Packable spotter under $1000?

[rfra]

Looking for a spotting scope that is reasonably packable (65mm or less) and preferably under $1,000. I mostly hunt thicker areas and dont need a spotter often, but am planning to head into more open country for pronghorn and mule deer this year and am planning for an Alaskan (mostly open tundra) trip next year.

For reference, I checked out a new Vortex Viper 65 and was not very impressed with the optics at all. If that were my only option I'd wait for a used Razor (not that Vortex is my only option, just using as a reference).

I know there are several other brands that people are claiming perform way above their price points (Athlon, Hawke, Vanguard Endeavor). However, I feel like a lot of the "reviews" I read are from people who bought their first glass and are super excited and just self-validating their purchase choice, but I'm not sure they have really spent much time in the field looking through anything else. If they are really that good, I'll try one, but if they're really just "good for the money" I'll probably spring for something better. Can anybody with more extensive experience in the field with higher end glass vouch for these options?

I'm also fine with buying quality used glass.

What do you think should be on my short list?

 

[zeroforhire]

Best budget mini spotter is the hawke 50mm Ed or the Nikon ed50.

If you have a bit more money the kowa tsn 553 50mm can't be beat.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[backcountryshaffer]

I have bought used high end after having been super disappointed with mediocre (Nikon, Vortex) and been very pleased with my final decision. Honestly if you're asking you are probably the type that wants something better. What is your best pair of binos? You'd better at least match that with your spotter or you won't use the spotter. Happened to me with a Vortex Razor HD and a pair of Zeiss binos. Ended up with a used Swaro and have not looked back.

 

[Grizzly550]

I bought the Hawke 50mm ED and am very pleased with it. I would put it on par with my first generation Razor 65mm though it does give up a little bit at first/last light and in the magnification dept. (not enough for me to be concerned with). I tell everyone it depends on how you use a spotter. Personally I just use it to verify what I have found through my bino. I was tempted to go for the Kowa 553 but couldn't justify the extra expense for the usage. Saying that I hunt mule and pronghorn in open country but don't have sheep planned in the future (unless I win the lottery). If a sheep hunt does come up I would probably invest in the best glass out there.

 

[6mm Remington]

Leupold Gold Ring 15-30x50mm Compact spotting scope! Awesome little scope!

David