Binoculars for western hunting

[slatty]

I don't have much experience with the german big 3 but i've looked through lots of cheaper ones. What happened is that I just didn't use them a whole lot because they hurt my eyes and it didn't look nice. I have the Nikon Monarch HGs now. I also have some prostaffs. The difference between the prostaff 5s and the monarch HGs is a world of difference. The prostaffs are great for sitting in my living room and looking at passing deer. The monarch HGs I can sit behind for hours and enjoy. I've looked through various monarchs and I believe that where the curve of diminishing returns starts to drop off is the monarch 5. The 7s are better and the HGs are better still, but the monarch 5s are really good. Like everyone has said, you get what you pay for. Loving my binos, I spend way more time behind them now. I paired my 10x42s with an extremely lightweight KDC granite peak tripod and glassing from a tripod works well for the very mountainous terrain that I hunt.

[Wudstix]

Vortex is a good glass for the price.  Own Optolyth, Steiner, Nikon, Leupold and Vortex.  Recommend any of them.

-- Michael

[tom halloran]

Checking back in to say that my Vortex Razor 10x42 = money well spent. Very happy with them!

[V I Archer]

nearly 20 years ago, before I even met my wife, before a mortgage, before kids, still living at home and working as a carpenter at 20 or 21, I dropped near 2k on a pair of Leica 10x42's (2k, nearly 20 years ago Canadian mind you).

I have been hunting with lots of folks over that time.  More than once I was shamed for spending on such an extravagance; until I pass the Leica's to them to glass a tree line at dusk

There have been huge improvements in mid range optics in 20 years. I hear great thinks about Vortex, I love my nikon camera gear and would not hesitate to pull the trigger on a pair of their mid range binos. All binos look the same on a clear day in mid afternoon under perfect glassing conditions, the differences become painfully obvious at low light, glassing timber and deciphering number of points on a bull moose before committing to the stalk.

All that said, I have ZERO buyers remorse, and if they were lost tomorrow, I would find a way to buy them again.  My kids can live off kraft dinner for a few months

[Michael Pfander]

On the issue of magnification, I find that the smaller field of view for 10x vs. 8x means that I am able to concentrate on what I am seeing.  Sometimes seeing too much keeps you from seeing what is important.  This can be an issue in big open country in particular.
MAP

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

After hunting CO for mule deer last week I will add that putting your binoculars on a tripod will help you immensely! There are plenty of products to make this work. I use the Outdoorsmans quick detach option, which involves a stud that screws into the binos (mine were pre threaded) and a short arm that fits on the tripod head.

[Air Cleaver]

Out here in Nevada, everything is spot and stalk. Except maybe antelope. It's rough terrain . Lightweight decent binoculars are a must. I've been through my share. I like my Steiner Military 8X best. Not to expensive and enough magnification fairly compact.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

.all my hunting is done the west and I use the Swarovski EL 10x50 if you plan on hunting the west I would buy the best you could afford.  You can pick up used top 3 optics for almost half price. just my 2 cents

[Hud]

I would suggest trying several make and models. Keep in mind that the eye accepts as much light as a pair of 10 x 50,  8 x 42, 6 x 30 can provide. (objective lens / power = brightness), next is the field of view, and wider is usually better.  The warranty very important, they need to be tough.  They don't put good warranties on cheaper models. If your in areas where glassing across ridges, canyons is important, the 10 x 50 is my favorite.  If the cover is thick and/or weather is foggy, then 6 x 30 are better. In good/excellent binoculars the money is well spent.