Vortex Razor UHD 18x56 vs Razor Spotter

[hehaka bloka]

Good morning. I have been using a spotter for most of my life but have thought about dumping it for a larger binocular. I'm hoping I can get some opinions on whether it would be worth it. I know this is subjective but maybe someone has some advice that I never thought of. Thanks in advance.

 

[Fred]

Last year I got the Vortex UHD 18s and LOVE them. My spotter I use for phone scoping and reaching out to an already identified animal. I also avoid packing it more and more these days, so it rarely leaves the truck.

The 18s are so easy to search with as they are binos and that along makes the really easy on my eyes. They are my go-to glass in the West. You will be quite happy with the glass too.

 

[nobody]

I added a pair of 15's last year, and have never even carried them. They are always the first optic cut from my loadout on every trip, I guess my style of hunting just doesn't constitute their usage. If I was hunting bigger country or smaller critters (Coues in AZ), maybe I would find more use for them. At the end of the day, I use my 10's on a tripod 99% of the time out to about a mile and a half or so, then I have my 80mm spotter for verification and detail work. I much prefer to glass with both eyes for sure, but I want the extra FOV my 10's give me for my hunting and glassing style (western hunting in canyons and draws where I rarely glass beyond 1500 yards)

Personally, I want to go to a compact spotter (like the small Maven or Kowa), and use that backcountry with my 10's. I think for my use case, that makes more sense than the 15's in the mix.

 

[Fred]

I added a pair of 15's last year, and have never even carried them. They are always the first optic cut from my loadout on every trip, I guess my style of hunting just doesn't constitute their usage. If I was hunting bigger country or smaller critters (Coues in AZ), maybe I would find more use for them. At the end of the day, I use my 10's on a tripod 99% of the time out to about a mile and a half or so, then I have my 80mm spotter for verification and detail work. I much prefer to glass with both eyes for sure, but I want the extra FOV my 10's give me for my hunting and glassing style.

Personally, I want to go to a compact spotter (like the small Maven or Kowa), and use that backcountry with my 10's. I think for my use case, that makes more sense than the 15's in the mix.

This is a really good combination for the backcountry hunting. My hunting partner uses that and it works great. I don't pack my 18s, but every time can be different.

To find game I will start with the 18s typically, then to Spotter if needed to give me the idea to go. At that point it is my 10s with tripod in on the backpack. Once I have spotted the game the 18s and spotter are done, I do not pack them. Ideally, I if I have not spotted game, I would at least have a really good idea of where they are if I am going to put the pack on and go so again the 18s and spotter are not going with me, but those lite compact spotters are definitely on my used search buy list. Again, is in the West.

If choosing between just the Spotter or the 18s... I would choose the 18s and hunt with my buddy who is carrying the heavy Spotter.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

High mag binos are absolutely the way to go for several reasons IMO. No way would I spend swaro $$ on Vortex though. Euro Optic has some SLC 15x56 Demo A's which are indeed new units for less than the UHD's you're looking at.

Swarovski SLC 15x56 WB HD Condition A Demo Binocular 58291

Swarovski SLC 15x56 WB HD Condition A Demo Binocular 58291 | Only at EuroOptic.com!

www.eurooptic.com

 

[Beendare]

I can tell you I compared those 18x Razors to Kaibabs and top rated 15x side by side last week in the AZ desert...

Those 18x Razors are the real deal- Crystal clear with perfect resolution, far and away the best Vortex glass I've seen.

 

[Fatcamp]

I added a pair of 15's last year, and have never even carried them. They are always the first optic cut from my loadout on every trip, I guess my style of hunting just doesn't constitute their usage. If I was hunting bigger country or smaller critters (Coues in AZ), maybe I would find more use for them. At the end of the day, I use my 10's on a tripod 99% of the time out to about a mile and a half or so, then I have my 80mm spotter for verification and detail work. I much prefer to glass with both eyes for sure, but I want the extra FOV my 10's give me for my hunting and glassing style (western hunting in canyons and draws where I rarely glass beyond 1500 yards)

Personally, I want to go to a compact spotter (like the small Maven or Kowa), and use that backcountry with my 10's. I think for my use case, that makes more sense than the 15's in the mix.

Pretty much the same.

They were great to look through, but just didn't have enough magnification.