The best hunting binoculars aren’t the most expensive. Find out what to look for when buying hunting binoculars & read our reviews of the best hunting binocs.
When it comes to buying binoculars, a higher price tag usually means a much higher quality product–but that doesn’t always make it the best binoc for your needs.
In fact, affordability is one of the major factors that go into the list of the best hunting binoculars in the market. After all, Swarovski and Zeiss may offer some of the most advanced binoculars on the planet, but that doesn’t mean they have binocs you want to take with you into the rugged wilderness.
Finding the best hunting binoculars isn’t something to be done blindly–rather, it’s a job that takes a lot of careful consideration and a bit of old fashioned research.
Below, you’ll find that we’ve done most of that for you already. It’s up to you now to finish the job and find the best hunting binoculars for you.
Features of the Best Hunting Binoculars
If you’re looking for a new pair of hunting binocs–and you want the cream of the crop in terms of quality, precision, performance, and value–then you can’t just choose a product based on one characteristic. You have to take a whole host of features into account.
- Magnification — Generally speaking, hunting is one of the few sports in which a lower magnification may be more beneficial. With a pair of 7x or 8x binocs, you’ll be able to see a fairly wide range of field and notice any wildlife moving in or out of it. Anything bigger may be too shaky, and anything smaller just isn’t powerful enough.
- Lenses — A bigger lens will offer a wider field of view and allow more light into the apparatus, giving you the best sights. But a bigger lens is also a heavier lens, hindering your ability to move around quickly (if you’re perched all day, no biggie, but it’s good for your hunting binocs to be versatile). So, you have to walk a fine line here. Go no lower than 32mm for a compact hunting binocular and no higher than 42mm for a standard daylight vision. If you’re doing some night hunting, binocs with objective lenses of 50mm or 56mm may come in handy, as long as you’re stationary.
- Prisms — Even though they are a touch more expensive, you really want to get your hands on roof prisms. These are more compact, lighter, and offer higher quality images.
- Durability — It’s very important for your pair of hunting binoculars to be tough as nails. You’re going to be out in the woods or the mountains, chasing down wild game and generally being at the mercy of Mother Nature as far as weather goes. You want your binocs to be as waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof as possible.
Best Binoculars for Hunting: Reviews of The Top 3
To give you a head start on your road to the best hunting binoculars, here’s a look at the three bestselling models in the market today.
Even if none of these binocs floats your boat, keep in mind the great features that make these models stand out from the crowd.
Nikon Action 7×35 Ultra-Wide Binoculars
These binocs, from one of the industry’s leading manufacturers, are created specifically to give you a super wide field of view for your big game hunting trips.
These also feature multicoated objective lenses, aspherical eye piece lenses, and rubber armor protection.
Read our more detailed Nikon Action Binoculars review.
Bushnell Trophy 8×32 Binoculars
The Trophy line is Bushnell’s premier series of binoculars for hunters.
This particular model features BaK-4 prisms, multi-coated lenses, and a nitrogen-purged and o-ring-sealed construction for a fully waterproof body.
Leupold Camo 10×42 Cascades Binoculars
What isn’t to like about these binocs? The 10×42 Cascades offer great low-light views, a lightweight design for easy portability, a roof prism design for the best in optics, an ergonomic construction for extra comfort, and a generous eye relief for those who wear glasses.
Everything about these binocs is praiseworthy.
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