The 10 Best Binoculars for Hunting – Complete Buyer’s Guide
Almost as essential to hunting as a rifle, a set of good-quality binoculars can mean the difference between going home victorious with your bounty and spending hours with no sighting of your prey. As with so many hunting accessories, the quality of binoculars varies significantly from brand to brand, as does the price.
For the serious hunter, getting the best binoculars for hunting is critical, but with so many manufacturers providing different options to choose from, that decision can become quite tricky. The right purchase can result in owning a great pair of binoculars that will last through many hunting seasons to come. The wrong purchase could mean spending more time in the sporting goods store than out hunting.
The following review looks at 10 of the best hunting binoculars currently available, giving you the opportunity to compare and choose the right ones for you.
10 Best Binoculars for Hunting
1. 12×42 Powerful Binoculars for Birds Watching Hunting
Adorgon Powerful Binoculars are ideal for not just hunting but bird watching too. With 12X power magnification identifying your target clearly from as far as 650 feet away is not an issue. Coupled with large 42mm lenses scanning the distant landscape for prey is easy.
Though not suitable for night vision, these binoculars do provide excellent clarity in poor light. If HD vision, a brighter view, and crisp images are of importance, then these binoculars provide them all. With an anti-slip and shock-resistant casing, these binoculars are durable and therefore, well suited to the rigors of outdoor use, i.e. hunting, hiking, and the like.
The lightweight design of only 1 pound allows them to be worn around the neck or stored in a hunting backpack without adding noticeable weight. Included with the Adorggon Binoculars are a carrying case, eyepiece and lens protection covers, cleaning cloth, and neck strap. The 2-year warranty and fast, efficient customer service should provide peace of mind.
2. Bushnell Falcon 133410 Binoculars
With built-in Instafocus, Bushnell Falcon Binoculars are perfect for hunters as they provide quick focus on moving targets. The Instafocus system works not only on long-distance viewing but also on close-ups at 20 feet. With 7X magnification, clear viewing is certain, with a wide field of view 420 feet at 1000 yards, more than enough for most hunters. Designed with non-slip rubber grips, these binoculars will be easy to hold onto even in heavy rain, and the lightweight design is great for carrying or using for extended lengths of time.
Equipped with fold-down eyecups designed to prevent scratching, these binoculars are a good choice for hunters who wear eyeglasses and for use with sunglasses on bright, sunny days. The rubberized casing prevents damage should it be dropped or knocked against hard surfaces. Ideal for hunting and other outdoor pursuits, the Bushnell Falcon Binoculars come with straps and a carrying case. This is a quality product from a trusted brand.
3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars
With 10X magnification and large 42mm lenses, the Diamondback range of binoculars is not only excellent quality but offers exceptional clarity and bright images.
Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars are equipped with adjustable eyecups and can be twisted up for better comfort. For those with focal differences, there is a handy right-eye diopter to adjust for the variation. With an impressive field of view, any hunter will be pleased with the Diamondback range of binoculars.
Vortex has ensured those hunting in all conditions can be confident in the rubber armor casing, and extreme weather conditions have been addressed with nitrogen gas purging so that internal fogging is not an issue. The small but mighty design has thumb indents to ensure the binoculars are secure in the hands at all times. With adjustable eyecups for eyeglasses and sunglasses wearers, this range of binoculars is also able to provide good viewing in low light.
4. Nikon Prostaff 7s Binocular 42mm
Known for manufacturing top quality products, the Nikon Prostaff 7s Binoculars is no exception. Equipped with 10X magnification and 42mm lenses, these are great for hiking and hunting. Two of the most important features of these binoculars are great color and clear viewing both at long distances and close-ups.
Fully adjustable for eyeglass and sunglass wearers, the space between the eyes can be resized to fit comfortably. The rubber-armored body lends itself well to use in all weather conditions, as well as providing peace of mind if accidentally dropped or knocked.
Easy to grip, these ergonomically-designed compact binoculars are also lightweight and durable, easy to wear hanging from the neck or to store in a backpack. An essential quality for any hunter, these binoculars are waterproof and treated with nitrogen to ensure they don’t fog up at that critical moment.
5. Wingspan Optics Voyager 10X42 Binoculars for Bird Watching
Just as the name suggests, these binoculars are small, but not in quality or features. With 8X magnitude, there is very little these compact binoculars can’t be used for.
Hunters will find their lightweight, compact design particularly advantageous, while still getting the field of vision, range, and clarity needed to find and identify a target. Will fit into a large pocket and be ready in an instant to locate prey as far as 1000 feet away. Clarity and brightness are not sacrificed either.
The all-important non-slip grip provides hunters with the confidence that these binoculars will not slip out of hand even in wet weather. Just as useful for watching sports games from the highest seats in the stadium, when not in use, hunting. Waterproof and fogproof, these compact binoculars can also be mounted onto a tripod. Included in the box are a neck strap, nylon mesh carrying case, lens and eyepiece protection covers, and a microfiber cloth for cleaning lenses.
6. SkyGenius 10 x 50 Powerful Binoculars for Adults
One of the most reliable sets of binoculars on the market today, the 10X magnification and large 50mm lenses, give even the least experienced hunter an edge.
Packed with all the features a hunter would need, such as adjustable eyecups to adjust for comfort and to make allowance for eyeglasses and sunglasses. The right eyepiece is equipped with the Diopter System for adjusting for focal eye differences. These binoculars are great for focusing on moving targets, as far away as 1000 yards.
Also suitable for evening and night use, they provide good viewing except in complete darkness. Made with a durable rubber armor coating, they are also slip-resistant with grips to make holding them even in wet weather easy. Designed for outdoor sports and hobbies, they are moisture-proof and the rubber coating will provide some protection in the event of a drop or knock. It can be mounted on a tripod or worn around the neck when moving. Included in the package are 4 lens caps, 1 strap, a carry bag, and a cleaning cloth.
7. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism Binocular
Another quality product by Bushnell, these camouflage binoculars come equipped with 10X magnification and a large 42mm lens that is so useful for hunting.
The lenses are coated to repel water and provide a wide field of view even when raining. The casing is completely waterproof and has been constructed to be fogproof too. Diopter-equipped for adjusting for focal differences, these binoculars are lightweight due to a magnesium casing and come with grips to prevent slipping and dropping.
Bushnell’s high-quality glass ensures clear, full-color vision when scanning the landscape for a target. Great clarity at long distances and close-ups. Tight, durable construction makes them ideal for whatever weather and terrain the hunter may encounter and will provide many years of great use.
It comes with a soft case and neck strap and is available in either black or camouflage. Chest harnesses can be purchased separately, making these binoculars safe to pick up and drop back down on the chest, readily available when needed.
8. Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars
Vital to accurately identify a target before aiming and firing, these Carson High Definition binoculars provide clarity and color, both long distances and close up.
The ED glass used in these binoculars ensures clarity with sharp, bright images. 10X magnification brings distant targets much closer and the 42mm lens allows for a wide-field view. Designed to be both waterproof and fogproof, these binoculars are ideal for the hunter who likes to hunt in all weather conditions. The casing is constructed to be durable and is coated with rubberized armor to withstand minor drops and knocks, as well as provide a good grip on even the wettest conditions.
The field of view for this Carson model is 314 feet at 1000 yards, which is ample for most hunters. Weighing only 1.4lb, they are covered by an America’s Best Binocular Warranty and come with a deluxe carry case, neck strap, shoulder harness, lens covers, and a lens cleaning cloth.
9. ZoomX Binoculars for Adults
Fully sealed and Nitrogen-filled, the ZoomX binoculars are waterproof and fogproof. With 10X magnification and a large 42mm lens, these binoculars may be compact and lightweight, but not when it comes to features, durability, and quality.
Bright clear images during daylight can be enjoyed even after nightfall, making these an ideal choice for the hunter who won’t let the dark stop him or her from finding the target.
One of the lightest binoculars on the market today, they can be stored in a small bag. Durable construction is coated with a rubberized coating to ensure damage from dropping or knocking is prevented and also to provide a good grip no matter what the weather is.
With the addition of a phone adapter, hunters can record and share images seen through the binoculars. Included in the package are the following: Carry case, strap, cleaning cloth, lens caps for lenses and eyepieces, Smartphone adapter and instructions.
10. G4Free 12×25 Compact Binocular for Adults
A whopping 12X magnification makes these binoculars the strongest of the 10 reviewed. Coupled with the 25mm lenses, these High Definition binoculars truly are high powered, providing a field of view of 273 at 1000 yards.
Water-resistant, these compact binoculars will still provide excellent viewing in weak light, but are not suitable for night vision. Bright, clear images are the standard and are easily adjusted for both long distances and close-up viewing. Daytime views are true to color, with great clarity for the best compact binoculars for hunting.
Due to the lightweight, compact construction, these binoculars are just as suitable for use by children as adults, and the width is easily adjusted to fit a child’s eyes. The package includes a carrying pouch, hand strap, and cleaning cloth for the lenses.
Hunting Binocular Buying Guide
All 10 of the binoculars we reviewed had good reviews and great features, but some stood out from the rest based upon the intended use plus other factors. Which binoculars to choose largely depends upon what the hunter wants to do with them.
Things to consider when purchasing are whether the binoculars will be used solely for hunting or other uses as well, desired budget, terrain the hunter will be hunting in, whether the binoculars will be used at night, plus other factors. Here are our recommendations:
Compact
If the size is an issue, the G4FREE is super compact and lightweight, but we feel the ZoomX provides better value and versatility. The larger lens is a selling point over the G4FREE despite the G4FREE having 12X magnitude.
The Wingspan Optics binoculars are good too but have only 8X magnitude, which may be a disappointment to some hunters.
Features
For hunters looking for as many features as possible, then the SkyGenius binoculars offer just about everything a hunter could want in a set of binoculars. The extra-large 50mm lens is a feature the other binoculars do not have and could be the tipping point for many hunters.
Waterproof/Fogproof
All offer a degree of waterproofing; most 100% and all have adequately addressed the need to prevent fogging. All claim to be slip-resistant, but clearly, the ones with rubberized coatings will provide the most protection from damage as a result of knocks or drops. If hunting during the wet season, we recommend ensuring the binoculars you choose are 100% waterproof and fogproof.
Warranty
We particularly liked the warranty provided by Wingspan and find their agreement to replace damaged binoculars hard to beat. When faced with higher-priced options, a warranty becomes more important, so choosing binoculars that have at least a 2-year warranty is recommended.
Be sure to be clear on what the warranty covers and what the limitations are before purchasing. Binoculars are susceptible to being dropped when hiking and hunting, often onto hard surfaces, so choose a set that will be less likely to sustain damage in such a situation. Many of the ones reviewed had rubberized casing and therefore are likely to be able to take a hard knock or two.
Brand
If the brand is essential, we recommend you choose either the Nikon or Bushnell binoculars. Both companies have a high degree of customer satisfaction, but that is not to say that any of the others won’t perform just as well.
Price
As prices vary considerably from brand to brand and product to product, we advise buying within your budget. All of the reviewed binoculars will satisfy most hunters, but the very serious, dedicated hunter may find that spending a little more will provide him or her with a pair of binoculars that will be precisely what they want.
All Round
For versatility, features, and durability, our top choice overall is the SkyGenius with the Nikon coming in a close second. We feel that either of these binoculars will provide excellent viewing for hunters and can be used for other pursuits such as watching sports, hiking, and other outdoor endeavors.
Children
Most of the binoculars reviewed are designed for use by adult hunters, but we realize that often younger hunters will be venturing out and wanting a set of binoculars. If this is the case, check the adult versions to see if they will adjust sufficiently to a child’s eyes before purchasing. This is particularly important if a pair of binoculars is to be shared between an adult and a child.
In Conclusion
All reviewed binoculars are very good. Naturally, some are better than others. For hunters looking for a good set of binoculars that will be reliable, efficient, and more importantly, provide excellent clarity to ensure the target can be identified, the SkyGenius is a little better than other binoculars and is the one we choose as the best binoculars for hunting. One of the deciding factors for the SkyGenius is the fact that they can be used at night, although not in complete darkness.
Though the SkyGenius is great for adult hunters, if planning to take a young one along to enjoy the thrill of hunting, we recommend getting the G4FREE for them as they are lightweight and compact, therefore not burdensome to carry.
