Good value bino reconmondation?
Equipment
I want to buy my son in law a pair of bino's for Xmas so I am looking for a good value on something like 8x32s. He has started to bow and gun hunt whitetails with me here in Wisconsin. I would like to keep it under $250 if possible. Anyway, I figured someone here might know of a good sale going on.
Thanks in advance. Greg
Pretty hard to beat the value of Vortex
Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 10x42 is the model you want. Works for bird watching to elk hunting.
https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Diamondback-10x28-Binoculars/dp/B07V3LDFCR/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=vortex%2B10x42&qid=1575473149&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-2-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFNN1MzMEIyNVBZTUgmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0MTExMDAxTURYSkNaMklGUUhEJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NDA1NzkySDg3UjhMM0YyVEFYJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
Leupold Cascades are a nice bino.
Hard to beat a pair of nikons. Good glass and good CS.
I would ay Vortex for that price range.
Vortex or Nikons. Bushnell legends used to be awesome but my truck pair is 11 years old, not sure about current models.
Check out Steiner. Great German optics at a way better price than lots of others. The 8x32 military marine with infinite focus is pretty nice. I had those before I sprung for my Swaros.
I've been very pleased with my Styrka S7s. I also love Steiners with infinite focus, both the 8x32 and the 9x40
You may not like this advice. Get him a gift certificate for $250. Tell him to use that and some cash to buy an upper end binoc. Buy it right the first time and be set for life. I learned that the hard (expensive) way by buying several lower end binocs before getting a used set of Swarovskis.
I have a pair of Vortex diamondbacks. They are 10x42 and are my truck binos (light use). I think they are pretty decent for the $ and mine even came with a decent chest rig, although I don’t use it. Are they comparable to my Swaros? Hell no they aren’t, but I don’t expect them to be.
I hate the advise of giving him a gift certificate. He was described as a newish hunter. And I’m just gonna guess he doesn’t have or want to spend another $2k on glass. The Vortex/Nikon/etc will probably be more glass than he ever needs in my guestimation. And the buy once cry once position is moot in my opinion because the owner isn’t buying them, if he wants to upgrade down the road he is in the same place he is now except with a decent pair of binos to get him started. But I expect the decent $250 binos will get him far in Wisconsin, if his hunting horizons broaden then he can consider the upgrades.
—Jim
Vortex. I bought some Leopolds a few years back when I started hunting out West. Liked them a lot...until I tried out Vortex. Usually can get them on sale at Dunham's.
Make sure he saves for Swaros, or Zeiss and don’t let him hunt without Sitka and a flagship bow. A few Silver Flames on the ends of those arrows and he’s good to go.
Or, start him with a nice thoughtful gift from a dad and give him some Nikon’s or Vortex binoculars so that he can potentially get into and enjoy this beautiful pastime we have called bowhunting.
I like Maven C1s. Nice glass for the money.
I have Nikon Monarch's. Not sure they still make them but Nikon surely has the same or comparable. Mine are 10x42's and they have done it all from out west to WI. I like Nikon products.
Bill
I think I am going to go with the Diamondbacks 10x42. Amazon has a good price. $229 Perhaps I will shop around a bit more.
JTreeman hit it right on the head. Steve is not an avid hunter but is getting a good start and has the desire to do a whole lot more. He showed up this year with a new pair that cost him $25 so I give him credit for understanding the need and following through with fulfilling it.
Lots of good suggestions here. Thank you for taking the time. Greg
I bought a pair of Leopold Yosemite I think 8X30 after my brother had a pair for a few years and really liked them. Think I paid $119 from Scheel's when Cabela's had them for $139 or $149.
Another vote for Nikon's. Use them from Wisconsin to Colorado and all points in between!
Loved my Nikon monarchs had the 3s and the 5s they were awesome for the money.
For what you described, it’s going to be hard to be the cascade model from Leupold.
Amazon Prime has them on sale for $153 with free delivery
Thanks for the tip Bloodtrail my son in law needed a pair for Christmas as well.
I think Steiner is a quality bino at a reasonable price. Check out Opticsplanet .com for good prices and sale deals.
I have a few Hawke optics binos & a scope & am very satisfied with the quality for the $$$ yes absolutely there are better optics out there for way more $$$ than I'm willing to spend
Sorry but the cheaper Vortex like the Diamondbacks don't compare to the Monarch 7s by Nikon or Steiner. I carry both on different hunts. Shawn
I have both Vortex and Nikons , both are good but the nod goes to Vortex Diamondbacks.
Go Nikon. Good warranty. Just sent mine in for service came back with new eye cups and all cleaned up.
Vortex. Good glass great warranty
I had two different Vortex bino models and sold them both. They were just too picky about the position on my face to get a good view; too much blackout/kidney bean effect. Glass was fine but the eye relief or eye cup design just didn't work for me.
Nikon, Leupold and Swaros all work great for me.
The Vortex Diamondback 10x42s have been on sale for as low as $129 lately, great deal for decent glass
The wife has a pair of Leupolds, maybe Cascades and I have an older pair of Nikon Monarchs both have worked well for our Midwest white tail hunting plus a couple of trips out west.
LOL yooper
Burris is another good company to look at. They are an American company out of CO. Don't hear as much about them. But make great glass. Have a great warranty/ no fault fix or replace.
I bought my daughter the gen 1 diamondbacks 8x42 last year on sale for around $100 and myself another pair gen 2 ($220) for my Truck. They get the job done, but honestly my wife’s 12 year old ($250) Nikon ATB monarch 8x42 are better. I think they are called the monarch 5 now. Just look through them both for your self. Maybe I happened to get 2 pairs that were not 100% ? They are fine for low use/glovebox binos but to me mine are only $100 glass. And they must be if you can get them 50% off during the holidays. (also, the 8x glass is easier hold steady for young hunters).
I have a pair of Vortex Diamondbacks 8X32 and 10X42. I really like both of them.
probably 30 years ago I had Pentax binos & thought they were great until I killed a buck from a stand back up in the mountain so I left my binos & pack in the stand drug the buck out there was a hard freeze that nite & blew the seals out of the binos they were useless moisture all over the inside of the lenses ???
Vortex Diamondbacks 10x42 are on sale at Cabelas/Bass Pro for $199...
Check out Sportsmansguide.com
I picked up a pair of Vortex 8x32 for less than $150 back in Sept and always seeing deals on glass
Think it depends on where you hunt. I have a pair of Vortex, but my long distance viewing in MN is about 100 yards.
