Recommendations for Binos

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TennSportsman

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What brand and style is your favorite that you have used? I've had some Nikon Monarchs for about 8 years, and they have ran their course. I'm looking for a quality pair with great glass that will fit in a day pack.
 
Swaros are as good as you can get. Bout as expensive too.

I have vortex diamond backs and like them.
 
Depends on what you want to spend. I just went through the same thing. There are really nice binos out there, but they will cost you. I ended up going back with Nikon Monarch 7 in 10x42. So far I am not disappointed. It is a good match of quality at a reasonable price point.
 
Vortex diamond backs gets my vote too. Won't break your bank and a quality product with best warranty you can find


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Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
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Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
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Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
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Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
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Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
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Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
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Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
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Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
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Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
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I have a pair of the Vanguard Endeavor 10x42. FOV is around 371 I believe. I got them off a recommendation on here and have been very pleased with them. I caught them on sale for like $250 one year off Cabela's.
 
Vortex diamondback I like 10x42 personally for general use

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Buy once cry once. This is one purchase where you will never regret spending more than what you might've initially planned as long as you take good care of whatever you buy. I haven't bit the bullet yet, but my next pair will be Swaro, top of the line Vortex, or Leica.
 
bowhunterfanatic":23s7pjyu said:
Buy once cry once. This is one purchase where you will never regret spending more than what you might've initially planned as long as you take good care of whatever you buy. I haven't bit the bullet yet, but my next pair will be Swaro, top of the line Vortex, or Leica.
Click to expand...
Nothing like a good set of binocs. I've forgot mine once or twice and dang near want to go home when I don't have them.
 
Curious as to what power you're looking for? I'm following this topic as well for the recommendations and curious if an 8x or 10x is preferred.
 
I think the starting point is determining what is the maximum amount of $ you're willing to spend for those binoculars.

Then start looking at various makes & models with price points near your max.
Maybe you'll get lucky, and something you're liking will go on sale.
Patience is your friend.

As to what is best, think it's more an issue of your applications and situation.

I seem to be in the minority about this, but I prefer the old-style "porro" prisms most of the time
because, most of the time, I'm using my binoculars to scan, rather than seeing something first without them.
Porros have the advantage of a much greater "depth of field" in focus ---- a big advantage for scanning, trying to find stuff at unknown distances.

With this type binocular, hard to beat the Steiner brand.

I've owned three different configurations of Steiner Nighthunters,
selling the 10x50's and the 7x50's, while retaining the 8x30's.
These were in the $500 to $1,000 price range a few years ago.
Steiner currently has some decent porros in the $250-$500 range, and up, way up.

Steiner replaced the "Nighthunter" models with other names,
but they offer several different 8x30 porro-prisms,
the key difference being the glass quality --- pay more, get better.

You will get more optical quality for your $ with porros than with the more popular roof prisms.

Here's a great online source for making comparisons . . . . .
https://www.opticsplanet.com/binoculars.html
 
bowhunterfanatic":3mwjb9n8 said:
Buy once cry once. . . . . my next pair will be Swaro, top of the line Vortex, or Leica.
Click to expand...
I think it's more about how much $ you're willing to spend than the brand.
"Buy" what fits your situation best; don't be "sold" a particular brand.
But some brands (and types) will give you more for your $ than others.

I'm not recommending the below as a primary-use binocular for anyone.
But if you want to explore the porro-prism design, and do more "scanning" to find deer,
particularly bedded deer,
would be hard to beat this value:

Leupold Yosemite . . . .
https://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-bx ... 630-172703

This 6 x 30 porro-prism configuration is a great low-light "woods" binocular,
and the 6x can be advantageous due to it's greater in focus "depth of field" and wider field of view.
 
huntinkev":oqldc365 said:
Curious as to what power you're looking for? I'm following this topic as well for the recommendations and curious if an 8x or 10x is preferred.
Click to expand...
I had this same debate back in the spring. I went with the 10x42 because I wanted an in between size. I use primarily for for turkey season and watching fields. I wanted something I could take out west and use as well.
 
TheLBLman":1vcly2mk said:
bowhunterfanatic":1vcly2mk said:
Buy once cry once. . . . . my next pair will be Swaro, top of the line Vortex, or Leica.
Click to expand...
I think it's more about how much $ you're willing to spend than the brand.
"Buy" what fits your situation best; don't be "sold" a particular brand.
But some brands (and types) will give you more for your $ than others.

I'm not recommending the below as a primary-use binocular for anyone.
But if you want to explore the porro-prism design, and do more "scanning" to find deer,
particularly bedded deer,
would be hard to beat this value:

Leupold Yosemite . . . .
https://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-bx ... 630-172703

This 6 x 30 porro-prism configuration is a great low-light "woods" binocular,
and the 6x can be advantageous due to it's greater in focus "depth of field" and wider field of view.
Click to expand...

I have these and love them. Excellent in low light.
 
It'd be hard for me to recommend any because I jumped from a cheap pair a ways back right into Swarovski and never looked back. I'd probably forget and leave my gun in the truck before I did my binocs. In fact, my binocs go to the woods with me when no weapons do any time of the year.
 
A lot of good comments guys. Mostly I'll be using for general use such as looking at different species such as deer, turkeys, ducks, and varmints. Price range is around $850 max. I'm willing to save up for quality gear. My nikons were 8x and I'm fine with that. I really liked the size of them.
 
I have 2 pairs, one is the Vanguard Endeavors in 10x (great glass) and the other pair is a set of 8x Steiners.
The lightweight Steiners are used 90% of the time , comfortable and lightweight wins everytime.

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One other suggestion would be to watch 24 hour campfire. There are some well healed fellas over there that upgrade every year, might get a deal on a slightly used pair.
 
rem270":117ne2tr said:
I have a pair of the Vanguard Endeavor 10x42. FOV is around 371 I believe. I got them off a recommendation on here and have been very pleased with them.
Click to expand...

Same here. I bought mine off Cheaper than Dirt. After rebate they were $240 to my door.


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The best pair I have ever looked through have been some Leicas, but I have never looked through any swars or vanguards. Next time I'm at Sportsmans Warehouse or Cabelas, I'm going to look through all the ones they have in stock. Right now I'm leaning towards Leica, Vortex, Leupold, Zeiss, and Swar. At least I've narrowed it down a little. :bash:
 
Spurhunter":9xp8aqba said:
rem270":9xp8aqba said:
I have a pair of the Vanguard Endeavor 10x42. FOV is around 371 I believe. I got them off a recommendation on here and have been very pleased with them.
Click to expand...

Same here. I bought mine off Cheaper than Dirt. After rebate they were $240 to my door.


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Click to expand...
Didn't get mine that cheap. Think I gave $275 on sale on Cabela's 3 or 4 years ago.
 
rem270":2kaytxwt said:
Didn't get mine that cheap. Think I gave $275 on sale on Cabela's 3 or 4 years ago.
Click to expand...

Cheaper than Dirt had the camo for $290 with free shipping and at the time Vanguard was offering a $50 mail in rebate. I knew I couldn't go wrong.

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