6 Best Binoculars for Hunting

Binoculars are an essential piece of kit for any hunter, hobbyist, or professional. Quickly scan environments, spot wildlife and game, and track your targets with ease thanks to the magnification and quick adjustments they offer. The best options offer crystal-clear clarity and an impressive magnification range, allowing you to spot your target quickly. 

Key Takeaways:

• Hunting Binocular Buying Guide
• Best Hunting Binoculars for Daylight
• Best Binoculars for Night

So, what are the top day or night binoculars for hunting?

Hunting Binocular Buying Guide

First, there are a few considerations to make when choosing hunting binoculars for yourself.

1. Magnification: Most hunters will need between 8x and 10x magnification, as it allows for effective long-distance scouting. 8x is better for dense forests and other closer ranges, and 10x for long distances.
2. Objective Lens Size: Lens sizes determine image clarity. For an all-arounder, consider a 42mm objective lens. Smaller lenses are lighter and easier to pack, while larger 50mm lenses are more useful in low-light conditions.
3. Lens Coating: Check the coating and ensure it works to reduce glare or improve durability.
4. Adjustable Diopter: If you wear vision-correcting glasses, ensure the binoculars have an adjustable diopter that fits your vision levels, as it allows you to use the binoculars without wearing your prescription glasses.
5. Tripod Adaptability: Tripods make it easier to scout for long periods of time, so check that your binoculars have tripod attachment points.

Best Hunting Binoculars for Daylight

First up, we have the best binoculars for daylight. For the majority of hunters, these are the only ones you need to consider. Binoculars are also long investment pieces, and quality glass does make a difference. Consider this purchase a one-off investment, and adjust your budget accordingly to make room for one of the best hunting binoculars:

Steiner 7X50 Commander w/Compass

Benefit from the 7x magnification and wide 140m FOV at 1000 yards. The auto focus system means you can easily spot your target without wasting time manually adjusting. The nitrogen filling prevents fogging, giving you constant, clear vision you can depend on, while the light 42oz weight makes it a breeze to carry with you on your hunt or patrols.

STEINER Military Marine 10x50 Binocular

This STEINER binocular offers superior magnification to spot targets and scout at far distances. This unit stands out in particular thanks to its floating prism system, which uses a flexible silicone lens to absorb shock, making it a dependable option for all situations. The sports auto focus keeps the image in razor-sharp clarity at all times, and the Makrolon housing can withstand up to 11Gs of impact, meaning it can withstand being accidentally dropped, making it a dependable option during multi-day hunts.

Steiner 10x50 M1050R LRF Laser Rangefinder Binoculars

Looking for something that suits tactical situations by your side during your hunts? Choose this Steiner 10x50 Laser Rangefinder. Its multicoated lenses maximize light transmission, and the Porro prism design provides a rich depth of field for enhanced optics, so you’ll see wildlife with crystal clear clarity. Enjoy an immersive 3D observational experience and bright, accurate, and color-correct views.

Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 12x50mm Roof Prism Shadow Gray Armor Coated Binoculars

If you’re after a low-light, non-night-vision setup that performs well without a battery, consider this Leupold BX-5 Santiam. It offers 12x magnification, and its Professional-Grade optical system offers incredible light transmission in low-light conditions. Offers solid eye relief for most users, including glasses wearers.

Best Binoculars for Night 

Night hunting, or hunting in low-light conditions, requires a different set of features. This requirement also changes the price range, as you aren’t just considering the quality of glass, but also the quality of the image intensifier tube. These devices are typically infrared-enabled as well, amplifying ambient light. Between the two systems, you’ll be able to monitor wildlife, find game, or track targets easily.

If night hunting is a hobby or passion of yours, night binoculars are an absolute must. In that case, here are the best night vision binoculars to consider:

AGM Voyage TB50-384 Fusion Thermal Imaging & CMOS Binocular with built-in Laser Range Finder, 12 Micron 384x288 (50 Hz), 50 mm lens

This dual-spectrum binocular has it all. A hypersensitive 12μm infrared thermal sensor, an ultra-low light optical detector, and an OLED display to maximize your vision at night and in low-light conditions. Performs better than other optics in low-light conditions, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, allowing you to hunt in all conditions. Further improving this image is the dynamic noise reduction and adaptive automatic gain control. It’s also Wi-Fi enabled, meaning you can record video, set up replays, take pictures, or even search the image you send with ease. The integrated GPS module means your team will always know your location, making it ideal for law enforcement, military, and search and rescue operations.

ATN BinoX 4K 4-16x Smart Day/Night Binoculars with Laser range finder

These day/night binoculars offer the best of both worlds in a compact body. You can see, and take video of what you see, with ease thanks to the 3864 x 2218 sensors that capture movement and images even in the darkest environments. The laser rangefinder can also measure distances up to 1000 yards, so you’ll also be able to determine the distance of your target quickly. With a 15-hour battery life and built-in SD microSD card slot, you’ll be able to patrol, record, and store images even without a signal.