Vortex Talon HD vs Viper HD vs Cabelas Outfitter Series all 10 x42

[DJ_Mack]

After doing even more research, I came across this link

http://www.opticsreviewer.com/talon-hd-vs-viper-hd.html

It was great for breaking down the differences.  I talked with a friend today that said he "downgraded" his glass for the Viper HD binos.  He said that if I can't tell the difference between all of them now, it would take a lot of time behind the glass of the razors to make them worth it.  My hearing isn't so great but I have great vision.  So its hard to make up my mind because I can't tell a difference.

[Bean Counter]

Consider your usage, as well. I get PM's a few times a year from various hajj coming down to the deserts of Arizona for their first coues deer hunt. I get follow up from most of them telling me that they spent more time behind their glass than they ever did before. Personally, in some of my honey holes, I've spent 6 hours on top of a mountain several times and 95% of that times was behind my glass. However, on an elk hunt or scouting trip in northern Arizona, I don't bother bringing my spotting scope and wasn't even carrying my binos when I arrowed my bull last year. I just closed my eyes and slammed the trigger 

[jackelope]

Consider your usage, as well. I get PM's a few times a year from various hajj coming down to the deserts of Arizona for their first coues deer hunt. I get follow up from most of them telling me that they spent more time behind their glass than they ever did before. Personally, in some of my honey holes, I've spent 6 hours on top of a mountain several times and 95% of that times was behind my glass. However, on an elk hunt or scouting trip in northern Arizona, I don't bother bringing my spotting scope and wasn't even carrying my binos when I arrowed my bull last year. I just closed my eyes and slammed the trigger 

What's a hajj?

[Jolten]

A hajj is a religious pilgrimage made by Muslims...

[jackelope]

A hajj is a religious pilgrimage made by Muslims...

Huh...didn't know they hunted Coues deer.
Weird.

[Jolten]

Same here. 

[Bean Counter]

We welcome pilgrims. 

[DJ_Mack]

I ended up buying the cabelas outfitter series HD 10x42 on sale for 420$. They are Japanese made and pretty good quality. I like the razors and the euro hd's but hard for me to pay 1200$ right now.  Thanks for your help. I have 60 days to try them out. If I feel like I need to upgrade I will.   The guy at the marysville cabelas was extremely knowledgable and writes articles and reviews for them.

[bowhuntersd]

Glad you found one you liked. I was wanting the Talons for sometime, finally I was getting them. Then I picked up the Vipers. In the store it was hard to tell the difference. I had the Diamondbacks so I know what crappy glass is like, I wasn't taking any chances.
10x42 Viper HDs. ..... they are awesome.

[Stein]

Make sure you get as many hours behind them as you can, what looked good in the store ended up giving me a headache in the field.

[FLIZZ]

Outfitter series, and the vipers are made in Japan, Talon HD's in China. Enough said.

[bearhunter99]

I had a really good experience lately with Cabelas Outfitter binos.  I have had a pair that I bought in 1999 and have been good to me.  I gave them to my wife when I bought some Zeiss a few years ago and they have been used pretty tough.  This year when I took them out of the cabinet the eye cups were cracking pretty bad and parts of the eye cups had broken off.  I haven't paid much attention to them since I gave them to my wife but she said they had started coming apart a couple of years ago.

Anyways, sorry to make a short story long....  I took them to Cabelas and the guy at the optics counter looked at them, then grabbed a brand new pair and said to take them to customer service for the exchange.  I was in and back out in 10 minutes with a brand new pair.  The guy said they have a lifetime warranty for anything on their glass.  My wife was extremely happy!   

[Stein]

Glad you found one you liked. I was wanting the Talons for sometime, finally I was getting them. Then I picked up the Vipers. In the store it was hard to tell the difference. I had the Diamondbacks so I know what crappy glass is like, I wasn't taking any chances.
10x42 Viper HDs. ..... they are awesome.

Same here, I bought the Diamondbacks and returned them for the Talons.  I have three seasons behind them and have been very happy.