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Are you looking for the best hunting binoculars? With so many brands and models of hunting binoculars with different features on the market today, it can be a daunting task to find the right one for your needs.  Our team has researched the best hunting binoculars available today to give you the information and insight you need to choose the right hunting binoculars for your outdoor adventures.

1.  SkyGenius 10 x 50 Powerful Binoculars

The SkyGenius 10 x 50 Powerful Binoculars have 10X power magnification and a 50mm large objective lens. It has a corrective optical coating that provides superior light transmission and color fidelity.

It is well-built and has odorless rubber armor to withstand shock. The SkyGenius 10 x 50 Powerful Binoculars feature an anti-slip grip which is ideal for hiking, climbing, wildlife watching, astronomy gazing, and many more outdoor activities.

This binocular has a central-right adjustment which provides a fast and easy approach. It also allows the calibration of both eyepieces to be done separately resulting in a clearer view.

Its field of vision is 6.2º and is also a large field of view of 367ft/1000yds for wide images and fast-moving objects. Its exit pupil is 5mm and the binocular weighs 1.75 lbs. It is easy to use and focus thanks to its large center focus knob.

      What We Like:

  • Large Field of View
  • 10X Magnification
  • 50mm Lens
  • Diopter System
  • Tripod-Friendly
  • Corrective Optical Coating
  • Large Center Focus Knob
  • 18mm Large Eyepiece Binoculars

2.  Adasion 12×42 Binoculars

The Adasion 12×42 Binoculars have 12X power magnification. It is ideal for many outdoor activities like hunting, sports, camping, star gazing, bird, and nature watching. It features a BAK 4 prism lens which has superior reflective and dispersion capabilities compared to the BAK 7.

Its BAK 4 prism is made of thick barium crown glass and features multi-layer achromatic clearing lenses. It features a new phone adapter for photography. It is compatible with many versions of iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, LG, HTC, Sony, Huawei, and many more. There are many hunting binoculars available today and the best hunting binoculars for you will depend on which features you need the most for your outdoor expeditions.

    What We Like:

  • 12X Magnification
  • BAK 4 Prism

3.  Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular

The Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular is 100% waterproof and fog-proof. It is O-ring sealed hence it can survive in standing water. All internal moisture has been removed by it been nitrogen purged. This process renders it fog-proof.

The Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular features premium BAK-4 prisms and fully multi-coated optics. It has 10x magnification and a 42-millimeter objective diameter. It also features a 12 ft close focus distance and 17-millimeter eye relief.

This Bushnell binocular has a field of view of 305/102 feet/1000 yards. Its exit pupil is 4.2 millimeters. It has a large center focus knob for adjustments. It also features twist-up eyecups for fast viewing and allows adjustment for users with eyeglasses. This hunting binocular features non-slip rubber armor and a soft texture grip which provides a firm grip and also absorbs shock.

      What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • 100% Waterproof & Fog-proof
  • BAK 4 Prisms
  • Twist Up Eye Cups
  • 305/102 ft/1000 yds Field of View

4.  Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars

The Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars have 10X magnification and a large field of view of 307ft/1000yds. These hunting binoculars are ideal for outdoor activities like camping, sports, hunting, hiking, wildlife, and stargazing.

Its multi-guard FMC coatings render optimal light transmission and a clear field of view. You enjoy the brightest and most clear images because of its BAK 4 prism. The Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars are waterproof and fog-proof thanks to their o-ring feature.

The Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars feature a 42mm multi-layer green film objective lens and an 18mm blue film eyepiece to provide the best optics for your activities. It is tripod compatible and features twist-down eyecups to enable eyeglasses users to enjoy this hunting binocular. It also works with most phone brands like iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, LG, HTV, Sony, and more.

     What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • 307ft/1000 yds Field of View
  • BAk 4 Prism
  • Waterproof & Fog-proof
  • Ideal for Outdoor Activities
  • Twist Down Eyecups
  • Compatible with Most Phones

5.  Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars

The Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars feature a 10X magnification and 42mm objective lenses. Its o-rings guarantee that it is waterproof and fog-proof.

These hunting binoculars provide great resolution and their color fidelity gives edge-to-edge sharpness and light transmission. It also cuts chromatic aberration thanks to special glass elements.

Its eyecups are adjustable to allow users with or without glasses can enjoy the outstanding view. You enjoy a non-slip grip and durable protection due to its rubber armor. The Crossfire HD binoculars are tripod compatible but one isn’t included.

Users benefit from its diopter system which adjusts the differences in the user’s eyes. Its compact size and durability are provided due to its roof prism design. Compact hunting binoculars make it easier to view your target from different positions.

      What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • Waterproof & Fog-proof
  • Tripod Adaptable
  • 42mm Objective Lenses
  • Adjustable Eyecups
  • Roof Prism Design
  • Diopter System

6.  Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism UHD Binoculars

The Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism UHD Binoculars are waterproof with their argon-purging features. It provides superior and sharper images with its Ed glass feature. It also has ESP dielectric coating which reflects 99% of all the light hitting your eyes resulting in a clear and bright image.

The Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism UHD Binoculars also feature advanced fully multi-colored lenses which render great light transmission for optimum brightness and true color.

      What We Like:

  • Waterproof with Argon Purging
  • ESP Dielectric Coating
  • Advanced Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
  • ED Glass

7.  TecTecTec BPRO Wild 10×42 Binoculars

The TecTecTec BPRO Wild 10×42 Binoculars are ideal for nature enthusiasts. It has a camouflage finish which enables you to blend easily with nature and enjoy excellent viewing. Its magnification is 10X and it has 42mm lenses and BAK 4 prism.

The 42mm lenses are fully multi-coated while the eyepieces and prism are fully broadband multilayer-coated thereby providing good light transmission and cutting glare. This binocular field of vision is 305 ft at 1000 yds. It is waterproof thanks to its nitrogen-purged o-rings. To read about the best night vision binoculars, click the link to read the review.

      What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • 305ft/1000ys Field of Vision
  • 42mm Lenses
  • Diopter System
  • Waterproof
  • BAK 4 Prism

8.  Braoses Binoculars

The Braoses Binoculars have 10X magnification and 42mm lenses and an 18mm eyepiece diameter. It has a large field of view with 334ft/1093 yds. Its lenses are fully multi-coated (FMC) and it features BAK 4 prism which provides you with clear sight without a dark side.

These hunting binoculars are great for hunting, nature viewing, hiking, camping, and star gazing, because of their powerful lenses and 10X magnification. It is easy to use and gives great viewing using the focus knob and diopter rings. Most of the hunting binoculars on the market have almost all of the same features; therefore the best hunting binoculars for your hunting trips might come down to a few features that are most important to you.

      What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • 42mm & 18mm Objective and Eyepiece Diameters
  • BAK 4 Prism

9.  Kylietech 12X42 Binoculars

The Kylietech 12X42 Binoculars is a 12X power magnification binocular. With its 330ft/1000yds field of view, it is well suited for outdoor activities like hunting, camping, hiking, wildlife, star gazing and so much more.

Its focus knob and diopter rings make them easy to use. It is waterproof, fog-proof, and has an anti-grip. It has 21mm large eyepieces which give you the ability to see clearer images. You also experience the clearest and brightest images with the BAK 4 prism.

You enjoy a very clear field of view and optimal light transmission thanks to its advanced fully multi-coated feature. It is tripod compatible; however one doesn’t come with this binocular. These hunting binoculars are also compatible with leading phone brands like iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, LG, Sony, and more.

      What We Like:

  • 12X Magnification
  • 330ft/1000yds Field of View
  • 21mm Eyepieces
  • BAK 4 Prism

10.  Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars

The Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars have 10X magnification and 42mm objective lenses. They have great resolution, superior color fidelity, and reduce chronic aberration with select glass elements.

Additionally, the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars feature fully multi-coated lenses which enhance light transmission with anti-reflective coatings on the air-to-glass surfaces.

Its dielectric coating ensures bright, clear, and color-accurate images. Moreover, its lenses are protected from oil, dirt, and scratches with its armortek coating.

For users who use glasses, the adjustable eyecups twist up and down allowing them comfortable viewing. The Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars provide a non-slip grip and durable protection. This also helps to prolong the lifetime of the binoculars. It is waterproof and fog-proof due to its O-ring seals which are argon purged. It is tripod adaptable.

      What We Like:

  • 10X Magnification
  • 42mm Objective Lenses
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses (FMC)
  • Dielectric Coating
  • Waterproof & Fog-proof

What To Look For In A Hunting Binocular

1.  Price

The price of hunting binoculars will always be a deciding factor. There are hunting binoculars that are priced above the average cost of a hunting binocular but are not well built and durable.

2.  Durability

Durability is a very important factor when deciding which hunting binoculars to buy. You will be in the field and accidents will happen. You want hunting binoculars that are well-constructed to withstand regular drops and knocks. Hunting binoculars can easily be knocked out of alignment if they are not durable.

Many hunting binoculars today are built with rubber armor for durability. That is some feature you want to look for. Additionally, a high price doesn’t necessarily equate to durability. It’s good to go beyond price and research and examine these hunting binoculars.

3.  Magnification

One of the important factors when choosing your hunting binoculars is their magnification. When you research hunting binoculars, it is usually the first number in the description followed by an x. The magnification number tells you how closer to you the object will appear. Hence a 10X magnification will render the object 10 times closer. So a bird 200 yards away will appear 20 yards away with the 10x binoculars.

Interestingly, the higher the magnification number doesn’t mean the better the hunting binocular. These hunting binoculars become more sensitive to small movements when the magnification is large. This makes a lot of sense with hunting. Opting for a magnification of 8x is a safe bet, but a range of 8x-10x is good.

4.  Glass & Lens Coating

The purpose of the best hunting binoculars is to give you a superior view that is many times better than that of your eyes. To achieve this, these hunting binoculars must have very good quality glass and lens coatings.

You get a sharper image with quality glass and it also transmits a higher percentage of light. Hunting binoculars that have premium-quality HD extra-low dispersion (ED) glass should be a feature you look for in a binocular.

The coating of the lens is as important as the quality of the glass. Quality lens coatings minimize light reflection off the glass to drastically improve the image.

Always buy hunting binoculars with fully multi-coated lenses (FMC) as they produce the sharpest and brightest image. FMC coating guarantees that the lenses are covered with multiple layers on every surface lens.

5.  Objective Lenses

How much light these hunting binoculars will gather depends on the size of the objective lenses. Larger lenses allow more light through them and this becomes crucial in low-light conditions. However, larger lenses also result in heavier binoculars so there is a trade-off you have to think about concerning large lenses.

6.  Size

The size of these hunting binoculars should come into consideration when you decide which one to buy. The size also weighs into how heavy these hunting binoculars will be. As this will be used outdoors and your movement will be important, you want to think seriously about which size will be the best for you.

The size of the objective lenses also plays a part in determining the size of the binoculars. This was discussed above and it has to be taken into consideration when determining the size of binoculars you want to buy.

7.  Field of View

The field of view is an important factor to consider. It refers to the area in feet you will visualize with your hunting binoculars at 1,000 yards. A wide field of view makes it easier to search for an object without moving the binoculars while a smaller field makes it easier to get a good look.

It must be mentioned that a high-power lens doesn’t equate to a smaller field of view since the field of view can be affected by lens design.

8.  Eye Relief

Eye relief means the actual distance between the position your eyes can see the field of view when looking through the hunting binoculars and the eyepiece lens surface.

The longer the eye relief, the easier it is on your eyes to use the hunting binoculars for a prolonged period of time with eye fatigue. Also the longer the distance of the eye relief, it becomes more convenient to use hunting binoculars when wearing glasses. Buy hunting binoculars with long eye relief if you will use glasses or sunglasses with the binoculars.

9.  Exit Pupil Size

The size of the exit pupil is very important as it determines the brightness. An exit pupil of 5mm is a good size. I won’t recommend any size smaller than 5mm.

10.  Focus Type

The focus type is another important factor to consider for the hunting binoculars you want to buy. There are actually three focus types: the center focus, the individual focus, and the fixed focus.

The Center focus involves a center focusing wheel with a separate diopter adjustment which allows compensation for unequal vision between your eyes. This type of focus is the most common type and comes in handy when hunting as you can pre-adjust the diopter once and then do all the fine focusing with the center focusing wheel.

The Individual focus involves focusing on each eyepiece separately. It provides a very specific focus but this type of focus isn’t the best option for hunting.

The Fixed focus involves a permanently focused setting for a specific viewing distance. This focused type isn’t useful if you are not using them at the exact distance. If you want to learn how to focus your binoculars, click this link to read a step-by-step process.

11.  Prism Type

Prism type is yet again another important factor to consider. There are two types of prisms: Roof prism and Porro prism. Roof prism enables binoculars to be built more compact and lightweight as the optical axis of the eyepiece and the objective lens is being designed in a straight line.

Porro prism enables a bright and sharp field of view from low to high magnifications. Roof prism binoculars seem to be the best option for many and even though Porro prism binoculars result in a better image if you want compact binoculars, the better option will be the roof prism binoculars.

12.  Video Ability

Today with the advancement of technology, hunting binoculars are built with digital cameras and/or video capabilities. When you choose your binoculars, you will want to consider this useful feature.

13.  Waterproof & Fog-proof

It is best to buy a hunting binocular that is waterproof and fog-proof. Most hunting binoculars today are built with these features as they are made with sealed o-rings that render them waterproof and sometimes fog-proof. The o-rings are either nitrogen or argon-purged, something you might want to consider.

Types of Hunting Binoculars

1.  Porro Prism

Porro prism binoculars were designed with light bouncing off two right-angled prisms which faced each other. This design produced sharp and brighter images and a wider field of view. The downside is this design produced heavier and bulky binoculars which are hard to render waterproof.

2.  Roof Prism

Roof prism binoculars are either designed with two prisms separated by a small gap (Schmidt-Pecan) or designed with two prisms aligned into a V shape. These designs result in a brighter image as they allow better light transmission.

Roof prisms are ideal for compact binoculars as the eyepiece and lens don’t need to be offset when they are used. A narrow body equates to a narrow field of view despite them being more durable. Roof prism binoculars give better magnification but less desired clarity.

Hunting Binocular Accessories

1.  Tripod Adapter

Most binoculars today are tripod adaptable but don’t come with a tripod. They come in handy and are reasonably priced.

2.  Binocular Harnesses

Binocular Harnesses keep your binoculars secured when you are on long or short hunts. Binocular Harnesses come in very handy.

3.  Binocular Eye Shields

Binocular Eye Shields shield your eyes from light or activities in your peripheral vision which might distract you. They are minor accessories but very effective and helpful.

4.  Lens Cleaning Pens

The Lens Cleaning Pens is a small and lightweight pen-shaped cleaning tool for camera lenses and other optical items.

5.  Binocular Bracket Mount

Binocular Bracket Mount is one accessory that is very much needed. There are many types of Binocular bracket mounts available and they are reasonably priced.

What magnification is needed for wildlife viewing?
Magnification of 8X to 10X with a lens size of 40 to 42 is good for wildlife viewing.
How do you choose hunting binoculars?
The magnification, durability, objective lenses, field of view, size, eye relief, exit pupil size, focus type, prism type, and waterproof and fog-proof capabilities are some of the features to consider when choosing a hunting binocular.
What does 12X50 mean in binoculars?
“12X” indicates the magnification of a binocular and the “50” refers to the lens diameter.

Best Hunting Binoculars

The Bottom Line

Hunting binoculars have come a long way. They are more powerful and produce brighter and clearer images. The best hunting binoculars for you will be the one that aligns with the factors that are most important to you. In this guide, we have reviewed the best hunting binoculars on the market today as well as discussing the major factors to consider when choosing your next hunting binocular. Nonetheless, our recommendation for a hunting binocular is the Bushnell H2O Prism Binocular.