You’ve probably been advised to run away from cheap binoculars but the best hunting binoculars under $200 would do just fine for hunting and most outdoor activities.
However, finding them might be a problem but just so it isn’t for our readers, we’ve put together this comprehensive reviews for the best binoculars a relatively tight budget can afford comfortably. It’s said that you will get what you pay for, that’s true but letting our reviews would guide you to some high performing binoculars under the $200 mark and you should remember not to allow anyone tell your gear is an entry-level binocular.
As always, the quality of build and the optics are key determinants of the satisfaction you derive from your binocular and we’ve put those and much more into consideration to bring you the recommendation list below.
Best Hunting Binoculars Under 200 Dollars For 2018 – Top 10 List
| Model | Size | Dimensions | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Optics Crossfire Binoculars | 10x42 mm | 14.2 x 4 x 9 inches | 1.46 lbs | |
| Athlon Optics Talos Binocular | 12x50 mm | 1.86 lbs | ||
| Bushnell Legend L-Series Binoculars | 10x42 mm | 6.2 x 7.1 x 3 inches | 1.46 lbs | |
| Redfield Rebel Binocular | 10x42 mm | 7 x 6 x 3 inches | 0.5 lbs | |
| Xgazer Ultra HD Certvision Binoculars | 8x42 mm | 5.5 x 2.6 x 5.7 inches | 1.6 lbs | |
| Carson VP Series HD Binoculars | 10x42 mm | 5.9 x 5.1 x 2.2 inches | 1.52 lbs | |
| Nikon Prostaff 7s Binocular | 10x42mm | 6.6 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches | 1.43 lbs | |
| Leupold BX-1 McKenzie Binoculars | 8x42 mm | 7.2 x 5.8 x 2.8 inches | 1.96 lbs | |
| Vanguard Spirit XF Binoculars | 10x42 mm | 1 x 1 x 1 inches | 1.47 lbs | |
| Nikon Action Extreme AT Binocular | 12x50 mm | 9.6 x 8.4 x 4.2 inches | 0.3 lbs |
Best Hunting Binoculars Under $200 Reviews For 2018 – Top 5
1. Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars
Vortex is a big name in the binoculars world and with this binocular, they’ve made an absolutely high performing beauty for the money.
All air to lens surface are fully multi-coated for crisp and clear views while the quality roof prism used guarantees maximum efficiency in light transmission.
When you opt for one of these binoculars, you get a device that is fully sealed, and argon purged to prevent water penetrating to the interior and also keep fogging as a result of temperature fluctuation at bay.
The quality magnesium chassis makes the binocular light and sturdy and these features more than qualify the device as one of the best hunting binocular under $200.
- Very affordable
- Durable and versatile.
- Variety of specs available.
- Fully sealed and argon purged
- Quality imaging even in low light.
- It’s is tripod adaptable which is great but then you’d have to purchase that separately. OK, maybe that’s asking for too much but what do you think?
2. Carson VP Series Full Sized or Compact Waterproof HD Binoculars for Hunting
Meet the second binoculars on the list; the amazing Carson VP series.
Just like the model presented above, you also get a number of specification options with this model but let’s focus this review on the full sized 10×42 member of the series.
The name has already given an idea on what to expect; the binocular is fully waterproof and that’s thanks to the inert gas purging of the housing and the sealing which also keep the binoculars fog proof at all times.
You’d expect a device at this price to feature BaK-7 roof prisms but that’s not the case. These binoculars enhance light transmission with top-quality BaK-4 roof prisms and fully multicoated optics.
The 10x magnification allows you enjoy views in great detail while the 42mm objectives ensure brightness at all times. In addition to the binocular, you also receive a strap, carrying case, lens cover, and a cleaning cloth in the delivery package.
- Ideal for a good number of applications.
- Relatively lightweight and compact
- Great image details
- Good price/performance ratio
- Quality accessories.
- Wide FOV: 330ft/1000 yards.
- Long eye relief: 15mm
- Slight image fringing at the edges of the field of view.
3. Bushnell Legend L-Series 10x42mm Binoculars
When so many people are saying good things about a binocular, then it’s definitely worth giving a try especially when it’s from Bushnell.
It is available with a sleek black finish and a Realtree finish which allows you to go unnoticed in the wild by allowing you blend perfectly with the environment. The quality ED (extra-low dispersion) glass makes sure you get an awesome level of imaging performance.
The glass is also eco-friendly by being free of harmful components like lead. The 340 yards/1000 yards field of view is sufficient for a great deal of outdoor and indoor activities.
A great news particularly for eyeglass wearers is the fact that the eye relief is an impressively long 18mm. Views are very stable and the binocular is tripod adaptable.
- Good overall quality
- Rubber coating allows for a secure grip at all times.
- Good imaging performance.
- Great field of vision.
- Very versatile.
- Eco-friendly ED glass used.
- The Swarovski and Monarch binoculars of the same specs perform better but this is a personal opinion. Moreover, they cost more.
4. Redfield Rebel 10x42mm Binocular
The first thing you notice about this Redfield 10×42 binocular is its rugged look and sturdiness. It looks perfect with the black finish and comes with lots of fabulous features.
The quality aluminum chassis makes it relatively lightweight when compared with other full-sized binoculars. The entire weight is 1.65 pounds and you can have this with you when you go camping, hunting, sports watching and even get creative with the application you use it for.
Just like all great bins, the BaK-4 prisms are of premium quality and lenses are fully multicoated. The roof prism design also helps to keep the weight and size in check.
The binocular is waterproof and fog proof and it also comes with the basic accessories needed for excellent user experience. If you are seeking for the best elk hunting binoculars under $200.
Hurray! You’ve just found one.
- Highly ergonomic and very easy to use.
- Amazing field of view.
- Quality roof prism design.
- Weather resistant.
- High performing optics
- Easy to transport and store.
- Not tripod adaptable.
5. Nikon Prostaff 7s Binocular 42mm Roof Prism Armored
Ignore the fact that this device is the last on our list; it is actually up there with the best 200 dollar hunting binoculars. The keyword with this binocular is a performance.
Nikon Prostaff 7s enables hunters particularly to easily detect targets that blend well with the environment even in low light. The roof prisms featured in the binocular are phase-corrected and they work well with the fully multicoated optics which provides images that blow users minds.
The binocular is also incredibly tough and will withstand years of rugged use. It also doesn’t discriminate between spectacle and non-spectacle users by having a long eye relief of 15.5 mm and adjustable eyecups.
The grip is just as important as the optical quality and the rubber armoring on the durable chassis ensures that the binocular doesn’t slip even when the body it gets wet.
- Great quality of the optics
- Phase corrected prisms and fully multicoated lenses
- Easy to use
- Weatherproof
- Binocular is made of long-lasting materials.
- Long eye relief.
- We didn’t observe any significant con with the binocular. Just a few complaints about missing accessories which can easily be resolved by with the customer service.
What to Look for Before Buying Best Hunting Binoculars Under $200
This is the first feature a lot of people look out for when buying a pair of binoculars for any purpose. There is nothing wrong with this but just don’t get too excited with high magnification devices. Binoculars that are powered over 10x can be challenging to use and there are lots of them under 200. Before buying one, just think of that you’d get less stability and field of view as compared to standardly sized devices. You might also need to invest in a tripod for comfort during extended use of the binoculars.
- Field of view
The field of view provides is a key determinant of the satisfaction you derive from your adventures. A lot of binoculars costing $200 or less of great widths of the field of view and you’ve already discovered some of them in the reviews above. For most applications, a field of view exceeding 300 yards/1000 yards will suffice. The more you can get the better.
- Optics quality
All binoculars are only as good as their optics and the optics is what differentiates a reliable pair of binoculars from a piece of toy. Make sure you settle for the highest quality glass. If it says the glass is ED (extra-low dispersion) and eco-friendly, then grab it with both hands. The best hunting binoculars under $200 come with phase corrected prisms and are at least multicoated or preferably fully multi-coated. These features are important if you want to enjoy crisp views of HD clarity.
- The size and design
Roof prism designs keep binocular weight and size low and we will opt for that instead of the bulkier Porro prism binoculars. There is a claim that pound for pound, Porro prism binoculars perform optically better than roof prisms. While this is true to an extent, we’d rather stick with our choice of a roof design because you’d have absolutely nothing to complain about them if you invest wisely. Just let our reviews guide you.
- Ergonomics and durability.
The binocular you choose should be fully armored and provide a comfortable and safe grip. It should also be ergonomically friendly with all controls strategically located for seamless accessibility. The eye relief should also be 15mm or more in length to enable spectacle wearers to enjoy memorable viewing experiences.
Final Verdict
All the binoculars reviewed above are amazing and they all ensure that you get an excellent value for the money you spent. I’ve said this before; nobody should be spending a fortune to enjoy excellent viewing experiences through the lenses of a binocular.
It might be tricky to settle for just one of the devices discussed above, but they all have the splendid features that qualify them as the best hunting binoculars under $200.
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