Treestand Binoculars

[Fibonacci4u]

I have an older pair of Swarovski SLC 8x30s that are perfect for the whitetail treestand.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

Thanks for all the responses. I got a chance to handle the Kowa 6.5x32 at EuroOptic today. Definitely liked the size and field of view. Noticed they were made in china, which kind of surprised me. I thought Kowa were made in Japan.

On the fence. Do I "need" another pair of binoculars, probably not. Would it be nice to have something smaller, especially for hang and hunts with longer hikes, yes.

 

[Bugger]

Thanks for all the responses. I got a chance to handle the Kowa 6.5x32 at EuroOptic today. Definitely liked the size and field of view. Noticed they were made in china, which kind of surprised me. I thought Kowa were made in Japan.

On the fence. Do I "need" another pair of binoculars, probably not. Would it be nice to have something smaller, especially for hang and hunts with longer hikes, yes.

I had the Kowa BDII 8x32’s and hated the short DOF combined with the slow focus wheel. From what I’ve heard the 6.5 is just as bad.
Give the Nikon HG 8x’s a look, they’re very light and handy with a much deeper DOF and fast focus wheel, plus one of the wider FOV’s in the class. They’re very comfortable for short range work.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

I had the Kowa BDII 8x32’s and hated the short DOF combined with the slow focus wheel. From what I’ve heard the 6.5 is just as bad.
Give the Nikon HG 8x’s a look, they’re very light and handy with a much deeper DOF and fast focus wheel, plus one of the wider FOV’s in the class. They’re very comfortable for short range work.

Those Nikon's look nice. Just a little pricier though.

I wish I could have taken the Kowa's outside. Always hard to tell what they look like when just looking at them inside a building.

 

[Bugger]

Those Nikon's look nice. Just a little pricier though.

They’re worth it! I’ve seen a few on here go for around $600 used if that’s closer to your budget. Plenty of time between now and deer season to shop.

 

[WBT]

I use my 10x42s, but an 8 or 6 power would probably be better.

 

[Agross]

The b3’s pop up on here for $400 somewhat regularly. Very well built and great glass . Can also try before u buy from maven.

 

[fwafwow]

Funny, those kowa and b3 in the 6x30 range were the two I was looking at.

Any head to head comparisons between the kowa 6.5x32 and b3 6x30?

Would also save some weight of my current setup.

I went down this path. I went with the Kowa 6.5x32. I’ve even thought since of going without, with a monocular or just using my LRF. But sometimes it’s just too nice to use the binos when it’s boring.

 

[Maverick1]

Thanks for all the responses. I got a chance to handle the Kowa 6.5x32 at EuroOptic today. Definitely liked the size and field of view. Noticed they were made in china, which kind of surprised me. I thought Kowa were made in Japan.

On the fence. Do I "need" another pair of binoculars, probably not. Would it be nice to have something smaller, especially for hang and hunts with longer hikes, yes.

For treestand hunting I have used:
12x50: not good.
10x42: pretty good
8x42: excellent

I prefer the 8x42. Wider FOV, easy to hand hold, large exit pupil size. Used the 10x42 for many years. Switched to the 8x42 a few years ago and prefer it now.

Sold the 12x50. Would have kept them if I was using binoculars on a tripod setup - they were great for that. But pretty poor overall for treestand hunting at close range.

Kept and use the 10x42 for elk hunting.
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[KY_coop]

Kowa 6x36 are great for white tail. Small but great fov and plenty good glass. Especially for whitetail out of treestand. I use these when I'm saddle/ bow hunting. When rifle season comes around i sit on fields and usually take 10x or 8x.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

They’re worth it! I’ve seen a few on here go for around $600 used if that’s closer to your budget. Plenty of time between now and deer season to shop.

This is very true. I'm trying to not make an impulse buy and take my time. Like you said, plenty of time to watch the classifieds.

 

[FuddRucker]

This is very true. I'm trying to not make an impulse buy and take my time. Like you said, plenty of time to watch the classifieds.

If it's just being used for tree stand hunting whitetails, not worth it in my opinion. If you have that much $ burning a hole in your pocket, do you. But binoculars are a "nice to have" for tree stand hunting and are not likely to be the difference maker unless you happen to spot something first or last light and decide to move your stand for the next sit. Even still, that can be achieved with more affordable glass.

 

[chanson_roland]

I went down this path. I went with the Kowa 6.5x32. I’ve even thought since of going without, with a monocular or just using my LRF. But sometimes it’s just too nice to use the binos when it’s boring.

Lol. So true. The real use of binoculars in treestand hunting is to offset boredom.

Treestand Binocular Fantasy: "I need these new binos to tell whether that buck that steps out is a 200 class, or just a 180..."

Treestand Binocular Reality: "That lady staring at me off the back of her deck looks like she's going to call the cops. Hey...is that a new Thunderbird in her driveway?"

 

[N2TRKYS]

I use 10x42 SLC. I would not want anything below 10x. I like to hand them for convenience sake. I can’t stand to have them on me with some type of harness. They get in the way and are not as convenient at all for me.

 

[Brian Fahs]

I like my swarovski 8x32 els for treestand hunting deer

 

[Trial153]

8x32 ELS