Need some lightweight binos for bowhunting the SE. Suggestions?

[LimbRunner]

Hoping to get some suggestions for a pair of binos for bowhunting. I hunt the Southeast, and usually in pretty thick timber. I'm looking for something worth using that I can take with me on every trip. I don't need high mag, and I won't be looking through them for hours on end. Just need something to scan the edges of fields and to pick out moving critters in the woods. Lightweight is a big deal here, I travel light and minimal with a longbow and back quiver on foot or by bike almost always.

I have a set of Vortex Diamondback 10X50s but they live in the truck or in the boat. Just too dang big. Full disclosure, this is the "highest end" glass I have ever owned.

I'm going to have to cap my budget at the $600 mark.

Something like an 8X32 is where I'm thinking, but I'm open to suggestions. I know a 8X42 should be brighter, but I'm worried about the weight and bulk penalty.

I notice Maven is doing free custom options for the holidays, and they get high praise usually. Their B3 8X30 looks good for my needs. They are in the running for now.

Any other suggestions?

I'm counting on you guys so I don't have to join the birdwatcher forums, LOL

Thanks in advance.

 

[zeroforhire]

Best deal going is the tract toric with schott ht glass. $483 today only.

A good budget option is the sightron blue sky

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Blockcaver]

The Maven C1 that sell for about $350 looked good to me at the sheep show. A lot of value for the price. I looked at the 10x42 and it was quite light for what it was. Look the specs up. The C1 8x42 might be a good option.

I personally use a pair of 14 yr old Leica Ultravid 8x32 (non-HD) for hunting where I don't glass real far and really like them. They are available used for around or slightly over your budget. New...they are expensive. They weigh 19 ounces.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[zeroforhire]

These are a good deal. Can be found cheaper sometimes.

For Sale Bushnell Legend M Series Binoculars - 8x42 - ED Glass

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Browninglover1]

The Maven B3 8x30s that my dad has are freaking awesome for the money. I used them side by side with my 8x32 EL and was dang impressed with their performance.

 

[Eric4]

Those bird forums can be helpful, just don't mention you're intent to kill

If you can find some Nikon EDG 8x32s, I'm certain you'll be happy.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Meopta 8x32's are a great option

 

[bmanb940]

I have a pair of Nikon MONARCH 7 8x32's that I really like and my son does as well. Easy to wear all day and no strap rash. Great glass and the price is well under what you want to spend. Definitely worth taking a look at.

 

[maverick2]

Here's another vote for the Maven B.3 8x30's. This is my third season with them, and I'm still impressed with them as much as when I got them. My second choice would be a pair of the Meopta HD 8x32's. Based on the price that the Meoptas are available at from Cameraland, I'd probably go that route and save a little money.

 

[prm]

Take a look through Swaro 8x32 CL Companions.

 

[MattB]

Binoculars are one of the last places where I would skimp on weight, esp. with already saving weight carrying a longbow vs. a compound or rifle. I have high quality 8x30 binocs, but they have become safe queens. My 10x42's from the same manufacturer (~9 oz. heavier) go with me virtually everywhere because they are simply better in almost every hunting situation.

 

[Newtosavage]

Binoculars are one of the last places where I would skimp on weight, esp. with already saving weight carrying a longbow vs. a compound or rifle. I have high quality 8x30 binocs, but they have become safe queens. My 10x42's from the same manufacturer (~9 oz. heavier) go with me virtually everywhere because they are simply better in almost every hunting situation.

I have to agree with this. I was a die-hard 8x32 guy for most of my life, but these days I really appreciate the value of great optics and especially bright optics during those "magic hours" of hunting time. As handy and light and fun to use as my 8x32's are, they are relegated to backyard bird feeder and loaner duty these days. The full size 42's go with me on hunts now. 8's back East and 10's when I head West.

 

[LimbRunner]

Thanks for all the advice and feedback from everybody. I got a chance, okay I was forced, to go shopping with the lady over the weekend. I got to hide in Cabelas while she went nextdoor to the clothing store.

I got a chance to fondle about everything they had in stock. These were what I remember.

Nikon Monarch 7s, 5 and the Prostaff stuff
Zeiss Terra
Cabelas Euro HD
Cabelas Intensity HD
Vortex Viper

And I even went nuts and checked out the Swaro CL 8X30

So here I am, overwhelmed with options. But I took my time and looked at everything twice. My budget also increased a bit, as I was able to finish up a side job working on some motorcycles at the house. I had $1100 in my pocket.

Here goes:

On the Swaro, I didn't like the strap attachment, or the diopter adjustment. They were very ergonomic (comfy) and classy looking, and the glass was very good. No real lacking points there. Felt fairly lightweight and seemed very well built.

The Monarch 7s were very light. Plenty bright, but the clarity, sharpness, whatever just didn't pop like the others. Felt kinda cheap in hand. I flipped em over and was turned off with the Made in China stamped in the body.

The Vortex Vipers were nice. Noticeably better glass than my Diamondbacks, not like looking through a tube. Honestly I don't have much to say on these, I didn't spend much time with them as they didn't have anything under 42mm. And I just really wanted something other than Vortex.

Zeiss Terra felt light for a 42mm binocular. These things were damn bright. Obviously its a bigger objective. Contrast or tint or something was a little different than the others. Not bad or amazing, just different. The focus wheel was a little odd. Had a stiff feel to get rolling then lost tension. Not a big deal at all, but I didn't like that and we are nit picking here.

Cabelas Intensity. I think these would have been a good value. They seemed better optically than the Diamondbacks I have and about the same price point. Nothing amazing but worth $200 I thought.

Cabelas Euro HD.....I spent 30 seconds with these, and they were the clear winner. Get the box, take my money, we're done. They popped in and out of focus instantly, I could read the letters on a sign across the store clearer than with any of the others, they were plenty bright, all the colors seemed "natural", the diopter adjustment was damn trick, and they seemed SOLID. Yeah they were the heaviest of the compacts, but they felt great. I read a review somewhere that said they were ugly. Ugly? I aint trying to impress any hunting buds or bros with how foxy my binos are, but yeah maybe they were the ugliest of the bunch. I'm ugly too, get in the car.

So am I a dingus for picking a Cabelas branded bino over a Swaro? Did I pay too much for what i got? Don't know. But I like em.

I know this was a trainwreck of a "review", and I have no business giving advice on optics considering my experience level with them. But it's my impressions from the perspective of a guy wanting his first pair of good binoculars and happens to have a grand burning a hole in his pocket near Christmas, while stranded at Cabelas waiting for his girlfriend to show back up hungry and aggravated. The one thing I can say with confidence, is it is well worth the time to try and look at your choices in person, back to back. I could have ordered almost any of these things online, and never knew the difference. Truthfully, compared to what I had i would have been much better off and happy with any of them. But comparing them all to each other, at the same time, was an eye opener.

Thanks everybody.

 

[Newtosavage]

Those Cabelas Euro HD's are legit. They are made by Meopta plus backed by an outstanding warranty and lifetime return policy (since they are a Cabelas brand). I'd say you made the right choice.

 

[Xlr8n]

You did good. The Euro HD's are basically re-branded Meopta Meostars and are usually regarded as just a tick below the 3-4 established "Alpha" glasses in terms of optical performance. Beta glass if you will, but still at about 95% or more optical performance compared to Alpha in most situations. For many folks in most situations, the more than double the price to step up to true Alpha simply isn't worth the money.

From my perspective, your choice of glass is in roughly the same class as Nikon Monarch HG's, Zeiss Conquest, Tract Torics Schott UHD's, Maven B series, and maybe Vortex Razors. If you went with a x32, then that takes some of the names off the list.

Enjoy the new glass! They will serve you well.

 

[LimbRunner]

I did get the 8X32s. My only concern through any of this is that maybe I'm losing some low light performance over a 42mm. But I've hunted with them a couple times so far, and they have seemed plenty bright at dusk. For my uses, I think they will be more than good enough.

I'm dang impressed with them. I don't regret the investment so far at all. The warranty from Meopta and also the backing by Cabela's is reassuring too.

Thanks for the info y'all

 

[PantherCity]

I got a pair of the Maven C2 7x28 just for back up/truck/wife/turkey hunting (I put calls and other stuff in my bino harness) and I really like them. Very light with decent glass.

 

[ChrisAU]

I got a pair of the Maven C2 7x28 just for back up/truck/wife/turkey hunting (I put calls and other stuff in my bino harness) and I really like them. Very light with decent glass.

Thinking about these for whitetail hunting in thick woods and for having in the truck on trips out west to be easy to look through when I'm a passenger in a moving truck ha. Should destroy some 8x28 or 8x32 Diamondbacks in low light right?

 

[PantherCity]

Thinking about these for whitetail hunting in thick woods and for having in the truck on trips out west to be easy to look through when I'm a passenger in a moving truck ha. Should destroy some 8x28 or 8x32 Diamondbacks in low light right?

I have a very low opinion of Vortex optics. So yeah, I think so.