A couple years ago I had to start wearing glasses. ah, the joys of aging... anyway, I can't see squat through my binoculars with my glasses on and I was hoping some of you good folks could recommend a model of binos that works well with glasses. Thanks in advance.
I have the same issue. I'll be watching this too.
I was the same way. I see well at distances without glasses but would prefer to wear my glasses at all times. I just got the Vortex Viper's HD in 6 X 32. Even though on other binos I feel like I have to take my glasses off and hold them while using them, with the Vipers, I can still wear my glasses and do great. I really like the Vipers. The eye cups have adjustable positions that seem to fit my situation.
I can relate. Everything started falling apart when I hit 40. The glasses/bino problem is something I had to learn to deal with too. After 13yrs I still fight with my glasses while hunting.
Even if you do find user friendly binos you're probably going to leave a mark on your glasses lens from the contact. If you are like me a tiny smudge drives me nuts.
Here's what I do........hold the glasses in my teeth, or stick the glasses up on my forehead while glassing. Sometimes I'll wear contacts on a hunt but they are a pain in the arse if it's windy or really dry.
Stinks getting old.
I've worn glasses since I was 12 (we'll just say a looong time :) ) and it always seemed like binos and glasses just didn't mix. I've had ny Swarovski 8 x 30's for about 15 years or so and they have cups that twist in for glasses or out for those without. This effectively keeps the eye relief the same for everybody. I never remove my glasses to sit and glass anymore. Seems to work fine for me, though they can smudge your glasses some so you have to clean them more frequently. :dunno:
I've worn glasses for most of my life and have had no problems with binoculars that I've had over the years. Leica, Swarovski, and some old Bushnell Customs. All have had either the twist in eye cups or fold down rubber eye cups.
I have a pair of Swarovski 8.5x42 ELs, and aside from the stellar optics, the fact I could see the full field while wearing my glasses was the clincher for me.
Swarovski 8x30 SLC and 7.42 SLC don't give me any problems. Had both those binocs for 10 years or so and they are spectacular.
Also my want to take a look at the updated Leupold binocs. They are super impressive for the money.
The same as "Elkchaser", except I have Leica's, no problem seeing through them.
I'm blind as a bat without my glasses, but I haven't had a problem using binoculars with my glasses on. The only major issue for me is getting them with screw up/down eyecups that stay where you put them. Some glasses are pretty sloppy and others have good detentes that hold where I put them.
They also have to have a fairly long eye relief, but most good glasses have that now because so many of us are living longer and do wear eyeglasses.
The golden years aren't all they're cracked up to be, but using binoculars is one of the few things I can still do OK :(
From a quality of life perspective, one of the best things I have ever done was to get contacts. I fought with glasses in so many ways for about a decade before I saw the light. If contacts are an option, I highly recommend them.
QuoteOriginally posted by John Scifres:
From a quality of life perspective, one of the best things I have ever done was to get contacts. I fought with glasses in so many ways for about a decade before I saw the light. If contacts are an option, I highly recommend them.
Tried contacts recently, and it was a disaster. In theory I should be able to use them, but it just didn't work for me.
I have worn glasses all my life. I use to have the problem with cheap bino's, but I bought some Nikon Monarch's and Vortex and have not issue. I believe it is the diopter setting that mess's us up. I think if you go to a hunting store, they should have a nice selection to look at, this is what I did and like a bow tried them all. Once other thing. Don't get price shock! A decent pair of bino's will run 200 or more, but ensure that they come with lifetime warranty. It will be an investment to last your lifetime and easier on eyes. Two years ago, I had my vortex's for 3 years, and noticed the focus knob was really loose but gettin up and down tree. I emailed them and they said ship it. I had my Bino's back in a week, they fixed the problem and cleaned them up so good I emailed them to see if they replaced them, they said nope just part of our lifetime commitment, was well worth the money.
Glasses most of my life, blind in left eye and cant see out of the other (with out my glasses) literally
:saywhat: I have always used the cheep binos, it was hard for me to spend the money on a good set but finely bit the bullet and got a pair of Vortex Viper's HD in 10 X 40 (Im in the west). Best thing i ever did, i fold down the eye cups and use with my glasses.
I wear glasses as well. I have found that adjusting the eye cups down and pressing them against my glasses works best. I hate to take off my glasses because I am usually alternating between binos and glasses. The deer are never that close. ((:
Martin
Contacts do make it easier-no question. Coupla' years ago I got some higher quality 6x32 binocs and that seems to be the ticket to use with glasses-for me anyway. That, and just relaxing a bit when I use the binocs; the 6x32's are ideal for spot and stalk and picking fur out of brush.
I have a pair of leopold binoculars with pull out eyecups that work just fine for me when I am wearing my glasses. It is much more comfortable to wear contacts though.
Yep, Swarovskis work just fine for me, cannot see squat without my glasses anymore.
I have been wearing glasses since 4th grade and am now 56 so a long time. I don't have any problem with binos and my glasses, but I think it is what you get used to. My Swarovskis with the fold down rubber cups or the screw in eyepieces make it easy. You just adjust it for what's comfortable for you and leave it. It drives anybody else who wants to use them nuts but then nobody asks to borrow them either.
If you wear glasses you have to roll the eye cups down.
James
I'm so near sighted I can see things on the inside of my eyeglasses.
Look for a pair of binocs with 15mm or more of eye relief and as large an exit pupil as you can afford.
I don't rely heavily on binocs so I satisfy myself with relatively cheap Bushnell 8x26 Waterproof Legend Bak-4 porro prism pair. Small enough I can wear them without much added weight or bulk.
The best eye relief I have had with glasses is with the Brunton Eternas.
Learn to use the cups, and practice off season so you are comfortable. I wear trifocals and can use them handily
Hate those glasses, but .....
Try Sightron 8x42 or 10x42 if you wear glasses. I liked mine so much I bought an extra pair. A bonus is that the depth of field with Sightron is constant throughout the viewing field, up close or distance is sharp. Lastly, they won't break your wallet.
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x40 and 8x36 work great just the way they are set up. Ken
I say give the contacts an extended try. It took me a good year before I could wear them consistently but they are all I use these days. Otherwise, I would just get a lanyard for your glasses and take em off to glass.
I wear glasses , have for years, I have a pair of Stieners 8X30 ,I just roll the eye cups down and use them .....no problem!
just a random thought. In the military we were taught to place our thumbs along side our heads to shield the bino-face gap. I have always found this sharperned the image. Have you tried that>
I use 8x32 Leica Ultravids with no problems with my glasses. The eyecups turn out for non-eyeglass wearers, in for eyeglass wearers. Of course, with glasses, you can never get your eye as close to the eyepiece as you can without glasses so some ramdom light tries to sneak in. Roadkill has some good advice.
I think the problem with my current binos is that the eye relief is so short I can't get my eye close enough to the eye piece to focus the image. Thanks for all the input, I'm going to have to find some better binos.
I have been wearing glasses for over 30 years. I always pushed my glasses out of the way when I used binocular. You can adjust your binocular to accommodate your vision.
Without your glasses, focus your binoculars on an objects at least a hundred yard away, the further the better. Once you have the object in focus, close your left eye and adjust the eye piece on the right side by rotating the eye piece clock wise or counter clock wise until the object is sharp. And, voila. No more glasses.
I bought a the small Alaska guide 10-32 binoculars from Cabela's this year after some years of searching and trying. Best that I've found for me by far. With the eyecups in the down size mode they work fine with my bifocals. Field of view is reduced a little.
I keep my eye glasses on a cord and can remove them and roll up the eyecups if I'm really trying to glass something. Not sure why they are better for me than the other ones I've tried.