Binocular Recommendations

[jonsimoneau]

It's been said many times here but go with what REALLY suits your needs and what you can afford.  I will say though that I would have been money ahead had I bought a good pair of Binoculars in the first place rather than going through a bunch of cheaper ones that normally ended up just sitting on the dash of my truck.
   I hunted whitetails for at least 15 years without ever taking a pair of binoculars with me.  I did just fine.  I never missed out on a kill due to not having binoculars.  Then I went on a hunt in Africa and the P.H. had a set of Swarvoski binoculars.  I took a few looks through them and was amazed at what I could see with them...especially at "prime time".
  A few years later, I took the money I had saved for a new bow and bought a good set of Leica binoculars.  It was money well spent.  I never step foot in the woods without them and I use them a LOT more than my bow in a normal hunting day!
   Lot's of people say that they all look the same when looking through them in the store.  But out in the woods is a different deal.
   Will they fog up? Do they gather light at prime time? Will they mostly end up sitting on the dash of the truck?
  Consider a pair of binoculars to be an investment.  If you by a pair from one of the big 3 companies it will be expensive...but if you do not lose them you will have them for life.
   My time in the outdoors has greatly been enhanced by having a good set of glass around my neck at all times.  Each year I walk all the way to a pre-set treestand and realize I forgot my binoculars.  I walk all the way back to the truck to get them.  I simply cannot stand to be without them now. Just my 2 cents! Good luck out there guys!

[agross1]

Anyone use the vortex crossfire 2?

[Fritz]

Love my vortex diamondbacks 8x32.

[MnFn]

Jonsimoneau nailed it in his last post. That has been my experience as well. Only other comment I have based on my experience is I tried a 10x40 Leica for s few years. I went back to my 8 powers because I did not like that much bulk/ weight when bow hunting- particularly in the mountains.

[PeteA]

Update: got a pair of the Leupold Yosemites 6x30 last night. I'm a little bit surprised about the size and weight. I was hoping for something more compact. I hunt from the ground and like to have my bow in hand and at the ready. These are definitely a 2 hand operation. I have a month to return them. So a little more playing around is in order.

Let's switch gears a bit. Anyone have experience with a Vortex Solo Monocular 8x32. Any thoughts?