$1k Range Finding Binos

[MTBackroads]

I got a set of the GPO 8x before Christmas as I gifted my older Sig Kilo. The glass is good, the rangefinder is pretty good when it was over freezing.

I sent them in to GPO and bought a pair of the Sig kilo6k HDX to hunt with in the mean time. The glass is better in the GPO, but the rangefinder isn't in the same league as the Sig.

GPO sent me a new pair and their service was great, but I am keeping the Sig and selling the rangeguides new in box.

 

[Strider]

Nope, but I can actually do that today.
I've been keeping them in my truck for a quick daily test, so a few days down to ~30F with no issues.

Good to hear!

 

[Klooop]

Just pulled them out after 2 hours in the freezer, which was at -9F. They worked just fine, though the display was a touch dimmer than normal. Could be reduced battery voltage, could be some of frost/fogging on the outside, but I am not too worried about that.

 

[Klooop]

I got a set of the GPO 8x before Christmas as I gifted my older Sig Kilo. The glass is good, the rangefinder is pretty good when it was over freezing.

I sent them in to GPO and bought a pair of the Sig kilo6k HDX to hunt with in the mean time. The glass is better in the GPO, but the rangefinder isn't in the same league as the Sig.

GPO sent me a new pair and their service was great, but I am keeping the Sig and selling the rangeguides new in box.

Did you send them in due to poor cold performance?
I wish I had tried the Sigs, but I am also glad I saved money. Just had some substantial home repairs.

 

[MTBackroads]

Yep, my original set wouldn’t range at all below 30deg, just a display with dash marks.
Worked pretty good when it was warm though. Have not even pulled the new pair out of the box as the Sig is a far superior rangefinder.
The glass isn’t quite as good as the GPO, not bad though. The ballistic solution is a nice surprise, matches my Kestrel perfectly out to over 800 yards and can give you a quick wind reference depending on how you set the app up.

 

[UnckleBob]

Although I have been screwing around with my GPO 8x40s for a while now, I took them with me on a hike up a ridge. I haven't tried the more expensive rangefinding binos because I don't have a need to really identify/range anything beyond 400 yards.

In the areas of Texas where I get to hunt, that is about as far as one can normally get line of sight on an animal.

From the top of the ridge, I was pleasantly surprised by the optical quality of the GPO's. I found a spot where I could look down to a small clearing 642 yards away,

1) My ranging ability was limited by my unsteady hands, not the optics.
2) I felt strongly that I could have picked out a whitetail had one been at the edge of the forest.

My feeling is that I paid enough to get binos that fit my needs without the heartburn associated with carrying around a really expensive item.