Best hunting binoculars <$800

Just as the title says. What do you guys think from experience are the best all around hunting binos for less than $800. Will be used in woods and fields; some of them are big fields as well. Been looking at several different ones and wanted some other opinions. I've looked at Vortex, Kahles, Leupolds of differing variations, docter optics and a few more so far.

Would love to just go ahead and get swaros but have too many other things going at the moment.

8x42 or 10x42, although I like the 8x42 better.

Hard to wrong with any of those. All are quality optics and I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on any. If you are looking to save some $$, I think Steiner and Pentax are often overlooked and are excellent glass.

Find a used set of Swarovski 10x42 SLC's. You should be able to find a pair in that price range.

Vortex Viper series.

Got a pair of Steiners that I love super clear great light gathering

Hard to go wrong with Vortex with the warranty like that. I can't speak to their binos but their scope and rangefinder optics are as good as I'll ever need.

Pentax DCF ED or DCF SP for a bit less $$.
I have 10x50 and 8x32; very satisfied

Meopta

Bino's are great too

If it helps, go to Gander Mountain in T-town. There you can actually look through your choice of binoculars and get a general idea if a $200 pair is for you or a $2000 pair.

In the past two years I've used Vortex Viper 8x42, Nikon Monarch 7 8x42 and Swarovski 8x30 SLC. I still have the Nikons and sent the other two down the road. The Swaros were nice but were lacking in the low light department due to only being 30mm. IMO opinion the Monarch 7s are superior to the Vortex Vipers in every aspect and the Vipers are no slouch.

My hunting ranges from 500 yard ag fields to pine thickets.

I have some stiner binos and love em . I droped them about 45 ft out of a treestand and all it did was knock them out of focus. I mailed them to stiner with a check for return shiping. They fixed them for free and got them back in like 9 days. Somethig to be said for that...

I like Vortex. I do most of my hunting in the woods, so I bought a pair of Vortex 8x28 Diamondback binoculars. They have very nice glass, and of course you can't beat that warranty. Very clear, and they look like they'll take a beating too. I would expect their more expensive models are also very good.

What big game Hunter said or, look online for some top glass demos on sale. As far as vortex, find a military buddy or leo and have them register for the discount, it's big...

Thanks for all the comments so far. I appreciate the feedback. A couple in the mix that I had forgotten or not thought about. Also didn't know Vortext had a discount for leo. I have a few connections there that would help out if I went that route.

Check cameralands website, they have lots of demos that appear NIB. 8x42 meostar would be my pick.

Pentax 8×42 all day long

I am VERY pleased with my Vortex binos.
And, when they got damaged.....there were NO questions asked. Mailed them back and had a replacement in a few days!

Meopta meostar 10x42hd you will be very satisfied

I have Nikon Monarch 10x42 ABT. Love them. One of the eye pieces broke a few years ago. I called Nikon and sent them back for free to have them repaired. They fixed them and shipped it to and from them for free.

I looked at Maven at the deer show. Very impressive.

I just ordered these from Cabelas except I got the 12x50. They were Regularly 259.99 and i got them for 159.99 on clearance.

I've been very happy with my Steiner Merlins. The eye cups completely black out the surrounding light. Very good at bringing in light, very clear, don't fog. The 10x50 is about that price range

i got some 10x42 last year on sale for like $120. man them things are super nice. I dont have experience with the high dollar stuff. But I just dont see how much better binos can get than these. I can use these with my glasses. there comfotable, tough built, great glass, and great at low light.

Zeiss Conquest 8x42 HD. Redhawk Rifles has Demo's for $699. I've never looked thru anything clearer.

Don't be fooled into thinking a $2-300 pair of binos are as good as the mid to high end glass. It's exactly that, the type of glass. Higher end glass is a lot better in low light situations. You also don't want to be washed out by glare. If you really want the scoop on binos, search the bird watcher forums. Those guys spend A TON of cash on there optics. They give great reviews as well.

I agree with Kodiak; the improvement in quality from $2-300 binos to $800 class glass like Pentax ED, etc, is significant. The improvement from there to Alpha class glass is there, but for some not quantifiable for the upcharge. YMMV

i could see a bird watcher justifying the extra money, but what would be the upside for a hunter to sink the extra money. I can hunt way past legal hunting hours with a $200 pair, if i wanted too. I guess if I was a high roller i would want the best, what am i missing with my cheaper pair?

I have the 8x42 Merlins and like them.

It has nothing to do with being a high roller. The type of hunting you do dictates what you need. I saved and purchased better glass after seeing the differance myself outdoors, not in a store. I hunt areas where I glass for hours looking for any part of an animal. An ear, antler, whatever. Pretty much need the same detail like a bird watcher. Take a sunny clear cut with shadows at the timber line at 600 yards, the alpha glass will normally reveal an animal where less glass sometimes will not. We glass thousands of yards away, not hundreds so, that's why we purchased what we did. For alabama hunting, I would probably buy Swaro 8x30 due to being compact and very clear. They would be used or demos, not new for sure.

Thanks for all the great info. I'm not trying to be a high roller either but have used several pair of good $200-300 binos and have been able to look through some that are better. I am going to be hunting in an area with bigger fields than I have been hunting and want to have some better glass.

I haven't bought any yet but I am looking at several different ones that have been mentioned. Thanks for the sites for the demo Zeiss and thanks Kodiak for the tip on the LEO discount on Vortex. My brother is in law enforcement and that definitely looks like it worth looking into. I looked at the Vortex Razors today and man were they clear and bright.

The razor HD 8x42 would be about $888 plus like 10 bucks shipping with the Leo discount. I got a pair of 10x42 a while back shipped and they were very clear.

I have a pair of older zeiss 8x32 conquest binoculars. They are good but the new zeiss 8x42 conquest hd models are much better. They are about 900 and are just a notch below the binoculars costing $2000+. These are the most you can get for the money without going super expensive. Also the 42 mm lenses are going to be better at dawn/dusk than the 32 mm lenses I have. Great glass cannot overcome simple physics...

Zeiss

Should have mentioned that if you get a good deal on good glass, you can almost always get your money back if you decide to sell.