Binoculars and rifle scopes are essential accessories to all gun owners and hunters. They boost your accuracy when aiming for your target, giving you a great advantage over your hunting partners or rivals. Besides spectacles, binoculars are the most commonly used optical instruments in the world. Any pair of binoculars does what’s required: it increases the size of the image your are viewing, and allows in more light than your eyes can to make images look brighter in low light situations. Typically, binoculars comprise of two optical systems connected by a hinge that shares a common focus system.
Nevertheless, not all binoculars and rifle scopes are made equally. In fact, the market is flooded with countless different scopes and binoculars ranging in price and capability, which makes it tough for hunters to pick the right one. We have taken a closer look at a couple of different hunting binoculars and highlighted the top five so that you can check out the Top 5 Hunting Binoculars Reviews.
Top Hunting Binoculars Reviews With Features
Below we provide a short review of the top 5 binoculars by highlighting the main features only. Click on the title to read the review in detail.
Nikon 7541 Monarch 3 – 10×42 Binoculars (Black)
There are many features to this Nikon model. They have managed to combine some simple design features that offer superior results. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of optical devices worldwide, and they do not disappoint with these 10×42 binoculars. They come with a high-reflective silver alloy phase corrected prisms, which aid in eliminating image degradation caused by varying light phases reflecting in the binoculars. All lens surfaces have anti-reflective multi-coatings.
The polycarbonate body and the ED glass ensure that it is suited to most hunting conditions and will last a long time. Slide eyecups and multi-click turn features enable even eyeglass wearers to use the binoculars with ease. The Nikon 7541 Monarch 3 – 10×42 Binoculars also come with an impressive warranty of 25 years (no fault repair or replace). What makes these binoculars unique is that they are the seventh generation of a long series of Nikon binoculars, so you can be sure they are the best of the best.
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Features at a Glance
- Highly reflective silver alloy phase corrected prisms.
- Helps eliminate the degradation of the image.
- Fully multicoated – all lens surfaces are multicoated with anti-reflective coatings.
- Polycarbonate body designed to be rugged and durable.
- Multi-click turn and slide eyecups with generous eye relief.
- Great for eyeglass wearers.
- 25 year no fault repair or replace warranty.
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Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars
Vortex Optics is a family owned and operated company located in the heart of Wisconsin. They have a staff of fewer than 50 individuals, some with decades of experience in the business, and they pride themselves on superior quality and exceptional customer care. They produce all kinds of scopes and binoculars, but their focus is on hunting, bird watching and nature observation.
Hence, you can be sure that the Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars are one of the best when it comes to hunting. They are completely waterproof and have been filled with argon gas to replace the natural internal air and eliminate fogging inside the glass in regions of rapid temperature change or high humidity. This thoughtfulness continues into the rest of the features and components, delivering exceptional quality in a mid-size package, and at a very affordable price.
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Features at a Glance
- Roof prism full-size 10 x 42 binoculars provide 10 x magnifications through a 42mm objective lens.
- VIP Unconditional Lifetime Warranty – Vortex Optics will fix or repair at no cost to the customer.
- Multi-coated optics and phase corrected prisms.
- Most importantly, waterproof and fogproof protection.
- Included in the box – Rainguard tethered objective lens covers, comfort neck strap, and special custom-molded carrying case.
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Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42mm Roof Prism Binoculars
If you are looking for the ultimate high-end binoculars for your wild, outdoor lifestyle, then these are an excellent choice. These 10×42 binoculars give you a huge field of view ensuring that nothing gets in the way of your vision. They have just the right combination when it comes to color fidelity, light transmission, and brightness. The sharp optics are all multi-coated with a unique ultra-wide band that optimizes contrast and brightness.
They are waterproof, fogproof and the ED Prime Glass ensures they are highly durable. The manufacturers have custom coated all the lenses individually so they can maximize the transmission of available light across the whole visible color spectrum. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism Binoculars will bring out the most distinctive features of your target, even in low light conditions. The best thing about these binoculars is that they have a locking diopter, which enables you to maintain your tweaks and settings.
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Features at a Glance
- 10 x 42mm objective lens binoculars.
- Exceptional optics with ED Prime Glass and ultra wide band coatings.
- RainGuard HD water-repellent lens coating.
- Ultra wide field-of-view with long eye-relief; locking diopter.
- Lightweight magnesium chassis and soft touch grips.
- 100 percent waterproof/fogproof construction.
- Includes a softbox case and neck strap.
- RealTree AP camo.
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Vanguard Endeavor ED 10×42
Vanguard’s Endeavor ED series is their flagship collection, and as you would expect from a high-end pair of binoculars, it comes with an array of quality components and features including phase correction and highly reflective coatings on their prism glass, the use of ED glass, as well as fully multi-coated visual aspects. The award-winning binoculars series has larger than standard 42mm objective lenses, which, coupled with quality coatings and optical components, produce a bright image and perform brilliantly in low light situations.
The Vanguard Endeavor ED 10×42 Binoculars also come in a lightweight, open bridge body shape, and are waterproof as well as fogproof. They are small and compact, making them easy to carry around. They have received many positive reviews online, with many people stating that they are impressed with the overall performance of this amazing hunting essential.
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Features at a Glance
- Magnification: 10 x, objective lens diameter: 42mm.
- Field of view: 340 ft/1000 yards, view angle: 6.5 degrees.
- Near focus: 8.2 feet, eye relief: 16.5 mm, weight: 25.8 ounces.
- ED glass reduces color dispersion to provide high-resolution colors and clarity.
- Bak4 phase-coated prisms and fully multi-coated lenses.
- 3 stage twist out eyecups with long eye relief and locking diopter ring.
- 100% waterproof and fogproof.
- Advanced lens coatings for enhanced light transmission even in low light conditions.
- Lightweight, open bridge body design with large, precise focus wheel.
- Premium lifetime warranty.
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Nikon 8×42 Prostaff 7 Binoculars (Black)
As previously mentioned, Nikon is among the top manufacturers of optical devices on the planet; the name sells itself. Their ProStaff 7 10×42 model is one of the few binoculars that have scored a perfect 10 when tested in the magnification category, due to its limited shakiness. These binoculars have an incredible capacity to deliver accurate, sharp images, even of targets that are moving at great speeds, without the need to readjust. They have been subjected to some different tests and have not disappointed.
With a six-degree field of view, the Nikon 8×42 Prostaff 7 Binoculars allow users to capture a broad field of vision without ever needing to move the device, which is advantageous when you want to hunt quietly. As a bonus, they come with camouflage colorway, making them highly suitable for serious hunters.They are lightweight and come with a comfortable neck strap to protect them from accidental falls and drops.
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Features at a Glance
- Aluminum high-reflective multilayer prism coating.
- Phase correction coating on roof prism for excellent brightness and resolution.
- Fully multicoated lenses.
- O-ring sealed and dry nitrogen.
- Guaranteed waterproof/fogproof performance.
- Durable and protective rubber-armored coating.
- Generous eye relief for eyeglass wearers.
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Things Need To Consider Before Buying Hunting Binoculars – A Complete Buying Guide
There are different types of binoculars with different uses, and there are a few things you should know before buying binoculars.
Magnification
The first thing you want to do when considering buying binoculars is to know what exactly you need them for and how to choose the right binoculars. Binoculars are available with a magnification of 4X to 20X. Some people feel that the higher the magnification the better they are, but this does not hold true for hunting binoculars. The image steadiness is decreased with higher magnification, and most high magnification binoculars will require a tripod. Carrying a tripod while hunting can be a tedious task. The best magnification range for hunting is 7X to 10X.
Objective Lens
The optimal objective lens value is between 40 and 50 mm. The latter is more costly than the 40 mm, but it is best for night hunting purposes. With an increase in the objective, the weight also increases, but never settle for anything below 30 mm.
FOV
Even though some people consider the FOV value to be a determining factor, when it comes to hunting, a higher FOV is only useful when there is a fast moving target to bring down. Binoculars of high magnifications will also bring down the FOV, so make sure it is balanced out so that you can spot the game.
Exit Pupil
The objective size divided by the magnification will give the exit pupil value, and it is a measure of the amount of light that enters the eye. The ability to visualize is directly proportional to the exit pupil value. The best method is to choose hunting binoculars with an exit pupil value above the human eye.
Prism
There are two kinds of prisms to look out for: roof and porro prisms. Roof prism designs are expensive, but they have a high level of usability and are slim when compared to Porro. The light reflection obtained is five times by roof prism while the Porro prism achieves four times the reflection in a larger body. But if cost is a concern then the porro prism is a better choice. However, when you are choosing the lens there might be several deciding factors such as the design and quality of the prism.
Focus
Focus is defined with central or individual focus. When hunting involves a long distance game, the individual focus is preferred. If binoculars are used in the military, then they should have a high durability and an extreme focusing capacity. When hunting at a distance below 30 yards, it is recommended to use central focus. Furthermore, the binoculars should be held a certain distance away from the eye, and yet provide the perfect field of view. An eye relief of 13 —15 mm is best for people who wear eyeglasses.
Optical Coating
Most new designs have optical coating on the objective. It helps to eliminate glare and light loss issues, which helps in providing a clear and bright image. Make sure that you buy binoculars that have at least one of the lenses coated. There are also more expensive options such as those with multi-coated and fully multicoated lenses. The more expensive ones provide a better image.
Image and Weight
If you are an avid hunter who hunts for hours at a time, make sure you buy binoculars with a high image quality. It is difficult to find low-budget binoculars with high image quality and waterproofing, as all of them are priced above $100. Some of the top manufacturers who guarantee image quality are Zeiss and Nikon. With the right picture, you can keep your eyes safe from fatigue. About weight, it is not really possible to find binoculars that are lightweight and efficient at the same time But carrying a hefty pair around the neck throughout many hours of hunting can be a pain. Try to compare the features and check back on the weight factor.
Final Word
We hope our hunting binoculars reviews have given you an opportunity to recognize what matters when comparing binoculars so you can find the pair to suit your needs and your budget. To learn more, you can also check out this PDF: Driven to Discover: Choosing binoculars. If you have any questions, please feel free to make a comment.
