Topic: The Best Binoculars for Hunting of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 37 times)
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Topic: The Best Binoculars for Hunting of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 37 times)
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A big, serious binocular designed for Western hunters, the B.6 provides more magnification than a standard 10×42 without the heft of a 15-power. Smart ergonomics make it easy to hold, and excellent glass delivers a bright, crisp image.
Some readers may question why we gave a $1,050 binocular our Great Buy award, which typically goes to raging bargains that cost a fraction of a grand. Our take is that this is a great deal, especially considering the massive optical horsepower of this 12-power binocular. Given the build, quality of the glass, and smart ergonomics, we’d expect this optic to be priced closer to $2,000.
The B.6 occupies a smart place in the market, halfway between the crowded field of capable 10x42s and the big, purpose-built 15×56 binoculars that require a tripod mount in order to use effectively. Maven’s 12×50 is still portable enough to carry, balanced and grippy enough to hand-hold without shaking, and offers enough optical reach to count antler points at long distances. This is Maven’s premium product, a sized-up version of its excellent B.1, but without the massive 56mm objectives of the B.5. If you don’t want all the magnification of the 12-power that we tested, the 10×50 is a great choice for just about any western hunter looking for reach and portability. It’s also extremely bright, finishing just behind Tract’s 56mm binocular in our low-light test.
When you consider Maven’s lifetime warranty and excellent customer service, we felt like the B.6 represented a remarkable value as well as a top performer.
For more info, read our full review of the Maven B series lineup.
Simply the smartest, most technologically advanced rangefinding binocular we’ve tested, it has the added attributes of best-in-class glass and coatings. And it’s sized right for hunters. We ran out of superlatives to describe the attributes of this tremendous rangefinding binocular from Leica.
Let’s start with the size. Unlike the monster frames of many of its peers, the Geovid Pro 32 sized down its physical dimensions while upping its performance. The open-barrel build is easy to use with a single hand and fits in most binocular harnesses. The clear, distortion-free optics are what you’d expect from this leading European brand. But it’s the digital guts of the Pro 32 that make this a game-changing device. The Leica co*es preloaded with Applied Ballistics’ Ultralite ballistics software, which provides bullet-specific drop data out to 875 yards. If you want to use these trajectory curves beyond that distance, you’ll have to invest in Applied Ballistics’ Elite library for an additional cost.
The Pro 32 also links via Bluetooth to Leica’s very good (and thankfully updated) Leica Ballistics app, which allows users to import custom gun profiles to the unit. The elevation corrections can be expressed in MOA, Mils, ¼ MOA, .1 or .05 Mil click values, and in either centimeters or inches. The Geovid also has an onboard weather center that uses temperature, elevation, and atmospheric pressure to reco*mend a very precise custom shooting solution. In short, it makes every hunter a better shot.
But that’s only the upper strata of the Leica’s capabilities. It also links to digital mapping services so that you can chart where you took the shot, where the target was on the landscape, and use those waypoints to track an animal. In case you lose connectivity, the Geovid has a built-in co*pass that will guide you home. That co*pass also makes this a badass tool for target and shot spotters at long-distance shooting co*petitions, making this the ultimate long-range hunting and shooting aid that is also a very capable binocular, even when the battery dies.
Read my colleague John Snow’s deep dive into the field attributes of the Geovid Pro 32.
The only super-sized binocular in this year’s test, the 15-power Tract brings excellent glass, flare-taming coatings, and a durable build to task. The Toric delivers the best performance when mounted on a hunting tripod, but it’s light enough that you can hand-hold it with ease.
Fifteen-power binoculars are not for everyone, but for those who use them—Western hunters who pick apart distant landscapes for hours at a time—there’s no alternative. The configuration offers 50 percent more magnification than a standard 10-power, and the both-eyes-open viewing isn’t nearly as fatiguing as squinting through a spotting scope. The Tract is a very capable member of this super-sized fraternity, and brings a better high-transmission class than many of its peers while still remaining affordable for most serious hunters.
Tract’s direct-to-consumer business model allows for savings, and the Toric joins a family of bright, durable, and versatile binoculars. The Schott high-transmission glass delivers a bright and distortion-free image, as expected given its huge objective lenses, taking top honors in the low-light portion of our test. Testers appreciated the weight-saving and vibration-taming attributes of the polycarb chassis, and for those who questioned the durability of the lightweight co*posite, Tract offers a fully transferable lifetime warranty, further building the value proposition of this big binocular.
A surprisingly stylish and optically sharp binocular, it’s sized right for either treestand hunting or walk-about stalking tasks. Built around a class of extra-low dispersion glass with premium coatings, the optical performance of this binocular is beyond what we’ve seen from previous Hawke submissions. The image is bright and noticeably wide thanks to field-flattening design. We especially liked the nice manners of the Frontier APO; its ergonomics make one-handed operation a cinch, and it balances nicely around the neck and in hand. We especially like the textured focus and diopter wheels and the solid-state feel of the magnesium chassis.
co*pared with Hawke’s Vantage binocular—also in this year’s test—this is a huge step up in both quality and performance and is capable of handling just about any deer-hunting tasks. At about $800, it’s not an entry-level binocular, but its quality build, European styling, and co*ponents should make it a solid performer.
With a ton of value for the price, this redesigned binocular from the Czech-based co*pany offers good glass in a durable package and makes a solid beginning binocular or a step up from an el-cheapo model. While we weren’t especially blown away by the image or handling of this reliable binocular, our testers felt the price was attractive considering the glass, durability, and reputation of Meopta. Priced south of $500, the MeoPro HD Plus should provide years of trouble-free glassing.
The MeoPro HD Plus is a redesign of a family that’s been a staple of Meopta’s product lineup for years, but touches include a more angular external contour, highly textured focus and diopter controls, and nicely tapered 3-position eyecups. It co*bines European styling with decent glass and an appealing price. Testers dinged the MeoPro on its spongy focus wheel and clunky handling, but liked the clear, distortion-free glass and durability of the magnesium-alloy frame.
Its co*bination of durability and European styling make GPO’s mid-level binocular a good fit for a walk-about Western hunter. Decent image and pleasing balance add to its versatility. GPO has done a nice job of positioning its brand as aspirational for Western hunters. It has a full range of big binos suited for Coues deer hunting, and its products are far more affordable than premium European models. The Passion ED fills a needed mid-level price and performance point, sandwiched between the more pedestrian Spectra and the premium Passion HD series. Extra-low dispersion glass in the front lenses gives the Passion ED a little kick in brightness and clarity.
We liked the handsome styling and responsive manners, and the accessories that include a premium zippered case and cushioned neck strap, are a nice added value. The diopter and eyecups are well done; our only gripe with the controls was the mushy focus wheel. But for a co*pact (it’s only 5.7 inches high) binocular that will deliver years of service, this is a good choice for a hunter who plans to cover a lot of ground.
