Help choosing new binoculars

J

jerm8352

Member
Jul 24, 2013
144
2
Hello,

I am looking at using my Christmas money to buy new binoculars. It was very clear this year that the ones I was using are just not going to cut it for elk hunting. I do not have the money for top of the line ones, but I was looking at spending around $500. I am looking at the Nikon Monarch 7 10 x 42 binoculars right now. Any one have any insight on these or have any other suggestions? I hunt elk, deer, and antelope in Southeastern Wyoming both in the sagebrush and up in the forest if that changes anything.

Thanks for any help. I know you guys are experts on here.

Jeremy
 
utmuleman

utmuleman

New Member
Mar 4, 2011
5
0
utah
My best advice is in your price range take a long look at vortex. Their quality coupled with their warranty cant be beat.
 
ssliger

ssliger

Very Active Member
Mar 9, 2011
900
0
Laramie WY
jerm8352 said:
Hello,

I am looking at using my Christmas money to buy new binoculars. It was very clear this year that the ones I was using are just not going to cut it for elk hunting. I do not have the money for top of the line ones, but I was looking at spending around $500. I am looking at the Nikon Monarch 7 10 x 42 binoculars right now. Any one have any insight on these or have any other suggestions? I hunt elk, deer, and antelope in Southeastern Wyoming both in the sagebrush and up in the forest if that changes anything.

Thanks for any help. I know you guys are experts on here.

Jeremy
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I have the Monarch 7's. Optics are a personal feel and these work great for me. I live in Laramie and if you wanted to meet up I will let you borrow my Monarchs and take them for a test drive.

Also if you decide Vortex, send Hardstalk a PM he is a dealer. He could get you a good price.
 
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Retterath

Retterath

Veteran member
Dec 24, 2013
1,440
1
South Dakota
i have heard from multiple people that the vortex razors are top notch, i have read many reviews that they are right in the same boat as the swaroski's but half the price, you can find them for $1199 i know that is a little more than u want to spend just want to relay the info. i would think the vortex vipers are a dang good pair too for more around what you want to spend. let us know what u get i would be interested to what u think. i have a pair of the monarchs had them for a few years sent them in because seemed like they were getting blurry got them back and were the same wasn't to impressed with them maybe my eyes are getting worse who knows. Before hunting season this next year I'm buying a pair of the razors.
 
Fink

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
With just a tad more coin, you can buy the Vortex Vipers. To my very much untrained eye, I couldn't tell much of a difference between the Viper HD's and the Razor HD's. Unfortunately, the Vipers didn't fit my face very well, and the Razors fit perfectly, forcing me to buy them instead. Buy the Vipers, and never look back.
 
M

Muzz

New Member
Jul 14, 2011
43
0
Layton, Utah
Vangaurd endevors. Bought my wife a pair after using my brothers this deer season. There a very good HD bino and you can get them cheaper on ebay. He went from vortex to the endevors and likes them a lot better.
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
10,022
1,608
Reno Nv
ssliger said:
I have the Monarch 7's. Optics are a personal feel and these work great for me. I live in Laramie and if you wanted to meet up I will let you borrow my Monarchs and take them for a test drive.

Also if you decide Vortex, send Hardstalk a PM he is a dealer. He could get you a good price.
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x2 Vortex is the way to go for the money and Andrew will hook you up.
 
hardstalk

hardstalk

Veteran member
Sep 13, 2011
1,550
43
vegas
A day and a dollar short! I just cleared out my 2013 demos and you missed out by about 24 hours. Shoot me a pm and well find a way to get you some in your hands before dropping the coin to decide if there right for you.
 
S

sdriverbottom

New Member
Jan 3, 2014
13
0
South Dakota
Cabelas Euro...find them in the bargain cave if you don't mind used or display model...I bought a pair for $450 after dickering on price and they looked like new. I think they're great!
 
Umpqua Hunter

Umpqua Hunter

Veteran member
May 26, 2011
3,576
88
60
North Umpqua, Oregon
Do yourself a favor and buy the best binoculars you can. If starting out today, I would forsake a lot of other hunting gear until I bought the best binoculars possible. Consider that top end glass can result in far more game spotted, maybe even multiples (two to three times the game). Something we don't often take into account, but it doesn't take too many tanks of gas going into the field (unproductive trips) to pay for better binoculars.

First I would look for 10X42 Swarovski, Zeiss, or Leicas (new or used, eBay is a good source for used). I can attest to the Swarovski warranty being unbeatable, but no I have experience with the other two. Own one, own it for life.

Second I would look at the top end Vortex, the warranty is amazing, which will greatly help resale if you decide later to take the jump to the top three.
 
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libidilatimmy

libidilatimmy

Veteran member
Oct 22, 2013
1,140
3
Wyoming
Another option would be the Brunton Epoch. You can find these used on E-bay routinely for $400-$800. No questions asked lifetime warranty and excellent quality optics.
 
clacklin009

clacklin009

Active Member
Apr 1, 2012
189
0
SLC, UTAH
I feel the Monarch 7 is the best for the money even better than more expensive options. Nikon does instant savings promotions and I have seen the Monarch 7's at $100 off. I can't remember exactly when they do this promotion but if you don't need them right now there is a chance the sale would happen in the summer.
 
J

jerm8352

Member
Jul 24, 2013
144
2
Thank you all very much for the input. I am looking at getting a set some time in early summer but wanted a lot of input to help me research and look for sales until then. I guess the Monarchs and vortex will be the main ones I am looking at now.

I just read an article in Field and Stream about how great the monarch 3 binos are. Are the monarch 5 and 7 that much better to warrant the extra couple of hundred dollars?
 
clacklin009

clacklin009

Active Member
Apr 1, 2012
189
0
SLC, UTAH
Monarch 7 is a lot better than the 3, the brightness is very easy to see. All of the posts about spending the extra money for better optics are good advise; however, if you are not glassing as much as the guys making the posts the added value of having the more expensive glass might not be of value to you. There are a lot of people that hunt their entire life with binoculars comparable to the Monarch 3's so it is more of a question to ask yourself about how much you will be using the binoculars and what you will be able to gain (hunting success) by spending more.
 
J

jerm8352

Member
Jul 24, 2013
144
2
clacklin009 said:
Monarch 7 is a lot better than the 3, the brightness is very easy to see. All of the posts about spending the extra money for better optics are good advise; however, if you are not glassing as much as the guys making the posts the added value of having the more expensive glass might not be of value to you. There are a lot of people that hunt their entire life with binoculars comparable to the Monarch 3's so it is more of a question to ask yourself about how much you will be using the binoculars and what you will be able to gain (hunting success) by spending more.
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Truthfully, i am not really sure. I only just started hunting seriously and was not very successful. I am looking to change that and I know the binos i have now are not helping me be successful.
 
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