What are the best binos in the 1000$ range

[white121]

I'm finally ready to upgrade my 300$ lepould binos that I have been using for 6 years. They are 10x42s and I always have a hard time putting points on animals at 200+ yards. That I think is due to lack of clarity. Well anyways I'm ready to upgrade and see what I've been missing. Thanks in advance.

[Rainier10]

I love my Cabela's Euro 10x42's.

[JDHasty]

I love my Cabela's Euro 10x42's.

That & Vortex Razor or a pair of Swaro SLC used. 

[Wetwoodshunter]

White, I'm using the Leopold  Bx-3 mojavie pro guides 10x50 they are very good.

But at $1000 you could save a little more and get some used Swaros without getting to much further out your price range. Vortex Razor HD's are nice too, my buddy has some and they are clear but I think the Mojavie's beat them out.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I love my Cabela's Euro 10x42's.

That & Vortex Razor or a pair of Swaro SLC used.

You beat me to it!

[white121]

Thanks for the replies! I've been looking at the maven b2s in11x45 and the vortex viper hd 10-50 but I will check some of these others.out.

[Wingin it]

Don't get the bx-2

[kentrek]

Don't get the bx-2

Why so ?

[Tjv28]

Zeiss conquest hd. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to replace mine if I ever lose them

[X-Force]

If you are looking at new just reading reviews razor hd or maven..

Used high end minox or swaro from personal experience..

[Buzz2401]

Second the Zeiss Conquest HD.  I really like the cabelas euro HD's but man they were heavy.  Haven't looked at stats but my Zeiss's seem lighter.  When I owned the Euro's that was the only thing I didn't like was the weight.

[Bean Counter]

Zeiss are awesome. No way in heck would I spend $1,000 on Vortex anything 

[JDHasty]

To each his own, but when you look at the birding sites (which is one of the best places to go for binocular reviews) Vortex is always one of the top recommendations when ~ $1,000 binoculars are the topic of discussion.  We own Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, Nikon - including EDG II binoculars, Leupold & Unertl optical instruments and we also own and use Vortex products and recommend Vortex products as being among the best performers in each market niche (e.g. price point) they offer products in. 

[cboom]

If the price tag is a grand that is real easy right now. And you can even save a few hundred bucks. Leupolds new line with the HD stuff is amazing for the money. Right up there with the best of the best of the top Euro 3. The glass even if it comes out of China is crystal clear from edge to edge, Vortex doesn't have a bino that can claim that, even at their highest price point. And I you buy Leupold or say Nikon you know the rest of the product beyond the glass is decent. The quality in the Vortex stuff is garbage.

They have a great warranty and seem to honor it, and seem to honor it a lot. When Im 20 plus miles from a road packed in warranties don't mean much. Failed optics  ruin a trip real fast. This is why none of my group will touch Vortex crap again. Been there dine that.

[GoldenOscar]

I have had the Cabela's Euro HD's for a few years and love them.

[huntnphool]

If you have saved $1000, hold out and look for a pre owned set of Swarovski EL 10x42's, should be able to find them for a couple hundred more.

[cboom]

If you have saved $1000, hold out and look for a pre owned set of Swarovski EL 10x42's, should be able to find them for a couple hundred more.

 

Or even find a pair of used Zeiss. Wont be disappointed either way. If I had to make a choice at this point I would definitely go Swarovski.

Probably would be a huge mistake to buy anything Vortex offers. Might get slightly better glass than you have out of their top end stuff. But the rest of product is still going to be their cheap and well warrantied crap.

Vortex is a great product for the city dweller, and the weekend warrior type of hunter. As proven even on this site, nobody that is serious about things would trust a hunt on that garbage. Just my opinion after spending money on that China crap and throwing it away in the end.

Hell, maybe buy the cheap crap to look through if its binos or a spotting scope. Its better than the worst. Just don't mount that garbage to the top of any respectable rifle........

[Skyvalhunter]

Contact Elknut1 he knows his stuff and will do right by you.

[wsmnut]

Contact Elknut1 he knows his stuff and will do right by you.

Plus 1

[BIGDOG253]

Contact Elknut1 he knows his stuff and will do right by you.

Plus 1

[JDHasty]

We have owned a Razor 85 HD angled spotting scope and a viper 6x32 binocular for a few years and haven't had any issues what so ever with either.  Neither one gets "babied" and both are used extensively in the field. 

I have had one experience w/Vortex service dept, one of my kids screwed an eyepiece off our 6x32 Viper binocular when I was paying attention to a rodeo event instead of what they were up to.  I told Vortex to bill me for the repair, but they refused to do so.  The binocular was back in our possession exactly one week from the day I sent it to them.

I now keep a 8x32 Diamondback binocular under the seat of my vehicle.  I had a Docter 8x56 stolen when my truck was ransacked and have came to the conclusion that I would be better served w/a ~$200 binocular to keep in the vehicle and having the Diamondback binocular exposed to loss by theft instead of a more expensive and higher quality binocular.  I use it casually all the time, usually from the truck.  When we are actually hunting or bird watching etc we always have other binoculars along and it doesn't get used. 

We don't use our optics as a trampoline or a pogo stick, but they are definitely used a lot in the field.  I personally use Badlands binocular cases, which carry the binocular on my chest and have protected them well.  Our Swaro 15x56 binocular, our Razor 85and our Leupold 25x50 Gold Ring spotting scope are kept in a Pelican cases when being transported and our Leupold 12-40x60 Gold Ring is kept in the plastic hard case it came in when being transported.  The only issue I have ever had with any of these optics is that the 12-40 Gold Ring got lens fungus once. 

If I were in the market for a ~ thousand dollar binocular I would not exclude Vortex.     

[sirmissalot]

We got my girlfriend a pair of vortex razor HD 10x42's, they are equally as clear and bright as my leica ultravid 10x42's. The cabelas Euro is made by Meopta which is really good glass, I'd put those and the razor HD's both in the same playing field. I have no experience comparing to swaro or zeiss, I have a swaro spotter and wouldn't trade it for anything other than my dads nightforce (spotter), which happens to also be made by meopta. Like anything else you get what you pay for when it comes to glass, but I think for most average guys $1,000 can get you a really good set of binos.

[scotsman]

If you want to talk wuality and warranty......

A few years ago i was elk hunting in the colorado high country above 12,000 feet. My buddy shot an elk and we made two grueling trips packing it out 5 miles apeach way to our vehicle which was at 9,000. Dumping the last load at the truck i discovered my Swaro 10 x 42's were missing! Crapola, they were up at the gut pile!

Later that day i had to be heading back to Colorado Springs airport so I didnt have time to fetch my beloved Swaros. Damn.

The next Spring, after the snow cleared my buddy went back and found my binocs right where i left them. Perfect condition! No fogging even after spending the winter under 20+ feet of snow. I sent 'em back to Swaro to check them over. They couldnt find a single problem and they even put on new lens covers no charge. Yeah, i like Swaros......

[jjhunter]

I bought a pair of Swarovski 10x50 SLC on here for $1000 a couple of months ago.

That is a lot of glass for the $$.  I'd look for a similar deal.

[thinkingman]

If you want to talk wuality and warranty......

A few years ago i was elk hunting in the colorado high country above 12,000 feet. My buddy shot an elk and we made two grueling trips packing it out 5 miles apeach way to our vehicle which was at 9,000. Dumping the last load at the truck i discovered my Swaro 10 x 42's were missing! Crapola, they were up at the gut pile!

Later that day i had to be heading back to Colorado Springs airport so I didnt have time to fetch my beloved Swaros. Damn.

The next Spring, after the snow cleared my buddy went back and found my binocs right where i left them. Perfect condition! No fogging even after spending the winter under 20+ feet of snow. I sent 'em back to Swaro to check them over. They couldnt find a single problem and they even put on new lens covers no charge. Yeah, i like Swaros......

Great story!
I would buy used Swaros waaayyyy before a pair of Chinese-made second-tier glass.

[BeWitty]

10x42 ELs

$1000

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/rokslide-classifieds/47929-swarovski-10x42-el-binoculars.html

[Bigshooter]

I love my swarovski's and wouldn't trade them for anything but for the money I have been very impressed with the vortex razor products.  The razors are not made in China the last I checked they are made in Japan.  All of the vortex line below the razor is made in China and Taiwan I believe.

[Taco280AI]

I'd get some closeout or used Swaros. But don't make the mistake of looking through them, unless you are going to buy them. You'll compare everything else to them if you do.

[deerhunter_98520]

I've had several different leupold scopes, and binos and currently have a leupold on my goto rifle, and leupold binos I use everyday I'm out, I also have a razor HD spotter...they are not babied at all and have all the scars to prove it  with that being said I've sent back every piece of leupolds I've owned for one repair or another but I still trust them as the same with my razor spotter I've had for the last 18+ months and I don't carry the spotter in a case....it's has a neoprene cover and stays on the tripod and have had zero issues with it what so ever and have been very happy with it and won't hesitate to buy vortex again  and I'm considering the razor binos myself

[huntnphool]

 Speaking of warranty/customer service, you might take this http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,143206.msg1900531.html#msg1900531 into account as well.

[JDHasty]

Speaking of warranty/customer service, you might take this http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,143206.msg1900531.html#msg1900531 into account as well.

Swaro & Leupold set the bar high.  I have had similar results from both.  I recently sent my 25 year-old Leupold 10x40 I.F. Porro back for some minor issue and my 25 year-old Leupold Gold Ring 9x25A 9x25 IF Binocular and both came back completely overhauled.  The I.F Poro is missing about half it's original paint but has been 100% mechanically restored, the rubber armor on the compact is scuffed up a bit but it too functions like new.   

[Dan-o]

I've got a used pair of Tasco's I'll let you have for $800.

That'll leave you some money for a good strap.

[coachcw]

Swarovski   , ziess, lecia  . Enough said .

[Chattayote]

Leica trinovid.  I only saw one reference to Leica in two pages.  Check them out

[beaslayer6]

I have a pair of 7x50 lieca. I got at a pawn shop for 300bucks. Zeiss conquest hd are super nice for the money.

[Jellymon]

If the price tag is a grand that is real easy right now. And you can even save a few hundred bucks. Leupolds new line with the HD stuff is amazing for the money. Right up there with the best of the best of the top Euro 3. The glass even if it comes out of China is crystal clear from edge to edge, Vortex doesn't have a bino that can claim that, even at their highest price point. And I you buy Leupold or sayNikon you know the rest of the product beyond the glass is decent. The quality in the Vortex stuff is garbage.

They have a great warranty and seem to honor it, and seem to honor it a lot. When Im 20 plus miles from a road packed in warranties don't mean much. Failed optics  ruin a trip real fast. This is why none of my group will touch Vortex crap again. Been there dine that.

 

[CLARKTAR]

Thanks for the replies! I've been looking at the maven b2s in11x45 and the vortex viper hd 10-50 but I will check some of these others.out.

I have been using the Maven B2s for a year now. Really like them

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