As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Hunting is a fun thing to do. It develops your survival skills while providing a way to experience nature and species living in the ecosystem.
However, you must be equipped with the right set of binoculars so you can spot the animals that are too far away.
In recent years, optics technology has grown and offers you a lot of choices. But you do not need to break the bank because there is a less expensive handful of binoculars.
With this review, you will be able to know the good hunting binoculars under $300 that will help you perform well in the woods.
Just read on to find out more!
Top 5 Hunting Binoculars Under $300 – Review
The market is full of products that you can choose from. It is difficult to narrow it down, but with these 5 binoculars, you will find the right one to bring on your next hunting trip.
Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 Zoom Binocular
Having the right binocular will be sure to level up your hunting game and give you more successful catches. This first one on this list can do exactly just that.
It’s manufactured by the well-known Japanese multinational company Nikon. And since they specialize in optics and imaging products, this will not disappoint. It’s fairly easy to use, even if it’s your first time.
And it has tons of user-friendly features like its eyecups that offer great comfort. So that even if you are using it for long hours, you won’t experience any strain. These eyecups can also be adjusted depending on your preference.
The structure has an ergonomic design, but it is slightly heavier when compared to its other competitors. You can still easily carry it around anywhere you go.
It is made of heavy-duty materials so it can handle the wear and tear it can experience during use.
Adding to its durability is rubber armor coating that protects its entire frame. Adjusting the zoom level is convenient; you can simply use your fingertips to reach the control knob.
There are various magnification powers you can choose from, and they range from 10x to 22x.
For a much better view of your target during hunting, it is equipped with eco glass for its lenses.
This maximizes the light-collecting ability of the binocular to produce brighter and clearer images.
Aside from hunting, you can also use this for stargazing, bird watching, and plenty more. It is an extremely versatile tool.
And the best thing is that it comes with an affordable price considering the top-notch features it comes with. It’s a great value binocular.
PROS
CONS
Check out: Crossbows under $400
GTHUNDER Night Vision Goggles
Night hunting has its perks, and you might just get a great catch because there are plenty of rare prizes that only come out during the night.
But while night hunting is rewarding and fun, it also comes with challenges like not having a clear sight because of low ambient light. Lucky for you this can solve the problem.
This night vision goggle is manufactured by GTHUNDER, a well-known manufacturer of night vision goggles. They have a lot of great products, and this is one of them.
The structure is highly durable, its exterior is made of great materials to protect it from getting easily damaged by impact or scratches during use. It will surely last longer, and you won’t be needing replacements anytime soon with this.
A sleek outer look makes it stand out from the rest. The size is ergonomic, making it lightweight and very easy to carry around wherever you go. Not only that, but it will be able to enhance your range notably.
Its lenses are very high quality, and you’ll be able to get clear and sharp images even when there’s minimum ambient light. And considering its affordable price, you will be getting more with what you’re paying for.
PROS
CONS
Nikon Prostaff 3S Binocular
Another great addition to Nikon’s long line of binoculars is its Prostaff 3S. A lot of users love this because of its durability, convenience, and quality. It has everything you’ll ever need from a binocular.
This is perfect whether you’re going hunting, bird watching, and many more. You’ll be able to see clearly without having to go anywhere near your target, thanks to its top-notch optical system.
For this system, it uses an Eco-glass, which is not only lead free but also arsenic-free.
Not only that, but it has multi-layers coatings which help to improve the light transmittance capability of the lenses, which in turn results in much clearer and brighter images. With images that are this clear, you’ll be sure to see and monitor your target perfectly.
There are a lot of other things to like about this, and another one of those is its durability. It has armor for its body made of rubber, this protects it from shock and wear.
The overall design of the structure is also very ergonomic and lightweight, so it’s easy to carry around.
For added protection, it’s filled with and then sealed with an O-ring, this will protect it from both fog and water. Now you can freely use it under any weather!
You can also use it for long periods without getting the usual eye strain you’ll get from other binoculars.
It has the most comfortable eyecups that are also easily adjustable so you can pick the fit that will suit your eyes.
There’s no doubt that this is one of the greatest hunting binoculars for $300 in the market.
PROS
CONS
Related Guide: Best Rimfire Scope under $200
Athlon Optics Midas Roof Prism Binoculars
If you’re serious about your hunting game, then great binoculars are an essential tool, and this might just be the one to help you out. Manufactured by Athlon, a well-known company when it comes to riflescopes, sights, and binoculars, this is sure to have the same great quality all its products have.
This has a great set of features that help enhance its durability and efficiency. It uses an ED glass that is designed to eliminate any chromatic fringe that may develop so you can have an obstruction-free, sharp, and clear view.
There is also an ESP dielectric coating that helps you increase light transmission of the binoculars.
With this coating, almost 99% of the light entering the lenses will reflect into your eyes for a much brighter image with precise colors.
Its multi-coated lenses also add to the light transmission capability of the device for much more superior image quality. Not only that, but when it comes to durability, it still delivers.
Every part is made of high-quality materials to help withstand potential damages during use.
Argon-purging is employed to increase the device’s resistance to water and provide it with thermal stability.
This also makes it resistant to corrosion. Whatever the weather outside, you can use without worrying about water damages.
Even if you have to use it for longer periods, you won’t experience any eye strain, thanks to its eye relief feature. You can even use it with your glasses on.
Despite its many features, you’ll still be able to get this at a price that’s lower compared to its competitors.
There’s no wonder a lot of users like this so much. Its features speak for themselves about how top-notch this binocular is.
PROS
CONS
Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars
Ever since 1986 Vortex has been in the business and producing a wide variety of optical equipment.
And with their long-time experience in making binoculars, they have come to produce a lot of great ones, and this is one of them. These binoculars are full of top-notch features that will impress you.
Durability is one of its many features. This comes with rubber armor to protect the binocular from any impact or wear during use.
And it has a great grip so you won’t have to worry about any accidental slips. This is a great investment because it will last a lot longer compared to others.
You can either use this alone or mount this on a tripod. To further add to its durability, it has been Argon-purged and equipped with O-ring seals.
These made it resistant to both fog and water so that you can still use it regardless of the weather.
Its lenses are capable of up to 10x so you can maximize your range and see your target even when you’re meters away from it.
The range isn’t the only thing is enhances, but it also gives a high definition resolution because of its premium glass elements.
This eliminates any chromatic aberration and gives you an image with excellent color fidelity, optimum light transmission, and sharpness. The lenses are multi-coated for much better light transmission and lesser reflections.
Some eyecups provide eye relief so that even if you use this for long hours, you won’t have any eye strain.
You can adjust the eyecups by twisting it either up and down. Even if you have your glasses on, you can still use this.
PROS
CONS
How to Choose the Best One?
Having the hunting binoculars will surely improve your targeting performance and let you perfectly identify the prey.
But it is quite difficult to choose because there are a variety of choices available. Some important features need to consider making sure you’re getting the right one with good quality.
To make things easier for you, here are some factors you need to assess in hunting binoculars before making a final decision.
Durability
Choosing binoculars for hunting purposes needs to be durable enough so you can carry it in the woods without worrying if it can withstand harsh environmental conditions. Be mindful not to choose binoculars that are fragile when used in the field.
Most binoculars are designed to be rugged with rubber armoring to absorb pounding and nitrogen purged to be water-proof and fog proof.
Whatever the brand of the binocular is, always look for the durability features of the product.
Portability
Can you easily move around carrying the binoculars? Isn’t it too big? You need to ask these questions if you really want the finest hunting binoculars. Portability is another factor that you need to take note of.
But be reminded that this is more than just about the size – it is all about the easiness to move around especially when you are out in the forest.
Performance and Reliability
When you want to determine the best options, you need to focus on these two factors. Hunting binoculars with excellent performance will operate as you want it to be. Therefore, you can go look for a target without worrying about any problem to occur.
You need to take time to do some research and read some reviews to gather some information to be knowledgeable about hunting binoculars. This way, you can filter out the best ones on the market.
Regardless of any brand and your specific preferences, these two must remain an important factor to consider.
Glass and Lens Coating
The quality of the glass and lens coating should be considered. As the light enters a binocular, it reflects on the glass surfaces, and some of the light does not reach the human eye.
This results in poor image formation. With high-quality glass, a sharper image will be created.
And coating on the lens is equally important as the glass.
It reduces light reflection and enhances the image more. Uncoated lenses allow light transmission from objective to ocular lenses 70 percent or less, while with good lens coating, 95 percent transmission is ensured.
Binoculars with high definition extra-low dispersion glass that are fully multi-coated are advisable to have if you want a good hunting experience.
Brightness
Exit pupil size dictates the brightness. Mini-binoculars have smaller exit pupils which make a scene appear darker than what actually it is.
Full-size hunting binoculars come with large pupil size. It is more desirable since the scene appears brighter, which is a major advantage when you go hunting.
Magnification
Having bigger magnification is not always applicable, especially when you are looking for binoculars good for hunting.
A magnification of 7x to 10x is enough for all hunting applications. The higher the magnification, the lower the toughness of the binoculars, and no one likes to experience it.
Objective Size
A more detailed image can be viewed with a larger objective lens. Typically, a 40mm or 42mm lens can be used with any kind of hunting.
However, a 50mm lens is perfect when hunting at night. But if you are hunting during day time, it won’t hurt going for an objective size around 40mm.
Eye Relief
This is a crucial consideration for hunters who use eyeglasses or sunglasses. It is the distance you can hold the binoculars from your eyes while still ensuring you can see the image.
If you wear glasses, it is better to have a model with eye relief that measures at least 14 to 15 mm.
Remember too, that with poor eye relief can cause you to suffer because of the minimized field of view.
Image Quality
Excellent image quality is important, especially when you are using the binocular for several hours. It is a bit tricky nowadays to have good and dependable binoculars that will give you a good image. So better check the specifications and how the lenses are coated to have an exceptional one.
Binocular Accessories
Most of the time, manufacturers include a set of accessories in the package so you can use the hunting binoculars conveniently.It comes with straps, cases, and body harness.
The strap can be used to easily carry the binocular around the neck. With a body harness, strain felt around the neck can be eliminated. And a case will protect the binoculars from scratches and damages.
Budget
Evaluating your budget is a good idea. If you set the range of how much you are willing to spend on this binocular, then you will be able to narrow down your choices and list all the models with their respective prices to come up with the best one.
What’s the Difference Between Hunting Binoculars and Regular Binoculars?
Hunting binoculars are far different from those used for bird watching or children’s toys. Many factors make them unique from each other. Take a look at them to find out.
Lenses
Bird experts want binoculars with objective lenses 50mm or larger. Those lenses gather more amount of light, giving them an extraordinary viewing experience.
But extra-large objective lenses are not ideal for hunters. They rather have lighter binoculars, so it will be portable enough to carry around.
Type of Prism
Regular and hunting binoculars also differ in the type of prism used. Advanced Porro prism binoculars are good for birding because they are affordable.
With activities like bird watching and stargazing, beginners will be encouraged to have a Porro prism since it does not cost a lot.
On the other hand, hunters do not consider binoculars as their primary device. They are more equipped with firearms.
Binoculars are only used to aid the scouting and identification of their target. Because of this, they prefer roof prism binoculars for more durability and compact design.
Design
Most regular binoculars come with different varieties of colors, but those used for hunting applications have camouflage or natural pattern. Birders and hunters may know a lot about optics, but they have different needs of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on what you are hunting for and how you hunt. Lower magnifications ranging from 6x to 9x are brighter and more suitable for low light situations.
They are perfect for hunting in a dense forest. While higher magnifications are good when targeting animals at longer distances.
It has been a widespread belief, but it is not always the case. You need to take into account the prisms, coating, and even the materials used to have a better hunting experience with the chosen binoculars.
When binoculars become dirty, wipe it using a microfiber cloth but take extra care when cleaning the lenses since it has a sensitive coating that might get damaged when you clean it roughly.
Hunters might encounter light loss and glare when they are out in the woods. To tackle these problems, binoculars should either be multi-coated, fully coated, or fully multi-coated. Among the three, fully multi-coated is the most preferred.
There are binoculars that come with good features and made to be used in all lights. They have 8x or 10x magnification and a 42mm lens aperture.
Final Words
Indeed, looking for the perfect device to carry around in your hunting activities isn’t easy. May this article serve as a simple and brief guide for you to find the right hunting binoculars under $300.