Best Binocular Magnification for Hunting You Can Buy in 2024

If you’ve hunted before, there’s a truth you have learned first-hand: hunting requires a reliable pair of binoculars.

The binoculars’ role is to make searching for game more pleasant than looking through a riflescope for several hours and more effective than just looking with your naked eyes.

As such, a crucial factor that hunters must consider when selecting binoculars is magnification.

In this article, we will explore the different aspects of binoculars, focusing on magnification, and provide you with the information you need to decide when selecting the best binoculars for your hunting needs.

What Is the Best Binocular Magnification for Hunting?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the best binocular magnification for hunting. The magnification you choose depends on several factors, including the type of hunting you do, the terrain you hunt in, and the distance you need to cover. Most of the time, something between 8x magnification and 12x magnification will work best.

Remember the purpose of hunting binoculars – you’re just trying to locate the animal to target it with your riflescope.

You might spend a lot of time sitting in the woods somewhere scanning an area with your binoculars, and you don’t want to miss something because you have too little magnification, but you also don’t want to miss it because your field of view is too small. 

Best Binoculars for Hunting

I have a full article covering more pairs of binoculars than I have listed here, so if you aren’t satisfied with the options you see here, feel free to check that article out, but the ones I put here I feel are the best for the vast majority of people.

If you have a specialty need for your binoculars, you might not get what you need from these, but if you’re part of the 99%, you should be fine.

1. Steiner Predator Series – Best Overall

I recommend the Steiners because they’re designed from the ground up to be good for hunters.

You can get a pair with autofocus, and a pair with built-in laser rangefinding, and they come with many good 8×42 and 10×42 options, depending on the type of hunting you do. 

They’re reasonably priced, though they’re not the cheapest option out there. The glass is fantastic, and the image quality will be great.

Their warranty covers defective products or natural failure over the course of time, but explicitly does not cover damage, loss, or theft.

Features & Specifications

• Different types of pairs are available for purchase: You can get a pair with autofocus and a pair with a built-in laser rangefinder, though that particular set is a lot more expensive than the other options.
• Use color-adjust transmission technology: These use Steiners proprietary “Color Adjusted Transmission” technology that supposedly lets you see game that would normally blend in very well with the foliage in front and behind them.
• Use porro prisms: One thing to be aware of is that the Steiners use porro prisms, which means that they will be wider and a little more awkward than most other binoculars I’m going to recommend. Porro prisms allow a manufacturer to achieve a high level of image quality, a little bit cheaper than roof prisms, but they are less compact. 

Pros

• Great image
• Lots of tech, but only if you want it
• CAT tech to see game better

Cons

• Large
• Heavy, bulky

2. Vortex Viper HD – Highest Quality

Vortex products always seem to outperform the price point, and their warranty is phenomenal.

The Viper binoculars are Vortex’s more premium option, and it really shows in the image quality. Colors are true-to-life and yet somehow even prettier at the same time. 

You can get Vipers in 8×42, 10×42, 10×50, and 12×50 flavors, which should cover most hunting scenarios. 

Features & Specifications

• Right-eye diopter adjustment: They have a right-eye diopter adjustment (set focus first for the left eye, then adjust right), a tripod mount, and twist-up eyecups. 
• Waterproof and fog proof: The internals are purged with argon and sealed with o-rings so you have Fort Knox-level weatherproofing! 
• Coated lenses: Even the lenses are coated with a special coating called Armortek, making them harder to scratch.

Pros

• Premium quality from top to bottom
• Incredible imagery
• Tripod mount, shoulder straps, etc.

Cons

• On the pricier side
• Lacks special features, like autofocus

3. Nikon Monarch M5 – Most Versatile

Nikon specializes in optics of various kinds, including spotting scopes and binoculars.

These Monarch binoculars are versatile, and even though their pricing is on the lower end of the spectrum, their image quality is high.

Overall, the reasons that the Monarchs might be considered inferior to the Vipers could be considered superficial – eye relief isn’t as long, they’re a little heavier, a little bulkier, they’re purged with nitrogen instead of argon (not as foolproof or long-lasting), and only waterproof up to 1 meter. 

Features & Specifications

• Diopter adjustment is locking: A great feature the Monarchs have is that their diopter adjustment is locking, so it won’t get bumped or moved accidentally between uses. 
• Have extra-low dispersion lenses: The good image quality in these binoculars comes from their ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses, which are Nikon’s secret sauce. The objective lens covers flip down, and these come with a shoulder strap and carrying case.
• Are tripod-mountable: There’s a tripod mount, and the Monarch’s fit comfortably in your hands as well. If you want to get comfortable and scan an area for a long period of time, you’ll definitely want some kind of stabilizing system to take the weight off, but they’re also great for whipping out for a moment on the trail.

Pros

• Great image quality
• Lower price
• Weatherproof

Cons

• Nitrogen-purged instead of argon
• Not many features

4. Bushnell Legend L Series – Best Budget

Bushnell makes a lot of budget optics and is known to be a “budget” brand in every sense of the word.

That said, Bushnell’s most premium options are still cheaper than other companies’ standard options and are pretty competitive in terms of features and image quality.

The Legend L’s are no exception to this rule. 

Features & Specifications

• Excellent image quality: They use BaK-4 prisms, the optics are fully multi-coated, and they use ED Prime fluorite glass, which gives them fantastic image quality.
• Come with Rainguard HD coating: You also get a special Rainguard HD coating that keeps rain from clouding up your image and all the standard features you’d expect from a premium set of binoculars – diopter adjustment, tripod mount, and lens covers.

Pros

• Low price
• Great image quality
• Lots of features

Cons

• Warranty is not great compared to other brands
• Come only in 10x42mm

5. Leupold BX-1 McKenzie HD – Best Image

Leupold is not a budget brand by any stretch of the imagination, and yet these are priced in a similar range to the Bushnell L series.

They also come in more flavors and offer a much better warranty than the Bushnells.

Image quality is the name of the game for Leupold. As a company, they consider IQ the end-all, be-all of the optics game.

As such, you’ll often find that Leupold optics are shorter on features than other options in the same price range, but what you lose on those you more than make up for with the image and the warranty.

Features & Specifications

• Come with diopter adjustment: These binoculars have a diopter adjustment on the right lens, tripod mount, and shoulder straps. 
• Come with lens covers: They come with lens covers, and overall, there really shouldn’t be any lack of the things you need to comfortably use these binoculars for extended periods of time.

Pros

• Unparalleled image quality
• Low price
• Forever warranty

Cons

• No 12x option

6. Vortex Optics Crossfire – Best for Beginners

The crossfires are the more budget-conscious version of the Vipers from Vortex.

The image quality drops a bit (though not as much as you might expect given the price difference), and many other features drop down a notch as well. 

Basically, if you like the Vipers but can’t find the motivation to spend that much, these are a great choice and are in the same price range as the L series and the McKenzies.

Features & Specifications

• Nitrogen-purged: These binoculars are nitrogen-purged instead of argon, with a tripod mount and loops for a shoulder strap. 
• Have diopter adjustment: They have diopter adjustment and can focus plenty close and all the way out to infinity. 
• Mulit-coated lenses: The lenses are fully multi-coated, and the prisms used are BaK-4, giving you clear sharpness all the way to the edge of the lenses.

Pros

• Low price
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Diopter adjustment

Cons

• Image isn’t as good as Leupold
• Little on the heavy/bulky side

How to Pick The Best Binoculars for Hunting

Magnification

Magnification is represented by the first number in the binoculars’ specification, such as 8x or 10x.

A magnification of 8x to 10x is considered ideal for hunting, as it provides enough detail to distinguish one animal from another (and from the surrounding foliage), while also offering a wide enough field of view to spot game. 

The type of hunting you do and the terrain you hunt in can also impact the magnification you need.

For example, if you hunt in dense forests or thick brush, you may not need as high magnification as you’ll be hunting at a closer range.

On the other hand, if you hunt in open fields or mountains, you may need higher magnification to spot game at long distances. 

Also, the higher the magnification, the harder it is to hold the binoculars steady, especially when you’re doing so freehand.

So if you plan to use high magnification binoculars, definitely plan on using a tripod or other stabilizing device.

You’ll probably be alright using a 10x by just holding it, but if you’re doing so for a long time, you’ll want to prop your elbows up on something.

It’s worth noting here that magnification is not the only factor to consider when selecting binoculars.

Other factors, such as objective lens diameter, glass quality, exit pupil, and field of view, can also impact performance and make a big difference.

Objective Lens

The objective lens is the second number in the binoculars’ specification, such as 42mm in an 8x42mm pair of binoculars.

The larger the objective lens, the more light the binoculars can gather, resulting in a brighter image.

A larger objective lens also means a larger exit pupil, making the image sharper and clearer, all other things equal.

However, larger objective lenses also mean a heavier and bulkier pair of binoculars, making them heavier as you pack them in and harder to hold steady, especially for extended periods.

As far as which is “the best,” the honest answer is “it depends. Larger objectives give you better image quality and make a bigger, heavier package.

Sometimes the difference in weight and bulk is not worth the difference in image quality, and sometimes it is.

Glass

Another factor to consider when choosing your binoculars is the quality of the glass used.

A high-quality glass, such as Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass or Fluoride (FL) glass, can reduce chromatic aberration and provide a clearer, sharper image. However, binoculars that use high-quality glass are often more expensive.

ED and FL glass are more expensive than standard glass but can be worth the investment for those who want the highest-quality images.

Another thing that can improve glass is coating the lenses. Anti-reflective coatings are commonly used to reduce glare and improve light transmission, providing a clearer and brighter image.

Some binoculars use multiple layers of coating, known as multi-coating or fully multi-coating, which further enhances image quality by reducing reflections and improving contrast. 

These coatings can make a huge difference in how the final image looks. A big deal? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

In ideal viewing conditions (light cloud cover in the middle of the day), you may not see a huge difference between the cheap binoculars and the expensive ones, but once the sun comes out or starts to go down, it gets painfully obvious.

Exit Pupil

The exit pupil measures the size of the beam of light that enters the eye. It’s determined by dividing the objective lens diameter by the magnification.

For example, 8×42 binoculars have an exit pupil of 5.25mm (42/8=5.25). A larger exit pupil allows more light to enter the eye, resulting in a brighter image. 

So here’s the catch: as long as the exit pupil of the binoculars is physically larger than the pupil of your eye happens to be at that moment, the brightness of the image through the glass should be about the same as what you see with your naked eye.

Only as your pupil gets larger as your surroundings get darker will you notice that the image in the glass is darker than in real life.

Therefore, for hunting, when you might frequently be in dawn or dusk situations, I’d recommend binoculars with an exit pupil of 5mm or more if you can (so 8x42mm or 10x50mm).

That said, you will get a lot of mileage out of one with a slightly smaller exit pupil (10x42mm or 12x50mm), and may be just fine if you’re doing most of your shooting in the middle of the day.

Field of View

Field of view (FOV) measures the width of the image seen through the binoculars, typically measured in degrees or feet at a specific distance.

A wider FOV makes it easier to spot and track moving targets. Additionally, a wider FOV is better for hunting in dense forests or thick brush, where game can appear suddenly and move quickly.

You might think that FOV is a simple calculation off of how much magnification the binoculars are providing, but different models with the same magnification will have different fields of view.

Getting a wider field of view at the same magnification is the holy grail of optics in general, and you will typically pay a premium for the brands that have squeezed a little more out of the lenses.

FAQs

Conclusion

Binoculars are an essential tool for hunters, allowing them to spot and track game from a distance.

When selecting binoculars for hunting, it’s essential to consider multiple factors, such as magnification, objective lens size, glass quality, exit pupil, and field of view. 

A magnification of 8x to 10x is generally recommended, but other factors can also impact performance.

Ultimately, finding the right balance between these factors is crucial for hunters to select a reliable pair of binoculars that meet their hunting needs and provide the image quality required to spot and track game.

Let me know in the comments if you have any thoughts on this question! Always happy to get feedback.