The Best Hunting Binoculars of 2024

Best Overall Hunting Binoculars: Maven C.3 10×50
Best Budget Hunting Binoculars: Redfield Rebel 12×50
Best Compact Hunting Binoculars: Vortex Razor UHD 8×32
Best Rangefinding: Leupold BX-4 Range 10×42
Best Image Stabilizing: SIG ZULU6 HDX 20×42
Best Long-Range Hunting Binoculars: Vortex Razor UHD 12×50
Best High-End Hunting Binoculars: Swarovski EL Range 10×42

Selecting the best pair of hunting binoculars can significantly improve your experience in the field. Call them what you will: binos, nockers, eyes, glass, or any other combo of odd pet names — the important thing is that you have a pair of binoculars that works for you and your hunt.

Binoculars provide you with the clarity and precision needed to spot wild game from a distance. Whether you’re glassing vast open fields or dense woodlands, the right binoculars can be crucial for a successful hunt.

Binoculars are expensive. In all the ways we can sit here and tell you that you need a very particular pair of binos for your hunt, the reality is this: any binocular is better than no binocular. This is one of those products where the price really does seem to reflect quality and performance, but you can have just as much success in the field with a $60 pair as you can with a $3,000 pair.

Sure, you might lose a few minutes of light at the end of the hunt with a cheaper pair, and you might need to bring some Tylenol for the eye strain, but any pair will do the trick. Don’t let your old hand-me-downs keep you out of the woods.

That being said, if you’re in the market for new glass for this upcoming season, let us help you wade through the countless options out there. A good pair of binoculars should last you a lifetime, so let’s make this a “buy once, cry once” scenario. Investing in quality glass is certainly worth it. Think of the difference between the picture of a really cheap TV and a high-dollar, ultra-high-def one. You likely won’t regret the splurge.

We’ve put together this guide to help you navigate and understand all the optics jargon. We’ll outline the essential features and considerations you should make when purchasing your next pair of hunting binos. And, of course, we’ll make some suggestions for our favorites in the field. For a side-by-side spec run down, check out our comparison chart.

Specs

Magnification: 10x
Objective: 50mm
Eye Relief: 19.5mm
Linear FOV: 262'
FOV: 5 Degrees
Weight: 1 lb., 12 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Incredible performance for the price
Great in-hand feel
Excellent low-light performance
Lightweight

Cons

Narrow field of view

Choosing the best hunting binoculars is tough. For this list, to be totally honest, we were torn between three different sets of binos. Two of those were Mavens. The Maven C.3 10×50 binos ($475) won top honors for a few reasons. Where these binos beat out the competition is pretty clear. It all comes down to performance, price, weight, and low-light capability. The C.3 10x50s just outperforms in those categories with few drawbacks.

Before we push forward with why these really are the best, here’s the mini-pitch for the two other sets it beat out. The Leupold BX-4 Range 10×42 was in the running for top honors (and will be my go-to for this year). They found their sweet spot on the list as the best Rangefinding Hunting Binos (below). The Maven B1.2s were the other contender that got bumped totally off the list (sorry), and the only reason is the C.3s offer a price-to-performance ratio that is just hard to overcome.

Okay, let’s dig into why the C.3s, a mid-tier, budget-friendly, unlikely candidate, made the top-honors spot. It all comes down to the perfect balance. There are other hunting binos on the list that have more reach but less low-light capability. Some of the other options offer better clarity but also tip the scales with heftier weights. The C.3s fall in that sweet spot of doing everything really well and not breaking the bank while doing it.

When it comes down to it, the only real drawback to this glass is a narrow field of view. You are going to have to scan just a bit more to cover your scene, which is something very few people will even notice.

In the end, the C.3s performed with incredible clarity, a rugged, comfortable feel, minimal weight, great reach, and incredible low-light capability — all at nearly a quarter of the price of much of the competition. We’re certainly of the opinion that glass is a good place to spend your money, but this is one of those few times that top price doesn’t always equal top performance.

Specs

Magnification: 12x
Objective: 50mm
Eye Relief: 19.5mm
Linear FOV: Unspecified
FOV: Unspecified
Weight: 1 lb., 14.8 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Very budget friendly
Great clarity for price
Case, strap included

Cons

Cheaper body feel

Sometimes, it feels like the budget product is an obligatory addition to these lists where we have to lower expectations. This is not the case here. The Redfield Rebel 12×50 ($160) binos have been one of the most shockingly impressive products we’ve tested this year. If we didn’t know the price of these ahead of time, we’d swear they’d cost at least double what they do.

For seriously budget-friendly glass, the magnification and clarity of these binoculars is comparable to some other binos that didn’t make the list. Many of which had price tags that were three times or more what these cost.

When comparing them to top-tier binoculars, you can certainly pick up that you get some clouding or blur at the edge of your field of view, and they don’t have the low-light performance that some of the higher caliber glass has. However, without having a side-by-side comparison to binoculars that cost thousands more than these do, I’d bet you’d be impressed by the performance.

Where you begin to notice the budget feel is the details. The case and strap are low-cost additions that totally work but aren’t, by any means, fancy. The fact that they’re even included in this price category is wild.

The feel of the binocular body doesn’t have that soft-finished rubberized feel that most of the more expensive options do, but that’s a reach. We’re literally scrambling for the cons here. It’s hard to find downsides to these binos at this price. They just perform at such a higher level than the price tag implies.

Specs

Magnification: 8x
Objective: 32mm
Eye Relief: 19.0mm
Linear FOV: 472'
FOV: 9 Degrees
Weight: 1 lb., 5.9 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Super compact
Lightweight
Great clarity
Great in low light conditions

Cons

Expensive

Both the Vortex Razor UHD 8x32s ($2,150) and 10x32s were released this year, and we struggled to decide which would fall into the best compact category winner. When it came down to it, the 8X32s had just a slight edge when it came to low-light conditions. Considering these compact binos will most likely be used by tree stand hunters (in our estimation), the reduction in magnification and increase in those first and last light viewing minutes was worth it.

The most obvious stat that jumps out when compared to the other binos on the list is the field of view. With a linear FOV of 472′, the Razor UHD 8x32s blow the competition out of the water, though most of that is due to the lower magnification. Obviously, if you don’t zoom in further (like 10x or 12x), you’ll have a wider view. That being said, the combination of wildly clear, edge-to-edge crispness and the wide FOV gives such a clear view of your surroundings.

The anti-reflective coating adds just another level of low-light performance, making the view almost seem artificially illuminated. We noticed this most on overcast days where the light wasn’t direct, and the shadowed landscapes were even harder to make out. Spring bear hunts under cloudy skies found us able to identify bears in the shadows where we may not have otherwise.

The obvious drawback, and the only downfall we really noted on the Razor UHD 8x32s (and the entire Razor UHD line), is price. These are not a budget buy, particularly for 8x magnification. It’s hard to stomach paying several thousand dollars for such limited magnification, but if you’re hunting in low-light conditions regularly and don’t need that reach, it really doesn’t get much better at any price.

Specs

Magnification: 10x
Objective: 42mm
Eye Relief: 17mm
Linear FOV: 334'
FOV: 6.2 Degrees
Weight: 2 lbs., 7 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Fast ranging
Incredible clarity
Combines gear to save on packing

Cons

Weight
Size/Bulk

I’d like to introduce you to the hunting binoculars that have become my go-to set and that hasn’t been an easy or fast transition to make. The Leupold BX-4 Range 10x42mm binoculars ($1,599) were in the running for our top honor this year, but fell short when it came to heft, both in size/weight and budget. Though, in my not-so-humble opinion, that’s a loss on a technicality.

These binos from Leupold represent two pieces of gear, so the price and weight should be divided as such. Carrying all 39 ounces of the BX-4 Range binos means I don’t have to carry a separate rangefinder. From a logistical standpoint, this means I save the weight and price of said unnecessary rangefinder. From a performance standpoint, I save time and movement between glassing and ranging. I now glass and range simultaneously, making me a more efficient hunter. When it comes to hunting gear, there is no better measure of a valuable product than that.

With a lens coating that makes these things incredibly scratch-resistant and harsh climate tech that makes them waterproof, prevents fogging, and ensures performance at even the most extreme temperatures, it’s hard not to love these binos for almost any hunting scenario.

When considering the added weight, my go-to range finder clocks in at 10 ounces. So once you consider the savings of not having to carry it, you’re down to essentially one of the lighter options on the list. Though, it doesn’t save you from the arm strain of holding them for long sessions. Learn to use your elbows, and you’ll never look back.

The only legitimate downfall for me is having to change out my bino harness. Unfortunately, the added bulk just won’t fit in my tried-and-true FHF Pro-M Harness. It says more than I can say that I’m willing to change harnesses for these binos.

Specs

Magnification: 20x
Objective: 42mm
Eye Relief: 15mm
Linear FOV: Unspecified
FOV: 3.3 degrees
Weight: 1 lb., 5.9 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Image stabilizing
Lightweight
Serious magnification
Extreme clarity

Cons

Loss of performance in low light conditions

Rarely does a gear test turn into a hard look at my personal budget to consider what sacrifices need to be made to add said product permanently to my gear pile. The SIG ZULU6 HDX 20×42 ($1,200) did just that. After testing these bad boys on a few different mountainscapes, I can confidently say I wasn’t prepared for the difference they would make.

Image stabilization is not just A game changer, it is the game changer (and I hate that phrase). Once you get up to the 20x magnification class, you can barely see straight without stabilization. The slightest movement (heartbeat included) creates a massive wobble. That typically means a tripod or some other steady leveling device is absolutely mandatory. With SIG’s image stabilization tech, that wobble we all know… is gone.

It is almost nauseating when you first hit the stabilization button. Comparing my standard binos to these at long distances made me question why I had never invested any time or money into this tech earlier. I am not easy to sway toward new innovations and consider myself quite the traditionalist in many ways. Color me swayed.

The SIG ZULU6 HDX 20x42s are not insanely expensive, they’re lightweight, have far more reach than any other binos in my arsenal, take incredible digiscope images, and have shocking clarity for the reach.

The only drawbacks I can find are the odd appearance and the decrease in function in low-light settings. Where they far exceed the capability of my go-to binos during the mid-day light, they begin to falter when dusk rolls around. These things need light, which is totally understandable. Unfortunately for me, I do a ton of scouting in the early morning and late evening hours, meaning they will never be my go-to… but dangit, they’re rad the rest of the day.

Oh … and they look weird. But honestly, who cares? Once I can string together a few extra pennies, these will be added to my permanent glass pile. Santa better be listening (hint, hint).

Specs

Magnification: 12x
Objective: 50mm
Eye Relief: 17mm
Linear FOV: 288'
FOV: 5.5 degrees
Weight: 2 lbs., 4.5 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Great clarity
Serious reach
Perfect for digiscoping with a tripod/support

Cons

Large
Heavy
Expensive

I won’t beat around the bush. The Vortex Razor UHD 12x50s ($2,600) live in my truck. Rarely do they make it into my pack unless I know I’m headed scouting for something that is going to require big reach. That being said, when it comes to scouting sheep and goats, this is the extra weight I’m willing to lug up the mountain.

The clarity at extreme distances is impressive, to say the least. I know these aren’t exactly a budget purchase, but they do have the edge-to-edge clarity of much more expensive glass. If the goal is to spot long-distance game and possibly capture images with a digiscoping device, this is about as good as it gets in the hunting binocular sphere.

Outside of high-alpine mountain hunts, the tripod adapter on the UHD 12x50s is almost exclusively mounted to a window mount and attached to the driver’s side door of my truck. For those dirt road scouting trips where you might be ripping around looking for game, this is the truck glass you need. They’ve replaced my spotting scope for on-the-road scouting. I know that might sound niche and oddly specific, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t do it.

When it comes to the big hunts like stone sheep, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and even bears, this is weight worth packing. It fits that sweet spot between binos and spotting scopes, where you can glass fast or set up shop with a bipod/monopod for extended glassing sits.

Specs

Magnification: 10X
Objective: 42mm
Eye Relief: 19mm
Linear FOV: 359'
FOV: 6.8 degrees
Weight: 2 lbs., 0.6 oz.
Prism Style: Roof

Pros

Unmatched clarity
Wide field of view
Fast ranging without additional gear
High-quality case and strap included

Cons

Expensive
Odd base shape

Testing and reviewing Swarovski Optik glass is sort of like test-driving a Ferrari. Right out of the gate, you’re dealing with the top-tier, best materials, highest tech, and most scrutinized quality control. The Swarovski EL Range ($3,999) is no exception. Even while being tested side-by-side with the most comparable competition, the El Range binoculars were just a step up in every way. They feel really nice in hand and have clarity that seems HD in ways our own eyes don’t seem to see.

As mentioned with the Leupold BX-4 Range binos, the Swarovski Optic El Ranges are fitted with rangefinding tech. They have just a bit wider linear FOV than the Leupold BX-4s, a noticeable increase in clarity edge-to-edge, and a pretty lofty weight savings. That all being said, those perks come with a pretty lofty price increase of more than double.

When it comes to deciding on a luxury pair of hunting binoculars at any price, this is it. With budget unconsidered, the Swarovski Optik El Range 10x42s are as top-tier as it gets with almost no downfalls aside from price and one other odd anomaly.

A note on shape: The El Range binos don’t lay flat. This might not even be something most people would notice, but we do. The bottom of the binos has an angled design. When you set them down, the tip back. This could be for the benefit of protecting lenses, but it also means they aren’t as steady if you set them down on an uneven surface. However, I assume if you’re spending $4,000 on a pair of binoculars, you’ll rarely be setting them anywhere outside a case.

Like a few other examples on the list, we really were reaching for cons here. Swarovski Optik certainly knows glass, and this was the pair we found ourselves reaching for most often during spring tests this year. They feel good, they perform, and if you have the budget for them, it just doesn’t get any better.

Hunting Binoculars Comparison Chart

Binoculars	Price	Objective	Magnification	Eye Relief	Linear FOV	FOV	Weight
Maven C.3 10X50	$475	50mm	10x	19.5mm	262′	5°	1 lb., 12 oz.
Redfield Rebel	$160	50mm	12x	19.5mm	Unspecified	Unspecified	1 lb., 14.8 oz.
Vortex Razor UHD 8×32	$2,150	32mm	8x	19mm	472′	9°	1 lb., 5.9 oz.
Leupold BX-4 Range HD	$1,599	42mm	10x	17mm	334′	6.2°	2 lbs., 7 oz.
SIG ZULU6 HDX 20×42	$1,200	42mm	20x	15mm	Unspecified	3.3°	1 lb., 5.9 oz.
Vortex Razor UHD 12×50	$2,600	50mm	12x	17mm	288′	5.5°	2 lbs., 4.5 oz.
Swarovski EL Range 10×42	$3,999	42mm	10X	19mm	359′	6.8°	2 lbs., 0.6 oz.

How We Tested Hunting Binoculars

The GearJunkie Hunting Binocular Testing Team

We stare through a lot of glass all year long. Fortunately, no matter what you hunt, where you hunt, or how you hunt, almost everyone has at least one pair of binoculars. It’s hard to get the job done without them.

For us, this means that everyone on our team, from staff writers to editors to freelancers, uses binos almost daily. Our bowhunters have their favorites, while our rifle hunters have theirs. The tree stand hunters think certain brands are best, while the spot-and-stalk hunters absolutely disagree.

Half the team thinks magnification is more important, and half the team thinks objective rules the roost.

When it comes down to it, we have a wide spread of hunters with opinions just as wide.

Our Editorial Director, Sean McCoy, hunts in very different conditions than our Hunt and Fish Editor, Rachelle Schrute. We have freelancers who only take shots at whitetail deer within 20 yards and freelancers who play the long-range rifle game. With so many vastly different experiences, environments, and conditions, the GearJunkie crew has strong opinions on what constitutes the best optics.

Redfield Rebel 12x50 — (Photo/Rachelle Schrute)

One thing we try to do with tests like these is to come at them as “uninformed” about the product as possible. That might sound counterintuitive, but we don’t want to know if one pair costs thousands while another pair is a budget buy. Binoculars are the perfect product to “blind test,” if that makes any sense.

We hunt and scout with the binos all year, but for our dedicated comparison tests, we would take a canvas tote filled with different pairs of binoculars to different locations at different times of day and just grab a pair and look (I can already feel the prospective companies cringing at the brutality of how these products are “mishandled” during our tests).

With a pile of different pairs of binoculars in a bunch of different scenarios, we really did get the feel of which binos performed best, price tag not considered. Though, we’re well aware that when we pick up a set of Bushnell’s they won’t hit the cash register as hard as a pair of Swarovskis.

In the end, what we seem to find is that we lean toward the more expensive products for obvious reasons. When you have more tech, higher quality materials, and more assets going into a product, it obviously results in better-performing end products and higher prices. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

However, we’ve been surprised at how well some of the budget products have performed. Some, like the Redfield binos, blew us away. There are budget options that really do sit comfortably with the big guys, regardless of price.

Brutal Condition Testing

Any pair of binoculars will perform just fine at room temperature, in a dry setting, on a sunny day. Hunting rarely takes place under those conditions. (Insert another trigger warning for the brands and PR companies here.)

If the binoculars claim to be waterproof, we submerge them and leave them submerged overnight. If they’re touted as fog-proof, we keep ’em in a hot cab, immediately jump out to sub-zero temperatures, and give them the old *huhhhhh-huhhhh* breath to see if they’ll fog up. They get tossed into a bag; lens covers be damned. If they’re scratch-resistant, we’ll definitely find out. We are not kind to optics, and after a lifetime of babying any binoculars, that’s a tough thing to do.

From early season 100-degree plus hunts where dirt and dust settle into every nook, to -20-degree hunts where we have trouble even adjusting the dial, we’ve put these binos through every condition imaginable and some conditions that are beyond reasonable use.

Our goal is to break, bend, stretch, scratch, and find every weak spot and flaw… so you don’t have to.

We have even more binos in our recreationally focused Binoculars guide, and if you’re going to be out squinting all day, be sure to carry some sunglasses to keep your eyes fresh and functioning.

Hunting Binocular Buyer’s Guide

Best Hunting Binoculars — (Photo/Rachelle Schrute)

Magnification and Objective Lens Size

Magnification (8x, 10x, 12x, etc.): Higher magnification provides a closer view of distant objects. For hunting, 8x and 10x are the most common choices. 8x magnification is ideal for dense forests and closer ranges, offering a wider field of view. 10x is better for open fields, mountain terrain, and long-distance scouting.

When you reach the 12x range of optics, you’re in it for longer reach, sacrificing low-light capability for that additional magnification stretch to see wild game at wild distances. The Vortex Razor UHD 12×50 are our favorite long-range binos, and the Redfield Rebel 12×50 has decent magnification at a wallet-friendly price.

Objective Lens Size (32mm, 42mm, 50mm, etc.): Larger lenses gather more light, resulting in brighter images, especially in low-light conditions. That means a 50mm lens will gather far more light and perform better early in the morning and later in the evening than a 32mm lens. The downfall of a larger lens is added weight. A 42mm objective lens is a good balance between light-gathering capability and portability if you’re looking for a safe bet that will be universal.

Lens Coating

Almost every brand has its own proprietary lens coating. Lenses that are fully multi-coated offer the best light transmission, enhancing clarity and brightness. Coatings also help reduce glare and improve durability, as well as offer scratch, smudge, and fog protection. Something as simple as a coating can make a huge difference to the performance of your binos in the field.

Prism Type

Roof Prism vs Porro Prism — Roof prism vs. Porro prism; (photo/Vortex Optics)

There are two main types of prisms used in binoculars today. You may notice that every set of binoculars on the list has a roof prism. This is for good reason. Roof prisms are more compact and durable. The construction allows them to be in line, making them easier to handle and carry. Roof prism binoculars are the most commonly seen binos today and are the obvious choice for hunters.

Porro prism binoculars are easily identifiable by the wide, offset build. If you grew up using a hand-me-down pair of binos, they were very likely Porro prism.

Hunting Binocular Weight and Size

The weight of the binos you choose really is important, particularly if you’re a backcountry hunter or bowhunter. Because hunters tend to carry their binoculars in a chest pack or bino harness, the added weight and size can be noticeable and, depending on the hunter’s size, can hinder performance. Smaller framed hunters may find that large binoculars or a large bino harness on the chest may impede their ability to use their bow. The Vortex Razor UHD 8×32 are our favorite compact binoculars.

Weight is also a major consideration when we look at scouting fatigue. It may seem silly, but heavy binoculars are not fun to hold up. You will absolutely feel arm fatigue after glassing for long period of time looking for wild game.

Also, hunters don’t want to carry any more weight than they have to. Every additional ounce that you carry in is another ounce you have to carry out when your pack is hopefully loaded down with successfully hunted meat.

Additional Features

Adjustable Diopter

If you have differences in vision between your eyes, you may want to be sure to look for binoculars with an adjustable diopter. This allows for individual focusing adjustments to suit differences in your eyes. If you’re the type who wears glasses and likes to take them off to glass, this becomes almost mandatory.

Tripod Adaptability

For scouting pre-season or for hunts where you know you’ll be sitting and glassing for long periods of time, you may want to seriously consider opting for hunting binoculars that have tripod attachment points. Fortunately, most modern hunting binoculars are fitted with that ability. You’ll often find that attachment location hidden behind the round logo emblem on the middle front portion of the binocular body. If you plan to use a tripod, be sure to pick up a binocular tripod mount.

Hunting Binocular Warranty

Check, double-check, and then triple-check that warranty coverage. Some manufacturers only cover “defects,” while others have major limitations on what is covered. Some, like Vortex, have iron-clad warranties that cover practically everything.

If you are spending major money on optics, or you’re teetering between brands, go with the one that has the best warranty. Glass breaks. Accidents happen. When you involve hunting, sharp objects, wet hands, and brutal conditions, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be calling the manufacturer for a little spiffy or full-blown replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

The first number indicates magnification power. If your binoculars read “10×42”, the “10x” portion denotes the magnification. What this means is that the object you are viewing will appear ten times closer than it does to the naked eye. So, if you’re looking at a deer 1000 yards away, it will look as if it were only 100 yards away.

Common Magnifications are 8x, 10x, and 12x.

The second number indicates the diameter of the objective lenses in millimeters. It’s the “42” in “10×42”. The objective lens is the lens located at the end of the binoculars farthest from your eyes. Its primary function is to gather light and focus it to create a clear image. The size of the objective lens is measured in millimeters (mm).

Common objective lens diameters are 32mm, 32mm, and 50mm. 32mm are more lightweight and portable, but don’t let in as much light and have reduced clarity. 50mm are larger and heavier but allow for maximum light and clarity.

8x and 10x magnification are easily the most popular for hunters. 8x is great for dense forests and closer ranges like tree stand hunting or bowhunting. 10x is better for open grasslands, deserts, prairies, and longer distances. When you start to get into really far targets and scouting for animals like mountain goats and sheep, you’ll likely find hunters sacrificing a bit of extra weight to bump up their magnification to 12x.

I find the sweet spot for mountain hunting is 10×42. For midwest tree stand hunts, you might just bring a rangefinder to use as binos, or bump down to 8x32s. For big-kid, high alpine goat and sheep hunts, go big with a 12×50 or more. You won’t regret it.

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