Best Monocular for Hunting in 2024: Reviewed

Hunting monoculars can greatly enhance your ability to spot game and navigate through the wilderness. 

With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right monoculars for your needs.

In this article, we will review 10 different monoculars specifically designed for hunting. We will compare their features, such as magnification, objective lens size, and field of view, as well as their durability, ease of use, and overall value. 

Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting out, this comprehensive review will help you find the perfect monocular to suit your needs and budget.

Product Reviews

1. Vortex Optics Solo 8×25 – Best Overall

The Vortex Optics Solo 8×25 monocular is the best all-around monocular I know of. It’s affordable, light, and clear.

Even though it isn’t the most affordable or clear monocular in the market, it is a catch-all monocular that you can use for everything.

This monocular offers a range of features to help you spot game and navigate the wilderness with ease.  

Features and Specifications

• The Vortex Optics Solo 8×25 monocular boasts an 8x magnification and a 25mm objective lens. 
• It is also equipped with multi-coated lenses to provide a clear and bright image, even in low-light conditions. 
• The monoculars are nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed, making them both waterproof and fog proof. 
• The rubber armor coating provides a secure grip and added durability. 
• It weighs only 5.6 ounces and comes with a convenient carry clip and protective case.

Pros

• The Solo’s compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around, even on long hikes or extended expeditions. 
• The multi-coated lenses provide a clear and bright image, while the waterproof and fog proof design allows you to use it in most weather conditions. 
• Rubber on the exterior gives you a tough shell, and Vortex’s warranty is awesome.

Cons

• The 25mm objective won’t let in as much light, making it less suitable for low-light conditions. 
• The focus ring can be a bit stiff.

Summary

Overall, at the end of the day I can’t recommend any other monocular more than the Vortex Optics Solo 8×25.

It’s a great choice for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a lightweight and durable tool that provides clear and bright images.

2. FEEMIC 8×42 Monocular Telescope – Best for Budget

The Feemic 8×42 monocular telescope is a powerful optical instrument designed for nature lovers, bird watchers, and outdoor adventurers, but it works well for hunting too.

With its high-quality optics and durable design, this monocular telescope is ideal for those who someone who doesn’t have a lot of money to spend. 

Features and Specifications

• This monocular telescope offers 8x magnification and a 42mm objective lens, providing a good-sized exit pupil that does a lot of heavy lifting for the image quality. 
• The fully multi-coated lenses ensure excellent light transmission and image clarity
• The BaK-4 prism ensures optimal brightness and resolution. 
• The monocular does claim to be waterproof and fog proof, making it suitable for use in all weather conditions. 
• The ergonomic design and rubberized coating provide a comfortable and secure grip and should keep the monocular relatively safe on your trips.

Pros

• The biggest pro here is the 42mm objective. 
• The one-finger focus is also a nice feature, and while it can be quite sensitive, it’s still quick to focus in on whatever you’re looking at.

Cons

• The eyecup piece is brittle and doesn’t last very long, relatively speaking. 
• The Feemic doesn’t come in any other magnification variants other than 8x. 
• The eye-box is not very forgiving. The eye-box is the zone (left-to-right and up-and-down) where your eye can get a full picture of what is coming down the tube.

Summary

The Feemic 8×42 monocular telescope is a good choice for hunters who don’t want to spend much money on a monocular.

It’s certainly not something you want to spend hours on end looking through, but that’s true of monoculars in general as well.

You make some sacrifices, but not nearly as many as you might expect given the price difference between the Feemic and many of the other monoculars on this list.

3. Vortex Optics Recon R/T 15×50 – Best for Long Range

The Vortex Optics Recon R/T 15×50 Tactical Scope Monocular is an impressive optical instrument designed for outdoor enthusiasts and tactical professionals.

With its high-quality optics and durable construction, this monocular is ideal for those who demand the best in both performance and reliability.

You definitely pay for the privilege of owning one, however, and it may be worth asking yourself if you really need this much monocular, or if one that is a little less feature-rich may do just fine.

Features and Specifications

• This monocular offers 15x magnification and a 50mm objective lens, which means you can see far and reasonably brightly, even in dusk and dawn scenarios. 
• You’ve got fully multi-coated lenses and BaK-4 prisms, and 
• The optic is waterproof and fogproof, which should all be minimum expectations of a monocular of this caliber.
• This monocular comes with a reticle. It’s got a mil-dot layout alongside crosshairs and even a range estimating feature that shows what size an average human will appear at different distances, meaning that the Recon can be used to locate game and give some estimates on how far away the animal is.

Pros

• 15x magnification is great when you need it, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any other monocular with that much magnification that will give you high-quality images like this Vortex will.  
• The Vortex warranty is amazing.
• The built-in reticle allows for quick range estimation and bullet drop compensation. 
• The fully multi-coated lenses ensure excellent light transmission and image clarity.

Cons

• The Recon R/T 15×50 is a larger and heavier monocular compared to most of the others in this list.
• 15x magnification is also overkill for a lot of situations. If you’re trying to locate game from only a few hundred yards away, 15x narrows your field of view so much that it will perform worse than an optic with only half the magnification. 
• This monocular is designed to be your binoculars, rangefinder, and spotting scope, all in one device. You’re overpaying if you don’t want or need it to be all of those things.

Summary

The Recon is an amazing device, and can perform a lot of functions very well.

It can act as a rough rangefinder with a lot more magnification than most rangefinders will have, it can act as a spotting scope, and you can still use it to locate game in a pinch. 

Its biggest weakness in locating game is the high magnification, since your field of view will be so limited that you could be looking just to the side of a buck and never see it.

4. Orion 8×25 ED Monocular – Best for Image Clarity

Orion makes telescopes, so it’s no surprise that the Orion 8×25 ED waterproof monocular is a high-quality optical device.

It’s designed for outdoor enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and hikers. With its compact and lightweight design, this monocular can easily fit in your pocket or backpack, making it a great choice for those who are always on the go.

When I say “compact and lightweight”, I mean compact and lightweight! This monocular is only 4.4 inches long, 1.3 inches wide, and only weighs 6 ounces.

Features and Specifications

• The Orion features extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, which provides sharp and clear images with accurate color reproduction. 
• It also has a multi-coated lens system that helps to maximize light transmission, delivering brighter and clearer images even in low light conditions. 
• Usually with something this small that also provides 8x magnification, you can assume that the image quality is going to be lacking, but the colors and brightness of this monocular are off the charts.
• It’s also waterproof and fog proof, as you’d expect, and while it doesn’t have a rubberized exterior, it has a tough metal exterior that should be able to handle anything you throw at it.

Pros

• The biggest pro here is going to be the color reproduction and image clarity.  
• It’s small enough to comfortably and easily fit into a pocket
• The price is very attractive.

Cons

• The focusing mechanism can be difficult to use smoothly, especially while trying to keep your eye positioned well enough to continually see how the focus is changing. 
• The eye relief is also incredibly close, which can be a problem if you wear glasses or want to use it when wearing sunglasses. 
• The lack of a rubber exterior makes handling more challenging, particularly in wet weather.

Summary

The Orion 8×25 ED waterproof monocular is an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts who demand high-quality optics that can withstand harsh weather conditions.

Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry on outdoor adventures, while the ED glass and multi-coated lens system deliver clear and sharp images.

Compared to the Vortex Optics Solo 8×25 monocular, the Orion 8×25 ED offers superior image quality, but it lacks the rubber exterior, smooth focus, and comfortable eye relief that you’d get with the best overall choice.

5. Roxant Monocular Telescope – Best for Short Distances

The Roxant Monocular Telescope is a compact option that is on the other end of the spectrum from the Vortex Recon.

This is a small and fairly rugged little monocular that would work well in a pocket and has a non-slip texture on the outside that is a good compromise between the thick rubber some monos come with and the bare steel that others have.

It’s not the most powerful of monoculars, being only 6x, but that’s enough to see most of what you’d need to see if you’re using this in lieu of binos, and being only 6x you’ll have more field of view to have a better chance of catching something on the edges.

Features and Specifications

• It comes with 6x magnification, and there aren’t other versions (that I was able to find) with more magnification. 
• You have a 30mm objective diameter, which should allow for great light transmission even in low light settings.
• The durable, non-slip grip makes it easy to hold and use in any weather conditions.
• The monocular is compact and lightweight, weighing only 5.2 ounces, which makes it easy to carry with you on-the-go. 
• The Roxant Monocular Telescope also comes with a carry pouch, cleaning cloth, and neck strap. 

Pros

• The Roxant Monocular Telescope’s standout feature is its brightness. The 6x magnification and 30mm objective lens work together to keep the image bright, which is handy in dusk & dawn hunting scenarios. 
• The non-slip grip will slide in and out of your pocket easier than the thick rubberized monoculars, and this particular monocular is the lightest option on this list. 

Cons

• 6x magnification is not all that much.

Summary

For the price, it’s a good option for a monocular, and is great particularly for short distances.

You can use it as a spotting scope on a handgun range of up to 50 yards or so, and you can use it to locate game much further out depending on the size of the game you’re looking for. 

Because of the price, there are some QA issues where some users have reported they are not getting the full 6x power out of the monocular, but Roxant is a responsive company that cares about its customers.

6. Vortex Optics Solo R/T 8x36mm Monocular

The biggest reason you might choose this optic is if you want the versatility of the Recon but don’t want so much magnification.

It’s neither a small nor compact monocular, relatively speaking, but it’s still going to be an easier item to carry than a set of binoculars.

Features and Specifications

• The R/T version of the Solo has 8x magnification and a 36mm objective lens, which is not small. 
• It’s over 12 ounces, which means it’s more than double the weight of the regular Solo, and it’s nearly double the length and diameter.
• You get the same mil-dot reticle as the Recon, with the ranging estimating portion so you can use that feature the same.  
• Since it has a reticle, you have two focus wheels – an optical focus wheel and a reticle focus wheel.
• It’s too big to put comfortably in most pockets, but it comes with a “tactical” belt clip (just a regular belt clip but it’s painted black) for convenient carry. 
• The flared eyecup makes using the Solo R/T comfortable.  
• The image quality is as good as you should expect from a Vortex product.

Pros

• The ranging reticle is handy, mostly in situations where an electronic rangefinder would be awesome but you either don’t have one or forgot to bring it. 
• It is reasonably priced. 
• This single monocular can replace both binoculars and rangefinder. 
• It has a bigger objective lens than in the base Solo, noticeably improving the low-light capabilities. 

Cons

• This monocular doesn’t have the magnification to realistically replace a spotting scope. 
• Its price doubles if you want to upgrade from the base Solo to the R/T. 

Summary

For the most part, if you find the Recon appealing but are turned off by 15x magnification or such a high price, then the Solo R/T may be the perfect choice for you.

If, on the other hand, you find the base Solo to be appealing but want to get more out of your device, the R/T may be the right one to choose.

While it’s larger than many other monoculars, it’s not “huge” in most senses of the word, so you won’t have a problem carrying it around on your belt. 

7. OXK Optics 12×56 Monocular

12x is a pretty common magnification for binoculars, and while most monoculars go a little lighter on magnification, it’s worth having a good option to choose if you want more magnification for your use case.

While this monocular from OXK isn’t designed specifically with hunting in mind, it makes a pretty compelling case for itself. 

Features and Specifications

• It comes with a little tripod along with a smartphone adapter. 
• Besides the tripod and phone adapter, you get a big 56mm objective diameter, BaK-4 prisms, and a fully multi-coated objective lens.

Pros

• Magnification is higher than for most monoculars.
• It comes with a tripod and phone adapter. 
• Everything else is fairly standard – coated optics, decent exit pupil, and BaK-4 prisms. 
• Cost is also reasonable.

Cons

• Some might be disappointed with the overall image quality through this monocular, especially if you’re comparing against something like the Orion, which is fair considering they are very similar in price. Granted, you get a lot more magnification than you would with the Orion, so you have the option of choosing which covers your priorities better.

Summary

A fairly high-powered optic with some thoughtful accessories that make a big difference in the overall usability of the monocular. 12x is enough magnification that you need to come up with some kind of stabilizing mechanism, and the fact that the OXK ships with a tripod is a smart, much-appreciated move.

8. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular 10x42mm

The Legend is a fairly straightforward monocular, with a one-finger focus wheel like a few others on the list, but Bushnell has done a good job with this.

It may not be at the top of the list in my book, but it definitely deserves a spot on this list and might be your huckleberry.

Features and Specifications

• It comes with a belt clip, a picatinny rail, and twist-up eyecups which are quite a nice feature.
• It has a standard ¼ 20 thread mount on the bottom as well, which is nice for the same reason as the OXK above. 
• You’ve got waterproofing and fog-proofing. 

Pros

• Twist-up eyecups are nice
• The tripod mount is good
• The single finger focus is smooth and works very well. 

Cons

• The Bushnell doesn’t offer any interesting features for the increased price. 

Summary

This is a solid, dependable choice from a company that has a decent reputation.

10x magnification is a common choice for hunting monoculars, and everything from the field of view to the image quality to the features are exactly as you’d expect.

There’s as little to complain about as there is to write home about!

9. Vortex Optics Recce Pro HD 8x32mm

Yep, another Vortex is on this list. I wouldn’t consider myself a Vortex fanboy, though I do think they make good products.

The reason they keep popping up on this list is because most of the other brands that normally give Vortex a run for their money just aren’t making as much of a splash in the monocular world.

Truly shocking, given how prestigious the world of hunting monoculars is.

Features and Specifications

• The Recce Pro is so named because it’s designed primarily for reconnaissance. That said, many of the same priorities apply to hunters, and consequently it’s a great monocular for hunting as well. 
• You get 8x magnification with the same fancy mil-dot + ranging reticle that the Solo R/T and the Recon have. 
• The objective is 32mm, which still gives you a 4mm exit pupil.

Pros

• The focus wheel is larger on the Recce Pro and therefore a little easier to use, especially one-handed. 
• You also have a separate wheel for the reticle. 
• The XR coatings and Extra-low dispersion glass give you phenomenal image quality, and it comes with a belt clip for easy transport as well.

Cons

• If you don’t want ranging, then the reticle just gets in the way. 
• It’s a bigger optic than some, but that only matters if you’re trying to conserve every inch and ounce. 

Summary

For just hunting, the Recce Pro might be overkill, and too expensive to justify, but it’s a phenomenal monocular that is worth at least considering.

10. Zeiss Conquest Mono Monocular

Zeiss optics are incredibly popular and have a great reputation, and the Zeiss Conquest deserves a place on this list. 

Features and Specifications

• You can get the Mono in anything from only 3x magnification all the way to 10x depending on what you’re wanting it for
• it’s a very small, compact little guy no matter what configuration you get. 
• If you get the 10x, you only get a 25mm objective lens, which Zeiss attempts to make up for with a proprietary blend of coatings to get the most out of the lenses.

Pros

• Zeiss makes good glass, and you’ll get better image quality out of this than you would any other 10x25mm monocular, possibly in the world, but definitely in this price point.

Cons

• A 25mm objective on a 10x monocular is going to have light transmission issues. 
• With an exit pupil only 2.5mm, you might start noticing that the image through the lens is noticeably darker than your naked eye even in daylight if you happen to be under thick cloud cover. 

Summary

A premium-quality monocular that is very small and compact, making it a great fit for someone hiking into where they plan on hunting.

The 10x magnification is the right amount for most hunting applications, and as long as you’re hunting in the middle of the day, this optic should do well.

Buying Guide

1. Magnification

The magnification of a monocular refers to how many times closer an object will appear than with the naked eye.

While higher magnifications can make distant objects appear closer, they also tend to make the image shakier, especially if you don’t have a way of stabilizing the monocular. 

Lower magnifications provide a wider field of view, making it easier to track moving targets.

Most monoculars for hunting have magnifications between 8x and 12x, but some can go as high as 20x or even 30x.

2. Image Quality

The quality of the image produced by a monocular is determined by several factors, including the quality of the lens, the size of the objective lens (the one on the end of the monocular), and the coatings on the lens.

High-quality lenses with larger objective lenses and multiple coatings will generally produce sharper, clearer images with better color representation.

3. Size & Weight

When choosing a monocular for hunting, it’s important to consider the size and weight of the unit. A larger, heavier monocular may provide better image quality, but it can be cumbersome to carry around all day.

Look for a unit that strikes the balance you want between size, weight, and performance.

4. Features

Different monoculars come with different features that can make them more or less useful for hunting.

Some common features include belt clips or wrist straps for easy carrying, tripod mounts for stability, and built-in compasses or range finders.

You probably don’t need all of the possible features and you may not need any of them.

Some features are make-or-break and some aren’t. 

6. Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing is another important consideration when shopping for a monocular. Look for a unit that is both water and fog proof, especially if you plan to use it in wet or humid conditions.

Waterproofing will protect the monocular from moisture, while fog proofing will prevent the lens from fogging up in changing temperatures.

The biggest issue is when the monocular fogs up on the inside.

Fogging on the outside will happen everytime you breath on it, but fogging on the inside can be indicative of an improper seal and can take an extremely long time to clear up.

Look for a monocular that is either nitrogen or argon-purged.

7. Warranty

Monocular manufacturers vary from having no warranty at all to having a lifetime, no-questions-asked warranty.

Vortex is known for having the best warranty in the business. Monoculars don’t often have major issues unless they get smashed by something, but it’s good to know what you’re picking up.

FAQs

Conclusion

Overall, I think the Vortex Solo is the right place to start for most hunters looking for a monocular to purchase.

It’s the right balance between image quality, price, and physical size, and will do just about everything you’d normally expect a monocular to do.

If you want more features, better image quality, or an even more pocketable monocular, then feel free to check out the other options on this list.

Monoculars can be a suitable replacement for binoculars if you buy the right one.