Bino Recommendations

[Outbound]

I'm starting to save up for and research my next pair of binoculars. I had a pair of Bushnell H20 before they disappeared and they were ok, but not great. My dad has a pair of Bushnell Elite that I like, but they're not made anymore.

My use is general outdoor use, on the water while fly fishing and a bit of hunting.

I'm currently looking at options from Zeiss, Bushnell, Leica and Leupold. I'm not interested in any Vortex products due to too many bad experiences.

Requirements:

- $600 give or take a bit
- 10x42
- Waterproof
- Rugged
- Good low light performance
- Not Vortex


What do you folks use and suggest I check out?

[Husky7mm]

I recommend leupold, the zeiss and leica in that price range are a much lower quality version with their name on it, likely off shore. Bushell has screwed me twice on warranty the only 2 times I needed it. A poor decision on their part as I have bought 0 products from them since, however I have been very happy with all the leupold stuff I have bought and none of them have ever needed warranty whatsoever.

I also hear Nikon offers good value for the money but have no first hand knowledge of that.

[lowball]

Nikon Monarch 7 are good in your budget.

[mod7rem]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?151975-WTS-Minox-HG-8-5x43-Binoculars

This is a great binocular. I’ve been using mine for over 10 years when they first came out. They are very compact and lightweight for a 43mm binocular and great glass. My brother has a newer pair of the German made model and it is sharper than my original HG.

[Ohwildwon]

Leupold proguide hd bx-3

[KBC]

I have Nikon monarch 5s. They are a couple hundred less than the vortex vipers and looked better to me. They go on sale at cabela's for around $400 quite often.

[HighCountryBC]

Leupold is always a quality choice in that range. For your $600 budget though I'd be going with the Zeiss Terras, personally.

[Wentrot]

You don’t want to hear it but a used pair of vortex viper HDs will be the best in that price range

[paraschost]

Take a look at maven. My brother in-law bought the C-1. Glass looks. A lot of good reviews on them.

[Frank grimes]

I’d take a serious look at the used Minox that are in the classifieds here on hbc. You won’t find much better glass under a grand. If I had the extra money I would have bought them already. I currently use the bushnell elite 10x42, and they were good for the price I paid. The minox would be better.

[jac]

For that price hard to beat maven C1

i just bought some lecia trinovid from precision optics they were a bit more money but if you buy good stuff up front might save you in the long run.

There are some good deals to be had used also

[IslandWanderer]

Lol, $600 is a small bino budget, and yet you've ruled out Vortex.

[beaverhunter69]

Steiner Predator 10x42

[Outbound]

Coming back to this thread to thank everyone for all the opinions, knowledge and PMs I recieved. It helped alot. Unfortunately, I just got laid off so all toy purchases are on hold for the foreseeable future.


Lol, $600 is a small bino budget, and yet you've ruled out Vortex.

I've owned Vortex optics in the past and simply don't like them. They work for some people but not me. I know my budget was/is small, but considering my my use is relatively casual compared to alot of hardcore hunters, I'd rather keep the bino budget smaller and be able to shoot and fish more.

[wideopenthrottle]

I am happy with my Athlon midas 10x42 that I got on sale for under 300

[ACB]

I’d take a serious look at the used Minox that are in the classifieds here on hbc. You won’t find much better glass under a grand. If I had the extra money I would have bought them already. I currently use the bushnell elite 10x42, and they were good for the price I paid. The minox would be better.
X2 on Minox, I have 2 pair, 8x42 and 10x52, the 10x52 are the one's with Schott glass and are great bino's. The 8x42's are really good, but not as good as Leica's but Leica's are at least 3x the cost and are not 3x's better.

[mpotzold]

I'm starting to save up for and research my next pair of binoculars. I had a pair of Bushnell H20 before they disappeared and they were ok, but not great. My dad has a pair of Bushnell Elite that I like, but they're not made anymore.

My use is general outdoor use, on the water while fly fishing and a bit of hunting.

I'm currently looking at options from Zeiss, Bushnell, Leica and Leupold. I'm not interested in any Vortex products due to too many bad experiences.

Requirements:

- $600 give or take a bit
- 10x42
- Waterproof
- Rugged
- Good low light performance
- Not Vortex


What do you folks use and suggest I check out?

I have used BAUSCH & LOMB Discoverer 10X42 ever since I can remember.
The only bad experience I had was leaving them in the bush after field dressing a fair size buck. It snowed all night & was extremely cold but LT(308 LOVER) somehow found them the next day.:mrgreen:

Eve has used Vortex VIPER 10X42 for a long time & loves them.

[twoSevenO]

Lol, $600 is a small bino budget, and yet you've ruled out Vortex.

x2 .... that really cuts your options down BIG TIME.

Have you looked at Maven optics? They are getting good reviews and ought to fit that budget nicely! :)

Let us know what you end up going with

[beaverhunter69]

Lol, $600 is a small bino budget, and yet you've ruled out Vortex.

snagged my Steiners for $350 on sale, display model open box. They have clear glass and seem to work well. Deals can be had for decent binos for under $600. Lots of decent budget equipment out there if one looks.

[Derekmson]

I have the 10x42 Vortex Diamondbacks. It's have nice clear glass, and tough as nails. Open bridge design, very comfortable to hold. I found a nice review about it here- https://opticsaddict.com/ (https://opticsaddict.com/binoculars/)