews and recommendations for various price levels.
They don't care for zoom binos at all. Their tests indicate that zoom gains nothing, since increased magnification gains no additional details at all - just bigger blurs. They recommend putting the money that would have bought the zoom capability and put it into better optical glass instead, and there are wide differences in optical glass.
Zoom also adds weight. From experience I know that anything over about 21 ounces will be at home when I need them instead of around my neck.
Zoom is just something else to break, and low price binos are more sensitive to impact than the higher priced spread.
When I looked into it last year, BVD believed that the best optics for the money are quality porro prism like Swift or Leupold Wind Rivers or similar for around $200. Comparable optics in roof prism ("H" shaped binoculars) would cost two or three times as much, but you get waterproof and more impact resistance with the roofs. They also made recommmendations for the best buys at various price points.
They're sponsored by Simpson Optics, so you'll only find a link to them. Try also Eagle Optics, my favorite, and various camera wholesale websites. Eagle, at least, leads you through the cost/performance issue and has reasonable prices.
Jaywalker
