Best binos for $250?

[Jerry Worley]

I have a few dollars to spend and I am thinking about mew binos. When I do rifle hunt our longest shot would be around 160 yards. I will never have a need to glass any animal at anything beyond 200 yards.

[Tall Tex]

I'm looking at the vortex diamondback 8x42. Been reading good things about them if hunting around timber and distances like you just described. I looked at 10x42 but that's just too much glass for the places I personally hunt.

[Muddy Bud]

I wasn't happy at all with my Vortex Diamond Backs. Not as clear as my Leupolds. The adjustment was extremely loose and I would constantly have to refocus or keep them from touching any part of my forehead at all. Only used them four times and left them in the jeep as back ups. But I would rather not take any to the stand at all than have to fart around with that junk.

[KYBourbon]

I have Vortex Diamondback 8.50x50. I like them a lot. I have had none of the issues posted above. Mine have taken a beating for 3 years.

[agtex42]

How often do you anticipate using them outside of 100 yards?

For 100 yards and closer it's hard to beat a lightweight pair of 8x32 binos. I have a pair of Sightron 8x32s (SIIBL832) that have become my go-to glass for just about everything. Their optical quality is good enough, they're compact, and they weigh next to nothing. I use them for bowhunting, birding, hiking, etc and have really come to prefer them over my heavier 8x43 ZenRays. Paired with a quality bino harness you hardly notice you're wearing them in the stand.

I don't do much rifle hunting and when I do our feeder setups are all less than 100 yards from the blind, if I wasn't concerned about portability I'd probably own a pair of 10x42s to give me a little more reach but so far the need hasn't come up.

[Jerry Worley]

Not often over 100 yards. But on occasion up to 200 yards.

[Bowhuntamistad]

Can go far if you buy used.

[j.trevor123]

I have bushnell legend HD’s, when I got them a few years ago I saw good reviews. I like them.

[trophy8]

Can go far if you buy used.

Agreed. I'd try to find some vortex viper HDs. Might go a touch over your budget but worth it. I'm not a lower end vortex scope fan but they make great binos for the money for sure!!

[Bassdeer]

Nikon Monarch 10x42, first good set I have ever bought. I would say go to Bass Pro or Cabela's and try some different ones out, you will be surprise how some work good for some people and not for you.

[bigdaddy590]

Love my diamondbacks. I think mine are 10x50s

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Skinny]

I'm looking at the vortex diamondback 8x42. Been reading good things about them if hunting around timber and distances like you just described. I looked at 10x42 but that's just too much glass for the places I personally hunt.

I got the 10x50. Work great. Use them daily and on antelope hunts the past two years.


Skinny

[TXHunter1089]

Vortex Diamondbacks 12x50

[Jerry Worley]

Does Academy carry any of these mentioned. I really like the idea of being able to look thru them.

[Bowhuntamistad]

If I had to buy new, I'd go this route:

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/zeiss-terra-ed-10x42-binocular-black.html?utm_source=google_shopping&m=simple&gclid=CjwKCAjwjozPBRAqEiwA6xTOYJBzq00jbOW9MxIIRE6aycKQGyN1q4rLKeyOgoSwBuek0060Q3j9tBoC8Z8QAvD_BwE

or these:

http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog[name]=Minox-BV-8x44-Binocular-%2362237-Binoculars-and-Scopes&catalog[product_guids][0]=1251691

Either of these will be better than the Vortex.




What I would do, if it were me, I'd call Doug or Neil at Cameralandny and ask them what they can do with your budget or slightly over it.