Whether you’re enjoying a 3D archery session in your local archery range, or bowhunting in the middle of a forest, you’re going to need a good pair of binoculars.
You can’t aim without properly sighting your target. Having a good set of binoculars can mean the difference between a 12 point shot and a complete miss.
The best bow hunting binoculars:
This post is all about helping you find the best fit for you. I’m going to recommend what I consider to be the best binoculars for archery and bowhunting. I’m also going to list the most important features in binoculars every archer should consider.
Like every recommendation I make, I’ll try to offer you the best deals you may find, and focus on value for money. I’m not going to list the high-end items that cost a fortune, but help you find a good set of binoculars that’ll fit your needs.
Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you buy through one of them, I’ll earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. It’s a great way to support the website.
The best bow hunting binoculars
1. Nikon 7577 Monarch 5
The high-end option would have to be Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 (link to Amazon). They’re considered higher-end binoculars, but the value for money you get is incredible. They are very sturdy, and you can feel that right away when you hold them. Apparently they’re both waterproof, fog proof and armored with rubber – truly built to last.
This model comes in one of two options, 10×42 or 8×42. Though the difference isn’t that major, make sure to consider which one fits your needs better.
The binoculars are equipped with fully multi-coated lenses, which makes a huge difference in the brightness of the image. They’re clear even in a low light environment.
They weight around 1.3 lbs, which is lightweight enough to be comfortable to carry around.
These binoculars are overall a spectacular option, if you can afford them. They will be incredible to use and will last you for years. With that said, we’ll now explore more affordable options.
2. Vortex Optics Diamondback
I was looking for a good option for bowhunters when I found Vortex Optics Diamondback (link to Amazon). Besides being weather resistant and durable, they’re also equipped with fully multi-coated lenses that provide a clear image, which makes sighting much easier.
They come at a surprisingly large variety of different models, ranging from 8×28 to 12×50. They weigh between 1 to 2 pounds, being highly comfortable to carry around. Their field of view is between 5 to 8 degrees.
The price of the Diamondback is pretty affordable, so you can be sure you’re getting a good bang for your buck.
You do have to notice that when worn down, the lens caps of the binoculars might not stay secure. Their overall build is really durable, and this issue can be solved by contacting the company’s support, so I’d say it’s a small issue overall.
3. Bushnell H2O
My favorite budget option you may want to get is Bushnell H2O (link to Amazon). Unlike other budget binoculars, this one is of great quality and has some cool features.
My favorite thing about this model, besides being so affordable, is how durable it is: it’s really built to last. They’re equipped with rubber armor, and as their name suggests, with quality waterproof material.
This model comes with two options, 8×42 or 10×42. The 17 mm eye relief makes them really comfortable for archers who wear glasses. The field of view is about 5.7 degrees.
You should notice that the lenses of this model aren’t fully multi-coated, making the image a bit less bright and clear at difficult lighting situations. The image is still clear, so for the price they’re a really great option.
What features should you look at for binoculars?
Magnification
You might notice that most binoculars manufacturers describe the binoculars with two numbers. It’s something like 8×42. The first number is the magnification, and the second is the objective lens size.
While some archers might be tempted to get the highest magnification binoculars they can get their hands on, it might be the wrong thing for you. Higher magnification means that any shakiness in your hands will make the image significantly less stable.
The higher the magnification, the lower the steadiness.
Bowhunters who look for a higher magnification might want to use a tripod for the binoculars. A magnification of 7x is pretty much the sweet spot, but if you’re looking for a 10x binos it’s something to consider.
Lens size
The second number associated with the binoculars is the objective lens size. This is simply the diameter of the lenses that are faced to the target.
The bigger your binos lens size is, the more details you’ll be able to spot in the image. A clearer and brighter image can make bowhunting much easier, especially in low light.
A bigger objective does come at a higher price, feel bulkier to hold and is significantly heavier.
Typical bowhunting binoculars are somewhere in the range of 40 mm to 44 mm. You can go higher if you’re willing to pay more and have heavier binoculars, or a bit lower.
Lighting
The amount of light that your binoculars are able to capture and focus will determine how bright the image you see will eventually be. This is especially important in low light environments.
A good way to measure the amount of light your binoculars are able to capture is the relative brightness index (RBI). The RBI is equal to the objective lens size divided by the magnification, squared.
For adults, a good rule of thumb is to have an RBI of 25 or above.
Size and Weight
As for all types of mobile archers, and especially for bowhunters, the size and weight of your binoculars really matter. I mean, they can weigh up to a few pounds, which can make them less comfortable for holding up and moving around with.
You do have to note that higher objective size binoculars tend to be heavier, because they contain more glass in the lens. So while they’ll typically have better performance, they’ll be less portable.
In the end, it’s a matter of preference. Try to pick a set of binos that’ll be easy on your neck, but still have decent performance that suits your needs.
Material
The material your binoculars are made of is really important. Quality material makes durable products. Most binos nowadays are made of thick plastic, metal, and glass, but you can really feel the difference between good and bad quality material.
Most good binoculars are also coated with rubber, that protects them while being dropped or hit. It also makes them easier to hold.
One of the most important things to consider is whether or not your binoculars are waterproof. You don’t want to have to call it a day every time it starts dripping. Waterproof and fog-proof binoculars will make it possible to bow hunt in any conditions.
Eye relief
Binoculars are designed to be used by people with or without glasses. This means you can look through them even without having your eye close to the lens, and still see everything clearly.
The eye relief is the maximal distance you can place the binoculars away from your eyes while still being able to see the whole image.
If you’re not wearing glasses or sunglasses this isn’t a major consideration for you. For people who do wear glasses, it’s recommended that you have binoculars with 15 mm eye relief or above.
Binoculars Accessories
Some binoculars come with accessories, while others don’t. These typically don’t cost much but are important to have to keep your gear safe and have an easy time using it.
Here’s a list of a few items some binoculars come with. If your’s don’t, you might want to consider purchasing them separately.
- Neck Strap – it’s used to hang your binos around your neck, keeping them safe and easy to carry around. If you’re going for a heavier model, you might want to get a body strap instead, to avoid having neck pain from the weight.
- Cleaning kit – you have to keep your gear clean from dirt and mud if you want it to stay useable. Especially for bowhunters, your gear can often get dirty, which can ruin it over time, but also get on the glass and interfere with the image.
Most binoculars these days come with a small kit for cleaning your binoculars. These typically include a glass cleaning spray and a small cloth. You might want to add a small brush for general cleaning to it. - Binoculars case – It’s nice to have a case to put your binoculars in while you’re not using them, so they’re kept safe. If your binoculars aren’t waterproof, you might want to have a waterproof bag so you can quickly put them in if it starts raining.
These items are really great to have, and most binoculars these days come with at least some of them. If not, they shouldn’t be too expensive to get separately.
Field of View
The field of view (FOV) is the angle that will be visible to you when you’re looking through the binoculars. Obviously, the visible area itself is dependent on the distance to the target.
The standard way to measure FOV is either by degrees or by the radius of the visible area at 1000 yards (in yards/meters).
Obviously, the field of view and the magnification comes hand in hand. A high magnification comes with a low field of view, and the other way around.
For most bowhunters, the field of view isn’t something they should put too much thought into. Most binoculars have the FOV high enough for standard hunting use.
Conclusions
I’ve listed here my top recommendations for bowhunting binoculars, and the main things you should consider while getting them. I hope this post was helpful and that you enjoy getting a set of binos that will fit your needs.
