Archery is becoming an increasingly popular sport, and it’s easy to see why. It confers a ton of health benefits, such as improving one’s focus and hand-eye coordination. And it’s fun too!
Unfortunately, far too many people dive into it too first without acquiring the right equipment. This often ends up in getting a subpar experience.
If you want to get the most out of this, ensure you buy the right accessories, especially when it comes to binoculars. To help you, we’ve provided a list of the best archery binoculars. Read on to learn more.
Reviews of the 5 Best Archery Binoculars
1. Vortex Optics 10x42 Diamondback Binocular
If you’re searching for the best binoculars for archery, the Vortex Optics Diamondback set is an excellent pick.
The binoculars come in three variants: 10X32, 10X42 and 10X50. The one we’re reviewing here is the 10X42, and it’s the best suited for archery-related activities.
This is primarily because it offers a better field of view. To be a little more specific, it offers a field of view of 345 feet per 1000 yards. By comparison, the 10X50 has a view of just 283 ft at 1000 yards. The 10X32 model also has a smaller view due to its 32mm objective lens.
One other feature that you’ll be interested in when purchasing binoculars is the eye relief. On that note, this binocular offers a 16mm eye relief, which hits the sweet spot for comfort and eye relief.
The fact that this binocular has multi-coated optics is another plus. The multi-coating really helps to reduce glare and reflections when working in brightly-lit areas.
As an archer, there’s a good chance that you’ll be carrying your binoculars when going out to the field. Thankfully, the Diamondback boasts a rugged construction that’s well-suited for such settings. It’s made using a polycarbonate material that’s both shockproof and scratch-resistant.
The Upland Optics Perception is another set of archery binoculars that you should look into.
There are several things you’ll love about it, starting with its field of view. Based on reviews, it’s able to pick out highly-detailed images up to 1,000 yards.
Its field of vision at this point is rated at 339 feet, which is fairly close to what the Vortex Diamondback offers. This aspect makes it suitable for a variety of archery activities; be it hunting or target shooting.
Important to note though is that the binoculars are a little heavy. The good thing is, the weight isn’t too noticeable. And even then, this stems from the optics’ solid build.
When it comes to pricing, the Upland Optics Binoculars is in the middle-ground. While it’s not the cheapest, it’s not too expensive that most archers can’t afford.
We also like that it comes with several accessories. These include a lens cloth, soft carry case, lens protectors and a neck strap.
Do you like to go for outdoor adventures with your little munchkin? If you do, you’ll love the Athlon Optics Midas set that’s designed for both adults and kids.
One feature that makes it kid-friendly entails its lightweight profile. It has a magnesium chassis that makes it durable without compromising on weight.
The rubber-made armor is another plus point. This gives you a firm and secure grip, allowing you to use the binoculars in inclement weather.
Athlon Optics Midas is particularly ideal for newbie archers thanks to the well-designed focus wheel. This feature enables you to adjust it from long range to close-range focus within minutes.
Have you been searching for the lightest set of binoculars that won’t take up a ton of space in your hunting gear? Well, you’ll be pleased with the occer Compact Binoculars.
This optics equipment is pocket-sized, enabling you to carry it around without getting fatigued. Just to be specific, it weighs about 0.65 pounds, which is pretty manageable.
As you might have guessed from the title, the binocular offers a remarkable magnification of 12 times. Unfortunately, it falls short when it comes to the objective lens size. At 25mm, it’s only able to offer a field of view of 273 feet per 1000 yards.
On a more positive note, the binocular is equipped with Bak4 Prism that really enhances the clarity of images. Plus, it makes it possible to use the binoculars in a low-light setting.
Are you looking to buy the best target archery binoculars on a tight budget? If you answered yes, consider the Nikon Aculon A211 set that comes in at under $100.
One thing we like about these binoculars is that they’re built with ergonomics in mind. For one, they weigh just slightly over 1.5 pounds. This makes them light enough to carry for long distances without getting fatigued.
Secondly, they’re fitted with rubber eyecups. These provide a great deal of comfort when you’re viewing for prolonged periods of time.
Nikon is quick to note that the A211 is not water-resistant. To make up for this, it’s fitted with multi-coated eco-glass lenses that produce clear images in any lighting condition. The binocular also has a rubber armor, providing a secure grip even in wet conditions.
How Do Binoculars for Archery Work?
At the core, archery binoculars are merely two tiny telescopes positioned next to each other, side by side. They’re usually hinged in the middle, making it possible to separate and adjust them so that they can fit differently-sized faces.
The main parts responsible for the working mechanism of any binocular are lenses. There are two types of lenses: objective and eyepiece lens.
The objective lens is the one that collects light from the object being viewed. This light is then brought into focus in the eyepiece lens. This latter lens is what magnifies an image so that it appears bigger.
Important to note though is that the image generated from this process appears upside down and backwards. To reverse this situation, the binocular is usually fitted with parts known as prisms.
These prisms employ internal reflections to fix the image’s orientation. Binoculars can have one of two main types of prisms: porro and roof.
In a roof prism, the glass elements are aligned to one another, and this results in a more streamlined binocular that’s easy to hold.
Contrary, a porro prism has its glass elements offsetting each other. This translates to a bigger depth of field as well as a wider field of view.
Whichever prism you choose, they’re both capable of reversing the orientation, allowing you to view magnified images the correct way.
Types of Binoculars Ideal For Archery
One of the first decisions you’ll have to make when purchasing binoculars for archery is what type to go for. Here’s an overview of the different varieties that exist:
Porro Prism Binoculars
As we mentioned earlier, the glass elements in this binocular offset from one another. Simply put; the objective lenses are positioned at a wider interval than the eyepiece lenses. Due to this, the binoculars end up being heavier and bulkier.
The advantage of such a porro prism is the fact that it offers images with better clarity and resolution. But if you plan to use your binoculars for hunting or archery activities where you’ll be traveling for long distances, the weight might be intolerable.
Roof Prism Binoculars
Just to recap, the prisms in this binocular are positioned in a straight line or overlapping manner.
What this means is that the objective lenses are directly in line with the eyepiece lenses. This allows the binoculars to be constructed in a more compact way, making them easily portable.
Compact Binoculars
While roof prism binoculars are generally lighter than their porro prism counterparts, they might turn out to be bulky depending on the objective lens size.
If you’re looking for a binocular that is light enough to carry on long journeys, a compact model is your best bet.
Such binoculars are made of materials like magnesium, making them super light. However, they often have smaller objective lenses. So while they’ll be easier to carry, you’ll have to compromise on the brightness and clarity of the resulting images.
Long-Range Binoculars
These are the complete opposite of the compact varieties.
Unlike the former models that have smaller objective lenses and lower magnification, long range boast higher magnification and bigger lenses.
The magnification power of the long-range binoculars typically starts at 12x and up. As for the objective lenses, they can have a diameter of up to 50mm.
If your archery adventures entail exploring areas from an elevated point or hunting from a far distance, then this binocular will come in handy.
Still, we recommend investing in a tripod. This way, you won’t get fatigued too quickly from using your binoculars for an extended period.
How to Choose the Right Archery Binoculars
Before you start shopping for an archery binocular, keep the following points in mind:
Size & Weight
When you start shopping for binoculars, you’ll notice that they’re often described by their model size. This is illustrated using two values, which are separated by an “x” (e.g. 10x32).
The first number always refers to the binocular’s magnification power. So if the value is “10”, this means the images are magnified ten times. If it’s an “8”, then the image appears eight times bigger. For most archery activities, 8- or 10-power binoculars will suffice.
Now, the next value that’s usually indicated on the model’s title represents the diameter of the objective lens. A bigger diameter means the lens captures more light, resulting in clearer and brighter images.
However, you also have to think about weight. A bigger objective lens results in a heavier binocular set and this can slow you down if you’re hiking or hunting. Most archers find the sweet spot to be between 42 and 50mm lenses.
Comfort
Another thing you should take into account is the comfort offered by a given binoculars. This is particularly the case if you intend to use this piece of equipment for a long time.
Comfort will depend on two things: weight and eye relief. As we’ve mentioned, the binoculars shouldn’t be too heavy for you to carry. Similarly, they should provide a decent eye relief, enabling you to wear them comfortably even if you have glasses.
Zooming
Although it’s not common, some binoculars come fitted with zooming capabilities.
This gives you the freedom to adjust the magnification based on your personal preferences and needs. For instance, if you come across one that’s described as 10-30x60, it means you can adjust its magnification from 10 to 30 times.
Weatherproofing
Are you an adventurous archer? Do you foresee using your set of binoculars in wet or snowy conditions? If you do, then you’ll want to ensure that it’s well weatherproofed beforehand.
On that note, look for the following features:
Rubber Coating
This protects your binoculars from potential bumps and bruises. It also gives you a secure grip of your optics tool, which is handy when you’re using it in inclement weather.
Fog-Proof Capability
These are a unique type of binoculars that are purged of air. In its place, they’re filled with either argon or dry nitrogen that doesn’t have a tendency of fogging up when there’s rapid temperature fluctuations.
Waterproofness
Another feature you’ll want to look for is weatherproofing. Typically, these binoculars are equipped with O-rings that help to seal out any form of moisture. That said, this doesn’t mean that they can survive a full-blown submersion in water.
Accessories Needed
Some binoculars include a wide range of accessories while others don’t. Though they aren’t mandatory, these extra items are very beneficial in certain activities like bow hunting.
Examples of accessories that you’re likely to find are a neck strap, cleaning kit and case that accommodates all the equipment provided.
Conclusion
If you’ve been shopping for the best archery binoculars on the market, we recommend the Vortex Optics 10x42 Diamondback Binocular.
These binoculars offer an excellent performance, making them perfectly-suited for most archery activities. For one, they have a decent 10x magnification. The size of the objective lens is also pretty reasonable, giving you a wide field of view.
The Diamondback also prides itself on having multi-coated optics that provide very clear images. And, they feature fogproof and waterproof protection.