14 Best Hunting Binoculars For The Money (Field-Tested)

This post reviews the 14 best value binoculars for hunting, at different price points, in order to determine the best hunting binoculars for the money. I cover everything from entry-level to high-end hunting binoculars and everything in-between, sorted by price for convenience.

What are the best binoculars for the money? Are expensive binoculars worth it? How do they compare? How to choose hunting binoculars? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this post.

I’ve owned the same binoculars for the past 5-6 years, the Vortex Diamondbacks 10×50’s (older model, non-HD version). Those binoculars have served me well over the years, but after trying some newer glass I couldn’t believe how good they were in comparison. I knew an upgrade would be well worth it, but I didn’t want to break the bank. If you’re reading this post you’re probably in the same boat.

Manufacturing technology has improved a lot over the last few years and high-quality binoculars can be bought for a fraction of what they once were.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

This Hunting Binocular Review’s Credibility

No Affiliation

I’m am not affiliated with any of these binocular companies. I bought all of these binoculars with my own money, except for the Vortex Vipers which I borrowed from a friend.

My Credentials

As a wildlife biologist, Maine hunting guide, and avid outdoorsman I spend a lot of time in the outdoors and with outdoor gear that will make my life easier. For these reasons, I choose my hunting gear very carefully. I’m very picky about choosing my gear because I want it to do the job at hand as efficiently as possible without becoming a burden. Choosing the right binoculars is no different.

I’ve owned a few binoculars and had opportunities to try different types of binoculars through friends, family, and other outdoor professionals over the years. I also do photography and videography using interchangeable lens cameras. The concepts of how these lenses work with cameras are basically the same as how binoculars work with the human eye.

This, combined with extensive research on the in’s and out’s of how binoculars work, and how to choose binoculars to get peak performance for specific hunting styles is something I believe I’m very qualified to do.

How To Choose Hunting Binoculars

Fortunately, high-quality affordable binoculars are more common now that binocular manufacturing technology has improved. That being said, it is important to choose the right binoculars for the job they are being asked to perform. 

Choosing the best value binoculars for hunting will depend on what type of hunting you are doing. To get the most out of your binoculars you will want to match binocular specs to how you hunt. For example, weight, magnification, low-light capabilities…etc are all things to take into consideration when choosing the best hunting binoculars for the money.

There are trade-offs that should be considered, that when understood, will allow you to make the best purchase decision for your specific hunting situations so you get the most out of your binoculars.

In order to choose the best value binoculars for hunting for you, it is important to understand some binocular terminology so you can make an informed decision on what you’ll be using the binoculars for. This way you will understand why I recommend the binoculars in this post. Let’s jump in…

How Hunting Binoculars Were Chosen For This Review

I bought 14 highly recommended binoculars from multiple sources, at different price points, to test and review the best value binoculars for hunting.

After researching hundreds of binoculars using multiple online sources and cross-referencing them, I decided to buy hunting binoculars where these multiple sources overlapped in recommendations.

To keep these binoculars on a level playing field I chose to purchase 8×42 binoculars in most-cases. But this review does cover some other sizes such as 9×45, 10×42, and 10X50 for further comparisons.

How These Hunting Binoculars Were Scored

I tested these binoculars over a 3-week period in common hunting scenarios in order to see how they compared to each other.

They were scored using 10 categories that are essential for hunting applications:

1. Build Quality
2. Bulk & Weight
3. Usability
4. Field of View
5. Brightness
6. Low-Light Performance
7. Clarity/Color
8. Chromatic Aberration
9. Price
10. Warranty

Which Binocular Magnification Is Best For Hunting?

Your goal should be to arrive at a perfect balance between binocular magnification and objective lens size that will best fit the type of hunting you will be doing.

• 8x — The standard magnification. Brings images close enough to see clearly but not so close that shaky hands are an issue.
• 10x — Those with steady hands or lots of experience tend to like the extra power, but shaky hands can be an issue for some.
• 12x — Most will need to brace their elbows to avoid a shaky image at this magnification; it is generally reserved for specialty uses, like hunting out west where a lot of scanning is done.

Benefits Of Increased Hunting Binocular Magnification

See Further (Duh!)

The main pro for binocular lens magnification is that you can see further. For example, an 8×50 binocular can see 8 times further than your naked eye, a 10×50 can see 10 times further than the naked eye…etc.

Increased Hunting Binocular Magnification Considerations

There are some considerations to take into account before you buy a high magnification binocular.

Perceived Shakiness of Hands

Higher binocular magnifications are harder to use off-hand because of increased hand jitters. Of course, your hands aren’t actually shakier because of having a higher magnification, it’s just that higher magnifications enhance small movements resulting in increased perceived shakiness.

A 12x magnification or larger really should have some sort of stabilization device such as a monopod or tripod. The higher the magnification, the increased importance of better stabilization methods.

Field of View

Higher magnification binoculars also have a smaller field of view. With a higher power lens, you may not see animals in your peripheral. For example, when still-hunting or stalking sometimes animals are close to you and you don’t realize it.

While you’re busy looking into the deep depth of the landscape, there could be an animal 40 yards from you. It will be harder to see this animal with a higher power because your field of view is tighter.

Binocular Magnification and Low-Light Performance

As you increase binocular magnification the lenses of the binocular become more narrow. The narrowing of the lenses reduces the light gather capabilities of the binoculars.

The lens narrowing allows you to see further, but reduces light gathering capabilities, and also is the reason your field of view shrinks. You can reverse this low-light issue with higher power binoculars by choosing the right objective lens size.

What’s The Best Lens Size For Hunting Binoculars?

Binocular magnification is not the only thing that should be considered when buying hunting binoculars.

As your objective lens size increases, you’re able to draw more light into the lens. This allows for better low-light capabilities. However, there are also some considerations to make before you buy hunting binoculars with big lenses:

• 28mm — These are referred to as compact lenses, these lenses sacrifice some brightness for their smaller size and lighter weight. They’re good for long treks, where seeing far is not as important.

• 42mm — These are full-sized lenses, they are big enough to provide bright images even in low light, still quite small and portable, and offer good free-hand stability.

• 50+mm — These are large and heavy lenses that can be tricky to use freehand because of their weight. They’re generally reserved for low-light situations, which has its benefits for hunting.

You have to be careful buying large-diameter lenses in conjunction with high magnification lenses. Glass is heavy. More glass =  more free-hand shakiness.

For example, A 10×50 is better than a 10×42 in low-light situations (all things being equal) but the 10×50 will be a heavier binocular. This is good for hunters who need to see better in low-light but may need to consider stabilization methods like a tripod to keep them steady.

If you go with a 10×42 then you are sacrificing low-light capabilities because your lens size is smaller and can’t attract as much light, but at least you can see further, it’s lighter and less bulky.

 

Do you see what I’m getting at? It’s all a trade-off. You can fine-tune your binoculars to your exact hunting situations which will allow you to determine the best binoculars for hunting for the money. Will you be using them free-hand most of the time? Or will you be able to rest them on something or a tripod when hunting? These are some questions you should ask before buying binoculars.

Binocular Lens Size and Low-Light Performance

Exit Pupil Size (Objective Lens Size ÷ Power) – (higher result = better)

• 8×50 = 50÷8 = 6.25
• 8×42 = 42÷8 = 5.25
• 9×45 = 45÷9 = 5
• 10×50 = 50÷10 = 5
• 10×42 = 42÷10 = 4.2
• 12×50 = 50 ÷12 = 4.17

So as you can see, all things being equal, 8×50 binoculars will have the best light gathering capabilities out of these examples by far. If lens magnification and size is all that matters, then why not buy cheap binoculars, right? Not so fast. Not all binoculars are created equal. 

What Makes Hunting Binoculars Better Than Others?

Although magnification and lens size is a big part of the selection process for choosing the best binoculars for hunting for the money, there is more to consider.

Quality Glass = Better Light Transmission

Not only does light have to get into the binoculars, but the light also needs to pass through the glass effectively. If a binocular has poor glass quality it will not be able to use the light it is gathering efficiently. Thus, it will not perform as well as a binocular with glass that utilizes as much light as possible.

Lens Coatings

You don’t want any reflection from your binoculars. Reflection from your lenses will deflect light. The best lenses will have coatings on them so that reflection is minimized to the furthest extent possible. This will allow as much light as possible to enter the binoculars so that you can see better in low-light.

What is Extra Low-Dispersion (ED) & High-Definition (HD) Glass?

Extra low-dispersion glass (ED) also known as High-definition (HD) is, as the name implies, focuses the light color spectrum better. This reduces chromatic aberration. Chromatic aberration is the color-fringing (weird fuzzy coloring) that can occur at the edges of contrasting objects or landscapes. ED glass can also improve overall image clarity.

What Makes Binoculars Expensive?

Quality-made binocular glass makes a big difference in how binoculars will perform. The best binocular glass isn’t created by automated manufacturing to the same extent, at least not yet. In order to achieve the best binocular glass, is made in-house with a lot of research and development. Because of this binoculars take longer to produce and require more employees, this is the reason some binoculars are so expensive than others.

Best Binoculars for Hunting In 2023

I bought 14 best binoculars for hunting at different points in order to determine the best binoculars for the money in 2023. I conducted field tests in order to judge and compare each binocular. Here’s what I found…

Spreadsheet Comparison Of The Tested Hunting Binoculars

Brand	Build Quality	Bulk & Weight	Usability	Field of View	Brightness	Low-Light	Clarity	Chromatic Abb.	Price	Warranty	Overall
Vortex Razor UHD	10	5	10	10	10	10	10	9	5	10	8.9
Swarovski EL	10	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	3	7	8.9
Athlon Midas G2 UHD	7	8	7	10	9	8	9	9	9	10	8.6
Athlon Midas ED	7	7	8	10	8	8	9	8	10	10	8.5
Maven B2	9	6	5	10	10	10	10	9	6	10	8.5
Maven C1	8	8	5	7	9	9	9	8	8	10	8.1
Vortex Viper HD	9	8	8	9	7	7	8	8	7	10	8.1
Vortex Diamondback HD	8	7	8	7	7	7	7	7	10	10	7.8
Zeiss Terra ED	8	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	8	7.8
Nikon Monarch 5	6	10	7	7	8	8	8	7	8	7	7.6
Celestron Trailseeker ED	7	7	7	10	6	6	6	7	7	7	7
Celestron Nature	5	7	8	9	6	6	6	6	10	6	6.9
Vanguard Endeavor ED IV	5	7	5	8	7	7	6	7	5	7	6.4
Vortex Diamondback	7	5	5	6	5	5	4	5	10	10	6.2

Best Hunting Binoculars Under 350$

These are the binoculars that I’ve been using for the past 5-6 years now. For the price (on sale for 150$) these binoculars worked great and were some of the better binoculars on the market at the time for this price. However, after using other binoculars I found that my Diamondbacks were not nearly as clear as the newer binoculars that were around the same price.

The reason I included these older model binoculars in this review is to point out how much technology has changed in the last few years. Manufacturing has been able to produce much higher-quality glass, allowing for better binoculars to be a more reasonable price.

The difference between these Diamondbacks and the other binoculars in this review is night and day. If you have older binoculars, I would highly suggest an upgrade.

Vortex Diamondback Review – Field Notes

Edge to edge clarity: just isn’t there either. It feels like you have tunnel vision when looking through these binos, but at least the center is in focus.

Build Quality	Durable binoculars, they have lasted over 5 years with no issues.
Bulk & Weight	Fairly heavy and bulky binocular for a 10X50.
Usability	Focus knob hard to move, one solid click-in eyecup setting.
Field of View	315ft/1000 yards – not bad for 10X, but has tunnel vision (edge to edge clarity lacking)
Brightness	Not very bright compared to the other binoculars in this review
Low-Light	Expected more out of 50mm, orange-yellow tinted in lower light, things become ‘fuzzy”.
Clarity/Color	Edge to edge clarity is poor.
Chromatic Aberration	Aberration is noticeable and present but not terrible.
Price	Inexpensive, not made anymore
Warranty	One of the best there is for warranties – Lifetime Warranty

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You might be wondering if there is a big difference between the older model Diamondbacks and the newer Diamondback HD’s. I had the same question, so I bought the HD’s in order to compare how glass quality has increased over the past few years.

There was a huge difference. The Diamondback HD’s were better in every way and were much more competitive and comparable to the other binoculars in this review.

Vortex Diamondback HD Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	Durable, feels very well made
Bulk & Weight	Average for 10×50, slightly front-heavy
Usability	Eyecups work well, focus knob works well with one finger
Field of View	315 FOV, average for 10x
Brightness	Brightness is about average compared to other binos
Low-Light	Not bad for 10×50, about average
Clarity/Color	Pretty good, also about average
Chromatic Aberration	Some, but not bad for the price
Price	One of the most affordable tested
Warranty	One of the best there is for warranties – Lifetime Warranty

Celestron Nature DX ED Review Notes

Build Quality	Eyecups are finicky, they don’t stay in place well.
Bulk & Weight	Average compared to other binoculars
Usability	Does a good job focusing on objects quickly
Field of View	Excellent, 393 FOV, very wide
Brightness	Orange-yellow tint, especially in low-light
Low-Light	Slightly below average when compared to other binoculars
Clarity/Color	Slightly below average when compared to other binoculars
Chromatic Aberration	Slightly below average when compared to other binoculars
Price	One of the most affordable tested
Warranty	2-year or Limited-Lifetime

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Athlon Midas ED Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	Average, feels sturdy in hand.
Bulk & Weight	Slightly better than average, lower-profile
Usability	1 finger focus knob adjustment, everything works well
Field of View	426 FOV, tied with best there is in this review
Brightness	Excellent, bright white, amazing for the price
Low-Light	Excellent better thana and comparable to more expensive
Clarity/Color	Edge to edge is very well done for wide FOV
Chromatic Aberration	Slightly better than average, not very noticeable
Price	Inexpensive, one of the more affordable options, especially for what you get
Warranty	Athlon offers a very good lifetime warranty.

Athlon Midas G2 UHD Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	average
Bulk & Weight	slightly better than average
Usability	average
Field of View	426, tied with best
Brightness	excellent, bright white
Low-Light	great, comparable to more expensive
Clarity/Color	edge to edge is very well done for how wide
Chromatic Aberration	very little
Price	inexpensive
Warranty	lifetime

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This review examined the 10×42 model of these binoculars. Overall I was impressed with these binoculars as they were 10×42’s competing with mostly 8×42’s in this review. 

I was impressed with the brightness and low-light capabilities of these binoculars, especially for being 10×42’s, which normally don’t do as well in this category compared to 8×42’s. But these were able to keep up with and do better than some of the more expensive 8×42 binoculars.

The Monarch 5’s didn’t slouch in any department except slightly in build-quality. The build quality, in my opinion, was not great because of the rubber that gets marked up very easily. Although the rubber coating of the binoculars is great for grip and deadens noise when bumped, the rubber is ‘pencil eraser-like’. My first impressions indicated that residue would likely remain on this rubber coating. This doesn’t affect performance but I’d like to keep my hunting binoculars clean and looking as nice as possible for years to come.

These binoculars were also very lightweight. This may be fine in an 8×42 pair, but for these 10×42’s I wouldn’t mind having a little bit more weight to stabilize my viewing experience. It can be difficult when looking for small details, and small details are often the most important for hunters. For example, being able to see antler tines, turkey beards, or identifying waterfowl at a distance.

I think I would have enjoyed ranked these Nikon’s higher if I had tested an 8×42 pair. This is because it would have ranked better in field of view (330 ft instead of 288 ft at 1000 yards), they wouldn’t have appeared to be as shaky, and low-light may have been even better than it already is.

Nikon Monarch 5 Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	rubber grip leaves marks easily
Bulk & Weight	very light
Usability	too light, shaky ( 10×42)
Field of View	288 ft 10×42
Brightness	Better than expected for 10×42
Low-Light	Better than expected for 10×42
Clarity/Color	very clear binocular for price
Chromatic Aberration	some chromatic aberration present
Price	affordable
Warranty	Limited Lifetime

Celestron Trailseeker Review – Field Notes

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Best Hunting Binoculars Under 500$

The Zeiss Terra EDs are an all-around solid binocular. They ranked slightly above average in most categories. The eyecups were a little sticky but not so bad it would prohibit me from buying. I liked that the focus knob was more easily moved with one finger than most other binoculars. They are very bright, crisp, and did well in low-light. I was not a fan of the lens caps, they are different than other binoculars and got in the way often.

Overall these binoculars were very good, but I was just as impressed, if not more impressed, with some of the lower-priced binoculars such as the Midas’s and Maven C1. I would be more inclined to buy this binocular over the Maven C1 because of Maven’s metal adjustment knob. The Mavens did appear to have better optics though. So, if the metal knob is not an issue for you then the Mavens would be a better choice.

Zeiss Terra ED Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	Slightly better than average
Bulk & Weight	Average
Usability	Slightly better than average
Field of View	375 ft @ 1000 yards, pretty good
Brightness	Slightly better than average
Low-Light	Slightly better than average, 88% light trans
Clarity/Color	Slightly better than average
Chromatic Aberration	Slightly better than average
Price	Fair mid-range price
Warranty	Pretty good, not the best

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I did not have a good experience with the Vanguard Endeavor ED IVs. I may have received a faulty pair, I’m not sure but they did not perform well. The eyecups and focus knob were terribly sticky, especially when cold. The focus knob also, if not weight placed on the center if the dial it would be even harder to twist. For this reason, I primarily had to use fingers from both hands to be able to move the dial in order to focus. This is annoying, especially in hunting situations when you often need to get focused quickly.

It was difficult to get a clear picture, even after using the diopter to adjust both eyes. The brightness and low-light capabilities left some to be desired. It had an orange tint to the glass in low lighting, similar to that of the cheapest binoculars in this review.

For the price, I believe there are many better binocular options to choose from for hunting applications.

Vanguard Endeavor Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	Below average, sticky dial and eyecup
Bulk & Weight	Average
Usability	Everything was sticky, knob didn’t work well with 1 finger
Field of View	377 ft @ 1000 yards, pretty good
Brightness	Average
Low-Light	Average
Clarity/Color	Below average
Chromatic Aberration	Average
Price	Expensive for what you get
Warranty	Average

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The Vortex Vipers were one of my favorite binoculars in the review. These were my favorite binoculars in the mid-tier price range (350-500$). They were above average in most areas but were not as bright nor did they have the same and low-light capabilities that the Zeiss Terra ED, Maven C1, and Midas binoculars had. That being said, the Vipers were still competitive in these areas.

These are great binoculars but are beginning to be on the more expensive side. For the price, these aren’t a bad purchase, but I found that some of the cheaper binoculars did equal to, if not better, when compared to the Vipers.

Vortex Viper HD Review –  Field Notes

Build Quality	Feels like its built solid
Bulk & Weight	Small but heavy
Usability	They work great, no complaints
Field of View	409 ft @ 1000 yards, excellent
Brightness	Average
Low-Light	Average
Clarity/Color	Slightly better than average
Chromatic Aberration	Slightly better than average
Price	Fairly expensive
Warranty	Excellent, can’t beat it

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Every credible article that I researched when determining which binoculars to buy for this review pointed to these binoculars as being the best of the best. I knew I had to buy these binoculars so that I would have something to hold all other binoculars to during the review.

These binoculars did not disappoint, everything that is mentioned about them in other reviews about them being exceptional binoculars I also found to be true. They were, without a doubt, the best binoculars I tested. They scored just about perfect in every category, except for price because they are by far the most expensive binoculars.

The diopter was the easiest to set, a very easy experience to perfectly dial in each eye. The focusing was unmatched by the way it was able to push in and out of the thick cover, and it was amazing clarity and low-light.

They were a little heavy and bulky when compared to most of the other 8×42 binoculars, but it made them feel very well made and durable as well as cutting down on hand jitters. They were much less cumbersome than the Maven B2s and Vortex Razor UHDs.

I particularly enjoyed how I did not need to be perfectly on-axis when looking into the binoculars. I could move my eyes side-to-side without the annoying ‘blackout’ effect you see from the lower quality binoculars. This meant eye-strain was at a minimum when using the Swarovski EL’s.

Swarovski EL Review – Field Notes

Build Quality	Very well made
Bulk & Weight	For 8.5×42, slightly big and heavy
Usability	Excellent
Field of View	399 ft @ 1000 yards, excellent for 8.5x
Brightness	Very bright
Low-Light	Superior low-light capabilities
Clarity/Color	A very clear and crisp glass
Chromatic Aberration	Minimal to none
Price	The most expensive binoculars tested
Warranty	Average

 

Best Value Hunting Binoculars

It was clear after conducting this review that both the Midas G2 UHD and the Midas EDs are the best value binoculars, for the money they were unmatched. You can’t go wrong with either one for the price. When compared to the Swarovski’s, there was a difference, but for hunting applications, there wasn’t a 10x difference in price. For the price difference, the Midas’s had, in my opinion, 80% of what the 1000$+ binoculars had to offer.

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Best High-End Hunting Binoculars For Hunting

The Swarovski’s and Vortex Razor UHD’s both tied for first place. These two were built differently, so you’ll need to consider your personal style of hunting when choosing them.

For me, the Swarovski EL’s were the best high-end binoculars for mobile hunters because they were the smallest of the tested binoculars in the 1000$+ category while also have slightly more zoom and maintaining a very wide field of view.

The Vortex Razor UHDs are built differently than the Swarovski’s but were also very nice binoculars. If you don’t mind a little more bulk for the type of hunting you do, these binoculars are just about every bit as nice.

Are Expensive Hunting Binoculars Worth The Money?

There is a point of diminishing return when buying hunting binoculars. You can obtain 80% of the quality by spending 10x less money.

For example, the Athlon Midas binoculars cost +/- 250$, whereas the Swarovski EL’s cost +/- 2500$. So for 10x less money, you can still have at least 80% of what those expensive binoculars offer.

For me, if 250$ binoculars are even 70% comparable to 2500$ binoculars, that’s good enough for me.

I put my hunting binoculars to the test in all types of weather and through rough habitat and I don’t need to be worried about losing, dropping, scratching, or forgetting expensive binoculars.

For the reasons mentioned in this article I believe the Midas binoculars are the best value binoculars for hunting because they offer, in my opinion, 80% of the value when compared to the most expensive binoculars that cost 5x-10x more money.

I hope you’ve found this review of the best hunting binoculars helpful, if you have, feel free to share it using the social media buttons below.

If you have questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments section below or message me on Facebook or Instagram.