2 Better Than 1?

[passinggas33]

Hypothetical question for everybody (and for some it might not by hypothetical)…

Is having 2 spotters better than 1? An Example would be, would you rather have a nice 55/88 combo or just a single 66/77? Obviously price is a factor, but excluding that, what say you? Can you truly have a “do it all” spotter?

This would be for backpacking, truck hunting, range time, etc. Truly needing optics for every aspect of your hunting and shooting. What do you all do?

 

[Dos Perros]

I like having two but I think I could live with one. Could also get rid of one spotter and pick up some 15's.

 

[passinggas33]

I like having two but I think I could live with one. Could also get rid of one spotter and pick up some 15's.

So if you had 15s, what size would you go with for your one?

 

[Kurts86]

Spotting scopes are such specialized, niche optics I can’t see truly having a do all option. Having an arsenal is definitely helpful in this but that shouldn’t come at the expense of buying anything less than a top tier spotting scope.

 

[BBob]

So if you had 15s, what size would you go with for your one?

For many years I owned both a Swaro 80 and a 65. Initially I would pack the 80 a lot but eventually it stayed in the truck as truck glass with the 65 for the pack. When Coues hunting I used the 65 in combo with 15's and 10's on my neck. I only carried it (65) elk hunting if I knew I was headed somewhere where I'd be glassing with a tripod. Eventually I sold the 80 to a friend for his birdwatching wife. Only occasionally I think I miss it. I have added a pair of twin 65's mostly for Coues so the single 65 sits in the safe a lot more. The 65 gets used if I'm packing a long ways and it gets used more in combo with NL12's than the 15's lately. That cuts the optics to 2 items (spotter, 12's) instead of 3 (spotter, 15's, 10's).

 

[CM]

I have a Swarovski 65 STM that I've used for ~15 years. A couple years ago I bought a STX 95. The 65 most often ends up in my pack when I'm hunting due to weight/size. I carry the STX for scouting in the summer and use it from the truck while hunting but it is big and heavy for packing while hunting. The STX is super nice and is no doubt better than the 65 STM but I have debated selling the STX and going back to the 65 for everything. ~$4000 is a lot to have locked up in a niche piece of glass.

If you wanted a do all I don't feel you are very hamstrung with a top tier 65.

The most ideal system is probably 2. A compact and a big boy. If I was going this route, for the compact I would probably go with either the STC/ATC or the new Kowa. The STC is impressive for it's size, I haven't looked through the Kowa so I can't comment on it. For the big spotter I would go with a top tier 85mm+. I am partial to Swarovski but I think the Kowa scopes are really really good. The downside to 2 is obviously cost.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I have the 55/88 combo and really like it. I wouldn’t get rid of either.
I did go from 10x and 15x to just one set of 12x binos, so far so good.