BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[yankeehunter]

Hey Folks!

Okay, can you tell I am getting a little obsessive about this hunting trip....

I am looking at binoculars, I have a pair of Nikon 9x25 which are great little binos but they may not be enough for the rolling plains of Wyoming. What do you recommend: 10x40, 10x42, etc...... I like Nikon optics because they are decent optics for the money. I can't afford S&B, Swarovski and Zeiss, great optiks but for right now they are just out of range.

Give me your .02

YH

[redrider]

I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 and love them. You get alot of bino for the money :yes:
Check with Doug(gr8fuldoug) from camera land, he's one of our members and has some pretty good deals :thumbsup1:

Doug
Camera Land
212-753-5128
gr8fuldoug@aol.com
www.cameralandny.com

[CVC]

redrider wrote: I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 and love them. You get alot of bino for the money :yes:
Check with Doug(gr8fuldoug) from camera land, he's one of our members and has some pretty good deals :thumbsup1:

Doug
Camera Land
212-753-5128
gr8fuldoug@aol.com
www.cameralandny.com

+1

[13bonatter69]

I might be able to help out a little

I have used nikon monarch10X42 here in the bean fields of Missouri for about 4 years, I recently sold them and replaced them with KAHLES for a wyoming speed goat hunt.

I wish I had kept the nikons and saved the money. The nikons are the best for the money there is. I like my kahles better, but not near enough to have spent the extra money!!! Oh well they are mine now, but if I where you I would get the nikons and forget about any of the others that are more money.

[WyoJoe]

Ditto on the Nikon optics.

9X25's are OK but 10X42's are better. They give you the range and are a lot easier to carry than 10X50's. Look at getting a pair that are water proof. It has been known to rain & snow during season and a pair of fogged binocs can ruin a hunt. That is a good reason to bring the 9X25's as a backup.

[CVC]

WyoJoe wrote: Ditto on the Nikon optics.

9X25's are OK but 10X42's are better. They give you the range and are a lot easier to carry than 10X50's. Look at getting a pair that are water proof. It has been known to rain & snow during season and a pair of fogged binocs can ruin a hunt. That is a good reason to bring the 9X25's as a backup.

rain and snow during season.....heck it rained, snowed and then had sunshine in the same day when I hunted there two years ago :D

[WyoJoe]

CVC wrote: rain and snow during season.....heck it rained, snowed and then had sunshine in the same day when I hunted there two years ago :D

Roger that. Some day on the general forum I will post a picture taken out my front door of the snow on June 5, 2005.

[TheGreatwhitehunter]

I usually hunt antelope in 2-3 states every fall and have been using the Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 for since my first antelope over 8 years ago these are good binos for the money. I like their spotting scopes also but use the Leupold gold ring model 12-40x60mm. Buy the best optics you can afford as you will always use them for future hunts.

Nikon also makes a very decent rifle scope for the money the Monarch series is fairly durable.

[yankeehunter]

Well, I finally did it....... After reading tons of reviews, asking for expert advice, peering through multiple binos and saving up the cash I finally bought a new pair of binos. First, thanks to all of those who gave me their $.02 here on the board. All of the replies were great in helping me make my decision and purchase. My next thanks goes to Doug at Camera Land. Everyone was absolutely correct about his customer service and help. Great Customer Service.....!!! He answered all of my emails and pointed me in the right direction. I gave him my price points, the different manufactures and their models and he quickly said, "the 10x42 Vortex Viper is the one you need to get" and he was right. What a fantastic pair of binos. You get alot for your money and you get a warranty that is unheard of, total replacement no matter what the circumstances. The optics are pretty darn good, no fringing, very clear and bright, contrast is phenominal and no outer bending......I would put them on par with some of the major European binos....Yes these are made in Japan. I can't wait to put them through their paces on my hunting trips this coming season. Of course, that will be the real test but I have confidence in them. They are truly built for action. Thanks Again To All! YH

[WesternHunter]

I would recommend 8X32mm. I have carried 10X40mm Ziess and find anything with an objective lense of more than 32mm to be a bit cumbersom to lug around while hunting. Plus the more power in magnification you have the more any movement is magnified. Anything over 10X should be steadied with a tripod. Consider a powerful spotting scope to uses at distance for, and a 8X bino to carry with you to glass with.

[CVC]

I would suggest getting the Crooked Horn bino harness. I had a Cabela's harness and it was just so so, but the CH makes carrying the binos a breeze.

[yankeehunter]

CVC,

Once Again! Thanks for the advice I will see if Doug has any in stock...The Vortex supplied strap is just that. They are fairly comfortable but a harness is definietly the way to go, especially for long hauls.....

[TheGreatwhitehunter]

Yankee hunter you did well the Vortex Vipers are some great glass for the money. Hope you enjoy them as much as everyone else I know that has them does.