$400. / What hunting Binoculars would you buy.

[-JR-]

$400. / What hunting Binoculars would you buy and what power .

[DiabeticKripple]

Vortex Diamondback 10x42

[kingrat]

Maven off Amazon

[270hunter]

I have the vortex crossfire HDs in 12x50. Most people disagree with a 12 power but I don’t mind the weight and for me I prefer to not need to set up a spotting scope if the animals far a way. The glass quality is good enough for a 12 power and good in low light too. Yes there is far better but for $300 with the glasspak carrying case I feel I’m getting good value. They make crossfires in 10x42 too and like diabetic cripple said the diamondback 10x42s are also a great option just a bit more money.

[Desert Eagle]

I would buy the best Leupold Binos you can afford. Best warranty you will not likely ever need, but if you do they will be back in your hands within a couple weeks.

I love some of the high end euro glass, but for me it just doesn’t make sense as some of the warranty horror stories about taking close to a year to get your stuff back. We compared my Leupold directly with some high end euro glass, side by side and even at dusk it is very difficult to tell the difference.

[b_doornenbal]

Maven …. If you want to buy new or a used set of something better.

Lots of better options than vortex if you have the ability to try them side by side in low light.

[Tronneroi]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

Vortex Diamondback 10x42

Yep, lot of hate on here for the scopes, but those binos are plenty good for the price.

I have the 12x50's and my dad uses the 10x42's. I prefer the 10x42's.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Desert Eagle

I would buy the best Leupold Binos you can afford. Best warranty you will not likely ever need, but if you do they will be back in your hands within a couple weeks.

I love some of the high end euro glass, but for me it just doesn’t make sense as some of the warranty horror stories about taking close to a year to get your stuff back. We compared my Leupold directly with some high end euro glass, side by side and even at dusk it is very difficult to tell the difference.

Which euro glass has up to a one year wait time for warranty?

[b_doornenbal]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

Which euro glass has up to a one year wait time for warranty?

Sending my Leica Geovids to have a range finder repair done was 10 months during covid…. If they can’t do the repair in the US then it has to go back to the factory. Takes way longer.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by b_doornenbal

Sending my Leica Geovids to have a range finder repair done was 10 months during covid…. If they can’t do the repair in the US then it has to go back to the factory. Takes way longer.

Must be the covid thing I suppose. Sent a rangemaster 1200 down to New Jersey about 3 years ago as they weren't ranging as far as when they were new a dozen years previous to that. Less than a month later I had a new set of 1600's in my hands as they couldn't repair them. Binos may be different I suppose.
Sent my swaro bino's to the US a couple 1.5 years ago for some self induced repairs (scratches on the objectives and such). Had them back in less than a month as well.
Never had to send any of my Zeiss scopes in so unsure about turn around time with them

[dalewig]

I’ll likely get slagged on this forum for saying Nikon , but for that price Nikon monarch 5 are likely the best optics you can get.

I’d also look into athlon , seem to have great quality for the price point and have great lifetime warranty as well.

I have four friends that have vortex diamondbacks and three of them have had issues and had to send in for repair within only a few years …..

[yidava25]

This doesn't really answer the OP's question but here's my opinion anyway.
If all I could spend was $400 I wouldn't buy binoculars. Save up another 600-1000 bucks and then buy once.
Yes I'm sure there's plenty of stories about how someone's $350 binos were just as clear and bright as his buddy's Swaros but that just hasn't been my experience.

[jcrayford]

I'm old school I guess, but the Bushnell Legend 10x42 that I picked up more than 10 years ago are still going strong. Not sure of the prices of them now, but I paid $240 back then and they compare (for my eyes) to anything else out there that I've had the chance to look through.

My brother and SIL both have Vortex and my Bushnells are as good in any condition and 1/2 the price. I can't complain - and no one would listen anyway.

So many people are going to shoot me down for mentioning Bushnell, but they are an option as well.

J.

[marlin1]

I like my Steiner binocs . They were about 400 years back

[marky_mark]

Personally
I think most $400 binos are going to be very similar
See if you can find something that is on sale to maybe get a little more value.
You could try to find a used pair but some people don’t take very good care of their optics
I’d get the best valued set you can get for $400, take good care of them
And upgrade when you can afford better

Binos are a must have in the field

[elkhunter11]

Once you accept that you aren't going to get high end or even mid range binoculars for $400, there isn't a huge difference between $400 binoculars. I actually found the Nikons to be as good as I have seen in the lower price range.

[eric2381]

I’d be looking for a lightly used set. 8x40 area

[spurly]

So one on here had a set of Meopta, a couple days ago for $400
Might be worth looking into.

[daveyn]

10x42, in my opinion is your best field option. All bino's look good in the store, own them for 5 or 6 years and the differences start to become apparent. Less expensive bino's will show more scratches, the lens coatings are not the same quality and will start to deteriorate, the internals and focus elements start to get a little more difficult to operate. the gas seals may start to break down and you get leakage. The deterioration happens so slowly you might not even notice until 1 day you borrow your buddies bino's and have a "holy crap" moment. There is a big jump in quality from $400 to $800. I'd hold out.

[lambski]

Nikon!

[pikergolf]

https://backwoodspursuit.com/bushnel...st-binoculars/

https://www.sail.ca/en/bushnell-forg...xoCWk0QAvD_BwE

[sixfiveninesix]

Originally Posted by dalewig

I’ll likely get slagged on this forum for saying Nikon , but for that price Nikon monarch 5 are likely the best optics you can get.

I’d also look into athlon , seem to have great quality for the price point and have great lifetime warranty as well.

I have four friends that have vortex diamondbacks and three of them have had issues and had to send in for repair within only a few years …..

X2 on the Monarch 5’s. Awesome binos.

[WV911]

Nikon Monarch 5
The Nikon Prostaff 7 is probably best cheaper binos around

[spurly]

Check out one of our sight sponsors Precision optics. I am sure the would give you great advice, and from a quick look they have a couple choices of binoculars in your price range on sale right now.

[savage shooter]

Leupold bx-2. They’re wonderful and use fluoride glass. They are made over seas, yes. But to their own specs and using their own optical formula. You’ll find that leupold spotting scopes and binoculars outperform their similarly priced vortex competition.

[timsesink]

I get the sense there's some optical snobbery going on...

A $400 pair will do 90% of what a a $1400 pair will do. It's the law of dismissing returns. Yes, they' will be slightly better but is it worth that amount money for what you value?

I've worn Bushnell binos for 2 years that I bought for around $400. They're 90% as good as my buddies Swarovskis and I'd rather put that $1000 towards something else.

Nikon, Bushnell, Vortex, Cabelas (not scopes though) all have excellent binos in that range. Handle them and see what you like.

[Yukongold]

I ended up with a set of Bushnell Forge by mistake and was pretty much blown away by the quality in that $500 range. My Swaro's are better but also over 4X the price. I would be looking at the link posted by Pikergolf.

[MK2750]

I hunt mostly bush find the 8x36 Bushnell Legend HD perfect. Be sure to get the ED Prime Glass however as they are playing a shell game with the models these days. New old stock Elites would be a good one too or even used as Bushnell will back them for you no questions or receipt.

[YoteStopper]

I have the Bushnell Elites, Japan made and very nice glass. Pretty sure their no longer made but were around $500 retail, I bought mine on sale for around $350 if i remember correctly.

My brother has a set of Bushnell Legend E series and they are closer to my Elites in glass quality than the price would indicate.

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by YoteStopper

I have the Bushnell Elites, Japan made and very nice glass. Pretty sure their no longer made but were around $500 retail, I bought mine on sale for around $350 if i remember correctly.

My brother has a set of Bushnell Legend E series and they are closer to my Elites in glass quality than the price would indicate.

The Legend L and M models have the Prime ED glass like the Elites. The Es are nice enough too though.

I bought my son a pair of Excursion when he was little. Of course they were abused so I sent them in (needed the receipt for these, not for Legend or Elite). They sent me a new pair of Excursion EX and they are stupid good for the price point.