Optic - What Binocs to Bowhunting.

[Russ Clagett]

i use Kahles 8x32 binos...small..awesome...Kahles is a division of swarovski...but cost much less....in fact back in the day Mr Kahles had a young apprentice named Daniel Swarovski.....

[Easykeeper]

Zbone I was in your position about this time last year.  Over the years I went through several pairs of decent binoculars, the last was a pair of Leupold  Wind Rivers.  They were the best I'd had up to that point.  Rough use on my part led to their needing replacement.

I spent about six hours over two separate days at the local Cabelas looking through binos.  I went home with the Swarovski 8.5x42 ELs.  My guilty feeling didn't last long as I got to using them.  In the store they were obviously better than what I was used too, but how much better really became apparent over time.  I think the money was well spent.  Considering Swarovski's reputation for service I expect to be using these binos for the rest of my days.  I   might buy another pair, but I don't think I will   need another pair.  The view through the Swaros is really amazing in every way and ergonomically they are by far the best for one-handed use of any bino I've had.

That said, I doubt I will kill anything or even see anything that I couldn't with the Leupolds, except for   maybe in   extremely dark conditions.  I looked through some nice binos by Vortex, Nikon, Leupold, Zeiss (right up there with Swarovski) and Leica (at a different store, but very nice too).

[Whip]

As I mentioned earlier, I do have a pair of Swarovski 8.5x42's and absolutely love them.  But I bought mine awhile ago, and I understand what you are saying about hesitation to spend what they cost today.  That's a lot of money, although I doubt you would regret it if you decide to pull the plug.

For a cheaper, but high quality, alternative, I would be looking hard at the Vortex Viper HD's from Eagle Optics.  Great glass for far less money, and fantastic warranty.  Are the Swarovski's better?  Of course they are.  But to me, the difference is relatively small, and the price is more than triple.  That's a lot to pay for that final step up in quality.

[Shortlongbow]

Vortex Viper HDs are hard to beat for the $ and the warranty is excellent. I have the 8x32s and love them.

[Tom Leemans]

Eagle Optics Ranger 10X42. Good glass, great warranty, made well, pretty good price.

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Big Ed:
I use the Nikon Monarch X's  in a 8x42 and love them!!

X2. Absolutly great glass for the money!

[Ray Lyon]

Swarovski 8x20 compact for me in the whitetail and turkey woods. I've found that I use them more because they're handy.  I have a pair of Cabela's 7x35 from years ago that are not too large (about 5.5 x 5 inches) and are decent glass, but they were just not fitting into a pocket on my chest and I don't want anything hanging around my neck that's going to hang up the bow string or potentially bump something else (grunt tube) and make noise at the wrong  time.

[Sixgun]

I have a set of Zeiss Diafun 8x30's. They were Zeiss' lowest priced offering at that time. They rate favorably to my buddy's Nikon ATB's.

Ray

[DennyK]

Love my 8x32 Leicas for deer and small game hunting. Only glass I've owned/needed in the last 15 years. I use them reguardless of weather or hunting conditions. They really add to my enjoyment of my hunting or scouting.

[longrifle346]

I hunt down east so I'm either glassing beanfield edges or picking thickets apart. 500-600 yards is a long way down here in these pines, I use a pair of Fujinon AutoFocus 10x50s and a pair of Bushnell PermaFocus while bowhunting. After 7-8 years of using autofocus glass I won't own anything else. It's nice to be able to look back 5 or 6 layers into timber or scrub and pick out an ear or a leg without fiddling with a darn knob or wheel.

[ron w]

I got a deal on a pair of 8X30 Steiners about 6-7 years ago....best money I ever spent!

[AWPForester]

8 by 42 Pentax DCF.  I bought them several years ago for $350.  They are now in the $800 range.  I'd put them against any glass made and as the price shows, so would a lot of other people.  God Bless

[Pointer]

8X32 Bushnell...good enough for my purposes in the Ny deer woods

[Ratatat]

I have tried a few and I really like the Zeiss victory compacts.  8x20.  Really lightweight.

[bswear]

I have pair of Swarovski  SLC 8 x 30 wb that I have had for 25 years.  For more power I use my Leupold spotting scope.  Every 10 years or so I send them back and they clean them for free and they are like new again.  I paid $450 but that was a lot of money back then too.  I have never went hunting without looking, ever.  Hundreds of days in the woods without a shot from my bow!

[AdAstraAiroh]

With hunting gear, I always try to get the greatest functionality for the lowest cost. I was overwhlemed by the optical qualitiy of the Zen-Ray ZRS HD (SUMMIT) 8x42 Waterproof Binoculars. They sell on-line for only $205, and yet they have the specifications and functional qualities of other binoculars that cost 3 times more.  Check out the reviews on Zen-Ray before you send you money to pay for a more advertised brand name.

Mark

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by Big Ed:
I use the Nikon Monarch X's  in a 8x42 and love them!!

Same as Ed

[chanumpa]

Ive gotto get a new pair and have really looked,and am not in the really good,high end price range.So its going to be the 10X42 Bushnell H2os for me.Wish I could afford those little Stieners.They are a really good looking bang for the buck.I already have my stalk for my new ones started.I will pounce the day after Xmas.

[skilonbw]

I just got back from on a photo safari in South Africa and I took a pair of Minox BF 10x42 BR that were awesome in the brush or on the open plain to spot game. Looking forward to using them for scouting and hunting next year to truly work them out

[hunt it]

If you are shopping for top quality, go with the Swarovski's . They stand behind their products better than any other outfit period. Mine are 10x42ELC and I love them.