Binoculars - 3 Value Models at the Top of Their Class

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There is a lot to see when you go camping, particularly in the early morning and evening when much of the wildlife is out-and-about (but the people aren’t!). A good set of binoculars can enhance your wildlife viewing experience and these three models from Weaver®, Minox® and Vortex® are all great binoculars, even though they are considered low to mid-range by their respective manufacturers. You can expect to pay somewhere around $250 to $300 for these binoculars but, like cameras, the sky is the limit if you want to step-up in quality. Rest assured, though, that these models are superior to anything you will find at the local superstore.

What makes one binocular superior to another? It is all in the optics, although that does not really answer the question. A good set of binoculars is as different from a cheap set of binoculars as standard TV is from High Definition TV. Apologies to those of you who have not yet made the switch to HDTV, but you will just have to trust me that once you see it, you will never go back. The models shown here are all in the 8×42 class (the Grand Slam® is 8.5×45, but is considered to be the same class), which most experts consider to be best for general purpose viewing conditions. All three are rubber-coated and fairly rugged, although you will want to keep them in their protective cases as much as possible.

From a technical standpoint, there is not a lot that separates these three models. The Vortex is lightest at 25 ounces, but the heaviest (Grand Slam) is only 29 ounces. All three are about six inches long. Field-of-view at 1,000 yards ranges from 314 feet for the Grand Slam, to a whopping 420 feet for the Diamondback. The Minox comes in on the high-side, at 389 feet.

All three of these models will serve you well for many years to come. Having a good set of binoculars can really add to the camping experience, whether you are bird watching or looking for larger game. The bright, clear optics provided by these models are worth the extra cost over lesser binoculars and their rubberized exteriors will protect them from the everyday bumps and drops that our camping gear experiences.

Happy camping!

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