These posts confirm that about 80-90% of hunters use a 10x glass. I think most are missing the boat by not using an 8 or 8.5x for all around glassing. I spend 3-4 months/year hunting sheep and I still like an 8x for an all around product. Especially if using a 30 or 32 mm objective, you'll find the 8x to be much brighter and easier to hold steady than a 10x32. When sitting, a 10x is good but oftentimes, I'm glassing when standing as I'm always checking mountainsides as I hike. My personal glass for the last 2 years has been an 8x42 Leica range finding binocular. Before that it was a Swarovski 8.5-42 EL. Zeiss also makes a great range finding Binocular (8x45). I have also used a 8x32 Nikon Edge in Africa and found it to be of high quality as most of my shots were under 200 yards and a hunter does not need a rangefinder for shooting at under 200 yards. For me, a range finding binoc is more practical than carrying both a binocular and separate rangefinder. I think many bowhunters might still be better off with small stand alone rangefinder as they are faster and easier to use with one hand. I've never had people with 10x out spot me on sheep hunts, but for closer range work a 8x has many advantages. I will say that when Marco Polo hunting, there are times when a 10x would be better than an 8x; at times a 12 or 15x would be better yet, but without sitting and/or a tripod mount, high power binocs are too shaky. Keep in mind that I don't use my binocs for judging trophy size. I always carry a spotter. If a hunter wanted to go ultra light, they could carry a Swarovski 10x42 and a doubler, with a light wt tripod, giving them a 10x binocular and a 20x spotter. This would not be ideal for sheep, but for moose, elk, deer, it would probably work ok. I often spot many animals using just my spotting scope, so an 8x works fine for me, since I always carry both. There is no "right" answer, but I would encourage more people to try an 8x glass. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
