Are you looking for the best hunting binoculars? You’re in the right place as we have gathered the top binoculars you can use for hunting today. There are a lot of these online and it’s easy to get confused with all the choices laid before you, but that’s where these reviews come in so you can have your pick of the best.
Top 10 Hunting Binoculars Comparison
Picture | Product Name | Objective Lens | Magnification | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vortex Diamondback | 42 mm | 8x | ||
Bushnell H20 | 25 mm | 10x | ||
Vortex Viper HD | 42 mm | 10x | ||
Nikon Prostaff 7S | 42 mm | 8x | ||
Bushnell Fusion | 50 mm | 10x |
Here are our choices for the top 5.
1. Vortex Diamondback 8×42
The Diamondback is rightfully considered as one of the best binoculars for hunting as it offers solid performance regardless of the environment. the Vortex is fog proof, waterproof and there is full coating on every air to glass surface. The design also enhances light transmission and the built in phase correction coating improves contrast and resolution.
You can adjust the eye caps so viewing is more comfortable whether or not you wear eyeglasses, and the package comes with a carry case that has been custom molded, comfort neck strap, lens covers and a rain guard. With a field of view of 420 feet or 1000 yards, the Diamondback provides a wider FOV compared to others in its range.
The adjustable eye relief is a welcome feature and makes it easy to use the binoculars even if you’re wearing glasses. The fog and water proofing work as well as advertised so you can use this in a wide range of settings. The lines are gas purged and it comes with O rings that provide protection and enhancement for the optics.
The Vortex Diamond binoculars also come with a VIP Unconditional Lifetime Warranty, meaning the manufacturer will replace or repair the binoculars with no questions asked. Overall this is a very high quality pair of binoculars: the images are clear and crisp and adjusting the eye relief does not produce any sort of distortion. Aside from hunting the Diamondback is also handy for bird or nature watching.
Specifications:
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm
- Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.6 x 5.9 inches
- Field of View: 420 feet
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 5.3 mm
- Weight: 2.6 lbs.
Pros
- Excellent for hunting
- Wide field of view
- Durable case
- Good eye relief
Pros
- Central hinge could have been better designed
2. Bushnell H20
The images are clear and clean, and the multi-coated optics and Bak 4 prisms go a long way towards enhancing the transmission of light so the images you see are clearer. The Bushnell comes with a nonslip rubber and soft grip that ensures a powerful grip while working as a shock absorber.
The 10x magnification and objective diameter enhances viewing and the large knob simplifies adjustment. More than anything else however, the Bushnell H20 is powerfully built and meant for use in diverse environments. As was pointed out here the nitrogen purging and O ring are instrumental here so even if you accidentally spill water on it or the weather goes south, the H20 will hold up.
If you’re looking for a pair of binoculars that is fog proof, waterproof, built for rugged use and comes with good magnification then the H20 will suffice. This is also the type of binoculars you will need for hunting in the wilderness or bird watching. Size wise the Bushnell is compact but doesn’t compromise on features, so it’s worth considering.
Specifications:
- Magnification: 10 x
- Eye Relief: 12 mm
- Objective Diameter: 25 mm
- Dimensions: 5.1 x 4.1 x 2.8 inches
- Weight: 14.4 ounces
Pros
- Adjustments are easy to do
- Good value for the money
- Compact
- Durable
Pros
- The carry case is a bit too snug
3. Vortex Viper HD
The Vortex Viper comes with a wide array of features that you would expect from high quality binoculars. To start things off the Viper has O-rings that prevent dust, debris and moisture from accumulating. The protective coating provided here also makes it suitable for use in locations where there is fog or a damp atmosphere as your view won’t be affected.
There is full coating so light is better relayed, and its use of dielectric prism coating also plays a significant part in providing clear, bright images with the correct colors. The Viper also has low dispersion high density glass for better fidelity towards colors and high resolution.
The features and specs are top notch and should serve your hunting needs well. In addition the Viper also works great for nature viewing when you’re in the wild or up in the mountains and want a good view of the landscape. As many reviewers have pointed out, the Viper offers outstanding images and it pulls in a lot of light even if it’s dark.
The HD attached to the Viper’s name is well deserved and unlike those on other binoculars, the color saturation is just right and the contrast level is comparable to those on more expensive models. Not only are the visuals good but the rubberized grip means this isn’t going to slip from your hands.
Specifications:
- Weight: 24 oz.
- Magnification: 10x
- Eye Relief: 16.5 mm
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm
- Width: 5.3 inches
- Height: 5.8 inches
- Close Focus: 5.1 feet
- Linear Field of View: 319 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View: 6.1 degrees
Pros
- Durable
- Very good contrast
- Solid and comfortable grip
- Magnification is great for hunting or bird catching
Pros
- Neck strap could use a better design
4. Nikon Prostaff 7S
The Prostaff 75 has gotten some of the best hunting binocular reviews of late, and it is bound to appeal to a lot of people who prefer an all-terrain, easy to use and lightweight binoculars. The optical system used here is one of the most advanced in its class and the image quality is one of the sharpest, period.
The Prostaff is suitable not just for hunting but for bird watching or field trips where high resolution and brightness are essential. The Prostaff 75 uses proprietary tech like Phase-Correction Coated Roof Prisms and multicoated Eco-glass lenses for the best possible resolution, and the multilayer coatings leads to superior light transmittance along the light spectrum.
These are applied to the prism surfaces and lens, minimizing the amount of light lost brought about by reflection. What this all boils down to is that the Prostaff 75 provides a clearer, natural view, and in terms of design the Prostaff 75 does not disappoint as it is lightweight and ergonomic.
The focus knob is easy to use and even a first timer won’t encounter much difficulty with it, and the rubber armor coating provides the perfect nonslip grip regardless of the weather. Another noteworthy feature here is the Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups so you can tweak the eye relief to suit your needs.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 6.6 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches
- Weight: 22 oz.
- Magnification: 8x °
- Objective Diameter: 42 mm
- Prism: roof
- Eye Relief: 19.5 mm
- Relative Brightness: 28.1
- Exit Pupil: 5.3 mm
- FOV at 1000 yards: 357 ft.
- Angular Field of View (Apparent): 50.8 °
- Angular Field of View (Real): 6.8
Pros
- Compact
- Durable
- Depth of field is excellent
Pros
- Does not have any cleaning supplies
5. Bushnell Fusion
One of the best hunting binoculars for the money, the Bushnell Fusion and its ARC (Angle Range Compensation) laser rangefinder offers top of the line performance. The 96 x 48 pixel display works under a wide range of lighting conditions, and its 80% light transmission is one of the best in its class.
Image clarity and resolution are top notch as the PC-3 Phase Corrective Coating, BaK-4 Prisms and multi coated optics make the difference. The Bushnell Fusion is also waterproof and fog proof, and regardless of the environment, the details are clear with sharp contrasts.
The Fusion is easy to use as well thanks to the push button control where you can get the exact distance off your target within a range of 10 to 1,760 yards. It also comes with the ARC Rifle Mode for accurate bullet-drop info and the RainGuard HD anti-fog coating keeps the Fusion fog and waterproof.
Specifications:
- Magnification x Obj Lens: 10x 42 mm
- Rangefinder Accuracy: +/- 1 Yard
- Field of View: ft@1000yards/m@1000m
- Eye Relief: 18 mm
- Exit Pupil: 4.2 mm
- Close Focus: 10.5/3.2
- Rain-Guard HD: Yes
- Rangefinder Range: 10 to 1760 yards
- Battery Type: 3-Volt CR 123
Pros
- Very good range
- High quality optics
- Independent eyepiece adjustments
- Eye cups are adjustable
Pros
- Cannot fit in the case if the eye cups are adjusted
Features to Look For
The top rated hunting binoculars have certain features that raise them above the rest, but we all have particulars requirements. That being said there are certain features you’ll want to look for to obtain maximum performance.
- Objective Lens: look for binoculars with objective lens with a 42 mm diameter, while the compact ones have a 22 mm or 26 mm diameters. If you don’t like heavy binoculars but don’t want to compromise too much, try those binoculars with a 32 mm diameter, but of course you need to consider other factors as well.
- Field of View and Magnification: high magnifications are not always the best solution, as the bigger the image you’re looking at, the harder it is to keep in focus. Very high magnification also reduces the FOV (field of view). If your FOV gets too narrow it becomes harder to track game, especially if they’re wild.
The ideal FOV and magnification depends on your requirements, but if you’re hunting in the woods or forests, you will be better off with a wide field of view and low magnification, i.e. 8 x 42 and if you want to move light, 8 x 32 or 8 x 30 will suffice. If you’re hunting in large open locations you’re going to need higher magnification, around 12x or greater.
- Durability: as you may have noticed, all the binoculars reviewed here are waterproof and fog proof. That is necessary because you can never tell when rain or fog will come up. If you’re serious about hunting then waterproof binoculars is a must. Sealed binoculars are effective for keeping moisture away as well as dust and other particles. The best binoculars are also filled with nitrogen or argon as they keep fog away.
- Rubber armor: rubber armor is essential for protecting the binoculars against shocks, bumps and accidental bumps.
- Camo design: a camouflage design is not a requirement, but it will help to keep your presence discreet. However, there are different types of binoculars so you have a lot to choose from.
- Coatings for the lens: the finest binoculars for hunting have special contrast optics that hinder haze colors, and it also improves the quality of the colors you see, very important if you’re after hidden game and the whole area is covered in greens, reds and browns.
- Eye relief: eye relief is crucial especially if you don glasses. In simple terms it refers to the distance at the back of the ocular lenses where the image is being focused. If you wear glasses, you can’t place your eyes close to the lenses, so an extended eye relief is necessary so the image is projected properly. At the very least you need eye relief of around 15 mm, though the drawback of a long eye relief is it narrows the field of view.
- Eye cups: eye cups are used to set the distance off the oculars to your eyes. At the same time they also prevent stray light off your eyes. The most widely used eye cups are the twist up and down that can be positioned in different ways.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best hunting binoculars it can be difficult for a beginner, but with this guide you can feel more confident about the choices you will make. Happy hunting!