Buyer's guide for hunting binoculars
Choosing binoculars for hunting
If you're planning on taking part in any type of hunting, a good pair of binoculars is just as important as many other pieces of gear you carry into the field.
Hunting binoculars allow you to carefully assess your surroundings, locate game from a distance, identify species, evaluate animals and plan your approach long before you are close enough to take a shot. Good binoculars can help you spot animals you would otherwise miss and spend less time walking and more time glassing effectively.
Whether you're hunting deer, goats, pigs, tahr, chamois or other game, choosing the right binoculars can make a significant difference to your success and enjoyment in the field.
Before you buy your next pair of hunting binoculars, use our guide below to help choose the best binoculars for your hunting style. Need some help understanding the basics of binoculars? Read our generic information about binoculars first.
What's the best magnification for hunting binoculars?
When choosing hunting binoculars, don't be tempted to automatically buy the highest magnification available. In many situations, moderate magnifications provide a better overall hunting experience.
For most hunters, 8x and 10x binoculars remain the most popular choices for several reasons:
- They provide a more stable image and are less affected by hand movement.
- They offer a wider field of view, making it easier to locate animals and scan large areas of terrain.
- They generally produce brighter images, which is important during dawn and dusk hunting periods.
- They typically offer comfortable eye relief for hunters who wear glasses.
However, the best magnification ultimately depends on where and how you hunt.
If you primarily hunt in bush, forest or heavily wooded terrain where animals are often encountered at shorter distances, 8x or 10x binoculars are usually ideal.
If you spend most of your time hunting in open country, alpine terrain or large agricultural areas, higher magnifications such as 10x or 12x can help you identify animals at greater distances.
Are stabilised binoculars good for hunting?
Stabilised binoculars are becoming increasingly popular with hunters, particularly those who spend long periods glassing open country.
Image stabilisation technology reduces the effects of hand shake, allowing hunters to see more detail at higher magnifications without needing to carry a tripod. This can be particularly useful when hunting in mountainous terrain, wide river valleys, farmland or other open environments where game may be located a considerable distance away.
Traditionally, binoculars above 10x magnification often required a tripod to get the best performance. Modern stabilised binoculars can make 12x, 14x, 16x and even higher magnifications practical while remaining fully handheld.
While conventional 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars remain the most versatile choice for many hunters, stabilised binoculars can be an excellent option for those who prioritise long-range observation and maximum detail.
What size binocular lenses are best for hunting?
Many of the best hunting opportunities occur during the low light periods of dawn and dusk, making low light performance an important consideration.
As a general rule, larger objective lenses gather more light and produce brighter images. This can help you identify animals more easily during the first and last light periods when game is often most active.
Of course, larger lenses also increase the size and weight of your binoculars, so there is always a compromise between brightness and portability.
For most hunting applications, 42mm objective lenses remain the most popular choice because they provide an excellent balance between low light performance, portability and overall optical quality.
Some hunters prefer lighter 30mm to 32mm binoculars when covering large distances on foot, while others favour larger 50mm models when low light performance is their highest priority.
Optical quality matters
When hunting, you're often trying to identify animals hidden amongst shadows, scrub, bush or uneven terrain. High quality optics can make a significant difference to how easily you spot game and how much detail you can see.
Look for binoculars with quality glass, fully multi-coated lenses and high-performance prism systems. Better optics generally deliver brighter images, improved contrast and sharper detail, all of which can help when glassing for long periods.
Many experienced hunters would rather carry a high quality 8x42 than a lower quality binocular with higher magnification.
Additional features that are important for hunting binoculars
Hunting binoculars need to be durable enough to handle whatever conditions the outdoors throw at them.
We strongly recommend choosing binoculars that are waterproof and fog proof. Waterproof construction helps protect the binoculars from rain, river crossings and damp conditions, while fog proofing prevents internal condensation from forming when temperatures change.
Rubber armouring is also highly desirable as it helps protect the binoculars from bumps, scrapes and accidental drops while improving grip in wet weather.
If you'll be carrying your binoculars for long periods, a comfortable binocular harness is also well worth considering. Harness systems help distribute weight more evenly and keep your binoculars secure and readily accessible while walking.
Conclusion
For most hunters, an 8x42 or 10x42 binocular remains the best all-round choice. These configurations offer an excellent balance of image stability, field of view, low light performance and portability.
If you regularly hunt open country and spend long periods glassing distant terrain, a 10x42, 12x42 or stabilised binocular may provide additional detail and help you spot game at greater distances.
Whatever configuration you choose, look for binoculars that are waterproof, fog proof, durable and equipped with quality optics. A good pair of hunting binoculars is an investment that can improve both your success and enjoyment in the field for many years to come.
