i'm in the market for a new pair of binos. i want something reseanably compact for closer range work. my current pair are the steiner nighthunter 10x50, awesome binos, great for long range open country glassing (alpine) but a bit bulky and to higher power for hunting wooded country. i'm thinking of the steiner 8x30 nighthunters. i really like the auto focus of the steiners and i believe they offer comparable optics to that of some other vastly more expensive brands. low light performance is a must, as is nitrogen purging and waterproofness. so what is your "go-to" pair for most bowhunting situations?

Leupold 10X42s. Use them here in Oregon in all kinds of weather and have held up to the test. Waterproof, fog proof and shock proof. Under $300.00 too.

I have a pair of Leupold "Wind River" binoculars that work great.  I think they are 8X50.  Using a Cabelas harness type sling has worked very well for me.  

For work I have a pair of Canon Image Stabilizing binoculars that are real good too.  They cost about twice as much and require batteries. Neither could be considered compact, but I like them.

Nikon 10x42 Monarch ATB,
I've got the Steiner Military/Marine, but the Nikons are much "brighter" and clearer at low light.
Also much smaller and lighter.
They are my "go to" binocs anymore.
John

For many years I used a pair of Bushnell poro-prism 7x26 glasses that are very compact, light and have very good glass.  I think a lower 6 or 7 power glass is about optimal for the thick woods in the upper Great Lakes, and probably the eastern part of the country as well.  For the past 10 years or so, I've been using a pair of 8x32 Leicas.  Won't find a better glass, but a tad larger and heavier than the Bushnells.  Wish Leica made a 6 power binocular.  My brother has some 8x30 Steiner Predators that he likes a lot.  Good glass, fairly light and compact and slightly on the high end of mid-range in price.

Nikon 10x42 Monarch. Light and work great with glasses

Zeiss 10x42 Conquest ABK.  Awesome binocs.  I see things my buddies can't see.

Nikon 10x42 Monarch, great glass for the price.

Nikon 10x42 Monarch - for all the reasons everyone else has stated.

8x30 swarovski hands down the best all round binocular I have ever used. just the right size and very durable.

There is nothing else out there that compares to the Leica 8X32 Ultravid HD binoculars for deer hunting. Of course, the price is just as high as the quality. For "just" $2,000 you can have the best pair of binoculars made. If you must have only the absolute top of the line, you need to buy them. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, I suggest the Burris 8X30 Signature Selects at about $250. Nothing wrong any of the binoculars others have suggested either.

Allan

Amar911, I don't want to get this thread off topic, but "top-of-the-line" binoculars still belong in a discussion on "binoculars-in-general".

Have you compared the Leicas against some of the other "big guns" like Ziess, Swarovski and Kahles?

(Not real sure Kahles belong in that category...but going just off of prices they ought to.)

I never leave the house with out a pair os Nikon
Travel-Lite  8-30's. Cheap and will fit in your pocket and won't break the bank if lost or broken yet work great for $99.

Vortex 8 x 42.

Great glass for the money.

Best guarantee out there. period.

Tough.

Hi mate, I just bought a set of Swarovski 8x30 and as what was said above hands down the best binos I've looked through as well as light enough to carry around your neck all day. We also used 'em in the Army as well so there good glass.

This was my third set of binos in ten years and I should have just spent the cash in the first place.

Give Halls Firearms a call in Townsville as there price was the best in Oz at $1525. It may seem a lot but when you brake that cost over the years you'll get out of 'em its nothing.


AK.

Nikon monarchs.  For me the best buy for my money.  Mark

Soilarch,

I have compared the Leicas to EVERY other "big gun" brand. In fact, I own several of those other high priced brands, including Swarovski and Zeiss, and the Leica 8X30 Ultravid HD's are easily better than the rest, including the earlier model Ultravids which I also own. The Ultravid HD's are not just in a "binoculars in general" category, they are the finest binocular for deer (or almost any other animal) hunting with a bow, at least in my opinion, and that is what was asked in the post that started this thread. It is a lot of money to pay for a pair of binoculars, and there are plenty of others that will work just fine, but if function, not money, is the overriding factor, then those are the binoculars to buy. Most people will choose something less expensive, and they will be well justified in doing so, because $2000 is a heck of a lot of money.

Allan

When it comes to optics you get what you pay for. Purchase the best you can afford.

I've had a pair of Leica 8x32BN's since 2001....The best $$ I've ever spent! I've used them every day I've hunted  since I got them. Like someone said, when you break it down over the years of use you get out of top-end bino's....it's next to nothing.....

Before I had these I had a pair of Leopold's that I liked a lot.....

I like Bushnell 10x25 H2O binos.