Adding weight to binos

[SneakyThunderCat]

I have a pair of 10x els, and have noticed I can’t hold them nearly as steady as a buddys 12x razor uhds. The specs say that the uhds are about 7 oz heavier. The fact that they are 12x and I’m holding them steadier than 10x has me wondering if it’s weight or ergonomics of the binos. Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever added a small amount of weight to binoculars to gain off hand stability?


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[WBrim]

I think it makes sense in theory, a little more weight to stabilize… but I would try getting yourself more stable first- bracing elbows on knees, leaning on something solid, or best of all a tripod, if applicable? Even just propping binos against the bill of your hat can help.

 

[SneakyThunderCat]

I’ve messed around with a lot of that, and the hat bill trick works the best. I rarely need a tripod to glass where I live, so a majority of the use is just me free handing them. It’s not a huge deal l, but it’s enough to annoy me. Figured I would ask to see if anyone else has had the problem.


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[WBrim]

I see
Well, let me know if you try some weight and it works well! Maybe like some wheel weights or something?

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

Best thing is to add about 2 lbs and mount it to a tripod.

 

[PineBrook413]

I run a tripod even on my 10's often. Im just able to glass longer and be more effective.

 

[SneakyThunderCat]

Like I said, I’m not in tripod glassing country. Otherwise yes, a tripod would definitely be the answer.


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[JohnJohnson]

Like I said, I’m not in tripod glassing country. Otherwise yes, a tripod would definitely be the answer.


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Out of curiosity what is it about the terrain that makes tripods a no-go? My brain is foggy from just waking up but having a hard time imagining that. Do you hunt in muddy sort of terrain or in treestands out east?

 

[KHNC]

Its simply the case that the Razors are just better than the EL's

 

[SneakyThunderCat]

I’m in Iowa, it’s pretty flat around here. The furthest you’re looking 75% of the time is 1/2-3/4 a mile. Most of the time I’m walking through timber, fields, or in the pickup and just need to pull up my binos quick to get a look.


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[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I’m in Iowa, it’s pretty flat around here. The furthest you’re looking 75% of the time is 1/2-3/4 a mile. Most of the time I’m walking through timber, fields, or in the pickup and just need to pull up my binos quick to get a look.


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You might still consider throwing those on a tripod for an afternoon in the spring to see the difference... Once you do, you just might find yourself lusting after the KDC Granite Peak ultralight tripod. @robby denning swears by that thing. It will fit in a cargo pocket of your pants and deploy in two seconds.

Adding weight to binos feels like it would defeat the purpose though. More likely ergonomics is the difference you see between yours and your friends binos.

 

[thedutchtouch]

You can use a length of string or cord as a "reverse tripod"- all you need is a bolt that screws into the binos that you can tie the string to (or if you really want to, just loop the string around the binos in a way that doesn't interfere). Then you just step on the other end of the string (or sit on it if you're sitting), and apply light tension up with the binos. May have to adjust slightly to get the exact length, but it works, helps overcome some hand/arm shakiness, and doesn't add any noticeable weight.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I agree that the EL's are not really that ergonomic (at least to me). I have EL 10x50s and their ergos aren't really that great but since they're mostly a tripod binocular and they're by far the best fit for my eyes (I wear glasses), I don't really mind.

 

[robby denning]

You might still consider throwing those on a tripod for an afternoon in the spring to see the difference... Once you do, you just might find yourself lusting after the KDC Granite Peak ultralight tripod. @robby denning swears by that thing. It will fit in a cargo pocket of your pants and deploy in two seconds.

Adding weight to binos feels like it would defeat the purpose though. More likely ergonomics is the difference you see between yours and your friends binos.

Yip still using it too. It‘s built to add weight to the legs (water bottle, rock, etc)

OP, it’s like light rifles, just harder to steady.

 

[texasbbq]

My son and I use a Primos Trigger Stick bipod as a walking stick and doubles as a bino rest and rifle rest. No, it's not as good as a tripod but for moving slowly and having fast reaction times for the type of spot and stalk hunting into the wind that we do here on large Texas ranches for Axis, etc. it's damn near perfect.