got the go ahead, now ?

[fillthefreezer]

got the go ahead from the wife to get new bino's, spotter, and a rangefinder.
budget is $1k for all, lets hear what you guys would get...

[thinkingman]

Which of the three do you think you'll spend more time using?
Spotter will be the highest magnification, meaning quality of glass and coatings is more critical.
I'd bet the binos would be most important and rangefinder least.....that's how I would allocate my resources.

[fillthefreezer]

  binos most used, spotter would definately be highest magnification and therefore i would think it would show the grade of the glass more than the others, rangefinder bein least important but i would like to get one.

[fishngamereaper]

Thats a limited budget for all three. I would spend that on one or two quality items. Nikon makes good binos $300-$500, as does Swarovski$600-$1500. I have a Nikon spotting scope that has been great $300-$400. Lieca range finders are good, but pricey.

Buying all three for a grand would lead you to the tasco, bushnell brands. OK glass, but not the best and after a couple of years you might not be happy.

I would start with good Bino's and see how much you have left. Optics are just as important as anything else, so dont go cheap...

[Steve C]

Not much need today to go for more than $500 for a good binocular.  On the low end of that don't go for less than the $200-ish ZRS HD from site sponsor ZEN RAY.  That glass will whack most stuff costing 2x more, and is very compact for a 42mm binocular.  The ZEN ED 3 is a good choice too.  Others I have and have used are the Kruger Caldera, Theron Wapiti APO-ED, or the Steiner Predator Xtreme. All three can be had for less than $400.  Kruger is an Oregon company, with factory and headquarters in Sisters, Oregon.  They own the glass making and assembly facilities in China.  The Caldera is superb, don't over look it because you have likely not heard of it, ditto the Theron.  I owned a Nikon Monarch ATB for years and it will not stand up in image quality to any of the above.  Check out CameralandNY's clearance sales, good buys there for sure.

In Spotters, I have owned and used the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD's and they are really good.  However a spotter recommendation is sort of dependent on how much you are going to be packing it.  That usually tops you out at a 65 mm glass, while the 80-85's are better if you don't pack so much.  The Vortex Viper HD is a possibility, but I have only looked at those in store and have no use in the field.

I personally have zero use for a rangefinder, so I will not comment.

[fair-chase]

Binos + doubler + tripod 

[carpsniperg2]

You could stay in that mark with leupold with some of there new line ups

[deerslyr]

binos-ed3-500 (not sure if they still have the discount but I got mine for 430 out the door)
range finder-leoupold-300

Not sure if you want a compact spotter or full size but for a compact-Minox MD50-200+ decent tripod-100

that puts you at 1100

Not sure what kind of hunting you do but I do mostly back country style hunts so I only use a compact spotter. Thats my set up and it flat out works.

You can also get a different range finder for the 200 range as well

[fillthefreezer]

i guess i should have added the type of hunting i mostly do is elk, mule deer and bear so size is an issue because i put on some miles.
i know to get high end stuff my budget would only maybe buy one item, but thats how budgets are i guess...
i have a couple tripods from my photography days, would those be sufficient?

[Steve C]

i have a couple tripods from my photography days, would those be sufficient?

Probably not.  One thing you can't skimp on is the tripod.  If you set up on a not stiff enough tripod, you will find the spotter atop it is pretty useless, regardless of what brand it is and how much it cost you.

[Griz231]

I love my Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC bino/rangefinder combo. Run around $899 at Cabelas, i found mine on craigslist for $550 new in box, got lucky I think.

[fillthefreezer]

so some fog on my old binos forced my hand a little right before elk camp, picked up vortex diamondback 10x42. really like them so far. now ive got like $750 left.

[The Weazle]

Look at a bino/rangefinder combo.  I have the leupold RXB's and live them.  Then you can use the remaining dollars for a less expensive spotter.  I use the binos way more than a spotter, but I have a cheap Barska that I carry in my pack, and it works just fine.  I paid less than a grand for both.

[Jason]

so some fog on my old binos forced my hand a little right before elk camp, picked up vortex diamondback 10x42. really like them so far. now ive got like $750 left.

Now take a good look at the Vortex Viper HD spotter, Great scope for the price.
Optics Planet has the Viper HD spotter 15-45x65 for $549, you can get tri-pods for under $100.
I have both an expensive $250 tri-pod with a pistol grip head and have an inexpensive $70 ball head tri-pod, and I use the $70 dollar Vortex High Country tri-pod 99% of the time, mainly because its very light weight and does the job just fine.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-viper-hd-15-45x65-spotting-scopes.html

[fillthefreezer]

so some fog on my old binos forced my hand a little right before elk camp, picked up vortex diamondback 10x42. really like them so far. now ive got like $750 left.

Now take a good look at the Vortex Viper HD spotter, Great scope for the price.
Optics Planet has the Viper HD spotter 15-45x65 for $549, you can get tri-pods for under $100.
I have both an expensive $250 tri-pod with a pistol grip head and have an inexpensive $70 ball head tri-pod, and I use the $70 dollar Vortex High Country tri-pod 99% of the time, mainly because its very light weight and does the job just fine.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-viper-hd-15-45x65-spotting-scopes.html

i looked at the non-hd vortex spotters while at the store last time, so far im very impressed with vortex glass as far as dollar for dollar with ANY other brand...