BEST BINOCULARS

Hunting for the Best Binoculars

We have taken a look at the best hunting binoculars on the market today. One of the most important tools to have when you are out hunting is a good quality pair of binoculars. There’s nothing worse than having a cheap pair of binoculars that you can’t see through clearly, or that will fog up when you need them the most. When it matters, when you are considering whether to take the game that you are looking at, you want to know exactly what you are looking at, and a good quality pair of binoculars will let you see long distances clearly. When you need to determine in an instant whether the Elk, Deer, or other game animal is the trophy you are searching for, to make that quick decision whether it’s the one you want, make sure you are looking through a pair of high quality binoculars so you can see clearly and accurately.

High Quality Binoculars Key Features

• Fogproof • Waterproof or Water Resistant • Lifetime Warranty • Tripod Ready

Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 15X56MM Binoculars

Leupold has taken the world of binoculars up a notch with the BX®-5 Santiam® HD 15x56mm binoculars. It has a clear, crisp, and powerful 15x magnification to make identifying your target quicker, and easier. These binoculars are built for amazing adventures in harsh environments. The BX-5 Santiam HD binocular dominates other optics that we took a look at, so we rate these as the best in class. Highly durable, even in temperature from -40 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.They are waterproof, and fogproof. They are tripod ready, giving you the added stability of a steady viewing which is extremely important using any magnification on any binoculars. These binocuars have it all, and will last you a lifetime with the lifetime warranty where they will repair or replace them, if at any time they don’t perform, whether you are the original owner or not. That way you know the investment you make today in having the best binoculars, will last you for all your hunting seasons, no matter what.

ZEISS Victory RF Range Finding 10x54 Binoculars

Zeiss has combined technology and science create certainty for your hunting experience with better accuracy for shot placement with the Zeiss Victory RF Rangefinding Binoculars. The Victory RF binocular laser rangefinder system incorporates a laser with an integrated real time ballistics computer and on board weather station to give you the exact information you need for the best shot placement. Connecting to the ZEISS Hunting App on your smartphone further ensures precisely placed shots from 10 to 2,500 yards away, each and every time. The measuring and output gives you the details you need with a single press of a button. If you are like us, and want the ulatimate in high tech hunting gear, these binoculars are the perfect addition to your hunting equipment to give you that extra edge that you want.

Leica Geovid Bluetooth Rangefinding Binoculars

Leica’s Geovid Bluetooth Rangefinding Binoculars are the most compact and powerful rangefinder binoculars in the premium class, equipped with the world’s leading Applied Ballistics® software and a precise Class 1 laser. Accurate readings out to 3,200 yards. Incorporating Bluetooth technology, this binocular rangefinder combination gives you the confidence for your shot as it, silently and quickly sends range readings to your Apple® Watch or smartphone for precise measurements you can depend on. It’s on board sensors give air pressure, temperature, and angle readings for precise shot placement.

Binoculars Magnification

One of the first things to consider when buying a pair of binoculars is what you will be using it for, and how far away you will be from the animals that you need to zoom into. A good rule of thumb would be to look for an 8x or 10x magnification, of coarse the higher the number the more that you can zoom in. The higher that you zoom in, the more it will matter that you have a steady hand, and a high quality binocular, so that you can have a more stable image that you will be able to focus in on what you are looking at. The more you move or shake, the higher the possibility that you will be looking at an image that could get a little less clear.

Binoculars Field of View

Just like on a rifle scope, for binoculars, a wide field of view is also important. I typically look for a view of at least 340 feet at 1,000 yards. A wide field of view is important because by being able to see so much area in the binocular around the animal that you are looking at, it will help you find the animal when you bring up your binoculars and try to locate where it was that you saw the animal. Also, if the animal is moving, it enables you to continue to follow it easier by having so much of the space around the animal visible without moving the binoculars as much to track the animal. On cheaper binoculars with a smaller field of view I find that I have difficulty in finding exactly what I was wanting to look through the binoculars to see, losing precious seconds, or not being able to find the animal at all, both of which could cause you to lose the animal entirely. Hunters will greatly appreciate having binoculars with a wider field of view because it makes it so much easier to locate and track wild game.

Binoculars Exit Pupil Diameter

I also look for a binocular to have an exit pupil of at least 2 mm for day use, and 5 mm or more for low light conditions. The exit pupil gives you a rough guide to how bright your images will be in low light. The larger the number, the more light will come through to your eyes at dawn or dusk, at night, or in the shadows. You can calculate the exit pupil of your binoculars by dividing the objective lens size in mm by the magnification size. As an example, if you're using 8x42 binoculars, that gives you an exit pupil of 42mm / 8 = 5.25mm, which is good for use in low-light conditions.

Binoculars Lens Coatings

When looking for a good pair of binoculars, it is also important to find a pair with fully multi-coated lenses, which will improve the brightness, contrast and color accuracy of the images that you see through your binoculars by reducing the amount of light that's reflected away from them. Fully multi-coated lenses mean that all light-receiving surfaces are coated, both inside and outside the binoculars.

Binoculars With Tripod Socket

If you have a tripod, or intend to use one, it is important that the binoculars have a tripod socket, meaning that they are tripod ready. This is not an absolute must, but it is a nice feature to have, especially with binoculars with high magnification to help to stabilize the image for clarity.

Fogproof and Waterproof Binoculars

There’s no bigger let down than on a rainy day, you have the best rainproof gear, have you binoculars carefully protected, and you come upon a monster buck, and you pull your binoculars out, and you can’t see through them because as soon as you pull them out of their protective environment in your jacket or a case, they fog up completely. This is one of the necessities for hunting in areas with large ranges between the high and low temperatures, or areas where you will be hunting in the rain. I always look for models that are fully waterproof and nitrogen- or argon-purged. These features keep moisture from getting into your binoculars and fogging up the lenses when the binoculars get wet, or are pulled from a protected environment, such as in your jacket, to a drastic change in the environment, such as cold, rainy weather.

Binoculars Adjustable Eye Relief

If you wear eyeglasses, this feature is a must; look for an eye relief of at least 11 mm. Eye relief is how far your eyes can be from the eyepieces before you start to lose field of view. Some eyeglass wearers appreciate eye relief of 15 mm or more. Adjustable eyepieces are best because you can push them in to make room for your glasses, or pull them out to give you a comfortable view without your glasses.

Binoculars Quality Prisms

Roof prisms are preferred by most because they allow for smaller and more compact binoculars. But, for truly top-notch performance they must have a dielectric coating. Some people don’t like the binoculars with porro prisms because they can make the binoculars larger and heavier, but also less expensive. As long as the prisms are high-quality, they don't have to be coated to function well. This is all a matter of personal preference.

Binoculars Rubberized Armor Coating

For durability, and extra comfort, I like for my binoculars to have a tough, rubberized armor coating which protects the sensitive optics inside your binoculars from shocks and extreme weather. It also makes it easier for me to hold on to my binoculars, and they feel better in my hand.

Binoculars Warranty

When you invest in a high quality pair of hunting binoculars, it is a pricey investment. Protect that investment by picking a manufacturer that will stand by their product and make it right if there is an issue with your binoculars. You should look for brands that offer a lifetime warranty on their product.

Taking Care of Your Binoculars

Now that you have invested good money into a great pair of binoculars for yourself, you will want to take good care of them so they will last for generations to come, and you will know they will be in good shape on opening day of deer or elk season each year. You should never touch the lenses with your fingers, or clean them with anything other than a soft cloth like the one that typically comes with them, which you can also buy where eyeglasses are sold. Fingers, paper towels, and material other than the soft lens cleaning material will scratch your lenses, making your binoculars pretty much useless over years of doing that. I buy a spray on lens or eyeglass cleaner, from a camera store, or an eyeglass store, as well as a lens tissue or microfiber lens cloth, and I never use anything other than that to clean the lenses. Never take the binoculars apart, as that will allow air into the inside of the binoculars, which will also release any gas or vacuum that was done during the manufacturing process, and you will lose your clarity, and could allow moisture into the binoculars, as well as remove the fogproof ability. I also use a computer air blower from the office supply store to blow off any dust or dirt that are on the lenses before I clean them, to lessen the risk of scratching. Be sure to keep your lens covers, and make good use of them, as this is yet one more way to protect your investment from scratching. Any hunter that has spent time out in the woods knows that you need to know that you can count on your gear. Top quality optics are very important, and you need to know that you can count on your gear when you need it the most. About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Binocular Shopping Experience Awaits!