Binoculars
Short version: most hunting binoculars should be a 10x42 or 8x42, and the price ladder here runs from Tasco and Bushnell PowerView entry glass up through Leupold BX, Athlon, Burris and Sig Zulu6. Rangefinding binoculars from Leupold, Burris, Halo, ATN and RIX save you a second device. RIX night vision and fusion binoculars sit at the top for after-dark work.
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hunting optics · binocular harnesses · hunting rangefinders · spotting scopes · rifle scopes · night vision binoculars · thermal monoculars
Choosing hunting binoculars by magnification
The two numbers on a binocular tell you most of what matters. In 10x42, the 10 is magnification and the 42 is the width of each objective lens in millimeters. Bigger objectives pull in more light at dawn and dusk; more magnification brings the animal closer but also magnifies every tremor in your hands.
For whitetails in timber and mixed country, an 8x or 10x with a 42mm objective is the safe middle. The 10x42 shows up again and again on this shelf, from the Athlon Forerunner and the Sig 10x42 to the Riton 5 Primal and the Halo K2000. Western hunters who sit and pick apart far hillsides lean toward higher power (Sig lists a 16x42 Zulu6) and usually pair it with a tripod, because nobody holds 16x steady by hand for long.
Working up the price ladder
Tasco Essentials, Bushnell PowerView 2, Simmons Pro Hunter and the Leupold BX-1 Rogue cover a first pair for a youth hunter or a spare that lives in the truck. The middle of the shelf is where most hunters land: Leupold BX-2 and BX-3 Alpine, Burris Droptine HD, Sig Canyon HD and Athlon's Neos, Argos and Midas G2 lines. Above that sit the Leupold BX-4 Pro and BX-5 Santiam, Athlon Cronus G2 and the Sig Zulu6 HDX family, including an OIS model.
What changes as you climb is mostly glass quality and coatings, which show up as sharper edges and better contrast in the last ten minutes of legal light. If you only hunt mornings in a box blind, the middle tier is plenty. If you glass for hours, the upper tier is easier on your eyes.
Rangefinding binoculars
Rangefinding binoculars put a laser rangefinder inside the binocular, so you range the animal without trading devices. Leupold, Burris, Halo (the K2000), ATN and RIX (the MKR3000) all have models here. They cost more and weigh more than a separate pair of binoculars, so the trade is convenience against carry weight. Bowhunters who range everything twice may still prefer a pocket rangefinder hung on a lanyard.
Night vision binoculars and the rest of your kit
RIX Gen2+ white phosphor night vision binoculars and the RENVBW14 thermal and IIT fusion binocular are the top of this page. Konus also lists a lower-priced night vision binocular. For more after-dark options, browse thermal and night vision.
Binoculars find the animal; the rest of the kit has to finish the job. Match your glass to a hunting scope on solid scope rings and mounts, and carry them in a chest rig from optics accessories. Bowhunters glassing from a tree should look at treestand safety harnesses before they look at another lens. Tripod glassing starts with tripods.
Hunting Binoculars FAQs
Are 8x42 or 10x42 binoculars better for deer hunting?
8x gives a wider, steadier view and suits thick woods. 10x reaches farther across fields and cutovers. If you hunt both, 10x42 is the common compromise.
Are rangefinding binoculars worth it?
If you carry binoculars and a rangefinder on every hunt, combining them saves a step at the moment that matters. If you hunt from one stand at known distances, a separate rangefinder is cheaper.
What do the numbers on binoculars mean?
The first number is magnification and the second is the objective lens diameter in millimeters. A 10x42 makes things look ten times closer through 42mm lenses.
Can I use night vision binoculars for hunting?
Rules on hunting with night vision differ by state and by species. Check with your state wildlife agency before taking any night vision optic into the field.