The Ultimate All-in-One Hunting Binoculars: Leupold BX-4 Range HD Review

Minimizing, optimizing, and simplifying your hunting gear kit is a goal of most backcountry hunters. There’s no reason to carry more than you have to, and it’s flat silly to carry two tools if you only have to carry one.

Leupold has long been a trusted name in the optics industry, renowned for delivering high-quality products tailored to the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. The BX-4 Range HD TBR/W 10x42mm Binoculars just continue to prove this commitment, combining exceptional optical performance with advanced rangefinding capabilities.

Designed for hunters, these binoculars aim to streamline your gear by merging two essential tools into one. Why carry a separate rangefinder when your binos can do the job and do the job quickly? But do they live up to the expectations?

In short: The BX-4 Range HD Binoculars from Leupold have all the capabilities you could ask for in one solid package, allowing for quick, accurate ranging while glassing. Once you get used to the bulk of these substantial binos, you’ll rarely need to grab a dedicated rangefinder again.

Shopping for hunting binoculars? Check out our guide to the best hunting binoculars.

Specifications and Features of the Leupold BX-4 Range HD Binoculars

Elite Optical System

The BX-4 Range HD TBR/W is built around Leupold’s Elite Optical System, which the brand claims delivers excellent dawn-to-dusk light transmission for a bright image when it matters most. It offers elite-level glare reduction in harsh light and the resolution and clarity that diehard hunters and shooters demand.

Integrated Rangefinding With TBR/W Technology

Equipped with Leupold’s True Ballistic Range/Wind (TBR/W) technology, these binos provide ballistically calculated ranges for extremely accurate shots at longer distances and steeper angles. The TBR/W technology can also generate a hold point for a 10mph wind at a 90-degree angle out to 800 yards. This might not be something the everyday hunter will use, but it is slick for those who do.

Ergonomic Design

The binoculars have an ergonomic design that, though bulky, fits well in your hands. To say the BX-4 Ranges are comfortable to hold is a bit of a stretch, but that’s just because of the additional heft required for the rangefinding capability. They do feel pretty good for short glassing stints, the additional heft aside.

Durable Construction

Built to withstand extreme conditions, the BX-4 Range HD TBR/W is waterproof and fogproof. Mind you, waterproof and fogproof are never fully PROOF-PROOF, if you know what I mean.

Leaving these at the bottom of the lake is a bad idea, and in extreme temperatures and humidity, fog is bound to happen at some level. That being said, these binos are about as water — and fog-resistant as they come.

While I haven’t had them out in really wet or foggy conditions, I have tested them in snow and cold. They seem shockingly resistant to fogging in cold temperatures.

Leupold’s proprietary gas blend and seals can withstand extreme temperatures, elevation changes, and shocks, ensuring the internals of the optic stay moisture-free and crystal clear for life. If not, there’s that beautiful warranty.

Warranty

Speaking of warranty, Leupold offers a Lifetime Optics Guarantee and a Two-Year Electronics Guarantee, ensuring long-term peace of mind for users. You should always check into a warranty on optics. Inevitably, if you hunt long and hard enough, you’ll end up using it.

Included Accessories

Your BX-4 Range HDs come with a padded carrying case, lens covers, a lens cloth, and a CR2 battery. This is everything you need and maybe a bit more than you really need. I know the floorboard of my truck is covered in lens covers and microfiber cloths, and I’m particular about my bino harness.

That said, if you’re making the switch from conventional binoculars to rangefinding binoculars, you may find that they don’t fit in your go-to chest pack.

Testing the BX-4 Range HDs

I won’t beat around the bush here: It took me some serious time to get used to carrying these binos. Unless I’m on some wild hunt somewhere that requires serious glassing capability, like mountain goat or sheep hunting, I typically stick to fast and light glass. Standard 10×42 binos tend to be relatively lightweight and low profile these days, and I’ve gotten used to that.

The BX-4 Range HDs are not light or low profile. That was the first hurdle in getting used to them. My main reason for wanting to make the switch was simple. I wanted immediate ranging at what I was glassing. Combining binos with a rangefinder not only simplified my kit, but also made it so I could range while I was glassing without any lag between spotting and obtaining a distance.

Bino Harness Woes

My binocular harness is essentially my “hunt purse,” and I’m not super keen on changing it. Every pocket has its purpose, and it’s broken in to fit me exactly as I want it to.

I pulled off two or three glassing trips, attempting to utilize my medium-sized FHF Pro-M Harness. After not being able to strap the lid closed, I gave up and swapped out my harness for the included Leupold one. From there, I swapped into an older Alaska Guide Creations harness.

I’m not really happy with the fit and feel of any of the setups so far. Eventually, I think I’ll order a large FHF FOB Bino Harness to make this setup feel a bit more familiar and comfortable.

In the Field

After my initial struggles with the size of the BX-4 Range HDs, my complaints disappeared.

The clarity of these binos is top-notch. And, the speed at which I can simultaneously glass and range is helpful not only on solo hunts but also as a spotter for a second hunter.

You can glass a target or animal and call out ranges at the same time. This means your target is never out of sight. You can accurately range and confirm hits without swapping gear. That’s an asset I hadn’t considered when picking them up.

From glassing and ranging elk in early-season straight through deer season, the BX-4 Range HDs have been my go-to binos this season and have yet to disappoint me. They’ve been to the midwest on whitetail hunts and the ridges of western mountain ranges in the search bulls.

Incredible in Low Light

I found the clarity and low light capability to be about as good as it gets. This isn’t super surprising because Leupold optics just tend to perform consistently well. The lighted reticle makes ranging even in the shadows and first/last light scenarios a breeze.

Where I Don’t Use the BX-4s

These are just too much for me in a tree stand. For archery whitetail hunting from the stand, I rarely need high-magnification optics. Sometimes I like to glass the distance, but for the style of stand hunting I do, it tends not to be necessary.

At those close ranges, I leave the binos at home now and grab a dedicated rangefinder. The BX-4 Range HDs are just too bulky and too unnecessary in the tree for me.

What the BX-4 Range HD Binoculars Do Well

The BX-4 Range HD TBR/W delivers sharp, clear images even in low-light conditions. The integrated rangefinding is quick and precise, allowing users to spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear.

The high-contrast red OLED display ensures visible readouts in any light, and its edge-to-edge clarity makes glassing sessions easy on the eyes. In short, they just work really well for hunters who need clarity and fast ranging.

The Downfalls

While the BX-4 Range HDs offer tons of perks and highlights, as always, there are a few drawbacks to consider.

• Price: At $1,600, it represents a significant investment, which might be a barrier for some hunters. That being said, there are plenty that hit above this price point, as well. This is a ‘buy once, cry once’ scenario. These are totally worth it if you can budget for them.
• Size and Weight: The integration of rangefinding technology adds bulk compared to standard binoculars, which might affect portability. They do feel substantial in your bino harness, which might be tough to get used to. However, you are saving the space and weight of having a separate rangefinder.
• Lack of Bluetooth Connectivity: This is an obscure flaw, but the absence of Bluetooth limits integration with ballistic apps, which could be a drawback for tech-savvy hunters seeking seamless data transfer. This is not an issue for me, but it might be for the high-tech-hunt-hero.

Who Should Consider These Binos

The Leupold BX-4 Range HD 10x42mm binoculars are ideal for hunters, shooters, and possibly just wildlife enthusiasts who require both high-quality optics and precise rangefinding in a single package. They are particularly beneficial for those who value quick target acquisition and accurate ballistic information without the need to carry multiple devices. If you’re just needing birding binos, these are probably not for you.

If you happen to be a dedicated close-range bowhunter, depending on the style and location of your hunts, there may be better options as well. There’s a lot of bulk and movement with these. You may be better off with a smaller setup. That being said, I spent all elk season bowhunting with them and, after adjusting my kit, found them to be a rad addition to my setup.

Final Thoughts on the Leupold BX-4 Range HDs

The Leupold BX-4 Range HD TBR/W 10x42mm binoculars combine exceptional optical performance with advanced rangefinding capabilities, making them a valuable tool for serious hunters who want to streamline glassing.

While the premium price and added bulk are things to take into consideration, the benefits of having two essential tools integrated into one device, backed by Leupold’s warranty, make them a compelling choice for those seeking to simplify their kit and get accurate ranging with no lag between gear.