Hawke binoculars

[douglasfir]

Considering some Hawke binos in the Endurance and Frontier lines. Anyone have much experience with this brand? How is build quality? Any experience with warranty service? Most importantly, how are the optics? How do they compare with other options on the market in this price range?

 

[Wapiti1]

As usual, the answer depends on use and why you are looking at them. I have used a couple pair out if each line. I was looking for a lower cost binoc for travel. No idea about warranty, etc.

They aren't alpha glass. That said, they aren't going to give you a headache either. Decent field of view, good color and contrast, good light transmission, but they don't refine detail in dim light as well as a high price bin. Truthfully, they would work for 90% of glassing work and you wouldn't be missing anything. Where they lack a bit is at the edges of daylight. The Frontier are noticeably better than the Endurance, IMO.

They are competitive at their price point, and I thought had some of the better glass. GPO and Athlon were a small improvement, IMO. Athlon Cronus G2 were the best of the group, I thought. For a $400-500 bin. There are a lot of Chinese bins in this price point that are basically the same and are usable.

If you can go to $700-800, then Leica Trinovid and Meopta Meopro are very good and show up on sale in this price occasionally. Zeiss Conquests are also solid, but I don't see them on sale as often. These last three honestly give the "best" a hard enough run for their money that spending $3k becomes a very hard decision. This price point is the sweet spot in my opinion for value. One could be quite happy for a long time without spending more.

Jeremy