I've read the forum, but I just wanted to bring the discussion back up. What size bino do you run? I have 10x32 and was going to upgrade the glass this year. How many run 10x42, and are they two big with vest? I can get a good deal on a set right now, but my 10x32 seems to be the perfect size.
Thoughts?
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I think magnification depends upon your terrain. Here in the Midwest hardwoods I like 7 or 8X. In open country I go with 10 X.
Right now I'm using Vortex Diamondbacks in 10x42 and 8x42 depending on where I'm hunting.
Quote from: 10th Legionaire on February 25, 2025, 10:01:30 AMI think magnification depends upon your terrain. Here in the Midwest hardwoods I like 7 or 8X. In open country I go with 10 X.
Right now I'm using Vortex Diamondbacks in 10x42 and 8x42 depending on where I'm hunting.
Do you find the 10x42 to be heavy or to long on your chest with vest?
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I use 10x42 do to versatility as well as living out west and I have a pretty compact pair, but for turkeys in the south or Midwest I would use an 8x32.
Depends on where you hunt. I have a pair of 8x32 Kowa BD2 and Swarovski 10x42 EL.
I took advice from friends and carry my rangefinder. 6X magnification, rangefinder function is handy too and it's about half the weight of the lightest compact binos I found.
Probably not enough out west but works fantastic in the wooded and semi open areas I have been to.
10 power Vortex Diamondback for everything. Big open country and thick rain forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Imo you need dif glasses dependent on the situation. For starters 10 is never needed and is gonna make things harder.
7-8 power is enough. I use 8-32 or usually 8-40 Zeiss conquests for roosting birds or maybe setting over a field deer hunting. Lights the dark field up and if I'm set up somewhere easy to get to hunting the 8-32 might get the nod
For walking in woods, that might be unnecessary. I just bought some 8-25 Zeiss victory. I've been real conscious lately about lightening the load. Feels nice to just go and not be loaded down
Quote from: Upfold99 on February 25, 2025, 11:04:26 AMQuote from: 10th Legionaire on February 25, 2025, 10:01:30 AMI think magnification depends upon your terrain. Here in the Midwest hardwoods I like 7 or 8X. In open country I go with 10 X.
Right now I'm using Vortex Diamondbacks in 10x42 and 8x42 depending on where I'm hunting.
Do you find the 10x42 to be heavy or to long on your chest with vest?
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I don't personally but I'm 6'4". Last couple years I used a Vortex chest pack to carry them. I'm switching over to an Alaska Guide Creations Ravus pack this year.
I carry a 10x36 monocular.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on February 25, 2025, 11:59:58 AMI took advice from friends and carry my rangefinder. 6X magnification, rangefinder function is handy too and it's about half the weight of the lightest compact binos I found.
Probably not enough out west but works fantastic in the wooded and semi open areas I have been to.
x2 on the rangefinder - I pick out objects around the distance I know my gun will effectively shoot.
Leupold 10x42 in a chest pack.
10X42 Vortex Vipers in a Vortex Chest Pac in the center of my chest with a Primos vest on. Perfect placement IMO. Binos are ready to go if needed and I can shoot from either shoulder with Zero interference. :z-twocents:
For turkeys 8x32 on a RYO harness under my vest.
10x42 Nikons on a Crooked Horn Bino-System.
Never, EVER been in my way. Won't go hunting without em.
BUT.... I don't wear a vest.
Quote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2025, 12:09:59 PMImo you need dif glasses dependent on the situation. For starters 10 is never needed and is gonna make things harder.
7-8 power is enough. I use 8-32 or usually 8-40 Zeiss conquests for roosting birds or maybe setting over a field deer hunting. Lights the dark field up and if I'm set up somewhere easy to get to hunting the 8-32 might get the nod
For walking in woods, that might be unnecessary. I just bought some 8-25 Zeiss victory. I've been real conscious lately about lightening the load. Feels nice to just go and not be loaded down
I would like to what you mean when you say that 10 power makes it harder?
Quote from: Dougas on February 25, 2025, 05:19:56 PMQuote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2025, 12:09:59 PMImo you need dif glasses dependent on the situation. For starters 10 is never needed and is gonna make things harder.
7-8 power is enough. I use 8-32 or usually 8-40 Zeiss conquests for roosting birds or maybe setting over a field deer hunting. Lights the dark field up and if I'm set up somewhere easy to get to hunting the 8-32 might get the nod
For walking in woods, that might be unnecessary. I just bought some 8-25 Zeiss victory. I've been real conscious lately about lightening the load. Feels nice to just go and not be loaded down
I would like to what you mean when you say that 10 power makes it harder?
Makes hand shake worse, can hurt eye relief and fov plus there's the daylight gathering ability.
It adds up to a worse option. The trade off in being able to see "better" so we'd think doesn't work that way most often. You'd get a much clearer, brighter view at 7 or 8x zoom cause not many companies make 7s.
I use a pair of vortex 8x26 for hunting the south East.
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I do not carry binos when turkey hunting. But do not leave the house without them in deer season. I like 8x42, I hunt woods 95% of the time. If I hunted more open country I would probably add a pair of 10s to my arsenal
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I've been using Maven B.7 8x25. Very compact, but powerful enough for my purposes. But I'm in the northeast.
Quote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2025, 12:09:59 PMImo you need dif glasses dependent on the situation. For starters 10 is never needed and is gonna make things harder.
7-8 power is enough. I use 8-32 or usually 8-40 Zeiss conquests for roosting birds or maybe setting over a field deer hunting.
I also do not like to go over 8x. Too difficult to hold still enough to see well out of.
I am currently using the Cabela's 8 x 32 Compact (which apparently they no longer make). Similar quality glass as mid-priced Nikon or Vortex or even Zeiss (mid-price not high end). With my father's Swarovski compacts, I feel like I can see their retinas...
But, When I am turkey hunting, I am not looking at horns, I just want to spot birds, tell if they have beards. If birds are in open areas, I can see them much further away than I would even go after them with 8 x 32 and decent glass. At 200 yards away, I can see all the vivid detail I want in a bird.
I wear my compacts around my neck (strapped into the vest). I would HATE carrying around full sized binos for turkey hunting... I thoroughly enjoy using binos in the field to observe all types of nature, and those binos often keep me entertained for those long sits.
Quote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2025, 05:32:04 PMQuote from: Dougas on February 25, 2025, 05:19:56 PMQuote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2025, 12:09:59 PMImo you need dif glasses dependent on the situation. For starters 10 is never needed and is gonna make things harder.
7-8 power is enough. I use 8-32 or usually 8-40 Zeiss conquests for roosting birds or maybe setting over a field deer hunting. Lights the dark field up and if I'm set up somewhere easy to get to hunting the 8-32 might get the nod
For walking in woods, that might be unnecessary. I just bought some 8-25 Zeiss victory. I've been real conscious lately about lightening the load. Feels nice to just go and not be loaded down
I would like to what you mean when you say that 10 power makes it harder?
Makes hand shake worse, can hurt eye relief and fov plus there's the daylight gathering ability.
It adds up to a worse option. The trade off in being able to see "better" so we'd think doesn't work that way most often. You'd get a much clearer, brighter view at 7 or 8x zoom cause not many companies make 7s.
Makes sense. Thank you.
I have a number of sets of different glass depending on use, but for turkey hunting I bought my Swaro 10x32 SLC's, size was the biggest thing for me as I carry a small hip pack to hunt with.
MK M GOBL
I hunt with Swarovski 10-25 Compacts. Light, perfect for the turkey woods.
I rarely carry binos, most of my hunts are in fairly thick cover. I usually carry a lightweight range finder and it works fine. If I do carry binos it will usually be a mini 8x32. In my vehicle I have a nice pair of 12x42 for mostly scouting during turkey season. Most of my hunts are on well known ground so a range finder is sufficient. Keeping the weight down is my goal. Bare minimum to be successful. This changes with my situation. When "Lady Zelmo" goes, I seem to travel much heavier and slower, lol. Just a different adaptation. Z
Doesn't matter how open or how thick, I have my binos with me all the time.
8X42 is the sweet spot for me and great for low light or dark forests.
They are on my chest at all times and ready to use at a moments notice. Binoculars in a back pack or fanny pack just seem useless to me.
Monoculars and rangefinders are not a substitute for binoculars as far as scanning goes.
Rick Young makes the perfect bino harness.
Don't go cheap. Find a good deal on a used pair of binos if you're intent on saving money.
As others have already noted, it is all dependent upon where, and under what conditions, you are hunting. The higher-power binos with the larger objective lenses are somewhat important if you are looking for turkey-size game a mile away as compared to looking for something a couple of hundred yards away.
Moral of story: fit your glass choice to where you are hunting. Better yet, have multiple options in your vehicle and choose which you use wisely. :icon_thumright:
Also, as an aside, I chuckle when I hear people talking about carrying "pounds-worth" of turkey calls, chairs, cushions, and other "stuff" with them when they hunt...but are concerned about a few extra ounces when it comes to their binos. ;D :D
I am using a pair of Cabela's small "shirt pocket size" 10x25s. I hunt the outskirts of heavy woods overlooking large, 200-yard +, fields. If I am going to make a move through woods run and gun, the 10 power helps identify and qualify the move on a particular bird...
Leupold gold ring 10 x 28 compact binoculars have been in my vest for decades. My buddy didn't think I'd need that much magnification in the woods, but they have been great for looking across ridges, swamps, and fields. Definitely worth the extra weight.
Jim
I have found that my hunting area, which can be as little as 5 ft in heavy thick pacific rain forest or out to 1000 yards on clear cuts, lends itself bino use in all the situations. I use them extensively in the thick cover with great success.
I decided to go with an upgrade of 10x32. My current ones seem the prefect size and what I'm use to. Thanks for all the replies
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