Binoculars are an essential part of hunting so that you can easily see the creature that you’re trying to hunt. If you’re on a budget though, it can be difficult to find affordable binoculars that are still made of a good quality.
When you’re just getting started with hunting too, it can be particularly difficult to know exactly what you’re looking for.
Nikon 16002 8×42 Prostaff 7S Binoculars
Nikon 16002 8×42 Prostaff 7S Binoculars
- Lightweight, Ergonomic Body Design
- Waterproof and Fogproof Binoculars
- Long Eye-relief
Thankfully, you don’t necessarily need to spend too much money on a decent pair of binoculars for hunting, and in fact there are a lot of binoculars on there that you can spend even less that $100 on.
Not all of them are necessarily good, however so something you’ll need to pay a little more to get something of good quality. We’re here to show you some budget friendly options for hunting binoculars, and a little guide to help you to understand what you need to look out for.
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Our Favorite Budget Hunting Binoculars
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Top Pick
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Nikon 16002 8×42 Prostaff 7S Binoculars, Black Bundle |
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Carson VP Series Full Sized 10×42-mm Waterproof and Fog Proof Binoculars |
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Celestron – TrailSeeker 10×42 Binoculars – Fully Multi-Coated Optics |
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Bushnell Green Roof Trophy Binoculars, 10×42 |
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Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars 8×42 |
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Top Hunting Binoculars On A Budget – 2022 Reviews
1. Our Top Pick: Nixon 16002 PROSTAFF 7S
The Nixon 16002 PROSTAFF 7S is a wonderful choice for anyone looking to get into hunting that doesn’t want to spend too much money.
There are a few magnification options for the binoculars, but naturally the more magnification they provide the more expensive they’ll get.
The 8x version would be a good choice if your hands are a little shaky and you want something a bit more stable. It’s particularly helpful if you’re out in the cold a lot when hunting.
The 8x binoculars come with a 30mm lens diameter, which is ideal when you’re hunting during the day time and there’s more than enough light. If you’re looking to hunt in the twilight more often, the 42mm diameter would be a better choice for you as this will give a brighter image.
The binoculars are also waterproof and fog proof, so if you’re hunting in a foggier area with more rain these are a great choice for you. As such, they’re also very durable and can be used even in stark temperature changes in the hunting environment.
The binoculars have a lot of clarity in the lens as they have fully multi-coated optical components. Whatever you’re hunting, you’ll be able to see it crystal clear in this powerful pair of binoculars.
The ergonomic design of this pair of binoculars well help you be able to hold them for a long time without needing to put them down because you feel strained. If you need more eye relief the binoculars also come with adjustable eye cups in a turn and slide design. This is especially beneficial if you wear glasses.
If you intend to use these binoculars for more than just hunting, you’ll be pleased to know that these binoculars weigh only 1.42lbs so they’re easy to carry around. Furthermore, the rubber armored body makes this pair of binoculars especially durable to any shocks and falls. In addition to all of the above, the binoculars don’t cost too much money either, so you don’t need to worry that you’re breaking the bank.
What more could you want?
2. Bushnell Green Roof Trophy Binoculars
The Bushnell Green Roof Trophy Binoculars are a fantastic choice for a good quality pair of binoculars that have the power and affordability to be a real asset to your hunting gear collection.
They come from the Bushnell brand which are known for making high quality optical equipment that make your outdoors experience all the more enjoyable.
The binoculars come in a 10×42 edition that does a great job of giving you a crisp and clear view of your target. The binoculars have fully multi-coated lens that allow you to have a very clear and bright image.
It has a very good focus that will allow you to easily view anything from wildlife to the landscape, and you can see over massive distances. Even moving objects and animals are well focused.
The binoculars are made of a durable dura grip rubber which also helps you to grip it easier. Adding to this is the thumb grip included, which makes them more comfortable to hold.
They’re also fog proof and waterproof so whatever the weather they can be used to great effect.
3. Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars
The Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars are a good choice for glasses wearers right off the back owing to their 15mm eye relief. By no means is this the best out there for eye relief, but it’s still more than adequate for anyone with compromised sight.
If you’re going Bowhunting this pair of binoculars are fantastic due to their ability to really focus on the target easily.
These binoculars are a good choice for more than just hunting, with a weight of only 23.5 ounces you could easily take this up a mountain hike with you or use it to watch a stadium sport – the possibilities are endless.
The binoculars come with a 393ft/1000 yards field of view, so this is a decent fiel of view for a product of this price range. The binoculars are also waterproof.
They have a sleek looking design and they’re compact. So much to love!
4. Carson VP Series 10x42mm High Definition Compact Binoculars
With over 28 years worth of experience in creating high quality optics, binoculars included, the Carson brand is one that you can trust.
They range in size and lens, but all of these sets of binoculars can be relied upon to provide a good optical experience that you can use to hunt with confidence.
The lenses of the Carson VP Series 10x42mm High Definition Compact Binoculars are multi coated and phase coated, and resist glare well.
They’re very lightweight and comfortable to carry and can easily be slipped into a hunting bag. They have a 330-foot field of view, and this is ideal for being able to accurately and efficiently track your target.
If you want to, you can also put these binoculars onto a tripod if you want to view one thing for some time.
These are a good, versatile pair of binoculars that can be used in a variety of situations.
5. Celestron 71406 TrailSeeker 10×42 Binoculars
Celestron are a skilled maker of budget binoculars that are of a good quality. The Celestron 71406 TrailSeeker 10×42 Binoculars have a fantastic visual quality that would make an asset to any hunter.
It has a 42mm lens which is more than sufficient.
The binoculars come with a 341 feet field of view and this specification makes it easy to pinpoint animals from a good distance.
It’s made of durable materials, in this case a magnesium alloy frame that makes them very comfortable to use and makes them very long-lasting.
The binoculars come in a striking design and are very affordable, though sadly they don’t have waterproof assets.
Choosing the Right Budget Binoculars for Hunting
There are a lot of different components that make up a pair of binoculars. Understanding the specifics that make up a pair of binoculars is especially important in making sure you buy the correct pair and don’t blindly buy something you may not use just because it had a low price tag attached to it.
We’ve narrowed it down for you so that you know what to look out for in your binoculars to make your hunting experience more fruitful.
Power and Portability
Nowadays you can find binoculars that are both portable and powerful, even on a budget, but on occasion you may need to sacrifice one for the sake of the other. It’s very much dependent on what you are looking for personally. Binoculars that are more powerful tend to be larger, but this isn’t always beneficial when you’re trying to move around a lot to find a decent target. Try and consider how much you’ll be moving during the activity so that you know what kind of thing to buy.
Magnification and Lens
The main reason you’re getting binoculars is to be able to see things much closer than they actually are, so naturally you need a decent magnification on the pair that you buy. Binoculars are measured on their magnification and objective lens diameter, which is why you tend to see numbers such as 8×32 for example.
The first number shows the capacity of magnification on the binocular, so how much it can be magnified. In this case, as the number is 8×32, this would mean that they magnify eight times.
The second number represents the diameter of the lens. Larger diameters mean you can let more light in so the image will usually be sharper and much brighter. So the 32 in this equation is the diameter of the lens.
A smaller lens, as you can imagine, will have a lower image clarity because they don’t let as much light in. With that being said, it doesn’t mean you should be avoiding binoculars with smaller lenses. Usually, binoculars with smaller lenses are smaller overall, making them more compact and portable.
If you intend to use your binoculars for other purposes such as hiking or for stadium sports, this is very important as you’ll want something that’s not super heavy and you can just put in your backpack when you’re not using them.
For hunting binoculars, usually lenses that are bigger are more beneficial as they’ll give you a clearer image and will magnify more.
Field of View
The amount you can see through your binoculars comes down to their field of view. Field of view usually goes up to a distance of 1000m, and the larger the field of view the more things you can see. Usually binoculars with a larger field of view are a little more expensive on average.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is how much distance there is between your eye and the eyepiece that you look into. A lot of binoculars already come with an eyepiece that’s a right distance. It can be a lot trickier if you wear glasses though, as it can sometimes be harder to achieve a good focus when the glasses are in the way of you getting super close to the eyepiece.
This problem can be easily solved by getting a pair of binoculars that have adjustable eyecups.
For hunting, you’re better off getting a pair of binoculars with a longer eye relief as this can offer a smaller field of view, but it will also magnify more to view the animals at close range from a distance.
Durability and Build Quality
As with any product, disposable ones aside, if you’re paying more for it you want something that will last. Different models of binoculars will be manufactured differently and thus will have different enhancements to hold their binoculars in. With that in mind, there are definitely a few features you should be looking out for.
Waterproof
You should look out for products that come with an O-ring seal. These tend to keep any water beads and moisture off the lens of the binoculars. Certain models are even so strong that you can put them under a whole body of water and they’ll work without a hitch.
Fog Resistance
If you’re going to a foggy area, it’s no good if your binoculars get all fogged up. Luckily, a lot of binoculars are fog proof, so if you’re often in foggy areas this is a huge plus side. A lot of binoculars come equipped with nitrogen filled inside the chassis, which stops the fog from affecting the binocular when there’s an o-ring in place.
How does this work? The nitrogen gas fills up the empty space inside the binocular and this stops any fog from getting into the binocular, while the O-ring helps to keep the seal tight.
When it comes to temperature in general, it’s worth going with weather resistant and corrosion free materials. Some examples include aluminum, magnesium and polycarbonate.
It’s worth noting that a great deal of binoculars are waterproof but that they aren’t capable of fog proof design. If both of these things are a priority to you, you should look for a pair of binoculars that hit both criteria.
Budget
Considering you’re reading an article that’s all about finding the best binoculars for hunting on a budget, it goes without saying you’re looking for a pair of binoculars that are affordable. Thankfully, you can get a decent pair of binoculars for below $200 quite easily, and these will be perfectly fine for hunting. How much you spend will determine the level of magnification you get from them and how well they work in general. You should also consider whether the binoculars come with a warranty in case they’re damaged or stop working.
Accessories & Handy Additions
There are a few things worth investing in if you’re looking to purchase a good pair of binoculars, as more often than not the accessories that actually come with the product aren’t that great. Here’s what you should be looking for:
Tethered Caps
Tethered caps are caps that are fit to the end of the binoculars to stop the lens from scratching when you aren’t using them. It’s worth getting ones that have a loop on the end that you can attach them to the binoculars when in use so you don’t lose them.
Rain Guards
Rain guards stop the lens from getting wet and blurry. Usually binoculars come with two piece caps, but it’s better to get a one piece cap as they help to stop the lens getting flooded much better.
Straps & Harnesses
Straps are handy as you can hang the binoculars from around your neck so they’re easy to access when using them and when you’re not using them. There are a few versions you can get, some where the straps are adjustable, some are colored and there are a lot of extra versions you can get. Usually these kinds of features don’t come with the binoculars you’ve bought, you’ll usually just get a standard strap.
Harnesses are another option you could consider. Harnesses provide a little extra support you may not get with a strap. There are again many variations of harness too. There are some that are designed to help distribute the weight of the binoculars as you carry them, and some that can help you to stabilize the binoculars when you’re using them if you have shaky hands. It ultimately depends on your individual needs so keep this in mind before you buy.
Cleaning Supplies
In order to keep your binoculars in top condition, you need to properly care for them. You should think about buying cleaning supplies for your binoculars. This can include cleaners, cloths, solutions and cleaning kits, all things that will help to ensure your binoculars last longer.
Nikon 16002 8×42 Prostaff 7S Binoculars
- Lightweight, Ergonomic Body Design
- Waterproof and Fogproof Binoculars
- Long Eye-relief
