I have also used 8x. I'm hunting 10x for a trip out west.

I'm debating if is should have 2 mid priced or 1 solid pair. Your thoughts?

All I've owned have been 10X
I currently have a pair of Nikon Monarch 7 10X42s that I paid $340 for.

I guess it all depends on what your price range is.
In my view after a certain point the return on the dollar diminishes.

I'm not sure what the terrain is like where you hunt but I know for me I could get away with one pair.
If I wanted to go down in magnification I would be looking at a 8X32.

I would put it to you like this: What percentage of your hunting will be open-range long distance? If you mainly hunt whitetail Southern wood lines 90 percent of the time, go with an 8 power. If you mainly hunt open range, power lines, or long shots, get the 10. I have come to this realization over the years of using different binocs. I want maximum field of view in woods lines and piney woods. I can always dial up my scope on my rifle.

A 10 is a little much for my liking in the South, but different folks like different things, and there ain't anything wrong with that.

What ever you buy, buy the BEST GLASS YOU CAN AFFORD with a solid warranty, and make SURE your exit pupil is 5mm-7mm to avoid headaches during a lot of glassing and to make use of the gathered light.

So an 8x40 binocular would be 5mm exit pupil. A 10x50 would be 5mm as well.
Just divide the objective value by the ocular value.

The reason for this is to use all the available light to your pupil, which can be 5mm to 7mm in overcast conditions or nearer dark. Of course your pupil will constrict to way less than that in bright light.

You probably know all this anyway, but there it is.

So I say buy ONE fantastic pair rather than two so-so ones.

Out west I'd go 10x but, if ya gonna use the binos primarily down south 8x may be your better option and just add a spotting scope to the mix.

All I use is 10x anymore. Never felt like I needed lower magnification while hunting the woods. A lot easier to get one nice pair to keep up with for me.

Same here

x3. I have used a pair of Marine Nikon's 10x50's for years. Have had great success with them.

10x, and out West I've wished for 15x.

Same here but, being the lands we hunt are hike and bike only, I'm not toting that large of bino 6 to 20 miles a day. If I want more power, I have a 15-30x50 light weight spotter I strap on the bike.

I have both. I have an older 8 x 32 Zeiss conquest I use in the woods and I bought a 10 x 42 Zeiss Victory last year for glassing clearcuts. Out west, if your going to be sitting and glassing hillsides at long distances, you will appreciate a good quality 10 x 42. Or go with a spotting scope as was suggested above.

10x42's are perfect.

High end 10's are the way to go.

Unless you are hunting inside a pine thicket or in the middle of a clear cut and you're hunting from the ground, 10's are ideal.

10s and I've actually considered going to 12s. But we have a lot of areas we can see 250-350 yards through thinned pines or grown up clearcuts so it's not just open areas.

I got one of those harnesses at Academy for $1.50 I think it is the Bushnell brand. I love it, keeps the binoculars tight to your chest so it don't swing around and doesn't put any pressure on your neck