I would like to get a pair of binoculars. What are some specifications to look for? What magnification range is generally accepted as a necessity? What would you recommend as a good mid range pair?

The Cabela's Intensity HD get great reviews at $199 - MASH

If your budget can go up, there are certainly better options.

10X is pretty standard magnfication

I've been extremely impressed with my vortex diamondback binos. Paid 189 on amazon. Nothing else in that price range even compared to them when I looked through all of them at bass pro.

I have some Leupold 10x. Glass is good but they are a little bulky. Im probably gonna upgrade the glass and go down a size.

Why do you need two binoculars?

Ditto. I love mine

vortex.

Vortex Vipers, they are crystal clear. I can't even stand to look through my Leupold's anymore.

If you wanna only make a one time purchase and not worry abt upgrading for a long time go ahead with Zeiss victory, Swarovski el, or Leica ultravids, this way you will never have to wonder if there is any better out there cause they don’t exist.

I prefer 10x42. If I was only bowhunting or in thicker woods exclusively, then I would go with 8x42. Vortex are hard to beat for value. They have a top notch lifetime warranty. Diamondbacks are good, Vipers are better, Razors are excellent.

I always like to go to BP and Cabelas websites to read the reviews even though I might not by from them.

I have two binoculars. One is a Zeiss conquest 8x30 that I use for woods hunting. I really prefer the smaller sizes of the 30 or 32 mm compared to 42 mm when I'm in a treestand in the woods. For hunting fields or clearcuts, I have Zeiss Victory 10x42 binos. Bigger and heavier, but they do offer greater clarity, magnification and FOV for hunting open spaces.

I have some leupold bino's that I really like 10x42mm pro guide HD I think, caught them on sale for about $350.

10x42 is the size you want. Brand is just your preference. We all have varying opinions, but I'd spend in the $150 to $200 range, anything other than that and you're just showing off
Buy yourself one of the little chest harnesses, absolutely.

I have this exact setup. The 8X30s I use in the woods and hook them to the binocular harness built into my safety vest. For green fields and power lines, I use the 10X42s.

Buy the best you can afford. For entry level I would go with the Vortex or Nikon Monarch. If you're only go to buy one set, I would go with 8X42s if you hunt mainly in the woods. I find the 8X much easier to pull up and get on a deer quickly than the 10X.

I second this

It's actually silly to recommend a binocular to you without knowing how they will be used. What type hunting will you be doing and how far will you be glassing?
Just remember that the more the magnification, the less field of view you will have at short distance.

Well it sounds like you could have a pair for glassing ag fields etc. and a separate pair for scouting and hunting?

Ideally I would like a pair that could perform moderately at both. Maybe 500-1000 yards for glassing and maybe 200 yards max for scouting and hunting. Not sure if that sounds realistic since I haven't incorporated binoculars yet.

Every time this topic comes up I always think the same thing....Y'all some fancy, wealthy sonofaguns!

Feels like Thurston Howell, III is up in here recommending binos.