When you’re out in the field hunting, you’ll need a lot of patience to be successful. Skills and experience will matter, too. But it also helps to have certain tools such as binoculars. Hunting binoculars can make or break your hunting expedition.
To make your search a little easier, here are the 12 best binoculars for hunting.
Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism
An industry leader in sporting optics, Bushnell specializes in riflescopes and binoculars. The company has been in the business for more than 50 years.
Its Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism binocular is available in 10 models, making it the largest line of binoculars under the Bushnell brand. Regardless of the model you get, you can be assured of getting well-designed and made binoculars. Moreover, you will be surprised at how competitively priced this product is.
These hunting binoculars have a contemporary design and style. These are also easy to use, making them ideal for beginners. They come with a neck strap and carrying case. They also have touchpads made of non-slip rubber. This should give you more confidence when using them. The rubber armoring should also ensure that the binoculars will last for a long time as it protects the item from bumps and wear and tear.
With prism BK-7 glass and fully-coated optics, these compact binoculars can give you a clear vision of your prey. You can also fold down the eyecups to help you get a clearer image and larger looking area.
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism Binocular
If you have more money to spare, then check out the Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism Binocular from Bushnell. This is an excellent choice in the mid-price range. It features extra-low dispersion prime glass that produces hi-res and color-tuned images. With fully multi-coated lenses, the binocular can give you a lot of confidence when scanning open terrain as it can produce crisp, clear images.
Although the lens of the Bushnell Legend is not scratch-resistant, these are water-repellent. The water-repellent coatings mean you won’t have to wipe the lenses constantly. Moreover, you can use the binoculars even while it is raining hard.
This hunting binocular also offers excellent width of view of 340 feet wide at a distance of 1,000 yards. This makes the Bushnell Legend a great choice for hunters. Bushnell used magnesium for the housing of the binocular. It further enhances the durability of the instrument. Sure, it also adds to the weight of the binocular, but you’ll feel that the instrument is of higher quality.
Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism
Founded in 2004, Vortex Optics is an American maker of optical equipment for hunting, wildlife hunting, and outdoor recreational sports. Aside from binoculars, it offers spotting scopes and riflescopes, among others.
Its Viper HD roof prism binocular is available in six styles, from 10×42 to 8×42. This is a high-end binocular that is worth every penny. It has fully coated lenses for bright and clear images while its high-density glass further enhances the high definition image quality. Its lens is scratch-resistant with its ArmorTek construction. In short, Vortex Optics made sure that this high-end binocular has everything hunters need when out in the field.
Let’s look at the frame of this binocular first. ArmorTek is the proprietary external lens coating of Vortex. It makes the lens extra hard and durable. It can prevent debris, oil, dirt, and water from sticking into the lens. The extra-low dispersion glass is specially formulated with high definition or HD effects. As such, you can look forward to sharp images and with excellent resolution.
The 10×42 model offers a good field of view of 319 feet. If you want a greater field of view, you should check out the 8×32 model, which offers 420 feet of view.
For more quality gear like this, check out our reviews of the best night vision binoculars.
Vortex Optics Diamondback
Available in three models– 10×42, 10×50, and 8.5×50– the Vortex Optics Diamondbacks are ideal for hunting.
Lightweight at around 24 ounces, carrying the binoculars should not be much of an issue. It comes with a strap which can also come in handy when carrying a rangefinder. The rubber armor coating gives the binoculars a premium feel and look. It also works to hold the objective as well as the ocular lens cover.
It has a compact design that makes it feel good in the hand. The binoculars offer a good field of view of 345 feet at 1,000 yards. And while it won’t wow you with its magnification, the Diamondback remains a solid choice for novice to intermediate hunters.
Steiner Safari Ultrasharp
Steiner Binoculars prides itself on using advanced German optics technology. It is a brand trusted not only by hunters but also military personnel and adventure-seekers.
These binoculars weigh less than 10 ounces. It also has a foldable design. Suffice it to say, carrying it around should not be an issue at all. It can be slipped into a small pocket. The binoculars offer 10x magnification with a field of view of 309 feet at 1,000 yards. This is quite impressive for compact binoculars. The field of view is comparable with other mid and full-sized binoculars.
Its optics are enclosed in a tough and premium-looking casing. It is comfortable to hold. You’ll also appreciate its robust and water-resistant construction, so be sure to always have it in your hunting backpack.
Leica 10×42 Geovid HD-B
German brand Leica was founded in 1914 by Ernst Leitz. The name of the firm was derived from the first three letters of the founder’s name and the first two letters of the word camera. Leica binoculars are known for their excellent design and construction. All binoculars of the brand come with a lifetime limited warranty.
The Geovid HD-B is by no means cheap. One of the most expensive binoculars on this list, it is ideal for long-distance hunting. This instrument is equipped with Perger Porro Prism, resulting in fully multi-coated optics. You’ll get the sharpest and clearest images from a distance of 2,000 yards regardless of the time of the day.
It is tough and waterproof, meaning it should be able to survive accidents, such as being accidentally submerged in a lake. It can also withstand unforgivable weather conditions, like heavy rains. It measures 8 x 8 x 4 inches and weighs around 34 ounces.
Vanguard Endeavor ED 8×42
Vanguard is a global firm that is into the design and manufacture of sporting optics, bags, tripods, and other outdoor accessories. It has been in the business for more than 30 years.
The Endeavor ED is their flagship range. This high-end binocular has a host of quality features that you’d expect from a premium model, including fully multi-coated optical elements and premium extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. Weighing approximately 25 ounces, the Endeavor ED 8×42 is not a lightweight model by any definition. But it is extremely well-made. Its body is covered in thick and tactile rubber armoring. It not only improves the grip but also protects the binoculars from knocks and bumps.
You can be assured of clear and sharp images thanks to the ED glass, which helps lessen chromatic aberrations. A clear field of view is also produced with the multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds of the Vanguard’s multi guard coatings. Other features worth mentioning include an ergonomic design for comfortable use, a large focus adjustment wheel, and a wide view angle.
Our guide on top hunting boots offers more excellent products for hunters. Check them out.
Bushnell Trophy XLT
If your budget is a concern, then you should consider getting the Bushnell Trophy XLT. These waterproof binoculars are comfortable in hand, focus quickly, and come at a very affordable price.
The binoculars are useful for hunting in any condition. Its rubber-armored housing not only provides solid protection but also enhances comfort when holding it. It has a fast focus which will come in handy when you are hunting. And with a long eye relief, the binoculars are suitable for glass wearer. It can be useful not only for hunting but also for nature and bird watching and even spectator sports.
Perhaps the only downside is the weight of 38 ounces, which puts the binoculars on the heavier side.
Bushnell Falcon 10×50
The Bushnell Falcon 10×50 offers good value for money. While it is not a lightweight or compact instrument, it can deliver clear and sharp images. It has Porro-style prisms, which are a bit outdated but still good enough for hunting. The build quality is what you’d expect from such a low-end model.
These binoculars offer decent 10x magnification, which is great not only for hunting but also for birding. The objective lens of 500mm gives it a wide field of view. But it can be quite a task to carry this binocular as it weighs around 27 ounces. The binocular is definitely on the heavier side. It is also a bit large due because of the Porro prism. Of course, the use of Porro prism makes this binocular less expensive than more advanced models.
The construction of the binocular isn’t the best, but remember that this is one of the most affordable binoculars you can get today. The InstaFocus lever, for one, is made of plastic. It can be difficult to focus the binocular properly. Moreover, the optics are not multi-coated, so the Falcon lacks light transmission at night. Still, this is a good choice for beginners as well as hunters who don’t want to pay a lot for binoculars.
Swarovski SLC 10×42
Austrian brand Swarovski is considered among the best, if not the best, makers of sports optics. The brand is part of the Swarovski Group that supplies humankind with polished jewelry stones and grinding and cutting tools. For most hunters and birdwatchers, Swarovski optics is the best in the world.
The Swarovski SLC 10×42 could be the best binoculars for hunting, period. Naturally, you’ll have to pay a premium to get your hands on these binoculars. But to say that you’ll get your money’s worth would be an understatement. The SLC stands for slim, light, and compact. It is tough, durable, and offers high-quality images with a wide field of view.
The SLC makes use of HD optical system that produces crystal clear images even in low light conditions. You can see crucial details of your prey, which is important when hunting at twilight. It is fully multi-coated, and so, lets in as much light as possible. The anti-reflection coatings also help in producing bright images.
While not exactly lightweight at 27 ounces, the Swarovski SLC has a magnesium chassis which enhances its durability. Thick and durable, the binoculars are also water- and fog-proof.
Celestron 71404 TrailSeeker
Celestron has been around for more than 50 years. It is a highly regarded designer and manufacturer of quality optical products including binoculars, spotting scopes, and telescopes.
The 71404 TrailSeeker has a reasonable price. It is fully-weatherproof and fog-proof with high-quality coatings. It also offers a large field of view. It comes in six models, from 8×32 to 10×42. The 8×42 model offers a field of view of 426 feet at 1,000 yards. The wide field of view should let you to get a look at your prey quickly. Moreover, you can follow your object a lot easier without having to move the binoculars.
It also has Bak-4 prisms for brighter images and enhanced contrast and resolution. You can also get a detailed observation of the object with its 6.5 feet close focus. It has a magnesium alloy body, which makes it lightweight and durable. The twist-up eyecups are made of metal and should last longer than those made of plastic. It is also a tripod adaptable for easy viewing.
Leupold Tioga BX-2 HD
One of the most trusted makers of binoculars in the world, Leupold started in 1907. Based in Beaverton, Oregon, it also produces telescopic sights and spotting scopes.
The Tioga offers mid-range optics with good features and build-quality and an attractive price tag. It has fully multi-coated optics and the brand’s Xtended Twilight Lens system, which facilitates optimization of red and blue wavelengths during low-light hours. So, you should be able to see clear and sharp images, even at poor lighting conditions.
The Tioga has a characteristic Shadow Gray body color, unlike its older cousins with a black finish. The color makes the binoculars less reflective and thus minimize the chances of you being spotted because of the glare of the finish.