David

I have only heard good things about the vortex product lines . The binos I have looked thru are very clear. Happy viewing! Excellent choice for the woods. These days i have to check and make sure the bino is easy to use with glasses. Most of the better ones are.

Scout aka Ray

I had a pair of  Nikon Monarch’s years ago and they worked really well.  Then, listening to all the hype, I bought a pair of swarovski’s.  The swarovski’s are a bit better, but it’s like carrying a cinderblock around my neck.  Dang heavy.  All in all, I don’t think the weight trade off is worth it.  My Monarch’s were light, durable, and plenty good enough.

Yes on lighter weight glass – I currently use a 9×32 Pentax for wandering around stalking binos – they live in my truck.  I found them on a birding site ( yrs ago), I highly recommend visiting and checking out their bino reviews. Last month’s tradbow had an excellent primer on glass ( 3cs of good glass). As I get older eyes I find the need to look thru the binos outside with glasses on. Although most companies products accommodate prescription glass wearers – some are better than others.

Out here in the West, I do a lot of glassing at long range. It is hard to beat the high end euro* binos/ spotting scopes for this, especially in low light. I have Swarovski ,  Zeiss,  leica, 10 – 15x binos [ I also use leupold(12x) haha – they are not cheap anymore either]. I am not rich, I picked them up over my life ( traded/ used / new). The intermediate to higher priced companies ( Vortex- Nikon- leupold etc) are starting to challenge this – having glass that is realistically comparable, at a better price point. Imho. Buy the best quality, lightest glass you can afford. My first good hunting bino was a 9×50 Bausch and lomb 1942 Buships ( Navy) beautiful optically but heavy. Just some other thoughts ( ramblings ?) from a different part of the country.

However the older I get the less I like to haul heavyweights ( literally and figuratively) around the mountains, till I start glassing — then I am glad I brought them –

* in the olden times these binos had the best warranty ( they would fix them for free and didn’t care if you were the one who purchased them .

PS

I am thinking about trying the miniatures again – they are definitely easier to carry and keep out of the way when shooting ( good for the woods and the final stalk especially) . In the past you could only find good ones at the pricy end ( and they had their limitations)- i am going to look around at what’s available these days —

Scout aka Ray

FWIW;

I have the Vortex 6.5 x 32. Love ’em !!! Can be used wearing glasses with no problem and being a lower power there is very little shake when hand-held.  When I mount them on my tri-pod they work pretty well considering the lower power.  Weight is not bad. Price was such that if they’re dropped or stolen it’s not the end of the world.

Another happy Vortex user. One does not see 6.5x much. 6x was fairly common in earlier days. Glad they are working well for you–

Scout aka Ray

Yes, for decades 7×35 was the standard. Then people were sold the ‘more power is more better’ concept……….. and yet, I’ve had times when I stood next to somebody trying to hand-hold a good pair of 14 by somethings and not be able to see what I could with my steadier 6.5 .

The lower power seems to gather light a bit better, early & late, also.

I picked up a pair of Vortex 10×42 in March just prior to turkey season. I used them quite a bit to glass turkeys out to 800 plus yards across cotton fields during season and I have been delighted with them. They are light years ahead of what I had been using. I could tell gobblers from jakes most of the time at that range. I had a lot of fun just watching those birds.

I plan to take them out again soon to the hardwoods and check some white oak trees for acorns. Deer season is not too far off now. I can definitely recommend Vortex binoculars.

I have a Vortex 10x monocular that I carry with me when I’m out stumping and whatnot. It is handy as all get out for satisfying my curiosity and to convince myself that I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing……or not..

I put a clip on the the little strap so I can hook it on a belt loop or a loop on my side quiver.

It’s way handier when just out and about than a binoc hanging around my neck.

R2

Looks like Vortex is the hands down choice among members. They have become a popular Marque.

I like the idea of the 10x monocular for the western archer ( or anywhere for that matter ) especially the way R2 is using it, less bulk than binos and less obtrusive, but still allows checking interesting things at longer ranges.

Scout aka Ray

I normally carry my binos with a lanyard long enough that they’re carried on my right side between the armpit and the belt. Out of the way enough that I often wear them that way while shooting tournaments.

Richard

I do the same thing, if I am carrying a heavier bino while actively hunting —

I sometimes use the across the chest carry – set up lower – or tuck it inside a hunting shirt– to keep it out of the way while coming to full draw . Depends on size of binos off course.

Scout aka Ray