Which do you go with?

[BHunt98]

Okay, so I'm a college kid on a budget. I love to hunt both open country and back country timber. I've got $600 to spend on a pair of optics and I'm stumped. My current binoculars are a pair of 8Xs that get the job done, but here's the golden question:

Do I spend the money and buy a higher end pair of binoculars? Or do I go for a medium grade spotting scope and keep the binos I've got now?

How would you play the cards? Thanks for the input guys.

 

[go_deep]

I use my 10x42 high end glass 90%+ of the time.

 

[sneakypete]

Buy the best 10x42's you can afford!

 

[JimP]

I agree with the others, get yourself a good pair of 10x42's.

 

[JimP]

Right now if I was looking for a new pair of binoculars in your price range here are the ones that I would consider.

Vortex
https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/optics/binoculars/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104217480/vortex-reg-viper-hd-x-binoculars/1213648.uts?slotId=9

Leopold
https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/optics/binoculars/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104217480/leupold-tioga-binoculars/2514216.uts?slotId=1

There are others out there but those are the two that I would really look at.

 

[D_Dubya]

i’d definitely go for the binoculars. With your budget you can get a pretty decent pair of binos that you will be satisfied with for years to come, a spotting scope set up in that price range would just be a temporary piece of equipment that You will want to replace (I’ve owned a couple like that)

 

[BHunt98]

Was actually looking at the Vipers today... Not too sure about the Tiogas... thinking more towards the Guides

 

[HogsFly]

I'm impressed you're going to college, saving some money, living in Idaho, and going hunting in your spare time! Good job!

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

Binoculars, all the way. I prefer 10x50 over 8x42 so I'd recommend going to some stores to look through different glass to see what you are most comfortable with as far as size.

Keep in mind there are a whole lot more brands of quality glass in your price range than the typical brands hunters use and birding sites have great binocular reviews.

I watch e-bay pretty closely and there are usually some deals to be had. The guy who won this last weekend got a great set of binos for $299, that retail for $900+ on Amazon.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-10x50-DCF-ED-Binocular-Pentax-Lifetime-Warranty/352326858634?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[hunter25]

I use vortex viper 15x50 most of the time for open country. With practice you can get really good with them and they can also be set up on a tripod if you like. I've found them far more useful than a spotter for me. They come in just under 600.
You already have 8's for close work.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[LCH]

It's starting to sound like an echo chamber here, but I agree, go with the binos. I prefer 10x42 for most uses.

I do have a spotting scope set up, but don't even bring it on most of my hunts.

 

[kidoggy]

It's starting to sound like an echo chamber here, but I agree, go with the binos. I prefer 10x42 for most uses.

I do have a spotting scope set up, but don't even bring it on most of my hunts.

x2.

spotting scopes have their place but binocs are just less weight and hassle

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Kind of a tough one. I like 10x50 binos myself but a spotter is a must. If you can live with only binos I would have a look at Vortex and buy the best ones you can afford. $600 you can get a great pair of Vipors or search for a used set of Razors.

 

[mallardsx2]

Take the money and pay down your student loans. You'll thank me later.

I left college 50K in debt. Took me a few years to pay it off...

 

[ScottR]

Right now if I was looking for a new pair of binoculars in your price range here are the ones that I would consider.

Vortex
https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/optics/binoculars/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104217480/vortex-reg-viper-hd-x-binoculars/1213648.uts?slotId=9

Leopold
https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/optics/binoculars/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104217480/leupold-tioga-binoculars/2514216.uts?slotId=1

There are others out there but those are the two that I would really look at.

Give the Zeiss Terra line a look as well.

 

[HuskyMusky]

check out Zen-Ray

 

[wy-tex]

10x42 binos and get the best glass you can afford.
Perhaps he has no college debt, my son didn't.

 

[Micah S]

What binoculars are you running now?

 

[Tim McCoy]

What binoculars are you running now?

X2

They get the job done you say, but are they barely adequate? An older but good one, or? The better your current set, the more I lean to a spotting scope/tripod, the more marginal your current set, the more I lean to a VG set of binos and a tripod.