Alpen Optics

[weasel]

does anyone have any products from this company?  i find it hard to believe that for the price they are on the same level as Swarovski or the other top end optics.(according to their testimonials)  they sell binos, scopes, spotting scopes, etc. check out their website and comment.  thanks....

[stumprat]

I had a pair of 8X42 roof prism binos. They are not the best by any means. But I liked them. I usually won't spend over $150 for binos anymore. I'm pretty hard on them. For the money they are a good buy.

[alecvg]

I have 10x42's and I hate them, they aren't clear, they hurt your eyes if you glass for too long... I hate them, I am selling them and buying some Luepolds.

[jackelope]

in the price range they are at look at the zen rays

[gottatree]

WOW....I have a pair and love them mine are super clear with very little eye strain would buy another pair. My swarvoski stay at home unless on a long trip.

[Pathfinder101]

I have an Alpen spotting scope.  No they are not on the same level as Swarovskis or Leupolds, but they are excellent for the price, and they have a lifetime guarantee.  I think the glass in them is pretty good, but they are not put together with the care that the upper end glass is.  Last year the tube on my scope popped in half.  I sent it back to the factory and they replaced it with a new one.  This year it took a dive off my truck window mount onto the pavement and the screw that secures the scope to the mount popped out.  I just sent it back to the factory again and am waiting to see if they repair/replace it again.  It costs $15 in shipping to get it fixed/replaced.  I know I am hard on my stuff, and I just can't afford a grand for a spotter.  
I hunt big, open wheat country most of the time, so I do a bit of glassing.  Of my last 4 deer, 3 of them were over 1000 yards away when I spotted them.  My son's buck this year was about the same distance.  I have not yet been in a situation where my Alpen was not adequate.  I have two buddies that have the exact same scope as mine, and they have never had to use the warranty, but they are both more careful with their gear than I am.
I would say if you can afford Leupold or Swarovski then buy them.  If they are out of your price range, then get the Alpen.

[Steve C]

Alpen is an outfit that has a multi level of quality offering.  They have optics that go up the ladder from crummy to decent to better than decent to excellent.  So saying "my Alpen sucks" or "my Alpen is great" is entirely dependent on which model of Alpen you are talking about.  For example in binoculars the Wings, Teton and Rainer models should satisfy almost anybody. 

[cohoho]

The Alpens I have were in Alpen high end stuff, I can tell you after comparing them to almost all in the $1500 price range my $400 ones are better.  Laugh at your will but I sat outside and compared for an hour at Sportsman Warehouse in Anchorage when they opened and had all the top stuff to choose from.  I would recommend them to anyone that think spending $1500-2000 is too high for them to spend on optics.  I love mine and will let anyone compare them...  Not knocking the upper end stuff, but the Alpen carry one heck of a warranty and replacement guarantee...

[BLKBEARKLR]

Yep love my Alpens, bought them in Alaska also.

[royalbull]

If you think that you can come close to the quality of Swarovski or Leica for a few hundred bucks I suggest that you spend the money. Three or four years down the road when you are unhappy with your purchase go spend $400 - $600 and upgrade again. Then in about another 4-5 years do it again. Keep telling yourselves that you don't want to spend the big money for the high dollar optics, sooner or later me Swarovski's will become cheaper than the lessor quality ones that you end up with. I suggest that you just keep saving until you can afford the best.

[EastWaViking]

MADE IN CHINA. 

[gottatree]

Just a quick note here I was not saying they were as good as my Swaroski. I simply ment that they were great glass and on local hunts I did not bother pulling the Other's out of the safe. I was just amazed at them for the price and would not have a prob;em buyin g another pair.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I have drove to Canada, and to Oregon, to compare different brands of optics side by side.  I can tell you I FEEL that the Alpens are NOT german binocs.  That said, for the money they are worth it.  I have a pair I leave in my truck, just in case I forget my Zeiss, or if I'm out fishing and want to take a look at a distant ridge.  Really though, you have one life, why not choose the best optics you can save for, and have a wonderful time hunting with them, without worrying if you have a good pair of binocs or not?  I'd rather hunt with iron sights, and a great pair of binocs, than a good scope and a shotty pair of binocs. 

[weasel]

i agree with royalbull and wanttohuntmore....my wife and i went spotting scope shopping last wkend. we looked at the swarovski sts 80 HD first. we must have looked thru a half dozen others..they may have good warranties but what does it matter if there is no way they compare to the swaros. she got eyestrain from the others. over the years i must have spent alot on optics...so she goes and says she wants the swaro.  i don't argue with her... we had bought a set of swaro binos the week before.. i had wanted these for years and finally pulled the trigger. sure they are spendy but now i don't have to wish for them.  she says i can use the old stuff.. but there ain't noooo way she's gonna use MY Sendero.

[Pathfinder101]

Really though, you have one life, why not choose the best optics you can save for, and have a wonderful time hunting with them, without worrying if you have a good pair of binocs or not? 

Because if I spend $1200 on a new spotter and my wife finds out then I can stop worrying about this "one life" and start planning for the next...

...maybe I'll come back as a pronghorn and be born with good quality optics...