• If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here

Best Binos

How much do you actually USE binos daily on a hunt?
Out west, we use binos up to 8-10 hours a day. And glass from 50 yards to 4+ miles. So my recommendation would be very different for the occasional 10 minutes of use out to 200 yards for when you see movement through the trees vs. glassing for 8 hours a day trying to pick an antler tip out of a sea of bushes/grass/cactus/trees.
You're asking for a bad headache if you use cheap glass the way these folks use binos. Definitely matters how you use them as to what you need. Cheap is painful if you look through them for hours a day, jus sayin
 
Call Doug @gr8fuldoug and ask him about GPO's (German Precision Optics). I have 8x32's and couldn't be happier. Turned my buddy into them and he got a set of 8x32's for on his chest and 12.5x50's for distance. You could get both for the price range you're discussing. The larger would fulfill your range use and the smaller for all field work. I plan on getting 10x32 Rangeguides for rifle hunting here in the West. GPO was started by two ex-executives from Zeiss. Lifetime warranty, small form factor, light, bright, etc.
 
With $800 you can get a really good used set of Leica Trinovids in 8x40, or Swaro SLC in the same magnification. Used Alpha glass, even their entry level model and even a couple of generations old, is a FAR FAR better glass and a better deal than new cheap glass. With the used Alpha glass, you will get almost all your money back if you decide to upgrade, with Nikon, Vortex, Maven etc, lucky to get 50% of what you paid new.


 
Last edited:
I have some Vortex Viper 6x32 binos for PNW timberlands hunting and they work fine, light and pretty clear/sharp for the money. New versions have HD glass. I only use 10x for eastern WA Mule deer hunting, otherwise it's 6x or 8x.
 
I know you said around 800.00 but Midway and Brownells have some really good deals around or within a couple hundred right now on some serious glass. I'm a fan of Leica and use the Ultravid 10×42. There a few places right now that have great prices on Leica Trinovids that are a great binocular. I've seen some of the Zeiss models on sale at very low prices for the quality of glass. You really can't go wrong with anything from the top three and I would throw Meopta, Kahles, and Steiner in there as a very, very, small step down in glass. Good luck!
 
For the price, decent glass, but not in the class of Leica, Swaro or even Kowa. You can get much better glass than Maven in the 800 price range.

Even brand new, you can buy Leica Trinovid 8x42 HD for 999 or 10x42 HD for only $869, both of which are a LONG step up from Maven.


 
Last edited:
For the price, decent glass, but not in the class of Leica, Swaro or even Kowa. You can get much better glass than Maven in the 800 price range.

Even brand new, you can buy Leica Trinovid 8x42 HD for 999 or 10x42 HD for only $869, both of which are a LONG step up from Maven.


That 10×42 Trinovid is a steal! If I wasn't already loving my Ultravids, I'd be all over that. My opinion, best bargain out there right now! Great glass!
 
I'd take a look at Leica Geovid-R 8X42 binoculars. Like I said it's a good time to upgrade your rangefinder as well. This combines excellent glass with a great rangefinder. I haven't compared the glass to other Leica binoculars.

I use 10X42 Geovid-R binoculars. I started using Leica as it was the first rangefinder I found that would give accurate readings on pronghorn. All the other LRF (Bushnell, Leupold, Nikon) I tried wouldn't range a pronghorn much beyond 200 yds. Once Leica started making Geovids I knew I needed them.
 
Top