I have a pair of the Steiner maritime with a built in bearing compass. Their only 7x but the clarity more than makes up for it. Vortex is a good brand and stand behind their gear, I have a few of their rifle scopes and their glass is hard to beat for the money.
Yeah 4 sure, the vortex range finder is incredible and makes me want to take me old Leopold RXII and throw it over the Grand Canyon. Thumbs up 4 Vortex, Time and money brothers, time and money.
I never really used binos back east. Out here they're almost a must have. I bought steiner predators. 10 x 40 or something like that. I really like that you don't have to adjust the focus on them. I may go with a smaller pair for bowhunting in the future. Full size boobs + full size binocs = potential bowstring issues.
Lol, Busting up right now....Christine! To funny, Thought of getting the Steiner Predators for my boy but will eventually give him the Merlin's when I get my Razors, l love the my Vortex range finder so I am sold on them.
yeah I could see how they could be applicable to western hunters. Out east theres too much woods and most people dont hunt food plots like the western style guys. Spot and stalks they would be key. I guess for where and how i hunt i dont need them!
It got a pair of bushnell trophys. 10x42 they work great! I can't remember what I paid for them. I've had them about 4 years. As to why bow hunters need binos.. I bought mine when I lived in wyoming and I used them for spot and stalk. Here in illinois I like to glass out along the edge of the fields to see if anything is poping out.
I shopped hard for binos in the under $400 price range a year or so ago. Got the Redfield 10x42s. They felt as good as the expensive Leupold BX-3 Mojaves, and better than the BX-2s, Bushnells, and Nikons. I wish I would have looked at the Vortex Razorbacks. Made in Wisconsin, not Korea (99% sure on this), and the best warranty in the business.
Ill agree with a few here. Nikon, vortex, redfield, and bushnell in that price range can be very nice, having experience with them. I feel the redfield line doesnt get the attention it should for the price you pay. I have a pair of Bushnell trophy 8x42 that i use now when needed. They are great for me and i couldnt imagine going back to the cheap $30 stuff. In regards to not needing binos for bowhunting i understand. I only take a range finder with me about 80% of the time. In most places i can see farther in some places, but not far enough to lug binos around and the range finder does well enough for my needs. Now if i hunt a field i will take them 100% of the time cuz i love to look and scan the edges. Mine are somewhat big to deal with in the stand, but if i used them more i would invest into a more compact pair.
I have always used Leupolds and Nikons because I can trust them, my current set have taken a beating all year being strapped to my chest no matter what the weather has been like and they have always worked for me
I've owned multiple pairs in my life. I have a pair of Vortex, 8x32 Diamondback for compact woods hunting, 8x50 Vipers for open country. I have a pair of 10x42 Monarchs, and I use them pronghorn hunting where distance is a premium ... but the 8x50s are so clear I end up using them instead. I hate to say my Monarchs are my truck binoculars -- the ones I keep in the truck year 'round for casual sightseeing.
Binos from a tree stand at 50 yards in the heaviest cover is like having x-ray vision. Why shoot the 140" deer right in front of you when there is a 180 coming in right behind him. Oh that's right, you didn't get a good look at him because you couldn't see him.
Good choice one the Leupolds BTW great company and products. Seriously I cant believe we are debating the usefulness of binoculars for hunting in 2013. For the new guys out there, by the best pair your can afford it will be money well spent and you will use and enjoy them for years.
