Budget binoculars

[Blue72]

Might as well look at Nikon prostaff 7s. Same price as diamondbacks, plus I can focus tiny details better when doing a back to back comparison

 

[bhylton]

Vortex Viper HD 10x42s in the classifieds here for 400-450 pretty often.

 

[Rob5589]

I can get the 10x42 DB to my door for 180. I think that’s the best option for me right now as my first set of glass.
Doug thanks, but I’m not ready to shell out more than 200 if I can help it right now.
I’m going for a budget build for a few hunts and then when I know I’m all in I’ll upgrade my gear all around.
Thanks everyone for the input!

Edit: Thanks FHPTrooper for the connect

Always buy the best glass you can afford, even if your budget is only 200. You'll enjoy them as your first bino. Just fyi, the neck strap they come with is not comfortable. Best to run them in a bino pack or nicer harness.

 

[100%DIYazCOUES]

I bought some bushnell legend m series a couple years ago as loaner/kids/truck binos, and to me the glass is shockingly good for being under $200. I actually prefer them to the vipers I used to have. For that price range, I haven’t come across anything even close to as nice optically. The focus knob is absolutely awful, if you care about that kind of thing. So are the eye cups. But they have pretty decent edge to edge clarity, and very acceptable sharpness in the center of the view. Definitely no swaro or meostar, but I recommend them all the time to people who are looking for a very serviceable budget bino

 

[Tomks]

I use viper but a buddy of mine has diamond backs and he has no complaints about them.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I used diamondbacks for years and they found a lot of animals and sheds for me. They’re usable just don’t look through a pair of swaros and you’ll never know what you’re missing.

 

[AZ SpotStalker]

Used Minox or Cabelas Euro HDs (Meopta Meostar B1s). Check eBay. Vortex vultures are decent too.

 

[Neil944]

Granted, not the traditional hunting size, but I found a guy selling pairs of Fujinon 8X32 online for $70. Easily compares to my viper (nonHD) and just a hair behind the Monarch 7 8X30 for 1/4 the price. The Fuji’s are a clone of the well respected Sightron SII Blue Sky.