One of the most important and valuable tools a hunter can have is a good pair of binoculars.  Binoculars are used for nearly every part of hunting, so it is important that you purchase a good pair.  The big question is “What are the Best Binoculars for Hunting“.  The answer is, “the best pair of binoculars that you can afford.”  Obviously, not every body’s budget is going to be the same.  That is why it is important to determine a good pair of binoculars that are both affordable and built for the situation at hand.  We know the situation: hunting in the elements of the great outdoors.  But the price will vary from person to person, so in this article, we will look at the best binoculars for hunting breaking it down with price ranges.

Criteria for Being the Best Binoculars for Hunting

1. 10 power magnification: most adequate for most hunting situations with good field of view.
2. At least 40mm objective: this is the size of the end opposite that you look through.  It determines the amount of light the binoculars capture
3. Price: they must fit into your price range.
4. All binoculars are compared to a mid priced, average pair of binoculars.

Tip: When deciding on the best binoculars for hunting, it is important to remember that a $500 set is more than twice as good as a $250 set.  But a $1500 set will probably not be three times as good as a $500 set, or twice as good as a $750 set.  Therefor, like mentioned before, go with the best that you can afford.  All the models listed below will get the job done, it just depends on how much you want and are able to spend.

Best Binoculars for Hunting: Under $200

Bushnell 10 x 42 Excursion EX Binoculars:  If you are in the market for a pair of value priced binoculars that will do all that are necessary for hunting, then these may be the best binoculars for hunting.  The size of these binoculars are ideal and are the same shape of the the high end models giving off a good feel at an inexpensive price.  With a field of view of 341 feet at 1000 yards, you will not have a problem keeping objects in sight.  For such inexpensive glass, these are incredibly clear, and when compared with high end glasses, there is not a two thousand dollar difference.  The fact is that these are not made with near the quality of components as the models that cost much more.  Still, they are guaranteed waterproof and fog proof, with quality construction.  With a light weight design, soft

touch grips, and extended eye relief (for use with glasses), these binoculars are the best for hunting for a person on a budget, or for a gift for any outdoorsmen, as even if they have a more expensive pair of hunting binoculars, these will make a great back up or an additional set for in the truck, boat, or RV.

The prices below reflects the prices at the time of this writing.  These binoculars have a list price of $349.00, so if the prices remain the same at below $200.00, then you will be getting a heck of a binocular at a great price.

For more information or to buy, Click the links below:

Bushnell 10 x 42 Excursion EX AP Black Best Price: Binoculars.com $179.98

Bushnell 10 x 42 Excursion EX AP Camo Best Price: Amazon.com $197.80

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting: Under $300

Minox BV II 10 x 42 BR: The field of view is what impresses me most about these binoculars, but not far behind is the impressive price.  Minox constructed these water/fog proof binoculars to have a field of view of 342 feet at 1000 yards, which will compete with most high-end binoculars.  The main difference is price, you will not be paying over $1000 dollars to get these specs, in fact you will only be spending about $300.  Also, another

notable factor is the 18mm of eye relief.  This makes it perfect for everybody’s eyes with or without glasses, as the eye cusps can be moved back and forward.  The shape and design are also a compliment to these binoculars.  They are balanced and fit into ones hands comfortably.

The clarity of these hunting binoculars are great for a value priced model.  They are just as clear, maybe even a little clearer, than my more expensive comparison binoculars.  They also performed equally as well in low light conditions.  To protect the image clarity, Minox uses an “innovative sealing technology” that makes it waterproof up to 3 meters.  Then they coat the outside with a rubber armor that will protect from everyday bumps, not to mention, it gives it a great feel.

These Binoculars will be a great addition to any hunter’s, bird watcher’s, or fisherman’s arsenal even if they have several binoculars already.  Definitely , these are some of the best binoculars for hunting with a price that is hard to beat.  They are built from aircraft quality aluminum and come with a 30 year limited warranty.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Minox BV II 10 x 42 BR Best Price: Binoculars.com $299

Best Binoculars for Hunting: Under $400

Leupold 10×42 BX-3 Mojave Binoculars: Leupold has been in business for over 100 years, so they must be doing something right.  Everything they put their name on is usually one of the best in its price range.  Leupold 10×42 BX-3 Mojave Binoculars are no different.  They utilize a unique design that allows them to have all the benefits of a 42mm objective (light gathering and field of view), while keeping them compact and lightweight.  The design fits nicely into any size hand, in fact, I have a pair that I have been using for years, and my 5 foot tall sister has had two pairs.  Her dog chewed up on of the eye pieces, she sent them in and they returned to her a brand new pair free of charge.  Talk about a lifetime warranty, all of Leupold products come with this level of security.

With an eye relief of 16mm, anybody with or without glasses will be able to set the twisting eye cusps to exactly what works best for them.  They also offer a generous field of view of 326 feet at 100 yards.  These phase-coated, roof-prism, center-focus binoculars also feature multi-coated lenses for brightness and clarity, which is exactly what you will get with the Leupold Mojave.  Also, the armor coating, available in black or camo ($20 more), is designed to give them a great feel while offering maximum protection against the demanding elements of hunting.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Leupold 10×42 BX-3 Mojave Binoculars (Black) Best Price: Binoculars.com  $399.99

Leupold 10×42 BX-3 Mojave Binoculars (camo) Best Price: Binocular.com $419.99

 

Best Binoculars For Hunting: Under $500

Vortex Talon HD 10×42 Binocular: For an inexpensive binoculars for hunting you will not find a better deal than the these.  With high density (HD), extra low dispersion glass, it is doubtful that you will find a clear, more scratch resistance set of binoculars in this price

range.  In fact there are a lot of factors that help to make these the best in their class.  The field of view of almost 350 feet at 1000 yards is almost unheard of for a 10 power, 42mm objective binocular in any price range.

Vortex entered the optics market by offering a mid priced product with the clarity and design, amongst other features, of the high priced European models, but at a third of the price.  The Vortex Talon, at the time of this writing, is their newest model, so I have not even been able to field test it yet, but looking through them and feeling the design quality, it was not a hard decision to put these at the top pick in their price range.  Go to the link below to read the specs, you will be amazed at all these binoculars have to offer for the price, making them the best binoculars for hunting under $500.

For more info information or to buy, Click Here:

Vortex Talon HD 10×42 Binocular Best Price: EagleOptics.com  $449

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $700

Vortex Viper 10 x 42 HD: One of the first binocular manufactures to bring the design of the high dollar binoculars to the mid  price range was vortex.  Offering mid priced glass with the quality of high grade optics is what brought popularity to the Vortex line of hunting optics.  Now they have a huge foot hold, lot of loyal customers, and optics in all categories (binoculars, spotting scopes, monocular, and tripods) and all price ranges.  Many of the reviews I read before I bought a pair for myself said they could not believe the Vortex Viper HD is at least a third of the cost of the high dollar brands with glass that is hard to find much difference in clarity.  Still, if you talk to the hard core European glass (Swarovski, Zeiss, Leica, ect) supporters, they will tell you theirs are better, clear, stronger, but most will agree that they are the closest thing for the price.

The Vortex Viper 10 x 42 HD hunting binoculars are made tough and mimic the look and feel of competing high end European optics companies.  the HD stands for high density, extra-low dispersion glass.  This was added to the already clear and rugged set up to give it a step up and an extra scratch resistance lens.  If it does not say “HD” on it then it is not high density glass, so make sure you do not buy a pair that look the same at a lower price, because even though you will still be getting a high quality product, it wont be HD which is said to last longer and resist scratches much longer than the originals.  Either way, you will

be getting a good product, and along with a link below to the Vortex Viper HD, I will include a link to the regular Vortex Viper which is available at a lower price but is still a high quality hunting binocular.

Important Specifications:

• 319 foot field of view at 1000 yards
• 24.6 oz
• 16.5 mm eye relief
• Waterproof, fog proof
• 5.1 close focus
• roof prism binoculars

Like any best binoculars for hunting should be, the Vortex vipers are waterproof (O rings) and fog proof (argon gas).  Also they are constructed strongly and has a grippy armor coating that helps protect from the unusual bumps of hunting.  These are an all around great product that I have yet to hear a negative about.  Not to mention they are currently on sale at Eagleoptics.com at $100 off the list price with free shipping.  Get them at the link below before they run out or raise the price.

For more information or to buy, Click the link below:

Vortex 10×42 Viper HD Binoculars Best Price: Eagle Optics $599

Vortex 10×42 Viper Binoculars: no longer unavailable, go to Vortex Talon HD 10×42 Binocular above

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $1000

Zeiss Conquest 10×40 B T* Binocular: To get into a pair of high quality European optics one usually has to pay upwards of $2,000.  That is why Zeiss decided to manufacture a great, all around set of binoculars in a 10x magnification (as well as others) that would be the best binoculars for hunting that would fit into a person’s budget who did not want to spend so much money on high quality optics.  They introduced the Conquest Series which offer incredibly clear optics built with superb craftsmanship that are the perfect size.  Zeiss has been producing high quality glass for over 150 years out of Germany.  They specialize in products from eye glass lenses to microscopes, as well as other precise equipment.

Conquest Specifications:

• Magnification:                              10x
• Objective Lens Diameter           40 mm
• Field of View                                315ft
• Eye Relief                                     16 mm
• Close Focus                                  9.8 feet
• Weight                                          29 oz
• Dimensions (HxW)                     5.6 x 4.5 inches
• Weatherproofing                        Water and fog proof

The Conquest Binoculars are the best binoculars for hunting under $1000 just because they are on sale at the link below.  They have a list price of over $1300, but due to the current economy, dealers are forced to compete with each other bringing the price into the “under $1000” category.  That makes the Zeiss Conquest a heck of a deal for someone with a budget of $1000, because you still get the quality of a higher dollar binocular, but at a reduced price.  Hopefully the price will stay where it is at.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Zeiss Conquest 10×40 B T* Binocular Best Price: Eagle Optics  $929.00

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $1,500

Vortex Razor HD 10×42 Roof Prism Binocular: Coming in at well under $1,500 while delivering the clarity and brightness of optics worth twice as much is the Vortex Razor HD.  High Density (HD), extra-low dispersion glass is in part the reason for ultimate resolution and color fidelity, resulting in High Definition images.  Combine this with hand picked roof prisms, Vortex anti-reflective coatings, and phase correction, and you have yourself a binocular that will compete with anything on the market.  The Razor is made of a Magnesium Chassis that decreases weight and increases strength, while the roof prisms allow Vortex to decrease the overall size making these hunting binoculars more versatile and lighter than many more expensive models.

Vortex, an American company since 1986, began producing fine optics in hopes of competing with the European brands by offering similar quality at significantly lower prices.  They hit the market perfectly and know Vortex is one of the top selling brands of optics for hunting in the world.  The Vortex Razor HD 10×42 is sure to keep their winning streak going.  This is the top of the line for Vortex, so you know the image will be superb and craftsmanship will be second to none.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Vortex Razor HD 10×42 Roof Prism Binocular Best Price: Binoculars.com $1199.99

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $2000

Zeiss Victory FL 10×42 Binoculars: After over 150 years of manufacturing some of the highest grade optics in the world, Zeiss has ended up with their best binoculars for hunting.  The victory is the top of the line for Zeiss, and there is no need to go any further, as any other changes are only going to raise the cost of these already expense binoculars.  The price tag is the only complaint that I have or have heard of about the Victory line of Binoculars.  They come in many different sizes, but as stated before, 10×42, or something close to it is the perfect size for hunting.

There are many features that are noteworthy about the Zeiss Victory 10×42 Hunting Binoculars.  LotuTec Coating has been added to the already superb lenses which causes water, dirt, and oils to be cleaned off extremely easy, keeping your view clear and prolonging the surfaces because the less you have to clean them, the longer they will remain scratch free.  For more on this one of a kind coating click on this link: LotuTec Coating. Also, the FL glass used in the Victory’s is a combination of both ED and Fluorite glass bringing the benefits of both without the drawbacks that one or the other does not offer.  Zeiss does not go above or beyond with a field of view of 330 feet/1000 yards and a eye relief of  16mm, but they are right in the industry standard.

I could go on here about the specifications and other reasons why the Zeiss Victory 10 x 42 is the best binoculars for hunting in its class, but instead I will leave you with this link: Zeiss Victory product details, so you can check them out in more detail if you feel the need.
Rest assured though, these are the best hunting binoculars you will find in this price range. In fact, these Binoculars are typically in the price range above $2,000, but are now available at a price well below the list price of $2,300 plus.  Be sure to get your pair soon as the price may go back up at any time.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Zeiss Victory 10×42 T* FL LT Binocular (Green) Best Price: $1,699 @ EagleOptics.com

Zeiss Victory 10×42 T* FL LT Binocular (Black) Best Price: $1,899 @ Binoculars.com

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $2500

Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binocular:  There are many cutting edge processes and components that go into making Swarovski binoculars to ensure that they are the best you can get in their class, and with the Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 the best overall.  That’s right, these binoculars get the best overall rating for this entire sight.  The images through these hunting binoculars are crystal clear and use every available light ray to give you the best glassing possible when light is on the dim side.  High defenition is what you will be looking at when using the EL Swarovision that is attained by using Fluoride-containing HD lenses for impressive transmission of true-to-life and high-contrast images.  The lenses are then optimized with three different types of coatings:SWAROBRIGHT, SWARODUR and SWAROTOP that give you the ultimate combination for bright, high-contrast images, and maximum color fidelity across the whole light spectrum.  Then to top it off, the outside lenses are coated with Swaroclean which makes for incredibly easy cleaning of almost whatever will get on them out in the field.

I can’t say enough about these best binoculars for hunting, so I encourage you to read the reviews at these two websites: Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binocular Reviews & Swarovski  EL Swarovision 10×42 Reviews.  I will say though that I agree with the reviewer that simply wrote “These are like looking through the eyes of GOD!! I will never buy another brand of optics.”  Luckily it will be a long time before he needs to buy another brand, as these are sure to last a long time.

The Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binoculars are made from a lightweight magnesium chassis providing maximum strength. They ten coat the body with a high grade armor for both protection and comfortability.  Add the incredible lenses and other top of the line components and processes and you have a pair of binoculars for hunting that cannot be beat.

Specifications:   A Field of view of 336 feet @1000 yards put it better than most for finding and staying on objects.     Eye relief of 20mm provide easy use with or without eye glasses with twist up eye cusps that lock into position.  Not that important for hunting, but they have a very impressive close focus of less than 5 feet.  They are not as lightweight as some of the less expensive binoculars for hunting at 28 oz, but weight goes up a little with high quality components.

Are you the owner of a previous pair of Swarovski hunting binoculars?  If so, you may qualify for an $800 credit toward the Swarovision El Binoculars through EagleOptics.com.

If price is an issue, you may also want to take a look at the slightly lower priced Swarovski SLC HD 10×42.  These were originally the best in class in this price category.  They got bumped to the second place spot due to a decrease in price of the Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binoculars which put it under $2,500.  Both are a great product and will more than get the job done.  You will have a hard time beating either with anything on the market.

For more information or to buy, Click Here:

Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binocular Best Price: $2,479 @ EagleOptics.com

Swarovski SLC HD 10×42 Binoculars Best Price: $2,139 @ EagleOptics.com

 

Best Binoculars for Hunting Under $3000

There are no better binoculars for hunting than the Swarovski EL Swarovision 10×42 Binocular listed above.  The only other thing that you can get out of a pair of hunting binoculars is a rangefinder, but that is a discussion for another page.  To check out Rangefinder Binoculars, click here: Rangefinder Binoculars